Jihoon's eyes flickered to the screen, and for a moment, his heart skipped a beat. The name on the display sent a shockwave through him.
Minjae.
It couldn't be. He hadn't heard from Minjae in ten years. The last time they spoke had been in that heated moment when Minjae had stormed out of their house, slamming the door shut on the only family Jihoon had ever known. That moment had been burned into his memory, a wound that had never healed.
But this… this didn't make sense. Jihoon's fingers trembled as he reached for the phone, the weight of the decision pressing on him. He had imagined this moment a thousand times, wondering what he would say if Minjae ever called. But now, as the ringtone echoed in his ears, he couldn't bring himself to answer.
Minjae's voice was different now. Deeper. More commanding. The familiar warmth from years ago was gone, replaced by a colder, more powerful tone. His voice sent a chill down Jihoon's spine.
"Jihoon-ah.... "
The name fell from Minjae's lips like a ghost of the past, but it was still unmistakably his. That same voice, the one Jihoon had once longed to hear again, had morphed into something foreign and distant. It no longer held the playfulness, the connection they once shared. It was as though the boy Jihoon knew had completely vanished, replaced by someone else. Someone far removed from the boy who used to protect him.
Jihoon's chest tightened as he sat frozen on the edge of his bed, staring at the phone in his hand. Was this really him?
Before he could even process his thoughts, the call ended. His fingers shook as he set the phone down, his breath shallow. It was too much to handle all at once.
This isn't real. This can't be real.
He tossed the phone on the bed and hugged his pillow tightly against his chest. His mind raced, replaying the sound of Minjae's voice over and over. Could this truly be his stepbrother? Or was it some cruel trick of the mind, a dream he'd fallen into after years of silence?
The seconds dragged on in the stillness of his room, but just as Jihoon was starting to convince himself it was all in his head, the phone buzzed again.
His heart skipped a beat as he looked at the screen. Minjae—again.
This time, Jihoon didn't hesitate. He picked up the call, but he couldn't find the words. He opened his mouth, but nothing came out. His throat felt tight as he held the phone to his ear, listening to the faint sound of Minjae's breathing on the other end.
Finally, Minjae broke the silence, his voice steady and commanding.
"You're the one looking for a part-time job with my company, aren't you?"
Jihoon's heart raced, the shock of the words leaving him momentarily speechless. Part-time job? He hadn't told anyone about applying for work—let alone in a place where Minjae could be involved. What was this? Why would Minjae, of all people, be connected to the company he'd applied to?
The reality of the situation began to sink in. Minjae wasn't just calling to reconnect; he was somehow involved in this world Jihoon had never expected him to be part of.
"I… I didn't know you were…" Jihoon stammered, his mind struggling to comprehend the situation. He had known Minjae had left to live a different life, but this—this was something he never imagined.
Minjae's laugh was low, almost amused, but there was no warmth in it. "You didn't think I'd stay a nobody, did you?" His tone was sharp, laced with the arrogance of someone who had carved out his own place in the world—someone who had left behind the remnants of the past. "I'm the manager. I handle a lot of things around here. You'll have to follow my rules if you want in."
Jihoon felt his world tilt. Manager? Minjae was a manager? He didn't know whether to be relieved, confused, or terrified. He had no idea what kind of man Minjae had become, and yet, here he was, offering Jihoon a chance to enter the very world he had abandoned years ago.
"Come in tomorrow," Minjae said, his voice colder now. "I'll make sure you get the job."
Jihoon felt the tension coil in his chest. He ended the call abruptly, leaving Minjae in stunned silence. His mind reeled from the revelations, his thoughts a blur of questions and uncertainty.
What was Minjae doing in this world? And why, after all these years, was he reaching out to Jihoon?
As Jihoon sat on his bed, his hand gripping the phone tightly, a sense of dread washed over him. He had never expected this moment to come—never imagined Minjae would reappear in his life this way. The thought of meeting him again after all this time was enough to send a shiver down his spine.
But despite the fear that gripped him, Jihoon couldn't shake the feeling that this meeting would change everything.
And as he lay back against his pillow, staring at the ceiling, a single question lingered in his mind:
What had Minjae become?
The phone buzzed again, shattering the silence in Jihoon's room. His heart skipped as he saw Minjae's name flash across the screen once more.
He let out a shaky breath, sitting up from his bed and running a hand through his hair. He stared at the phone for a moment, wondering if he should just ignore it. After all, he didn't need to get dragged back into Minjae's world. His brother's life—this life—had never been the one Jihoon had wanted for himself. He had worked hard to escape it. To build something separate from the chaos Minjae had always created.
But despite every instinct telling him to avoid answering, Jihoon pressed the button.
"Minjae," Jihoon said, his voice tight with unease, "I'd rather find another job. I don't want anything to do with your company."
There was a brief silence on the other end before Minjae chuckled—a deep, rich sound that felt unsettlingly familiar. It was the kind of laugh Jihoon hadn't heard in years, the one that used to fill their old house with mischief. Now, though, it only made Jihoon's pulse race in frustration.
"You're cute, Jihoon~" Minjae said, his voice oozing with amusement. "I know you don't want to see me. But you're running low on money, aren't you? You've got bills to pay, and no other options. I'm offering you an easy way out. Don't tell me you're too proud to take it."
Jihoon's grip on the phone tightened, his breath catching. Of course Minjae would use his financial situation against him. He was right. Jihoon had barely enough money to cover the rent this month, let alone any other expenses. The thought of turning down Minjae's offer seemed impossible, yet the very idea of stepping into that world—of seeing Minjae again—felt like it would shatter everything he had worked so hard to build.
"I told you, I don't need you, Minjae," Jihoon snapped, his voice rising, the irritation bubbling over. "I don't need you to fix my problems."
Minjae's laughter deepened, and Jihoon could practically hear the smirk on his brother's face. "Come on, Jihoon. You can't fool me. You've always been a little too proud for your own good. But that's why big brother is here, right? To remind you that you're not always going to have it all figured out. I'm offering you a hand—just take it."
The words were like poison, and Jihoon's face flushed with anger. His chest tightened, the heat of frustration rushing to his face. "You think I'm some kind of fool, don't you? Just because I'm struggling right now doesn't mean I need you to come back and save me like some... some hero."
Minjae's voice softened, as if he were enjoying the playful banter more than Jihoon was willing to admit. "Hey, come on. I'm just teasing you. But seriously, Jihoon... I can help you. All you have to do is show up, and I'll take care of the rest. You know you can trust me."
Jihoon's face turned crimson, the anger in his chest mixing with an unexpected fluster. He was mad—so mad—but at the same time, he couldn't ignore the tug of something deeper inside him. Something from the past. Minjae had always been like this, pushing his buttons, knowing exactly how to get under his skin.
Why did it feel like nothing had changed?
"You think just because you're some big shot now, you can just waltz in and make decisions for me?!" Jihoon's voice cracked, and he hated how flustered he sounded. His heart was pounding in his ears, the heat on his face threatening to burn him up. Why did he feel so helpless in this moment?
Minjae paused, the teasing edge to his voice softening for a fraction of a second. "I'm not trying to boss you around, Jihoon. I'm offering you a way out. You don't have to be proud all the time. Sometimes, it's okay to accept help. Even if it's from me."
Jihoon let out a frustrated sigh, throwing himself back onto the bed, the phone pressed to his ear as he stared up at the ceiling. Minjae's words were like a knot in his stomach, twisting tighter with each passing second. Part of him wanted to yell, to slam down the phone and walk away. But another part—the part he hated—was too tempted.
Minjae was right...
But he refused to admit it aloud.
"I'll think about it," Jihoon said, his voice low, his chest still tight with emotion. "But I don't want to hear any more of your... teasing."
Minjae chuckled again, that damn smirk creeping back into his voice. "I'll be waiting, Jihoon. Don't take too long to make up your mind. I don't like to be kept waiting."
With that, the call ended.
Jihoon lay there for a few moments, the phone still in his hand. He stared at the ceiling, the faint echo of Minjae's voice still ringing in his ears. He didn't want to go back. He didn't want to see Minjae again—not in this world he'd built, this dark, twisted world of power and money. But deep down, Jihoon knew he had no other choice.
He couldn't afford to be proud anymore.
And somehow, that realization felt like the heaviest weight of all.