His beloved brother, waited for him by the door. He smiled gently, lowering his body, arms
wide opened. Jihoon ran to him. Seungcheol welcomed him with a tight hug, picking him up.
Jihoon hid his face into the crook of his brother’s neck, pouring sobs onto his shoulder. Even
with a hint of worry, Seungcheol’s voice was still so soothing.
“I’m sorry I’m late, Jihoonie. Let’s go home. I’ll make you pancakes.”
Jihoon sniffed, shyly whispered, “With a lot of creams and strawberries?”
Seungcheol laughed, kissing his baby brother on his chubby cheek. “Yes, as much as you
want.”
He then nodded to Jihoon’s teacher, and waved at his classmates—no, not friends. Not yet.
Maybe never. Jihoon sobbed again. Seungcheol caressed his back as they walked away from
the kindergarten, Jihoon drowned himself deeper into his brother’s hold. Whispers from the
children’s parents followed them. They talked as if being an orphan is a bad thing. They
talked as if their parents’ death was their fault.
They didn’t know how much Jihoon and Seungcheol mourned.
Or maybe they just didn’t care.
“Jihoonie.”
Jihoon raised his head, just to meet his brother’s bright smile. The same smile he gave on the
day of their parents’ funeral. The same smile that brought the promise he was about to hear
again.
“It might be just you and me now. But we’re going to be the happiest brothers in the world,
okay?”
Jihoon’s face lighted up at that. He nodded cheerfully. His smile found its way back to his
lips. Seungcheol laughed, stroking Jihoon’s hair lovingly.
“Now, do you have anything you want, Jihoonie? I just got my salary, you can ask for more
than just an Ironman keychain!”
Seungcheol’s words were cheery and genuine, but Jihoon knew. Jihoon knew how his brother
struggled. He was just a high school student himself. Being so young, without anyone else to
rely on, it must not had been easy for him to work, to support them both. So Jihoon, still
smiling, shook his head.
“No, I don’t have anything I want. I just want pancakes!”
Jihoon was never good at lying.