Knowing Brother-Chapter 29

Won Daeyoung appeared with a cast and crutches on a brutal, post-rain summer day. When asked why, he flashed his eyes, now darker than when they first met.

“I’ve been busy.”

“Did someone ask how you’re doing? Why did you get hurt?”

“Because I’ve been busy. People who are laid-back don’t get hurt.”

“No, I mean...!”

“Why do you want to know? I’m a bit popular, you know.”

After that, the invisible strings that connected the two of them were completely severed. As the magnolia tree in the yard welcomed the autumn, Seolwoo learned another truth about Won Daeyoung. ƒreewebɳovel.com

“Hey. Won Daehyun.”

The voice from the second-floor entrance was definitely Daeyoung's. He was calling his model-student older brother, the one who was always at the top of the school. The sound of crutches tapping followed.

“Come up.”

“Why?”

Daeyoung’s answer didn’t come. The model student let out a heavy sigh and climbed the stairs.

“Why didn’t you tidy up your shoes? Don’t you know I’m way busier than you? Are you telling me to clean up your slippers while I’m over here on my knees?”

Seolwoo leaned in closer to listen. Until then, their conversation wasn’t much different from typical sibling banter. Daeyoung called his older brother again.

“Daehyun. Don’t sigh like that. Come here.”

After those words, the sound of shoes climbing the stairs came again.

“Yesterday, go back and repeat the conversation you had with that woman in the kitchen.”

“...What conversation?”

“The one you had when you thought I wasn’t around. Go ahead, talk about it. It’s so funny I’m thinking of writing it down.”

“Why now...?”

“Dumb, twisted, low-wit idiot. Just wait a few years, and even homeless beggars won’t even look at you with pity.”

A massive shock struck Seolwoo’s head. The words coming from the older brother, who wasn’t as big as Daeyoung but had a lanky frame and an intelligent face—someone who had even given Seolwoo a formal greeting, no less—were completely unimaginable. And this was in front of their mother.

The owner of the house, who had only been glancing at Daeyoung uncomfortably in front of the gathered people, flashed through Seolwoo's mind.

This was really the world. Things one could never imagine were hidden behind a peaceful facade, and everything was absurd and twisted.

“But you, who’s dumb and mentally twisted, are cleaning up slippers on the floor. How does that feel?”

“...Alright. I’m going.”

“Daehyun. You’re smarter, so think of a way out. How are you going to get out of this?”

...Ugh! A barely controlled groan escaped. The next words confirmed that it was Daeyoung's voice, and the groan had come from his older brother, Daehyun.

“Lack of insight. These days, homeless people don’t even beg directly anymore. They just send kids to do it for them.”

“Ah...! Ah, ah-!!!!”

A horrendous scream rang out, shaking the alley. Several more screams echoed through the neighborhood, and only when the sobbing quieted down did the second floor go silent.

“You must be stressed from studying. Your neck is like a rock. Doesn’t it feel good?”

“Kek... huff...”

That evening, Daeyoung didn’t open the door. He locked the bolt and didn’t let anyone in, so Daehyun and the lady were left stomping on the second-floor stairs. They eventually called a locksmith after dark. The locksmith opened the door, and shortly after, Daeyoung came downstairs.

“Knock knock. Android C8.”

Seolwoo doubted his ears. Daeyoung collapsed on the narrow hallway floor and began crying loudly.

“Seolwoo, I’ve been homeschooling too hard, I’m so tired. Come here, let’s sleep together.”

“How are we going to sleep here? I don’t sleep on the floor. The floor finish is uneven.”

“Then, shall we go to the room?”

Seolwoo never imagined that Daeyoung would be caught doing something so bad, but Daeyoung just smiled ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) slyly.

Despite this, the lady and Daehyun didn’t scold Daeyoung. They didn’t scold him at all; they treated him like he wasn’t even there. Seolwoo looked at the two of them silently walking in and out of the living room, and Daeyoung gnawed on his twisted lip. Seolwoo wondered why their silence seemed to make Daeyoung even angrier, but couldn’t find a clear answer.

A few days later, it was the weekend. Seolwoo went to the hospital with Mrs. Choi for the first time in a while. It was a large hospital with several floors and wards. Since many eyes were on Mrs. Choi, Seolwoo always felt nervous on these hospital days. At the age where he was about to start middle school in a few months, Seolwoo could now sense when people would glance at Mrs. Choi.

After visiting the hospital, they always came back with a lot of medication. Seolwoo didn’t like the expensive medicine, but since they always ate out near home afterward, he liked those days. Usually.

“Why are you eating just that? We were supposed to grill some ribs. If you’re going to eat, you should’ve had a burger.”

“......”

Sitting in a corner, Seolwoo started munching on fries, searching for the right answer. Sitting at the meat restaurant with his elementary school-aged son in front of her, Mrs. Choi drank beer alone. Seolwoo could now understand the looks she received from others. He had grown old enough to recognize it. But he didn’t want to tell Mrs. Choi about it.

“Meat smells too much, it’s a hassle.”

“You’ve always been picky since you were young. You’d be the most sensitive if you were on , huh?”

Mrs. Choi suggested they go shopping for clothes. Seolwoo wanted to avoid that trip that day. He had grown tired of watching the staff at the store look at Mrs. Choi, who had a strong build and wore heavy makeup and piercings, carefully picking out clothes that didn’t cost much while acting more demanding than most. Usually, Seolwoo ignored it, but that day he didn’t want to deal with it.

“Mom, hurry up and come out. I’m tired. I’ll wait over there by the bench.”

Knowing the truth behind the facade was exhausting. Seolwoo had to fight against the truth that kept peeling away, day by day. After leaving the store, he passed by a large garbage bin. When he sat on the bench, a faint presence from the bushes above caught his attention.

“Hyungiljung?”

It was Daeyoung’s voice. The cold tone made Seolwoo instinctively hide behind the pillar and glance back. About six or seven boys, all wearing school uniforms, had gathered in the dim area behind the pipes.

“So?”

The boys all looked like they were in a similar mood, but Daeyoung frowned at them.

“Hyungiljung, what does it have to do with me? What’s up? Do you think I’m fucking bored?”

Daeyoung tilted his head and chuckled, and the boys around him started nervously glancing at him. The boy standing next to Daeyoung stiffened his expression subtly. The others, watching the two, quietly started grinning along with Daeyoung.

The boy standing next to Daeyoung wasn’t bad-looking, with broad shoulders, but his expression had a strange dirty look. His thick lips only made him seem more unpleasant.

“I thought you’d want to know, Daeyoung. This guy...”

The boy wearing the black mask lowered it below his chin and spat a few steps away at a male student standing far off. The male student didn’t avoid the spit, just bowing his head as if nothing was happening.

“We heard you’ve been talking shit.”

The skinny student visibly took a big breath, opening and closing his mouth. His head tilted slowly, and sweat soaked his hair, as if droplets would fall off any second. The masked boy raised his fist and shoved the skinny kid into the food waste bin outside the restaurant. Among the onlookers, Daeyoung scratched the back of his head.

“...Did I bite him? Do I look like I have time for this? Moon Haesol?”

The boy with the black mask looked back at Daeyoung with a confused look on his face. Daeyoung responded.

“Let’s not do this again next time.”

It was a tone that drew a line. It wasn’t so much about withdrawing from such things, but more about Daeyoung’s disdain and superiority, saying he no longer belonged to this kind of school uniform world. Daeyoung’s steps came closer. Turning around, he shouted.

“Hey, Boktae! Ronaldo! Aren’t you coming?”

Several steps moved in unison. Although they were walking with great force, it was just following someone. Daeyoung cheerfully started talking to them. Behind him, the boy in the black mask shook his head in disbelief, licking his lips.

The hesitating boy eventually followed at the very back of the group. Daeyoung glanced back subtly, then turned his head without a word. Still, the prank continued with Boktae and Ronaldo. After Daeyoung’s silent approval, the black-masked boy began chatting with another guy.

They made their way to the bench. They were walking in the opposite direction, but Daeyoung squinted his eyes and turned his head toward Seolwoo. The invisible string that connected them was undeniable. Seolwoo secretly waved his hand.

Then something shocking happened. Daeyoung turned his head as if Seolwoo didn’t exist there.

Seolwoo learned another truth. Daeyoung didn’t need Seolwoo as much as Seolwoo needed him.

It felt like a heavy pile of books was being placed on Seolwoo’s head.