*Back to 2024 (present)*
The next Morning.
Jaewon wakes up groggy and disoriented, the events of the previous night blurring in his memory. He rubs his eyes and stretches, glancing at the clock to see it's nearly midday. A quiet dread prickles his skin as he wonders if he's overslept and missed something important.
Just as he's about to swing his legs over the edge of the bed, his door creaks open, revealing Taesan standing there with a dark, unreadable expression.
"Morning, Jaewon," Taesan says, his voice unusually cold and calm.
"Hyung… good morning!" Jaewon tries to laugh it off, scratching the back of his head. "Didn't hear you come in."
"Interesting, because I definitely heard you last night." Taesan's gaze sharpens, and Jaewon feels the weight of it. "Quite a night, wasn't it?"
"Uh, yeah, just, um, busy studying and all," Jaewon mumbles, quickly searching for an excuse.
Taesan doesn't react immediately, letting the silence stretch as he continues to look at Jaewon. There's an unreadable depth to his gaze, one that Jaewon can't quite interpret. For a moment, the air feels heavy, a tension resting between them, yet Taesan's face remains calm, almost as if he's indifferent.
"Busy studying?" Taesan finally says with a faint, skeptical smile. "You do seem to study quite a lot these days... at least from what you tell me."
Jaewon chuckles nervously, scratching the back of his head. "Of course, Hyung! Gotta keep those grades up, right?"
Taesan simply hums in response, moving to open the curtains, letting the sunlight flood Jaewon's room. Jaewon squints against the brightness and rubs his eyes, feeling the weight of his hangover kick in.
"So, what were you studying last night that kept you out so late?" Taesan's tone is calm, but there's an unmistakable edge beneath it.
"Oh, you know... just the usual. Group project... everyone wanted to go over things last minute, so... Jaewon's voice trails off, watching Taesan's face for a reaction, but his hyung simply nods, his face remaining neutral.
"Must've been quite the project to keep you out past midnight," Taesan observes, leaning against the wall, his arms folded. "And I assume your treat was part of your studying expenses' too?"
Jaewon freezes for a split second, his mind racing. He hadn't expected Taesan to know about the dinner. Trying to recover, he laughs it off, "Oh, that... yeah, it's just... I was celebrating a bit, you know? Scored highest on a test. I figured a little reward wouldn't hurt."
Taesan's expression doesn't change, but there's a subtle disappointment in his gaze, as if he's watching Jaewon closely, seeing through the words but choosing not to call him out just yet. "I see. Well, I'm glad to know my money was put to good use."
Jaewon puts on his best smile, trying to make it sound genuine. "Of course, Hyung! You're always there for me, and I'm so lucky to have you looking out for me. Really, I couldn't get through this without you."
Taesan gives a quiet smile, but it's tinged with a hint of sadness. "I'm always here to help, Jaewon. I just hope you understand that."
Jaewon nodded as if agreeing, already preparing another excuse in his head. He was certain Taesan would not notice anything. Lying had become routine, easy enough that it no longer bothered him. As Taesan turned to leave, Jaewon briefly caught his hyung's gaze. The look lingered for a second, unreadable, before Taesan walked away.
"Well, I'll let you get ready for the day," Taesan says, his voice soft but steady. "Maybe tonight we could have dinner together. Just the two of us, like you promised."
Jaewon realizes his mistake: "Oh shit! Hyung! I'm so sorry... I forgot that.."
"Nah, Jae, it's okay. You were studying; it's okay."
"Are you sure?" Jaewon asks.
"Yeah"
Jaewon forces a smile. "Ok then, let's have dinner together tonight."
As Taesan stepped out, the door clicking shut behind him, Jaewon let out the breath he had been holding. His shoulders loosened. Another close call avoided. He pulled out his phone without hesitation, thumbs moving quickly across the screen. A faint smirk tugged at his lips as he typed into the group chat. Still clueless. Dinner's on me tonight.
Just outside the door, Taesan stopped in the hallway. The air felt colder than before. He drew in a slow breath and stared at the floor for a moment, face calm, almost blank. The pieces had started to fall into place lately. The small lies, the convenient favors, the way Jaewon only showed up when he needed something. The pattern was hard to ignore. Still, he chose silence, deciding to watch a little longer.
One walked away believing everything was under control. The other stayed quiet, observing, measuring each word and action. What remained between them was no longer trust but patience. A quiet standoff, waiting for the moment when the truth would finally surface.
***
The morning passed as the afternoon creeps in. Taesan is preparing food, while Jaewon lounges in the living room, scrolling through his phone with a smug grin. He's still reveling in the thought of another free meal, confident that Taesan is none the wiser. The tension from the morning feels like a distant memory. In the kitchen, Taesan works in quiet concentration, chopping vegetables and carefully stirring a simmering sauce. His movements are precise, almost therapeutic, as he considers what he needs to say to Jaewon tonight. Despite the calm expression he wore earlier, Taesan feels a mix of hurt and anger, though he's hidden it well. He's known Jaewon long enough to recognize the subtle shifts in his behavior; the excuses, the flippant laughs, and the sly deflections are all part of Jaewon's pattern whenever he's cornered.
As Taesan finishes arranging the dishes on the table, he carefully packs his own portion into a small container, pausing before he leaves. "Jae, I'll be taking my lunch in the study," he says, his voice calm yet distant. "I have some work to take care of."
Jaewon glances up briefly from the couch, nodding. "Alright, Hyung." He rises lazily, stretching before settling himself at the dining table and digging into the meal Taesan prepared, hardly noticing as Taesan slips silently from the room, his presence leaving an almost perceptible void in the air.
The atmosphere is a bit thicker than usual.
——————— TO BE CONTINUED