Gyu didn't follow Garam.
He just stood there long after Garam disappeared around the corner, and the hollow ache in his chest slowly pulled him down to a bench.
His eyes weren't teary—just tired, confused, bruised in a way he couldn't name.
Kaven found him like that.
"Hey," he crouched in front of him, lowering his voice, "you okay?"
Gyu said nothing.
Kaven sighed. "Look… finding out you two are brothers—it was a shock. But the way he behaved those days? That wasn't the Garam I know."
Gyu finally looked at him, and the fear in his eyes made Kaven pause.
"He does care," Kaven said quietly.
"He tries to hide it, but… I saw it."
But care alone didn't answer his fear.
His mind kept circling the same question:
Why did my 'no' shake him so much?
Why did he look relieved when I got my own name wrong?
Why can't he call me by my real name… even when he knows it?
He remembered telling him his real name that night.
Before he could sink deeper, something tugged at his pant leg.
He looked down.
"Ijueng…" his pale face grew colors.
The boy beamed. "Brother! You remember my name?"
Gyu instantly scooped him up.
"What are you doing here? And—hey, you have a schoolbag now?"
"I got admitted!" Ijueng announced proudly. "Now we'll come together and go home together every day!"
His laughter filled the corridor, drawing a rare, gentle smile from kaven too.
"Brother"
"Hmm?"
"Be my brother."
A breath escaped Gyu. He hugged him tighter.
"I am."
Kaven frowned and murmured in Gyu's ear, "Is he your brother?" Gyu only sighed in response.
He lifted his gaze and saw Hayeon standing nearby.
There was no tension in the man's face today—just a soft smile at the sight of the two boys.
"Daddy said I can go everywhere," Ijueng continued excitedly.
"Mumma packed tasty lunch too!"
"So the little monster is hungry already?" Gyu teased.
"No! I'll eat with you."
But the bell rang.
Gyu laughed. "I'll eat with you tomorrow."
Hayeon nodded at Gyu. "He's been waiting all morning to show you his bag."
"He's welcome anytime at my home," Gyu ruffled ijueng hair.
Another gaze landed on them.
Garam's.
He was returning back to his room, when he froze—not at Gyu, but at Ijueng.
His eyes softened first… then tightened.
Something about the boy struck too deeply, too suddenly.
He took a step toward them—
then stopped. As his phone started to buzz.
The same ache he felt when looking at Gyu… was there again.
He forced his expression neutral.
Hayeon took ijueng in his arms, "About that night… my wife and I wanted to thank you properly. If you're free, please come for a meal."
"It's not necessary,"
"Brother, please!" Ijueng pleaded, tiny hands clasped pulling him.
Gyu hesitated but after all he still has to go there, for his search for that woman. he reluctantly nodded.
Ijueng cheered.
***
Later — outside the classroom
Garam walked ahead, clearly hoping Gyu wouldn't follow.
He did.
"So?" Gyu said, stepping into his path. "You're going to walk off again, pretending nothing happened?"
Garam halted.
His jaw tightened.
"It's not me walking away," he said quietly.
"It's you—who never came out of her shadow."
"You hide behind excuses"
Gyu retorted "You pretend things didn't happen just because it's easier. You think that makes you brave?"
He sighed. "Then answer one thing."
He stepped closer.
"You knew my name didn't you?"
Garam didn't speak.
"You did." he pressed.
There was no accusation—just certainty.
He stepped closer.
"It's my habit to disguise myself, right? My nature?"
A faint smirk touched Gyu's mouth.
"Then why didn't you correct me when I said 'Gyu'? Why didn't you say my real name?"
"I don't know it," Garam said flatly.
"Really?"
Gyu smirked. "I was feverish, not amnesiac."
Garam's eyes flickered, but his voice stayed cold.
"Just because I tolerated your behavior these days doesn't mean you get a way back into my life."
"You crossdresser," he added, but the insult lacked its old bite.
"Not anymore," Gyu's tone was firm.
"If you can't accept me as a brother," he said softly, "then accept me as a friend.
If not a friend, then… at least a person , a stranger you don't have to push away."
"Easy to say." Garam looked away.
"You think any of this will bring her back?"
Gyu's throat tightened.
"No. But accepting me, accepting reality
might finally give you closure"
Garam's eyes flickered—fear, guilt, longing—all at once.
Gyu held out his hand.
"Hi,"
"I'm Beomgyu."
Garam stared at the hand… at the face behind it… and then turned away.
He didn't shove him. Didn't spit anger.
He just walked.
"You did it," a voice murmured behind him.
Gyu blinked as Kaven slid beside him.
"He talked. Really talked. That's rare."
Gyu sighed. "He doesn't want any relationship with me."
"Maybe not a brother," Kaven said slowly, "but… he's not avoiding you for that reason."
"What reason then?"
Kaven hesitated, watching Garam's retreating figure.
"When he looks at you… it's like he's seeing someone else. Someone he's scared of losing again."
Gyu's breath stilled.
"Do you have a sister?" Kaven asked suddenly.
Gyu gulped. "What? No—of course not."
"Hmm." Kaven didn't push further.
But his expression said he had noticed something both of them had missed.
And far away, Garam kept walking—
unaware that his past and Gyu's present
had already begun to collide.