The day had been long for everyone.
But for Jisoo, it felt endless.
His body ached everywhere bruises, cuts, muscles screaming every time he moved. But the pain in his chest was worse. That one didn't fade when he stood still. It didn't ease when he breathed slowly. It stayed.
The moment he opened the door and stepped inside the house, his mother's voice reached him from the kitchen.
"Jisoo, can you cook dinner?" she said tiredly. "I'm exhausted today."
Then she turned.
Her words died in her throat.
Bandages.
Bruises.
His swollen lip.
Her eyes widened in shock.
She rushed toward him. "What happened?" Her hand lifted instinctively, reaching for his face.
Jisoo stepped back.
Not aggressively.
Just enough to stop her from touching him.
"I got into a fight," he said flatly.
Her face filled with panic. "Are you okay? Does it hurt a lot?"
He nodded once. "I'm fine."
Then, almost like an afterthought, he added, "Seungmin got hurt too. He was in the hospital."
Her attention shifted immediately.
"Seungmin?" she gasped. "Where is he now?"
Jisoo looked at her eyes — truly looked — and understood everything.
She wasn't worried about him anymore.
He turned his face away before it could hurt worse.
"He's home now," he said coldly.
"Oh God," she whispered, already grabbing her coat. "I need to go check on him."
And she left.
The door closed behind her.
Jisoo stood there, empty.
A moment later, his sister stepped out of her room.
"Oppa?" she asked softly. "What happened to you?"
He didn't answer.
Instead, he asked, "Are you hungry?"
She blinked. "What?"
"I'll cook something," he said. "What do you want to eat?"
She frowned, worried. "Can you even cook like that?"
"Yes," he replied. "Tell me."
"…Instant noodles will be fine," she said. "Let me help you."
"No," he said gently. "Sit. I'll do it."
He cooked slowly, carefully, ignoring the pain in his arms.
When he placed the bowl in front of her and sat down across the table, she asked again, "Oppa… what happened?"
He stared at the noodles for a second, then asked something unexpected.
"Princess," he said quietly, "how old are you?"
She frowned. "Seriously? I'm your sister."
"Just tell me."
"I'm fourteen."
He looked up, genuinely shocked. "Really?"
"Are you crazy?" she said, slapping his arm lightly.
He winced and shouted in pain.
"Oh—sorry!" she said quickly, panicked.
He smiled faintly and started eating.
Then he stopped.
"Princess," he said, voice low, "have you ever heard about boys who like boys?"
She stiffened for a second — then relaxed.
"…One of my friends likes boys," she replied calmly.
He didn't look at her.
"Doesn't that feel weird to you?" he asked.
She tilted her head. "Why would it? It's his choice. I don't get to judge him."
Silence filled the room.
Then Jisoo started crying.
Not quietly.
Not gracefully.
He cried with noodles still in his mouth, shoulders shaking, breath breaking.
She froze.
They had never comforted each other like this before. They were siblings, but not that close.
"Oppa…" she said uncertainly. "Are you okay?"
He cried harder.
All she could do was place her hand on his shoulder.
Even that felt like crossing a line for her.
"Princess," he finally sobbed, "I think I like boys."
She inhaled sharply — but kept her composure.
"I didn't know," he continued. "I thought I was pretending. And then suddenly… I wasn't. I hate myself. I feel dirty."
She stood up abruptly.
"Yah, Hong Jisoo," she snapped. "Don't you dare say that."
"There is nothing wrong with you."
His eyes widened.
"Mom will hate me," he whispered. "She kicked out Jaehan because he liked boys. When she finds out about me… she'll throw me away too."
"She won't," his sister said firmly. "You're her son."
"Jaehan oppa wasn't," she continued quietly. "She never liked him. She just needed a reason."
Jisoo wiped his face.
"…You don't hate me?" he asked weakly. "You don't find me weird?"
She scoffed. "How could I hate you? You're my brother."
Then she smirked slightly.
"I just didn't expect a tough guy like you to be gay."
He laughed suddenly, uncontrollably.
She smiled with him.
Then her expression softened.
"So," she asked gently, "who do you like?"
His smile collapsed.
"He rejected me today."
And started crying again.
She didn't say anything this time.
She just stayed.
"Tell me what really happened," she said softly.
Jisoo took a deep breath.
"Do you know Mr. Choi?" he asked. "The man Mom works for."
She nodded.
"He's also Jaehan hyung's boss," Jisoo continued. "And… Seungmin is his son."