in my own summer | norenmin

chapter 23 | hearing each other out

"i think i might extend our trip by a day or two."

jungwoo had thought about it for a while, and this conclusion made sense. aiden looks surprised at those words, though he had been the one to encourage him to talk to his brother. perhaps he thought his fiancé would be quick to say he wants to go back home.

his surprise fades, and aiden smiles. "of course, woo. if you want to. just...you'll talk to your brother, right?"

jungwoo gave him a look that was rather unsure. "i'll try."

aiden sighs. "get him to listen. don't yell and get upset but keep your calm. if your chances to apologise keep turning into arguments, you'll never reconcile."

jungwoo knew he was right, though he barely wanted to acknowledge it. every last time they've talked, it turned into yelling at each other. he's just scared it'll happen again. he can hear it now, the angry words and the frowns and the fire in jeno's eyes.

he can't —

the doorbell rings. aiden tilts his head to the side. "your brother?"

"maybe," jungwoo sighs.

"talk to him," aiden urges when jungwoo stands up. "please."

"i will," jungwoo promises, though he's not sure he can keep it.

he heads towards the front door, taking a deep breath before he opens it. on the door step, sure enough, is his younger brother. to his surprise, he's wearing eyeliner — something he hardly wears.

jeno goes to move past him without saying anything before jungwoo says, "wait."

"what?" jeno says harshly.

jungwoo takes a deep breath. he won't be provoked into another argument. "let's go on a walk."

"i have to —"

"it won't be long."

jeno sighs. "okay. whatever."

they both head outside and start heading down the sidewalk. at first, they both remain silent. then, jungwoo decides to say, "will you promise to not start yelling at me?"

jeno finally makes eye contact. "why —?"

"just, listen to me," jungwoo starts. "look, i'm sorry. to be blunt, i knew i fucked up when i kept telling our dads everything. i just...i felt terrible seeing you constantly come home covered in bruises and cuts with a bloody nose. i was the big brother and you were the little brother — our dads always said to look out for you because that's my responsibility because i'm four years your senior.

"so, i had to tell them something. i didn't want you to keep going back to those same people and getting into fights with them. i was waiting for the last time i'd ever see hurt and that one day, i was just really angry and didn't think about my words until i couldn't take them back," he goes on. "i remember that promise i made ten years ago. i see why you felt upset when i found out you told them about my engagement and plans to move to hong kong."

jeno took all of this in.

"i felt so hurt too when you didn't come to the airport," jungwoo continues. "and i continue to blame myself for everything and i was so upset when i finally got to apologise in person, we just got into another argument...."

jungwoo hopes it was enough. he take a another deep breath, before he finishes off with, "i'm sorry. i really am. if it's not enough for you, i understand. i at least want you know i'm truly sorry."

jeno stops walking and jungwoo follows, seeing jeno turn away for a few moments, sniffing. then, he turns back to his older brother, his eyes fresh with shiny tears. he chokes out, "i-i'm sorry too! i was so mad then but after a while, i felt more s-sad about it and i was scared you would n-never want to talk to me again!"