Hwang Hyunjin || Call My Name (Under Revision)

3. Foundations

Song recommendation: CHA NI - Starlight

Hyunjin POV

I entered the apartment and punched in the security code. The door clicked open, and I stepped inside, slipping off my shoes at the door. I tossed my bag onto the couch and took a quick glance around the room—everything seemed in place.

"Jeonginaa~" I called out.

Jeongin shuffled into the living room from his room, eyes glued to his phone, fingers tapping rapidly.

"Oh, hyung, you're back?" he mumbled, still focused on his game. He plopped down on the couch, barely glancing at me.

Hwang Jeongin. Sixteen. Ninth grade. My one and only little brother.

I picked up my bag again and headed to my room, changing into something more comfortable.

"Did you eat already?" I called out from my room.

"Not yet. You?"

"Same. Did you buy anything?"

"Nope."

"Why not? You could've picked something up so we'd have food ready when I got home," I muttered, a little irritated.

"I'm sorry, hyung. I wasn't sure what you wanted, and I got caught up doing homework. Then I just... forgot," he said sheepishly.

I let out a sigh and stepped out of my room. "All right, I'll go grab something from the convenience store. What do you want?"

He barely looked up. "Hmm... any lunchbox and a XXX soda. We still have some ramyeon, so that's enough for me."

I didn't bother responding, just threw on a hoodie and grabbed my wallet. As I was about to step out, I heard him say quietly, almost to himself:

"I miss Eomma's cooking."

I froze. A sudden weight pressed on my chest. I walked out without saying anything, but his words echoed in my mind. The truth is—I miss her too. Every single day.

Our parents separated two years ago. Eomma's been working abroad ever since and hasn't visited us once. She sends money like clockwork, always enough for bills and food. But money can't replace presence. It can't replace her.

After I turned sixteen, Appa disappeared. No calls, no letters. Just gone. So now, it's just me and Jeongin. We've been fending for ourselves ever since.

At the convenience store, I grabbed what Jeongin wanted. I stood in front of the refrigerated meals for a good five minutes, unable to decide what I even wanted. Eventually, I settled on a lunchbox, a hotdog, and a can of XXX soda.

------

"Jeongina, your food's here!" I called.

He emerged slowly, still holding his phone. He sat across from me, barely acknowledging my existence. I stared at him, silently annoyed. He finally glanced up, realized I was glaring, and sighed.

"Sorry. And thanks for the food," he muttered, putting his phone down.

We ate in silence for a while before he spoke up.

"How was your first day at the new school?" he asked, chewing thoughtfully as he looked at me.

"It was okay. I didn't make any friends... yet."

"That's fine, hyung. Just... don't make the same mistake you made at our old school."

My hand froze mid-air. I stared at my food, appetite vanishing. But I didn't want him to notice how much that stung, so I just kept eating.