Han Sera rose from her chair.
She politely excused herself and announced that she would be leaving.
When she reached the door, she slowly turned around.
Her gaze lingered on Hemi and Minsoo.
On their childish bickering.
On the way each of them acted without even realizing how much attention they paid to the other.
She thought to herself in surprise:
"If I weren't certain..."
She paused briefly.
"I would start suspecting there's something between them."
She opened the door.
At almost the exact same moment, she found herself face-to-face with Suhyeon, who was about to enter.
They nearly collided.
"Oh... my goodness."
She placed a hand over her chest.
"You startled me."
Suhyeon immediately bowed apologetically.
"I'm sorry."
Han Sera gave a small bow in return.
Then she gestured toward the room.
"No need to apologize."
"Go ahead."
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
"Hemi is here too."
"It's nice to see the three siblings together."
The moment Minsoo heard Suhyeon's voice, a wide smile spread across his face.
He called out excitedly,
"Oh, hyung!"
"Is that you?"
Suhyeon replied while stepping aside to let Han Sera leave.
"Yeah."
"I'm here."
Unlike Minsoo, however...
The instant Hemi heard Suhyeon's voice, her pupils widened.
Her fingers tightened unconsciously around the edge of the bed.
A tiny movement.
But enough to betray the tension hidden inside her.
Suhyeon entered the room.
He cast a quick sideways glance at her.
She had lowered her head.
Avoiding eye contact entirely.
He walked toward Minsoo.
Then pulled him into a firm embrace.
Stronger than necessary.
As if he needed to confirm for himself that Minsoo was truly alive.
After a few moments, he stepped back.
Turning his face away.
Trying to hide the small tear that had escaped his eye.
Minsoo noticed immediately.
So he smiled.
"Hyung..."
"I'm fine."
He lifted his hands slightly.
"Look at me."
Then he laughed.
"I got stabbed twice and I'm still alive."
Suhyeon gently shook his head.
Gesturing with one hand.
"Alright."
"No need to brag."
"I already know you're a superhero."
Minsoo burst out laughing.
"Hyung..."
"Look at me."
He attempted to flex his arm.
Despite barely having enough strength to move.
"Want to challenge me to an arm-wrestling match right now?"
Suhyeon's eyes widened.
"Slow down, you idiot!"
"You'll tear your stitches."
"Have you lost your mind?"
Hemi tried to play along.
But the smile on her face looked strained.
Slightly forced.
Eventually, she stood.
"Alright."
"I'll leave you two to continue your manly conversation."
"Excuse me."
Minsoo looked at her curiously.
But nodded.
She stepped a little closer.
"I'll come back later."
"Do you want me to bring you anything?"
He shook his head in a childish manner.
"No."
"Thank you."
She smiled.
Then left the room.
The door closed behind her.
Silence settled over the room.
The smile slowly disappeared from Minsoo's face.
He looked at his brother.
"Hyung."
Suhyeon met his gaze.
"What about the test results?"
"And the medication?"
Suhyeon stepped closer.
Taking his hand.
Trying to reassure him.
"Minsoo."
"Just focus on recovering."
"I've discussed everything with the doctors."
Minsoo blinked rapidly.
"Do you trust them?"
He hesitated.
Then continued.
"What if one of them decides..."
"to buy fame with my illness?"
Suhyeon smiled confidently.
"Minsoo."
"I told you before."
"I handled it."
"Stop thinking about a thousand different possibilities."
Then he looked directly into his eyes.
"Don't you trust your older brother?"
Minsoo lowered his gaze.
"I'm sorry..."
"I didn't mean it like that."
But Suhyeon interrupted him.
His voice firm.
Yet warm at the same time.
"Minsoo."
"You're my brother."
"Before you're my patient."
"Always remember that."
Minsoo immediately looked embarrassed.
He withdrew his hand.
Then began fiddling with his blanket.
As though searching for any possible escape from the awkwardness.
"Hyung..."
"The president brought a basket of fruit."
He pointed toward it.
"Help yourself."
"Really?"
Suhyeon walked over.
Opened the basket.
Grabbed a banana.
Then returned to his seat.
And started eating.
Minsoo continued watching him silently.
His lips moved slightly, as if there was a question struggling to come out.
Suhyeon noticed.
"What is it?"
"Just say what's on your mind."
Minsoo hesitated.
"I'm not sure if I should ask."
Suhyeon waved a hand.
"Ask already."
Minsoo took a deep breath.
Then said,
"You and Hemi..."
Suhyeon stopped chewing.
"You two had a fight?"
Silence filled the room.
Suhyeon swallowed with difficulty.
He stood up.
Walked toward the trash bin.
And threw away the banana peel.
For several moments, he remained standing there.
His back facing Minsoo.
Then he said,
"Honestly, I don't know."
"Maybe she's just stressed."
A pause.
Then he added,
"Or maybe I'm imagining things."
He returned to his seat.
But the smile he tried to force onto his face never reached his eyes.
Minsoo continued watching him.
He had known Suhyeon for years.
And he knew that wasn't the whole truth.
Suhyeon finally sighed.
"Believe me."
"I don't understand it either."
Then suddenly, he changed his tone.
Forcing himself to smile.
"Looks like there's some misunderstanding between us."
"I'll sort it out."
He got up.
"And since I've finished my banana..."
"I'll head out now."
"Permission to leave?"
Minsoo nodded.
"Yeah."
Then pointed at him.
"But visit me again later."
"I'm bored in here."
Suhyeon smiled.
"I will."
He left the room.
Closing the door behind him.
The moment he was out of Minsoo's sight...
The smile vanished.
As if it had never existed.
He walked through the hospital corridors.
His pace quick.
His lips pressed tightly together.
His fingers clenched even harder.
Until his knuckles turned white.
He reached his car.
Opened the door roughly.
Then slammed it shut even harder.
He sat behind the steering wheel.
And struck it with his fist.
Once.
Then again.
Then a third time.
As though trying to silence a voice that refused to stop inside his head.
"Damn it..."
"Damn it..."
Finally, he lowered his head onto the steering wheel.
And closed his eyes.
The memory he had spent the past month trying to forget returned once more.
A month earlier...
He had been sprawled across a couch inside a nearly empty bar.
Alcohol weighed heavily on his body.
His mind drowning in fog.
Hemi had come to take him home.
She helped him walk.
Until she finally brought him to his room.
And when she eased him onto the bed...
His hand suddenly shot out.
Pulling her toward him.
He tried to kiss her.
Her eyes widened in shock.
"Suhyeon!"
"Wake up!"
"It's me... Hemi!"
"What are you doing?!"
But his voice came out sluggish from the alcohol.
"I..."
"I'm not crazy."
"I'm doing this because it's you."
She froze.
Then shouted angrily.
Pulling away.
But Suhyeon staggered after her.
Barely able to keep his balance.
"Tell me..."
"Why do you love him?"
"And not me?"
His breathing trembled.
"Is it because everyone loves him?"
"Because he's famous?"
"Because millions of fans surround him?"
Hemi looked at him with disgust.
Tears streamed down her face.
Only then...
Did Suhyeon realize that her feelings had been far more obvious than he had imagined.
She lifted her head confidently.
And said,
"No."
"You're wrong."
"I'm still the same person."
"I care about what's inside."
Then she pointed at a flower vase sitting on the table.
And said without hesitation,
"If his soul lived inside that vase..."
"I would love the vase."
"Because it would be him."
"And not because I'm looking for someone else."
The memory ended.
Suhyeon slowly opened his eyes.
A short laugh escaped him.
One completely devoid of joy.
Then he whispered,
"If his soul lived inside an object..."
"Then you'd love the object too."
He raised his head toward the ceiling of the car.
And closed his eyes once more.
"Hemi..."
"Why?"
"I knew you first."
"So why him?"