Chapter 40: Protective Instincts and Past Promises

No need to panic if he didn’t meet them this time—destined connections happen eventually. Do Yoon will figure it out. I remembered something I’d forgotten.

“Have you talked to Hyung Joo?”

“Yeah, he’s free tomorrow.”

“Tell him to come over. We’ll order something.”

Do Yoon openly grimaced.

“Why bring him to our place? Can’t we eat out?”

“Home’s more comfortable, no?”

“…This is our space.”

He used to bring friends home fine, but now as an adult, he’s touchy about privacy. Since it didn’t matter where we saw Hyung Joo, I nodded.

“Fine, your call.”

“Okay. But, Hyung, I’m tired.”

“Go sleep.”

“It’s Saturday tomorrow… can we sleep together?”

“What?”

What does tomorrow being Saturday have to do with it? I didn’t mind, but I had unfinished work to wrap up. Before I could say no, Do Yoon hugged me from behind, chin on my shoulder. He used to be shorter, but now, nearly my height, he does this often. It felt like a bear was clinging to me. As I tried to shake him off, he sighed, voice weary.

“I barely slept for two days. People kept pushing drinks, talking to me, dragging me to the convenience store at dawn, and random kids kept coming to our room to stare…”

“Sounds rough.”

Popular guy problems. I imagined the attention he got—probably worse than he described.

“And they were vomiting from drinking. It was gross, so I stayed up.”

“That’s tough.”

“Sleeping with you would help me rest.”

“You’re a grown adult…”

His teary, exhausted face looked twice as pitiful, like an abandoned kitten. After a brief silence, I surrendered.

“Fine, go wash up.”

“Hehe.”

Do Yoon grinned like a kid who got his way. I couldn’t shake the feeling I’d been played. But… he’s scared of being alone, so what can I do?

“Go sleep first.”

“Wanna sleep together.”

While I checked work emails, Do Yoon, freshly showered and in pajamas, sat on my bed with a book, claiming exhaustion. Soon, I glanced back—his book was on the blanket, and he was asleep, head awkwardly buried in the pillow. His lashes cast long shadows under the soft lamp. I chuckled.

“Told you to sleep…”

I moved the book, adjusted his head, and turned off the laptop. Slipping under the covers, I lay beside him. Good thing I got a king-size bed—two grown men wouldn’t fit otherwise.

His soft breathing filled the quiet. In the dark, his perfect features and long lashes were faintly visible, like a porcelain doll.

Even for a main character, he’s too perfect.

Admiring his face, I turned off the lamp and drifted off.

Waking up, I was somehow hugging Do Yoon’s head. I sometimes clutch pillows in my sleep, but this time it was him. It happens too often when we share a bed—awkward. His breath tickled my chest. Trying to pull away, he hugged me tighter in his sleep, his warm breath grazing my bare skin through my pajama gap—right at my chest. My face flushed as I shoved his head away. He groaned, waking.

“Ugh…”

“Get up!”

He opened his eyes, saw me standing, and pouted like a kid whose candy was taken. Realizing I’d pushed too hard, I turned away, embarrassed. My chest still felt warm under the silk pajamas.

“Call Hyung Joo.”

“We’re eating lunch… Why’re you up? Can’t we sleep more?”

“No.”

It wasn’t a big deal, but embarrassment made me curt. I heard him shuffle out of bed, grumbling, but I couldn’t look back. It felt weirdly ticklish.

We picked a new Thai restaurant for lunch. Hyung Joo, who I hadn’t seen in a while, was almost as tall as Do Yoon. I patted his shoulder, smiling.

“Congrats on college! You worked hard.”

“Nah… thanks to you,” he said shyly.

Still rough-looking, but a far cry from the kid who hit me with his kickboard. In the novel, he dropped out and became a thug, but now he’s in a two-year college—a huge leap. I’d planned to fund his tuition as a “scholarship” if he did better, but since that didn’t pan out, I got his grandma a cleaning job at Haewon Foundation instead. Better pay and benefits covered his tuition fine.

“I didn’t do much—Do Yoon did.”

Hyung Joo pouted but couldn’t argue—Do Yoon had helped a ton. They studied together often in their senior year. I didn’t talk to Hyung Joo much, but Do Yoon kept me updated. Do Yoon, arms crossed, said smugly beside me.

“Yeah, I did it all.”

“Been a while, and you’re still so annoying,” Hyung Joo shot back.

Do Yoon smirked. It wasn’t serious, so I laughed along. While Do Yoon was in the bathroom, I leaned toward Hyung Joo.

“I’m glad he’s still close with you.”

“Close? He just checks if I’m alive sometimes.”

“You guys bicker but stick together.”

Eating fried rice, I glanced at him. In the novel, Hyung Joo’s bad blood with me started when he lent money to “Choi Seung Hyun” as a loan shark, a trap set by Do Yoon to ruin me for kidnapping his lover. But I’d never touch the heroine, and Hyung Joo’s on a better path, so that risk feels gone. Relieved, I said.

“He doesn’t talk to anyone as much as you. He’s shy, you know—kinda moody, a bit clingy. Changing environments seems tough for him. He didn’t make friends at the retreat. I’m worried he’ll struggle if he stays like this.”

Hyung Joo looked at me like I’d spoken gibberish.

“Who’re we talking about?”

“Do Yoon, who else?”

His face twisted oddly.

“You don’t know him at all…”

“What? He’s my brother.”

No one in this house knows Do Yoon better than me. I was confident. Hyung Joo shuddered.

“Crazy… Shy? The guy who called me the first day we met, threatening me if I contacted you directly?”

“What?”

I blinked, stunned. I couldn’t imagine Do Yoon saying anything harsh. Weren’t they close? Seeing my confusion, Hyung Joo scoffed.

“You didn’t know? Why do you think I never called you?”

“…Why would you need to call me?”

“Well…”

He muttered, “Ugh,” and slurped his noodles loudly. I pressed, baffled.

“With your personality, you wouldn’t stop just because Do Yoon said so.”

“…I felt bad for injuring your leg. And… I owe you a lot.”

I did help him, but hearing it so bluntly was unexpected. He was swayed easily in the novel too, so maybe he’s consistent. Then he said.

“…Wanted to look good to you.”

I choked on my water.