Chapter 50: What He Couldn’t Say

“We met because of Hyunjin before, remember.

I guess seeing him in a place like this made you happy.”

“……”

Hyunwoo tried to brush it off like that, but Seunghyuk’s expression only twisted further.

It seemed that mentioning Hyunjin made Dokyung bother him even more.

Well, in a way, Dokyung was Seunghyuk’s rival.

He must have known for a long time that Dokyung had feelings for Hyunjin.

Come to think of it, when Hyunjin stayed at Dokyung’s house, Seunghyuk didn’t look happy either.

Hyunwoo nodded inwardly, understanding.

“Don’t tell me you wanted to have dinner with the professor.”

“Of course not.

If that were true, I wouldn’t have adjusted to your schedule.”

“……”

At that, Seunghyuk’s face brightened a little.

In the previous timeline, Hyunwoo had thought he was the type whose expression never changed, but seeing him now, that wasn’t quite true.

Maybe it was because this Seunghyuk was younger than the one five years later.

Hyunwoo had gotten too used to the older version, so sometimes when he faced the current Seunghyuk, he was struck by how young he still was.

Without thinking, Hyunwoo smiled faintly.

“But what are you doing here?

Where’s Hyunjin?”

“Joo Hyunjin is at home.

I came to buy some study guides during break.”

“Ah… I see.”

The moment Hyunjin was mentioned, Hyunwoo felt uncomfortable.

He remembered the argument they had at the hospital earlier.

Glancing at Seunghyuk, who had already gone expressionless again, Hyunwoo asked carefully.

“So… how is Hyunjin?”

“What do you mean?”

“We fought earlier.”

“Ah.”

Seunghyuk blinked as if he had only just remembered.

To think he could be so indifferent about Hyunjin.

Hyunwoo wanted to nag, but right now, learning Hyunjin’s condition was more important.

“He locked himself in his room as soon as he got home, so I don’t really know.”

“Hmm… I see.”

“Yeah.”

“……”

Hyunjin had gone to his room heartbroken, so there wasn’t much Seunghyuk could have done.

Maybe that’s why he came out to buy books.

Was it fair to say he was being too relaxed even though his lover was so down, or was he just indifferent?

In the previous timeline, Seunghyuk had been cold because he disliked Hyunwoo, but seeing him treat Hyunjin similarly felt wrong to Hyunwoo.

He swallowed the words he almost spoke.

He didn’t want to become the meddlesome older brother who interfered with everything his sibling’s lover did.

“I didn’t know Hyunjin felt that way…”

“……”

“Did he ever tell you anything about it?”

Seunghyuk shook his head.

“No, I didn’t know either.”

“…I see.”

So he hadn’t told Seunghyuk either.

Which meant Hyunjin had been suffering alone.

In the previous timeline, Hyunjin hadn’t gone so far as to ask to be removed from the family register, so something must have triggered it this time.

But what?

Hyunwoo thought and thought, but nothing came to mind.

The only thing he’d done differently was helping Hyunjin and Seunghyuk become lovers earlier.

“Ha… I don’t know.”

“Just cool your head for now, hyung.”

“…Should I?”

Accepting that, Hyunwoo wandered through the bookstore with Seunghyuk.

Hyunwoo chose a poetry book Seunghyuk recommended, and helped Seunghyuk choose a study guide.

“Give me the books, I’ll pay for both.”

“I have money.”

“You think I don’t know that?”

“……”

Their family wasn’t wealthy, but not poor either.

Especially Seunghyuk’s mother, a genius professor known even abroad.

Seunghyuk took after her completely—face and all.

But their relationship was strained.

His parents wanted him to study abroad like they did, but he chose Korea University.

Then he got a job in Korea for Hyunjin.

They fought many times over it.

“So just accept it when I say I’ll buy it.”

Hyunwoo shrugged.

“We never overlapped in school, so I couldn’t treat you as a junior back then.

So let me at least do this.”

“…Okay.”

Seunghyuk handed the books over.

Hyunwoo paid and returned them.

“I’ll use them well. Thanks.”

“It’s nothing.”

Hyunwoo left the bookstore in a good mood—then suddenly realized something.

By now, Seunghyuk should have been comforting Hyunjin.

But instead he was here.

“You should go home now.”

“What about you?”

“I’ll stay out a bit longer.”

“Then I’m not going either.”

“……”

“Hyung.”

Hyunwoo turned.

Seunghyuk’s face was way too close.

Serious.

Steady.

“I remembered something Hyunjin said before.

Something meaningful.”

“What? Really?”

“Yeah.”

“What did he say?”

“Well…”

They stepped into a café and sat.

“It was when you proposed to me, hyung.”

“…Why are you bringing that up?”

“Because Hyunjin found out and came to me.”

“He did?”

“Yeah.”

“He asked me not to marry you.

Because if you got married, he’d be alone.”

“…….”

Hyunwoo felt his chest tighten.

‘So in the end, it’s because of me.’

“…So what am I supposed to do?”

“What do you mean what.

If he wants to live his own life, let him.”

Hyunwoo glared.

This is why T-types are hopeless.

No empathy.

None.