Chapter 4: Shadow Trap
Chapter 4: Shadow Trap
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Eugene and Seung made their way to their afternoon classes, walking side by side in silence. As they walked in the hallway, Eugene felt a mixture of disgust and trepidation at being in Saejin's body and being subject to Seung's possessive tendencies. Despite his initial plan to escape, he found himself feeling trapped.
Seung glanced over at Saejin several times, noticing a change in his expression and demeanor. It was subtle, but he couldn't shake the feeling something was off.
"Are you feeling okay?" Seung asked, a hint of suspicion in his voice. "You've been silent."
Eugene's mind raced as he heard Seung's question. He didn't want to draw too much attention to himself and risk being caught, but at the same time, he felt like he had to say something.
"I'm fine," Eugene replied, trying to sound nonchalant.
Seung eyed Saejin with skepticism, his expression growing more intense. "You sure about that?" he asked, placing a hand on Eugene's shoulder. "You don't look fine. You look pale and anxious."
Eugene tensed up as Seung touched him, feeling Seung's possessive grip on his shoulder. He could feel Seung's gaze on him, like a hawk watching its prey. Seung's eyes scanned Saejin's face, searching for any signs of deception. He could sense that something was off about his younger brother, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.
"You know you can tell me anything, right?" Seung said as they continued walking together towards their classroom. Upon entering, Seung steered his brother towards their usual seats. Eugene almost went to his own seat if not for Seung who hold him firm and guide him in Saejin's seat. He almost forgot he needs to adjust and try to act as Saejin. As they sat down, Seung leaned in towards Eugene and whispered in his ear.
"I know something is bothering you," Seung said, his voice low but firm. "And I intend to find out."
Eugene felt a shiver run down his spine at Seung's words. He knew he had to tread carefully, but it was difficult to hide his discomfort.
Eugene didn't respond, forcing himself to maintain a calm exterior. He shifted away from Seung, moving discreetly away from his touch.
Seung noticed Saejin's movement and grew even more suspicious. He leaned in closer, his eyes narrowing as he studied every aspect of his brother's behavior.
"You're pulling away from me," Seung observed, his tone taking on a possessive edge. "Why are you doing that?"
Just then, their middle-aged history teacher came in. Classes began and Seung and Eugene settled into their respective seats. Throughout the lesson, Seung kept stealing glances at his brother, the suspicion in his eyes never diminishing.
Seung observed as Saejin began taking notes in class, his writing style distinct and different from what Seung was used to. Seung's eyebrows furrowed as he watched closely. He had seen Saejin's handwriting hundreds of times before and it had always been consistent. But now, something was off. The way Saejin held the pen, the shape of the letters he formed – it was all different.
Seung made a mental note to bring this up later.
After what felt like eternity, the bell finally rang, signaling the end of class. Students began gathering their belongings and filing out of the room, chattering away amongst themselves.
Seung led Saejin towards their car, parked in a corner of the student parking lot. He opened the passenger side door and gestured for his brother to get in.
"Actually," Eugene started, a flicker of panic crossing his face, his voice trembling slightly. He found an excuse to get away. "I'm sleeping over at a friend's house tonight."
Seung's eyebrows furrowed in surprise at this unexpected announcement. He hadn't heard anything about Saejin making new friends.
"You never mentioned anything about a friend," Seung said, his voice taking on a hint of possessiveness. "Who is this friend, and how come I've never heard of them before?"
Eugene, still struggling to think of a response, blurted out the first person that came to mind. "Yeonjun, my new friend," he said, his words rushed and slightly breathless. "I met him recently and we hit it off. I'm going to spend the night at their place." Yeonjun was the guy from his neighborhood and his classmate from elementary years but they don't see often anymore because Yeonjun enrolled to another high school.
Seung's expression hardened at Saejin's explanation. He didn't believe it for a second. However, he took a mental note of this guy named Yeonjun.
"And why haven't I heard anything about them until now?" he asked, his tone sharp. "You usually tell me everything. Why is this different?" Seung's grip tightened on Eugene's arm, his expression stern. "We're not going to argue about this," he said firmly. "Get in the car now."
Eugene knew there was no use arguing with Seung when he was like this. He swallowed hard, his heart racing with fear and anxiety.
The ride home was mostly silent as Seung drove them through the busy streets, his focus on the road and his grip on the steering wheel tight. Despite the lack of conversation, the tension in the air was palpable.
Eugene sat in the passenger seat, his body rigid and his mind racing. He could feel Seung's gaze on him occasionally, and it made him feel even more uneasy.
After a long, tense drive home, they finally arrived at their large, luxurious home. Seung turned off the engine and unbuckled his seatbelt, his gaze still fixed on Saejin.
Simon, the family's longtime butler, warmly greeted them as they exited the car. "Hello, young masters," he chimed, a friendly smile on his face. "I hope you've had a pleasant day."
Seung gave a brief nod in response, his mood far from sociable. Simon, well attuned to his masters' moods, quickly noticed the heavy atmosphere and refrained from engaging in further conversation.
"Come on," he said, dragging Eugene inside. As they entered the living room, he gestured for Eugene to take a seat.
"Sit down," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. As soon as Eugene was seated, Seung step forward, looming over him and trapping Saejin's frame between his arms, his expression intense, their faces almost touching.
"Tell me what's going on," he demanded. "Why were you behaving so strangely earlier, and why are you suddenly sleeping over at a friend's house? You never mentioned this person to me before." Seung took Saejin's chin, his gaze unwavering as he stared down at his younger brother. "And while we're at it," he continued, his voice growing harsher. "Why were you at the hospital? You never told me anything about that either."
It felt like a barrage of questions, each one a blow to Eugene's already fragile state. He could practically feel the walls closing in around him, like he was trapped in a corner with nowhere to escape. Eugene took a shaky breath, trying to collect his thoughts and come up with a response.
"I..." he began, his voice wavering. "I..." But the words stuck in his throat, refusing to come out. He was caught between a rock and a hard place, torn between the truth and the lies he had carefully constructed.
Seeing his brother struggled for words, Seung's expression softened slightly, and his voice took on a gentler tone. "Saejin-ah," he said. "I've known you since you were born. I know you better than anyone. There's no point in trying to hide things from me."
Eugene couldn't think of any excuses. He blurted out how he feel. His voice was trembling, his words laced with anger and disgust.
"Do I need to tell you everything? I'm disgusted by the way you act," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "The way you behave towards me. It's not right. It's not normal."
Seung stared at his younger brother, completely taken aback by his words. He had grown up with Saejin all his life, and he knew his younger brother inside and out. The real Saejin had always been more than comfortable with Seung's protectiveness, never once expressing any disgust or discomfort at his touch. This sudden change in attitude didn't make sense.
"Wait a second," Seung began, his voice laced with confusion. "Why would you... why would you say that?"
He studied Saejin's face, searching for any sign that this was merely a joke or a prank. Surely, this wasn't the brother he had grown up with, the brother who used to crawl into his bed when he had nightmares and cling to him like a koala when he was feeling scared or lonely.
"Is this some sort of prank?" Seung asked, his voice low and intense. "Because it's not funny."
"Well," Eugene spoke up, his voice wavering slightly. "You asked me what's going on in me. This is how I truly feel. I hate you!"
Seung felt a rush of anger wash over him. He gazed intensely at his younger brother's eyes to see any hint of remorse about his words but he couldn't find any lies in them.
"You... are not my brother," he said, his voice low and trembling with anger. "You're not Saejin. Just who the hell are you?" He grabbed Eugene's jaw, squeezing it tightly between his fingers as he forced Eugene to look him in the eyes.
Eugene winced in pain as Seung's fingers dug into his jaw, but he didn't back down. He met Seung's glare with a defiant gaze of his own.
"Just leave me alone!" he protested, his voice strained but firm. "I hate you! I'm sick of the way you constantly cling to me, acting like you own me. It's making me nauseous."
Seung's face paled at those words, his earlier rage replaced by a pang of hurt. He could stomach a lot, but hearing those words from his younger brother was more than he could bear. Without another word, he turned and walked briskly towards their bedroom.
Though Seung's face was impassive, his internal anger was seething. He was livid, but his love and attachment to his younger brother prevented him from releasing his temper fully. He desperately tried to control his emotions, reminding himself that hurting Saejin was the last thing he wanted.
Simon, who witnessed all of it, didn't say a thing. He know better than to get involved in the brothers' quarrel. Although, he doesn't want to interrupt the two, but it's already time for the brothers' dinner.
"Young Master Saejin, it's time for your dinner."
Eugene, however, was quick to dismiss the idea with a dismissive wave of his hand, "I'm not hungry."
Simon, aware of the consequences of Saejin not eating, interjected, "But your hyung won't like that."
As if on cue, Eugene's stomach let out a grumble, sending a wave of embarrassment washing over him. His cheeks turned pink, a mixture of hunger and embarrassment, and he silently cursed his body for betraying him.
"Fine," he declared before heading towards the kitchen. The mouthwatering aromas wafting through the air tantalized his senses, and the sight of the warm food spread out on the table before him was almost too much to resist. This was unlike anything he had ever witnessed before. The rich smells stirred something within him, and he fought back the urge to let his saliva escape.
"Is this all... for me?" he asked in disbelief, almost overwhelmed by the veritable feast.
Simon, standing at a respectful distance, gave a succinct response. "Yes, young master." The dutiful butler remained vigilant, ensuring that Saejin would not leave a single morsel unfinished.
"Mmm," Eugene couldn't help but let out a moan of pleasure, the flavors and textures of the food sending his taste buds into a frenzy. It was an entirely new experience for him, eating such a hearty and satisfying meal.
Simon watched on, a warm smile spreading across his wrinkled face. "I'm glad you're enjoying it, young master," he observed. "I don't think I've ever seen you get so excited over a meal before."
As Simon's words echoed in his mind, Eugene paused mid-bite, a sudden realization setting in. If this was the first time Simon had seen him so enthusiastic about a meal, it meant Saejin hadn't displayed such eagerness in the past. Could he have given off an uninterested or unappreciative attitude before? The thought made him slightly uneasy.
Unbeknownst to him, Seung quietly entered the kitchen at that moment, observing the unfolding scene with a quiet intensity.
"What a rare sight," he mused, observing the uncharacteristic enthusiasm on display. "This is a first."
Although Seung found himself somewhat pleased with Saejin's enthusiastic reaction to the food, a sense of skepticism nagged at him. This behavior was distinctly unlike Saejin's usual demeanor. The way he held his utensils, the manner in which he consumed his food – everything seemed strangely different.
Seung's gaze lingered on Saejin, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "I can't believe you're showing such excitement," Seung continued, his tone playful. "Who knew you had this side to you? I almost want to feed you myself." He leaned against the countertop, arms crossed, his smirk widening as he observed Saejin savoring his meal.
"I'm not a baby for you to do that," Eugene protested, his voice tight.
Seung chuckled, a glint in his eye. "Ah, have you forgotten? I've always fed you since you were little."
Eugene fell silent, momentarily at a loss for words. Thoughts raced through his mind as he mulled over the depths of intimacy between the two brothers. How far did their familiarity go?
***
There you go. Any idea what will happen next? Stay tune for the next chapter!