Minjae offered a gift

Minjae settled on the couch, stretching his arms across the backrest as he watched Jihoon fumble with his laptop. Jihoon had his brows furrowed in concentration, his lips pressed into a thin line as he navigated through the college website.

Minjae tilted his head, amusement flickering in his eyes. "You always look so serious when you're working on something. Relax, Jihoon. You're gonna give yourself wrinkles."

"Shut up-" Jihoon muttered, too focused on the screen to fire back with anything more creative.

After a few moments, Jihoon sighed and leaned back, letting the laptop rest on his thighs. "It's no use. My college fee is due soon, and I haven't saved enough. I'm still short by at least a month's salary."

Minjae's gaze darkened slightly, but his expression softened when he saw the frustration in Jihoon's face. Without saying a word, he reached into his back pocket and pulled out his wallet. He flipped it open, retrieved a checkbook, and started writing something down.

Jihoon looked up just as Minjae ripped the check from the book and extended it toward him.

"What's this?" Jihoon asked, his eyes narrowing suspiciously.

"Take it," Minjae said casually, waving the check in front of him.

Jihoon snatched it, his jaw dropping as he read the amount: ₩10,000,000.

"Are you insane?!" Jihoon exclaimed, staring at the check like it might burn a hole through his hand.

Minjae leaned back against the couch, crossing one leg over the other. "Not insane. Just helping my little brother out."

"That's way too much!" Jihoon argued, holding the check out as if to give it back. "I can't accept this!"

"Why not?" Minjae said with a smirk, not moving to take the check back. "You need it, don't you?"

"Yes, but—" Jihoon hesitated, looking between the check and Minjae. "This is practically a fortune! I can't just—"

"Jihoon," Minjae interrupted, his tone more serious now. "Listen to me. You're my brother. You're struggling, and I have the means to help. It's not a big deal to me, but it clearly is to you. So just take it."

Jihoon clenched the check tightly, his pride warring with his practical side. "I'll pay you back," he said finally, his voice firm.

Minjae chuckled, shaking his head. "No, you won't."

"Yes, I will!" Jihoon insisted, glaring at him.

Minjae reached over and ruffled Jihoon's hair, earning a swat at his hand. "Fine, fine," he said with a grin. "If it makes you feel better, pay me back. But don't stress about it, alright? Focus on school first."

Jihoon sighed, slumping against the couch. He glanced down at the check again, his chest tightening. He didn't know how to feel—grateful, embarrassed, relieved, and even a little guilty. But one thing was clear: Minjae was serious about helping him, and for once, Jihoon didn't feel so alone in his struggles.

Minjae leaned in, his face just inches away from Jihoon's, causing him to freeze mid-breath. His expression wasn't teasing this time but curious, his sharp eyes locking onto Jihoon's.

"So," Minjae began, his voice low and deliberate, "do you remember anything about last night?"

Jihoon blinked rapidly, his thoughts scrambling. "Last night?" he echoed, trying to play dumb.

Minjae tilted his head, smirking slightly. "Yeah. You know... after the champagne. You were pretty... affectionate."

Jihoon furrowed his brow, wracking his brain for the events of the night before. At first, he thought back to his strange dream—the vivid memory of kissing Minjae in the car and his own boldness. His heart raced. *Wait... that wasn't a dream?*

His eyes widened as the realization hit. "Wait... that actually happened?!"

Minjae's smirk grew, and he nodded. "Oh, it definitely happened. You kissed me first, by the way. Pulled me by the collar, all bold and... impulsive." His voice dropped into a teasing tone, his smirk deepening. "I didn't know you had it in you, Jihoon."

Jihoon felt his face go hot, his entire body stiffening in mortified disbelief. "I—I thought that was just a dream!"

"Interesting dream, huh?" Minjae chuckled, leaning back slightly but not taking his eyes off Jihoon. "But no, it wasn't. You kissed me. And if I remember correctly, you didn't stop there. You even..."

"Stop!" Jihoon yelped, covering his face with both hands. "I don't want to hear it!"

Minjae laughed, his tone light and amused, but his gaze remained curious. "What's the big deal? It's not like I minded," he said nonchalantly, leaning closer again. "But now I'm curious... Was that just the alcohol talking? Or is there something you're not telling me?"

Jihoon peeked through his fingers, his face burning. "I-I wasn't thinking straight, okay? It doesn't mean anything!"

Minjae raised an eyebrow, his smirk fading into a softer expression. "Doesn't mean anything?" he repeated, his tone quieter now.

Jihoon froze again, his throat tightening. He didn't know how to answer, so he chose to avoid it entirely. "Just forget it, okay? Let's not talk about it anymore."

Minjae leaned back, giving Jihoon some space. His expression was unreadable, a mix of amusement and something deeper. "Fine," he said after a moment, his voice light again. "We'll drop it—for now. But, Jihoon..."

Jihoon hesitantly looked up at him, his guard still up.

Minjae's smirk returned, but there was a gentleness in his eyes. "You're not as good at hiding your feelings as you think."

Jihoon's heart skipped a beat, but before he could say anything, Minjae stood up and stretched, acting as if their intense conversation had never happened. "Come on, let's head out. I've got a surprise for you today."

Jihoon sat there, stunned, unsure of what to feel. What does he mean by that?

Jihoon sat frozen on the couch, trying to process everything that had just transpired. His mind was still racing, heart pounding from the weight of Minjae's words and the realization that last night wasn't just a drunken fantasy.

He glanced up, his eyes meeting Minjae's as the older man moved around the room, collecting his things as if nothing had happened. The shift in Minjae's demeanor was unsettling—light, playful, and easygoing, yet Jihoon couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more beneath the surface, something Minjae wasn't saying.

"Surprise?" Jihoon repeated, his voice sounding slightly uncertain as he tried to regain some sense of control over the situation. "What do you mean by that?"

Minjae didn't answer right away. Instead, he gave Jihoon a playful wink as he grabbed his jacket from the back of a chair. "Come on, let's go. You'll see soon enough."

Jihoon wanted to argue, wanted to ask more questions about the kiss, about the night, but the look in Minjae's eyes—calm, teasing, and somehow too knowing—held him back. It was like Minjae knew exactly what to do to keep him off balance, to keep him second-guessing everything.

"Fine," Jihoon muttered, standing up, still feeling the heavy weight of his confusion. "But this isn't over."

Minjae laughed, the sound light and carefree. "Whatever you say, little brother."

The ride to their destination was quiet. Jihoon stared out the window, trying to distract himself from the thoughts swirling in his head. The whole situation felt surreal—the lavish house, the champagne, the kiss. He couldn't believe how quickly things had escalated, how easy it was for Minjae to slip back into his life after all these years.

When they finally arrived at their destination, Jihoon's stomach tightened with unease. They were at a sleek, modern building with tall glass windows that reflected the bright morning sky. Minjae led him through the doors without saying a word, his steps confident as he guided Jihoon inside.

"Where are we?" Jihoon asked, glancing around at the polished floors and contemporary art pieces on the walls.

Minjae smiled, but there was something a little more secretive in his expression now. "A little surprise, like I said. Just follow me."

Jihoon wasn't sure what to expect, but he followed Minjae anyway, his mind still spinning. As they walked deeper into the building, they passed several closed doors before Minjae stopped in front of one.

"This," Minjae said, turning to face Jihoon, "is where I've been working on something... special. For you."

Jihoon's eyebrows furrowed. "For me?"

Minjae nodded and opened the door, gesturing for Jihoon to enter. "Trust me. This is something you've needed for a long time."

Jihoon stepped inside, his confusion growing as he took in the room. It wasn't what he expected at all. There were a few chairs set up, a table covered in papers, and... an agent standing by the corner with a professional smile.

"What... what is this?" Jihoon asked, his voice low.

Minjae closed the door behind him and walked toward the agent. "It's a contract. An offer. A way for you to take control of your life again."

Jihoon blinked, his mind not fully registering what Minjae was saying. "Control of my life? What are you talking about?"

The agent stepped forward, offering Jihoon a piece of paper with his name on it. "It's a modeling contract. Minjae's company has been following your experience, and we think you have great potential. This is an opportunity to restart, to really go big."

Jihoon stared at the contract in his hands, his heart hammering. A modeling contract? What the hell was going on? He'd been struggling to pay for school, and now Minjae—who seemed to have everything—was offering him this?

"You... You did this for me?" Jihoon whispered, his voice barely audible.

Minjae's expression softened, a rare sincerity in his eyes. "I've been watching over you for a long time, Jihoon. You deserve to have everything you've ever wanted. You've been through a lot."

Jihoon stood there, unable to move, his thoughts completely jumbled. This wasn't just about the kiss anymore. Minjae had been looking out for him, even when he didn't know it. Everything he thought he knew about his stepbrother, about their family, had just been turned upside down.

Minjae's voice brought him back to reality. "So, what do you say? Do you want to take a chance? Be the person you always were meant to be?"

Jihoon stared at the contract in his hands, his heart racing with a mix of excitement and uncertainty. He could feel the weight of the decision pressing down on him, but there was one thing he knew for sure: Minjae was offering him a chance to change everything.

And Jihoon wasn't sure if he was ready for it, but part of him—just the smallest part—was willing to take the risk.