Minjin's guilt and Minjun's bitterness

Minjun typically allows the taxi to drive up to their gate, but this time, he got out of the vehicle far from their house so he could walk. The chill of the autumn breeze only made him feel heavier. As he entered the house, he was overcome by an unfamiliar sense of exhaustion and gloom. He barely acknowledged his surroundings until Mrs. Han greeted him in the living room, where Kang Xiumin was also sitting.

"Minjuna-ah, have you eaten?" Mrs. Han asked.

Minjun was startled upon hearing his mother for a second. He then turned to them and replied weakly. "Ne, not yet, eomma."

"What's wrong, Minjun-ah?" Mrs. Han inquired with concern.

"I'm just tired," Minjun sighed.

As they spoke, Mr. Kang came down the stairs.

"Did you just arrive, Minjun-ah?" Mr. Kang asked.

"Ne, abeoji," Minjun responded politely.

"Did you come from your self-study session?" Mr. Kang asked again.

"Ne," Minjun said, his voice low. 

"Have you eaten?" Mr. Kang repeated. 

"Aniyo," Minjun replied once more. 

"Change your clothes, and let's eat together," Mr. Kang said firmly. 

Minjun glanced at Mrs. Han, who gave him a gentle gesture, signaling him to comply. Reluctantly, he went upstairs to change while Mrs. Han turned to Kang Xiumin. 

"I think Minjun-ah has a problem. You should go talk to him," she whispered. 

"Araso, eomma," Kang Xiumin agreed and followed Minjun up to his room.

Kang Xiumin knocked on the door and asked, "Minjun-ah, can I come in?" 

"Ne, hyung," came Minjun's voice from inside. 

When Kang Xiumin entered, he saw Minjun changing into more comfortable clothes. 

He sat down on the edge of the bed and gestured for Minjun to join him. "Sit down for a while," Kang Xiumin said.

"Why, hyung?" Minjun asked, sitting next to his brother. 

"Are you struggling at school?" Kang Xiumin inquired gently. 

Minjun shook his head. "Aniyo." 

"Are you being bullied?" Kang Xiumin tried again. 

"Aniyo," Minjun repeated. 

"Then, is something bothering you?" Kang Xiumin pressed. 

Minjun sighed deeply. "Minjin-ah has returned." 

Kang Xiumin's eyes widened in surprise. "Really? When?"

"I don't know for sure. I discovered it weeks ago," Minjun admitted. 

"Shouldn't you be happy that she's back?" Kang Xiumin asked.

Minjun sighed again, this time more heavily. "She's changed, Hyung. She's become so rebellious. I don't recognize her anymore."

"Minjun-ah, people change. I'm sure Minjin also sees that you've changed. You won't stay a kid forever," Kang Xiumin said gently.

Minjun sighed deeply. "But we've been fighting since the day she came back. It's not the same as before." 

Kang Xiumin chuckled lightly. "Maybe that's because you two have known each other for so long, and you're comfortable enough to argue with each other." 

"I don't know," Minjun said, rubbing his face. "I feel... lost." 

Kang Xiumin placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "You're not lost, Minjun-ah. Minjin has found you again." 

"All I ever wanted was to let her showcase her potential, and she actually did, Hyung. She's doing better in our classes," Minjun said with a slight sound of frustration in his voice as he turned his body to face him.

Kang Xiumin let out a soft chuckle and tapped his shoulder. "Minjun-ah, Minjin has been away from South Korea for too long. She has adopted some of their liberated values. Now that she's back, she may not want to feel restricted. Give her time to reconnect with her Korean values; she will eventually find her way back to where she used to be."

Minjun sighed with slumped shoulders. "Yeah, I also have observed that."

He then stood and tapped Minjun's shoulder again. "Now, come on. Let's go have some dinner."

Despite the heaviness in his heart, Minjun felt a slight sense of relief from his brother's words. He nodded and got up to follow Kang Xiumin downstairs. 

As Minjun's family gathered around the dinner table, an awkward silence lingered.

Mr. Kang finally broke the stillness and turned to Minjun. "Minjun-ah, you've been studying diligently, haven't you?" He asked.

"Ne, abeoji," Minjun replied.

"When are your midterm exams?" Mr. Kang continued. 

"Two weeks from now, abeoji." Minjun answered.

Mr. Kang narrowed his eyes. "You make sure you stay at the top. Don't you dare embarrass me, araso?" 

Minjun swallowed hard before he bowed his head. "Ne, abeoji, I understand." 

"Minjun-ah mentioned that Park Minjin has returned," Kang Xiumin stepped in to diffuse the situation. 

Mrs. Han's face lit up. "Park Minjin? His childhood friend who moved to America?" she asked.

"The daughter of Park Tae-hyung?" Mr. Kang added.

"Ne. We're classmates," Minjun replied with a faint smile.

"That's wonderful! Isn't that right, Yeobo?" Mrs. Han turned to Mr. Kang, who nodded in approval.

Mr. Kang then asked, "Did she return with her father, Park Tae-hyung?"

Minjun hesitated for a moment before responding softly, "Animnida, samchon passed away this year from a heart attack."

The news cast a somber shadow over the dinner table, and for a brief moment, everyone fell silent. 

"Who is she living with now here in South Korea?" Kang Xiumin asked, breaking the silence. 

"She's living with her older brother, Tae-sung Hyung," Minjun explained. 

Kang Xiumin's face lit up. "Why don't we invite them for dinner?" 

"Really? Hyung, that's unnecessary!" Minjun stuttered, turning to look at his brother with surprise.

"That's a wonderful idea! We should invite them and give Minjin a proper welcome back!" Mrs. Han exclaimed.

Minjun felt his stomach churn. The thought of seeing Minjin—after all the tension and confusion between them—in such a formal setting with their parents felt wrong.

"But, Eomma, maybe they're busy," Minjun tried to object.

"Nonsense, Minjun-ah," Mrs. Han interrupted, waving her hand dismissively. "I'm sure they'd appreciate the gesture!"

### 

Minjin arrived home, feeling a mix of sadness and guilt. She found Tae-sung sitting at the table with a bottle of soju. Cleopatra rubbed against her legs, providing an oddly comforting touch.

"Oppa, why are you drinking?" Minjin asked as she took a seat across from him.

"N-nothing. How's school?" Tae-sung inquired.

Minjin forced a weak smile. "It's tiring."

"Did something happen?" Tae-sung asked with growing concern.

Minjin sighed heavily. "Minjun-ah and I fought again, but this time it's my fault."

"What happened?" Tae-sung asked.

"Minjun always knows what's best for me, but I keep rejecting his gestures," Minjin confessed.

Tae-sung offered a gentle smile. "Talking things through and admitting when you're wrong can make a big difference," Tae-sung explained.

"Should I apologize to him?" Minjin inquired.

"What does your heart tell you?" Tae-sung replied.

Minjin placed a hand on her chest, contemplating the question while controlling her breathing. Deep down, she resented the feeling of being wrong. Ever since Minjun found her in that garden, he had always made her feel unjustly treated. She honestly felt as though he was chaining her, which was why she had been trying to break free from him.

Since leaving South Korea, she had been doing everything for herself. Having been used to a carefree life, this feeling of being grounded was a culture shock she had just realized.

Unlike Minjun, who had lived in South Korea his entire life, he felt a tendency to be diligent and imposing. However, this behavior was not entirely his fault; he was under pressure to conform to societal expectations without fully realizing it. This pressure came from values deemed essential for upholding the highest moral standards and maintaining the honor of their families.

Minjin sighed deeply to herself, and despite this observation, she acknowledged her mistake.

### 

Minjin walked sluggishly across the school grounds with her back slumped. 

This time, she wasn't late because she hadn't gotten enough sleep due to her feelings of guilt. She knew she hated feeling this way. Minjun was right—she was being stubborn. She halted in her tracks as thoughts of Minjun crossed her mind. Frustrated, she groaned and ran her hands messily through her hair. Then, she covered her face with her palms and sighed deeply, contemplating how she would face Minjun today.

As Minjin approached the back door of her classroom, she took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. Upon entering, her gaze immediately found Minjun, who was already seated at his desk, jotting down notes. She walked over to her own desk, took off her backpack, and sat down beside him. After placing her book and notes on her desk, she carefully moved her backpack behind her chair. Turning to face the front of the classroom, she couldn't help but steal a glance at Minjun from the corner of her eye.

During class, Minjin struggled with her emotions. She tried to catch Minjun's eye, but he consistently avoided her gaze. Despite his silence, she could sense the anger in his demeanor. 

When the bell rang for lunch, Minjin attempted to call out to him, but he immediately walked away. 

After lunch, she sought refuge in the library. But she spotted Minjun chatting comfortably with the girl who had confessed to him yesterday. Their smiles appeared genuine, which made Minjin feel a pang of disappointment. 

As she walked away with her shoulders slumped, she murmured to herself, "I guess I was wrong to think he smiled differently at me. I must be losing my mind."

During physical education class, the students were assigned to partner up for a dodgeball game. Minjin and Minjun were set to face each other, but before Minjin could say anything, a girl approached him and asked if he would be her partner. He smiled and agreed. 

Minjin then turned to look for Bang Eun-kyung, only to discover that she had already paired up with someone else. However, just behind her, a boy suddenly approached her.

"Would you like to be my partner?" he asked. 

Minjin looked at him intently before replying, "Ah, okay." 

Minjin and Minjun ended up on the field with different partners. 

The game of dodgeball began, and Minjin's partner was quick and skilled at protecting her. 

"Wow, you're really good," Minjin commented as they played. 

"I'm actually the best in this class," the boy boasted. 

"Really? Sorry, what's your name again?" Minjin asked, trying to keep up with him. 

"Wow, that hurts. We've been classmates the entire time," the boy said with a laugh. 

"I'm sorry. My mind is always occupied," Minjin apologized.

"Just kidding, it's fine. My name is Cha Dae-woo," he said. 

As they chatted, a sense of exhilaration washed over them as they recognized they were the last targets standing among their teammates. 

"Whoa, we're really good at this!" Minjin exclaimed, eyes sparkling with excitement. 

"Stay right there; I'll keep you safe," Cha Dae-woo declared, his voice steady, as he positioned himself protectively in front of her.

Cha Dae-woo exerted every ounce of strength to shield Minjin, who clung to his waist. Minjun stood a short distance his as his frustration simmering within. He watched with clenched fists as Cha Dae-woo's protective instincts for Minjin grew increasingly apparent.

A wave of irritation washed over him as he watched Minjin lean down, her hand outstretched in concern, helping Cha Dae-woo to his feet after he stumbled. She brushed the dirt off his pants. Minjun's envy grew as he observed the bond between them.

As the ball soared through the air, it came closer to Minjun. With a swift and determined motion, he snatched it from the ground. Without hesitation, he flicked his wrist and launched the ball, sending it arcing toward Minjin and Cha Dae-woo.

"Ya, Minjun-ah! They are our teammates!" another classmate protested. 

"I don't care! Give me the ball!" Minjun demanded angrily. 

Minjin, exasperated, exclaimed, "He's crazy!"

Bang Eun-kyung ran after the ball. With a swift, fluid motion, he picked it up and threw it back to Minjun. Minjun reacted with fierce intensity, launching himself toward the ball with a burst of energy. However, Cha Dae-woo was agile and skillfully sidestepped the throw, evading the incoming ball. The game continued as they tossed the ball back and forth.

"I have an idea. I will catch the ball," Minjin said.

"What? Can you really do that?" Cha Dae-woo asked. 

Minjin smiled confidently, "Trust me."

Minjun and Bang Eun-kyung threw the ball toward Minjin and Cha Dae-woo. Minjun noticed that the two were working together, which made his frown deepen. In frustration, he forcefully threw the ball straight at them. When Minjin saw her opportunity, she released Cha Dae-woo and leaped into the air to catch it.

The crowd fell silent for a moment before erupting into cheers for Minjin. Cha Dae-woo approached her for a high-five, which she happily returned. From the sidelines, Minjun watched as the crowd gathered around Minjin and Cha Dae-woo. His frown deepened as he observed their interaction. To mask his annoyance, he turned away to distance himself from the scene.

Minjin attempted to disperse the cheering crowd. Once she was out of it, she looked around until she spotted the disappearing figure of Minjun as he walked away from them.