Chapter 8: The Quiet Storm
Yunseo had never been the kind of boy who caused trouble. He kept his head down, got good grades, stayed out of drama.
But lately, he didn't recognize the person staring back at him in the mirror.
It started small — like the tightness in his chest every time his father laughed at something Minjae said. The way his father's hand now rested on Minjae's shoulder during dinner. Or how he asked Minjae about his school tests, but forgot Yunseo had a science presentation that day.
That used to be their thing.
Now, it was Minjae who rode in the front seat. Minjae who sat beside their father at the table. Minjae who received a new pair of sneakers, while Yunseo's had worn-out soles.
The worst part?
Minjae wasn't mean. He didn't gloat. He didn't act like he was winning anything.
Which somehow made it worse.
It made Yunseo feel like the villain for being angry.
But the anger kept growing anyway — quiet, heavy, and sharp around the edges.
One afternoon, Yunseo passed by his father's study and overheard Minjae talking.
"I think Yunseo hates me," Minjae whispered.
"Just give it time," his father replied. "He'll come around."
Come around? As if he was the problem?
Yunseo's fists clenched. He wanted to burst in and shout, "You're the one who broke everything! You brought this mess here!"
But he didn't.
He turned and walked away.
From then on, everything Minjae did felt like a test.
When Minjae offered him a snack, Yunseo brushed past without a word.
When Minjae tried to help him pick up his dropped books, Yunseo slapped his hand away.
When Minjae said "goodnight," Yunseo pretended not to hear.
At school, he started keeping to himself more. His teacher asked if everything was okay.
He lied and said yes.
The walls inside him were growing taller — keeping everyone out.
One night, he walked past Minjae's room and saw him sketching. His brows were furrowed in concentration, completely focused.
It was a drawing of a comic — two boys on opposite sides of a broken bridge, reaching toward each other.
Yunseo stared for a second too long before turning away.
Something about that picture made his chest ache. But he buried the feeling.
He convinced himself Minjae was just pretending — playing sweet so everyone would love him, while Yunseo faded into the background.
The pain twisted into jealousy. Then bitterness.
And slowly, Yunseo began to believe something dangerous:
Maybe there wasn't room for both of them in this family.