Good Night, Brother!

Whenever he came home from work, the house was tidy, the dishes were washed, and the rice cooker held freshly cooked rice. The fridge was neatly stocked with side dishes from the store. Life with Hi-Hyeon was convenient and comfortable.

On evenings when he got off work early, they would eat dinner together and watch TV. Unlike his younger self, who used to cling to him, calling “Hyung, hyung” twice for attention, Hi-Hyeon now maintained a polite distance, even on the sofa. The boy who once pestered him endlessly seemed to have vanished.

Eun-Hyun found that distance oddly satisfying.

One Saturday afternoon, Eun-Hyun lay sprawled on his bed, engrossed in a mobile game, arms stretched high to hold his phone.

LOSE.

The bright red letters flashed across the screen, accompanied by a playful sound effect.

Here’s the continuation and conclusion of the scene to keep the flow:

Letting out a frustrated groan, Eun-Hyun tossed his phone onto the bed beside him.

“This game is rigged,” he muttered to no one in particular.

He stared up at the ceiling for a moment, contemplating whether to start another round or take a break. Before he could decide, a soft knock came from the door.

“Hyung, are you busy?”

It was Hi-Hyeon. Without waiting for an answer, he cracked the door open slightly and peered in.

“Not really. What’s up?”

“I made some tea. Want to join me?”

“Tea?” Eun-Hyun raised an eyebrow and sat up. “Sure. Be right out.”

As he followed his brother to the kitchen, the smell of freshly brewed herbal tea wafted through the air. Two mugs sat on the counter, steam curling from the tops. Next to them was a plate of neatly arranged snacks—store-bought cookies, but their presentation made them look almost gourmet.

“You did all this?” Eun-Hyun asked, mildly impressed.

“Yeah. Thought you might need a break after playing that game for hours.”

“How do you even know I was playing for hours?”

Hi-Hyeon smirked, handing him a mug. “You left the door open earlier. I heard all the sound effects.”

Eun-Hyun chuckled, taking a sip of the tea. It was warm and soothing, the perfect remedy for his earlier gaming-induced frustration. For a brief moment, he glanced at his younger brother, who had grown into a polite and composed young man.

“Thanks. This is nice.”

“No problem,” Hi-Hyeon replied, his dimples deepening as he smiled.

For the first time in a while, Eun-Hyun felt a sense of calm. Maybe, just maybe, having his brother around wouldn’t be so bad after all.

“Damn it, died again…”

It was a stage he had failed dozens of times, to the point of exhaustion. Just then, his phone vibrated with a long notification tone.

“Han Jin-Seo”

Han Jin-Seo, a close friend from middle and high school, had drifted out of touch when he stayed in Daejeon to attend a national university, while Eun-Hyun moved to Seoul. However, last year, Jin-Seo had entered graduate school in Seoul, and their contact had picked up again.

Turning off the game entirely, Eun-Hyun answered the call.

“Hey, Jin-Seo. What’s up?”

“Jeong Eun-Hyun, what are you doing on a Saturday?”

“Just at home. Last time you said you were so busy you were ready to collapse, but you sound alive now.”

“Yeah, I managed to put out some fires. What are you doing for dinner tonight? Want to hang out?”

“Sure, sounds good.”

Bored and eager for company, Eun-Hyun perked up and sat cross-legged on the bed.

“How about some soju and beer at your place?”

“At my place? Sounds—oh, wait. No, can’t do. My younger brother’s been living with me since last week. Not ideal.”

“Oh, Hi-Hyeon? Didn’t he just get into university? Why’s he already in Seoul?”

“Something about needing time to adjust.”

“Got it. Hey, he’s an adult now—should we invite him to join? I bet he remembers me.”

“Forget it. No way I’m drinking with him.”

To Eun-Hyun, drinking was something you did with close friends or in romantic relationships. It wasn’t something he associated with family, especially not with his much younger brother.

“Man, you’re something else. From what I remember, Hi-Hyeon always treated you well. Why are you so cold?”

“I don’t know… It’s not like I hate him or anything…”

“Well, be nicer to him. He’s five years younger than you.”

“What does being five years younger matter? Do you know how much he’s grown? It’s like living with a stranger. It’s honestly easier to think of him as one.”

“Well, that’s your family business. I won’t butt in. If your place is out, how about we meet at ‘Chalang’ at six? I know you like the food there.”

“Perfect. See you there.”

After the call ended, a soft knock came at the door before it opened slightly. It was Hi-Hyeon.

“Hyung, are you busy?”

“No, what’s up?”

“I was about to use the washing machine, but I’m not sure how.”

“Oh, sure. I’ll show you.”

As he got up from the bed, he noticed his brother’s unreadable dark eyes watching him closely. The memory of his earlier conversation with Jin-Seo suddenly flashed through his mind, and a chill ran down his spine. He hadn’t said anything flattering, and it wasn’t something he wanted his brother to hear.

He couldn’t have overheard, could he?

I don’t really think that way… It just slipped out.

Feeling a pang of guilt, Eun-Hyun resolved to be more careful during phone calls in the future. Stealing a glance at his brother, he led the way to the laundry room.

Standing in front of the washing machine, he pressed the power button and asked, “What are you washing?”

“Knitwear and cardigans.”

Bending slightly, he adjusted the dials and explained the controls.

“See the red light? Just turn the dial to the setting you want. I usually use the standard wash, but for knits, it’s better to use the wool cycle.”

“Got it.”

“Detergent and fabric softener are on the shelf here. And don’t use the dryer for knits—they’ll shrink.”

“Thanks, Hyung.”

When Hi-Hyeon smiled brightly, his dimples deepened, his white face glowing with charm. His clear, refreshing grin reminded Eun-Hyun of when they were kids.

Those dimples haven’t changed at all.

Unable to help himself, he chuckled softly, relieved that his brother didn’t seem to have overheard the earlier call.

“If you have more questions, just ask.”

“Okay.”

“Now move—I need to get out.”

The narrow space didn’t allow room for both of them, so when Hi-Hyeon pressed himself against the wall, Eun-Hyun turned sideways to squeeze past. As their bodies brushed against each other, something soft yet firm pressed against his hip.

No way…

He knew instantly—it was a man’s private anatomy. Despite being unaroused, it still felt substantial, draping across one of Hi-Hyeon’s thighs. The realization that it belonged to his younger brother left him flustered.

Without a word, he grimaced and hurriedly exited the laundry room. Watching his retreating figure, Hi-Hyeon chuckled softly before loading his laundry into the machine. The hum of water filling the drum broke the silence.

Later that afternoon, as Eun-Hyun prepared to leave for his dinner with Jin-Seo, he walked out of his room dressed neatly. From the kitchen, he noticed his brother wearing rubber gloves, meticulously cleaning the fridge. The power cord had even been unplugged, and the contents were laid out on the counter.

“Jeong Hi-Hyeon, what are you doing? Just leave it.”

“There’s ketchup two months past its expiration date and cheese from last year,” Hi-Hyeon replied, holding up the offending items.

“……”

“And these eggs? When did you buy them?”

“I don’t know…”

He vaguely recalled buying a pack of ten to use in ramen but only eating two.

“Well, better toss them. Don’t want anyone getting sick.”

“……”

“By the way, where are you going?” Hi-Hyeon asked, his gaze sweeping over his brother’s outfit.

“Oh, I’ve got plans with a friend.”

“Guess I’ll eat dinner alone, then…”

“Yeah, sorry about that.”

“Who are you meeting?”

“Uh, just a friend…”

Hearing the disappointment in his brother’s voice made him hesitate. Should he have invited Hi-Hyeon to join them? But he quickly shook his head, dismissing the thought. It would only make things awkward.

“I’m late. I’m heading out. Don’t overdo the cleaning.”

“Okay. Be careful.”

As the door closed behind him, the cold winter air slapped his face, snapping him fully awake. Pushing away the guilt of leaving his younger brother alone, Eun-Hyun quickened his steps.