One Dream S2 | Jakehoon

28. Kinship

<At the dorm>

SH: No one's back yet. Let's get some coffee at the corner cafe.

JK: Ok.      SH: So the Christmas party was fun.   

JK: I'm sorry, SH, my brother was being a jerk.  He wasn't like this before.   About 3 years ago, he met a boy and fell in love. Or at least he thought he was.  I don't know It was complicated.  Nonetheless, my parents disapprove of it.

I really don't know the reason behind it or what exactly happened.  But growing up my brother was very loving and protective of me.  We would do a lot of things together and he would teach me things.  But now we have grown apart and he doesn't really come home or visit too often.

All I know or heard was that they were madly in love with each other, and they were going to run away together.  He didn't get along with my parents for some reason and tried to commit suicide one time if my brother didn't leave with him.  That's why we have a key above the guest room, which is how my brother got in before.

Anyway, the boyfriend said he would rather die than be apart from my brother.  I think my parent try to pay him off, which infuriated my brother.  Afterward, we didn't hear from him and my brother just got worse. A year later, he went off to college, as far away as possible. And he comes back once in a while to visit with new dates each time to upset my parents.

I wish I can help him. But he pushes me away all the time since then.  He doesn't want to talk about it and ignores my calls.  My parents won't talk about it. I didn't really get to know the boyfriend, so I can't say why my parents were against him.

But my parents seem to like you.  I don't think my parents want to lose both their sons.  And maybe this has shaped my views on love.  I think my parents remember what happened to me when I was small, so they are afraid it would happen again.

SH: How do you feel?    JK: I'm ok.     SH: I don't have any plans to leave you.

JK: I'm glad you got to meet my family, however imperfect they are.  And they seem to approve of you.  I guess I have good taste.

SH: I like your parents.  Now that I know your brother better, I feel bad for him.  Maybe one day he'll fall in love again, and you'll be able to mend your relationship with him.

JK: I hope so.