𝕭𝖎𝖙𝖊 𝕭𝖆𝖈𝖐 ꒐꒐ ⱽᴵᴺᶜᴱᴺᶻᴼ ᶠᶠ

ℂ𝕒𝕡𝕚𝕥𝕠𝕝𝕠 ℙ𝕣𝕚𝕞𝕠

The Jang Family Villa in Flames, the newspaper read.

Hanseo was 6 when he dressed in all black for his mother's funeral. The news anchors had all apparently decided that that was the best time to ask the poor, confused child about what he thought had happened. Was it an accident? Was it the doing of hitmen? Who or what caused the two-story glass building to collapse on itself? Hanseo remembered crying, as if he were still a few months old, in front of the compassionless reporters.

No relatives even bothered to show up to his mother's funeral; not even her husband, who survived the fire due to pure luck, took time out of his busy schedule to mourn his deceased wife. The only person to show up besides Hanseo and the reporters was the arsonist himself, Jang Hanseok. Yes, Hanseo knew that his half-brother was the culprit. Even at that young, gullible age, he knew. His brother's unfeeling eyes and amused smirk had given him away. Of course, Hanseo had no real proof to cement his firm belief besides the fact that Hanseok was absent the entire day of the incident. But then again, even if he did have proof, who would believe the stupid illegitimate son of the Jang family?

Hanseok must've known his action would go unpunished too for he taunted his little brother relentlessly the night of the funeral. He even went so far as to admit to his crimes, pride ever so present in his high-pitched voice. "Do you feel wronged?" he asked his little brother.

Hanseo shook his head in fear. "N-no, hyungie." How could his own brother, who was only a year older than him, be such a monster?

"Don't call me that," Hanseok said sharply. "It sounds disgusting coming from your stupid mouth. Call me hyung-nim."

"Y-yes, h-hyung-nim," the younger boy murmured.

"Aren't you curious as to how I did it?" Hanseok had a proud smile as if he were waiting to be praised for wickedness.

In all honesty, Hanseo did not want to hear about how his mother was murdered, but he asked anyway, knowing all too well he'd be murdered next if he kept quiet.

"You see, that morning, I stuffed a gallon of oil into my backpack while you were asleep. Then I took a taxi to the villa. When I got there, your mom even let me in. I guess you got your stupidity from somewhere. She told me my dad wasn't there, unfortunately. Drove off due to an argument or something." As he was explaining his crimes, Hanseok looked towards his younger brother. The idiot is still listening. Good. "I told the hag to sleep or something and stop bothering me. And she did! That stupid bitch really left me unsupervised. I poured oil on the first floor and microwaved a few paper bags. Aren't I a genius? I mean, who else could plan such an elaborate plot?"

At that point, Hanseo was a sobbing mess. The image of his mother peacefully sleeping, not knowing she was about to die, was devastating. However, the true cause of his tears was not his grief but his absolute terror. He was afraid, so afraid of Hanseok. He didn't want to die. He didn't want to burn alive like his mother.

"Hey," his brother's voice called out.

Hanseo froze in fear. As much as he didn't want to see his brother's cold eyes, he still looked up to observe the older boy's facial expression. He's angry. I know he's angry. He's definitely—

Hanseok smiled warmly as he reached to cup his brother's face. "Don't cry," he said, his voice tender and sweet. "Hyung won't hurt you."

Hyung, Hanseo repeated in his head. As his nerves began to calm down, the hands grasping his cheeks moved down to his neck. Then the hands tightened and tightened until he couldn't breathe.

"You're still useful to me," Hanseok said, his warm smile turning into a sadistic one. "And you're going to do everything I say unless you want to die, got it, little brother?" He released his grip.