The Choi Brothers

🍵Chapter 11🍵

At breakfast the next morning, the family sat around the table in a rare display of subdued energy. The usual lively chatter that often filled their mornings was replaced by a heavy silence. Their parents exchanged worried glances as they observed their sons, each struggling to stay awake.

Yeonjun, looking particularly drained. His head slightly bowed, eyes drooping as he poked at his breakfast with a chopsticks. The carrot on his plate seemed to be a monumental effort to lift. His movements were slow and forced.

Beside him, Beomgyu was no better. He yawned frequently, rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand. His posture was slouched, and his eyes were barely open, the remnants of sleep clearly clinging to him. He looked as though he could fall asleep at any moment.

Across the table, Soobin, already on his second cup of coffee, fought to keep his eyes open. The caffeine seemed barely effective against the exhaustion etched into his face. His hand trembled slightly as he brought the mug to his lips. He tried to focus on his breakfast, but his attention kept drifting.

Their parents exchanged concerned glances, noting the stark contrast between the typically energetic and composed demeanor of their sons and their current sorry state. It was clear that the boys were more focused on staying awake than on eating their breakfast.

Their father, a furrowed brow etched with concern, finally broke the silence. "You all don't look so good today," he said, his voice filled with worry. Their mother nodded in agreement, her gaze shifting between the boys.

"Did any of you slept well last night?" their mother asked, her voice gentle but concerned.

The three brothers exchanged tired glances before nodding in unison. But their explanations painted a different picture.

Yeonjun, struggling to keep his head up, muttered, "I had a lot on my mind. Just couldn't get any rest."

Soobin, taking a long sip of his coffee, added, "I was thinking about a case that suddenly came up at 2 AM. And then my early morning study routine didn't help at all."

Beomgyu, stifling another yawn, chimed in with a hint of resignation. "I don't know about the Hyungs, but I was up pulling an all-nighter. Clearly a bad idea. I'm going to crash now, lucky for me, I don't have classes like these two."

Yeonjun and Soobin groaned in unison at Beomgyu's comment, both too tired to offer a proper retort. Their mother shook her head, clearly worried, while their father let out a sigh of resignation.

Mrs. Choi, glancing at her tired sons with a mix of sympathy and exasperation, suggested, "You know, if you both want to skip today, it's okay. You clearly look like you'd struggle to stay awake through any of your lectures."

Yeonjun and Soobin exchanged glances, their eyes lighting up at the thought. "That would be heaven," Yeonjun admitted, contemplating the idea with a sigh of relief. "I could really use the extra rest."

Soobin nodded in agreement, his hand reaching for his coffee cup. "A day off sounds perfect right now."

However, Yeonjun's thoughts drifted to Yeji, and he felt a pang of guilt. He knew he needed to set things right with her before Saturday, and skipping class wouldn't help him resolve things.

"Actually, I can't," Yeonjun said, shaking his head. "I have an important meeting with my project group today. They're counting on me to finalize our presentation."

Soobin, sensing Yeonjun's reluctance and thinking that there might be something more to his brother's situation, decided to decline the offer as well. "I can't either," he said. "I've got a crucial mock trial today. Missing it would mean falling behind in my case preparations, and I can't afford that right now. Don't worry I'll manage."