Unexpected Journey || Hoonsuk AU

Chapter 19 : Help

"Oppa," Hyuna looked around the room to look for her brother. When he doesn't to be there, Hyuna walked toward the balcony. He caught her brother's back, the latter leaning over the balcony's edge and looking down at the ground below him.

He seems to be in such deep thought as he can't hear Hyuna call for him. From where Hyuna's standing, she could see a tiny yet slender back. The more she looks at it, the more she thinks how lonely that back was. It's a small back but when she's in need, that's the biggest back she could ever see. That back seemed to hold the world on its shoulders like no other. Even if it is hard, he rather holds it himself, never asking for anyone's help.

Hyuna walks towards her brother's side try not to startle him.

"Oh, Hyuna. You're done? Why didn't you tell m-,"

"Oppa, I'll return to Korea tomorrow," Hyuna cut him off before he could even finish his sentence. A soft smile formed on her lips. She turned to her brother who was already completely stunned by her words. His expression changed, from shocked to sad.

"Is it because of it what I said in th restaurant?" He asked his younger sister. His voice sounded broken and broken.

"What? What are you talking about?" Hyuna tilted her head in confusion. She completely has no idea what her brother said.

"I...if you return to Korea for what I said, I am sorry. I didn't mean it. You don't have to go back. You can travel with me until -" Hyunsuk started to ramble but Hyuna quickly cut him off again. This time, she placed her hand on top of his shaking one.

"No, no Oppa, this is not because of what you said. I even forget about it," her eyes were slightly watery but she try her best to hold it in. Hyuna take another step closer to her brother so he could clearly understand what she had to say next.
"It wasn't because of the things you've said. I could just ignore it you know, I didn't even take it to heart. Do you think you're the only one who makes money here? I can go have my vacation too, You know." She let out a small chuckle at the end of her words.

At least, Hyunsuk seems to be a bit relaxed after hearing her. She then lets go of her brother and moves away a little, creating a comfortable gap between them. She throws her eyes to the night sky. It was just a few minutes ago, the city seems busy but it seems quiet now.  Only the sounds of cars passing by could be heard. She could feel her brother's gaze still focused on her.

"You see, my phone has been ringing non-stop ever since I went here." She said, turning her head to her brother who still looking at her. A huge grin appears on her face. The look she made when she was in her playful mode.

"Ugh~~ that Woosung keeps bugging me. He didn't even let me go to have a vacation. So I took one secretly," she giggled while putting her index finger in front of her lips. Her laughter echoed in the air around them.

"He said that I shouldn't play around much. He keeps bugging me with dateline, dateline, and dateline!" She raised her voice to the final part. She could feel her brother's stare at her. She knows her brother well enough by now to know that whenever she gets mad or talks about someone, her brother will always listen to all of her words, and reacted to her. Even though she's the one who will get scolded most of the time but she's enjoying it. At least she knows her brother, who seems cold and stoic listening to her nonsense whining.

"Woosung? Your editor?" Hyuna nodded with all her might hoping her brother was on her side and getting mad for her sake. "You didn't inform them you're going here?" A completely different reaction from what she expected.  There she thought that her older brother would react strongly to something like that. Maybe even get mad. But he didn't. Well, what did she expect from a workaholic who works his ass off like the end of the world?

She averted her eyes from her brother and stared at the city lights once again. "I... I also need to have a break sometimes," she muttered barely audible enough for herself to hear.

The both of them fell in silence. Hyuna knew that her brother won't speak up anytime soon. Hyunsuk just could let out a heavy sigh and give up. He wanted to scold her but he couldn't. He then take a seat at a stoll that was prepared on the balcony.

"Is it about your recent novel?" He asked, catching Hyuna's attention. "Yes," she answered him with a dispirited voice. It doesn't shock her that Hyunsuk knows about her novel. She could tell that her brother is her biggest and richest fan. "Well, I get why Woosung bugging you. He is a responsible person."

"Yes he is, I am lucky to have him. Without him, I don't know if I could stand where I am now. So, Oppa, I'll return to Korea tomorrow. I worried Woosung so much," she chuckles nervously. She already has images of angry Woosung in her mind.

"So you'll go back?"

"Yes. Oppa I'm having so much fun these three days we're here. It's a pity I can't join your trip longer." Hyuna gave throws a gentle smile to the night sky.

"Yeah. I hope we can travel longer."

"Oppa, I hope you care about your surroundings. If you don't need anyone to be happy, please make yourself happy." Hyuna said. She turned her body to Hyunsuk. "Look at the people around you. They all love you. They always stay by your side, no matter how much you shake them off. Ask for help if you need one. I am sure there will be one hand that will reach you out," she gave him a smile to which his answer is silent.

"When you're almost dropped at the entrance door just now, you should see how worried Jihoon is. He didn't wait any moment to run into you when I don't even have time to react. He rushed to you as if you were walking on the bridge of death. He shows a face I never see him making. If a stranger like Jihoon could react that much at your worst, what do you expect from the person you called a family?" Hyuna's eyes slowly started to burn.

"You know how hurt it is for me when you said you don't need anyone to be happy? What are we to you, Oppa?! What if others hear you? What if Jihoon was there? CAN YOU PLEASE ONCE CRY OUT LOUD SAYING YOU NEED SOMEONE'S HELP? Please cry for help. It's hurt keeping it all alone. Oppa, please..."  Hyuna said breaking down crying. Tears slowly streamed down her face.  She tried to stop crying but she couldn't. She feels so hopeless. How can she continue living her life knowing that her beloved brother is hurting?

Hyunsuk looked at his sobbing little sister. He doesn't know how to react. All this time, he just blames himself for everything that happened. He just stood there watching his sister crying. He doesn't think he has the right to calm her down when he is not even in his right mind.

He can't even tell if she's right or not. Each night, he cried to his sleep hoping for Jae to be by his side next to him when he was awake. He cried calling out for Jae when he feels hopeless but he never once come to him. No matter how many tears Hyunsuk shed, he never will be there. Then how does everyone expect him to ask for help when the person he looked up to the most doesn't even show up when he needed him?

After Hyuna's crying started to slow down, Hyunsuk went to help her stand and bring her to bed. He wet a piece of towel and wipes Hyuna's face, cleaning all the tears stain. He then took a bottle of water from the fridge and slowly pat it on Hyuna's face. Hyuna just lets her brother do what he wants to do with her face. "Oppa, when you return to your room later, remember to return Jihoon's jacket to him,"  she suddenly spoke up.

Hyunsuk stopped mid way wiping the last droplets from Hyuna's cheeks with the towel. His hands froze midway. He slowly lowered his head to look at what he wear.

His mouth gapes when he remembers he wore Jihoon's jacket. The jackets Jihoon wrapped around his body were put well in Hyunsuk.

"I...I forgot. I wear it because - "

"Hahaha, yeah Oppa. Just returned it to him. Tho I'm pretty sure he didn't mind you keep wearing it,"

"Hyuna!" Hyuna chuckled at her brother's reaction. She misses this side of him so much. "Oppa, I love you. Goodnight," said Hyuna when Hyunsuk was about to leave.

"Yeah me too. Goodnight,"  Hyunsuk responded and headed towards their room. He takes the jacket off before opening the door to his room.