Uncover

38.

"I'm home- The hell!" Taeyong shrieks as the lights in the hallway suddenly switch on, blinding him momentarily. A tired Haechan's voice follows.

"How do you even lead your team when you get scared this easily?"

Taeyong scoffs to hide his embarrassment. "And just why are you awake at this hour young man?"

With an unamused face, Haechan shakes his head and walks off towards the kitchen. "Have your dinner before it gets cold." His voice calls out.

A weary smile dances on Taeyong's lips as he trudges to where Haechan is waiting for him with folded hands. One look at the dishes and his jaw drops open.

"You made these?"

"Jieun did." Haechan pouts as he looks away. "But I'm not that bad of a cook either."

Taeyong just chuckles in response. "Ah my kids are so dependable."

"Why do you talk like an old man? You really want to be old that bad?"

"Come here you brat." Taeyong fakes an attempt to grab Haechan. "I saw each of you as babies. You literary grew up in front of my eyes. So yeah, to me, you are my children."

Haechan is about to continue teasing but thinks against it at the last minute. Instead, he pulls out the chair next to Taeyong and sits down. 

"Hyung." He fingers drum rhythmically on the wooden table. "When will you tell Jieun and Jisung?"

"Tell what?" 

"That they are our cousins."

Taeyong's spoon stops midair and then drops down to the plate. "I don't think..."

"Surely you are not planning to keep this from them, are you?"

Taeyong lets out a deep breath. "Haechan, it's not simple."

"Not simple? What's not simple?"

Instead of answering, Taeyong stares off to the side, where different photo frames adorn the wall. In that, Taeyong's eyes zone down on the photo showing a kid grinning from ear to ear, wearing a life jacket with a floating tube around his waist.

"As much as I love Jieun and Jisung..." He begins quietly. "...I probably love you more." He finishes, as looks back at his unfinished plate. 

Awkward silence settles between the two brothers, at the revelation and implication of Taeyong's statement.

"Why?" Haechan whispers so softly that it almost didn't reach Taeyong's ears. From the corner of his eyes, he watches his brother shift in his seat. 

"Jieun was willing to risk her life to protect her little brother, what makes you think I'm any different?" Taeyong finally turns to face Haechan. 

"I do want to protect all three of you." He pauses, carefully selecting his next words. "This will sound selfish but Jieun and Jisung have other people to look after their safety, you have only me. If it ever becomes a choice between the three of you, I will choose you."  

He gets up, carrying his used utensils to the sink. Walking around Haechan, he stops close to him.

"In whatever way necessary."

~~~

"Park Jisung!"

Jisung looks down at his feet, unable to look his siter in the eye.

"Why did you do it? Don't you know how dangerous this man is?"

"I know, that's why I did it." He mutters.

"What was that? Speak louder."

"I didn't want you to end up hurt like before!" Exasperated, he shouts.

Already expecting his answer, Jieun simply huffs out heavily. Then she walks closer and ruffles Jisung's hair.

"I'm not blaming you Ji, I understand because I too would do anything to keep you from harm." She interlinks their index fingers and lightly swings their hands back and worth.

"But this is not the way to do it. Hiding such things is not protecting, Ji. By keeping me in the dark, you could have potentially put me in an even greater danger. Do you get what I mean?"

Jisung droops like a scolded puppy but nods regardless. "I just don't want to lose you. I don't want to be alone."

Jieun smiles sadly and because of the height difference, leans her head on his shoulder.

"You won't. I'll be watch you grow up." Her eyes close and she mutters to herself. "Either from here or from there."

~~~

"Hyung. Have you seen my phone anywhere?"

Jaehyun raises his head from the file he was working on. "I am barely home Renjun, wrong person to ask."

"Ah that..." Renjun rubs the back of his neck as he tries to come up with a believable explanation. "Actually, since last night, I haven't been able to find my phone."

"Is that so?" 

"And apparently Jieun called but I couldn't answer because I didn't have my phone."

Jaehyun's eyebrows furrow as he thinks. Renjun watches him like an eagle, observing every detail of his expressions and actions.

"Do you know anything about it?"

Jaehyun flashes his infamous dimple-smile. "No idea."

Renjun decides not to press further, instead he begins working on a task given to him.

"And how about your ID card? I heard you lost it or something?"

Jaehyun's face turns hard. "Who told you that?"

Mentally taking note of the sudden change, he acts unbothered and oblivious. "Nobody really. I just heard it in passing... maybe one of those officers you work with?" 

Renjun casually brings up the ID card just to see how his cousin would react. His own suspicions aside, he can't digest how Mark pulled him aside and said officer Taeyong thought Jaehyun felt shady. 

He doesn't fully trust either Mark or Taeyong. And he has no reason to believe the words of strangers over his own cousin. However, he also can't deny that from what Jieun said, combined with Mark and Taeyong's assumptions, it does make him doubt Jaehyun's intentions.

"Ignore it, that's all nonsense. My ID is right here-" Jaehyun abruptly stops, staring at something on his table. He then recomposes himself and turns around with a tight-lipped smile. "Is right here in the drawer. Thanks for worrying, but I'm the big brother here. You should leave the worrying part to me, alright?"

 Renjun stiffly nods. "Good for you, I guess. Well then, if you see my phone do tell me."

He's about to leave when Jaehyun's voice stops him. "Oh, actually I think I remember seeing your phone on top of the fridge. You might find it there."

Renjun tilts his head at the information but still says thanks, as he closes the door behind him.

Instead of throwing light, the conversation ends up making each brother's aura darker than before. 

This chapter is dedicated to all the siblings in the story. I wanted to show how each pair has a different dynamic and vibe. Hope, that came through and was not a chaotic mess.

And Jaehyun just keeps digging himself a deeper hole with each chapter. 😭

Let me know what your thoughts are so far.