Jimin did not return home until well past midnight.
He fished out his key but was so drunk he couldn’t aim for the keyhole.
Clink. It tumbled onto the floor. He swept his palms around the darkness but could not find it, so he gave up, plopped his butt on the floor and started bawling like a baby.
His brother opened the door for him. Behind him was the warm, orange light from his home.
The man stood at the door staring at the dirty mess of a brother sitting in the hallway.
Slowly, Jimin raised his head from between his knees. His face was wet with tears.
He flashed a smile to his brother. “I lost my key.”
He wiped away his tears and tried to stand by holding onto the wall, but his legs were weak and would not listen to him. He toppled onto the floor again.
Taehyung bent over and picked up his brother’s key from the corner behind the hinges of the door. Then, he hoisted his brother up into his arms.
Jimin was shocked for a second, but it quickly went away. He hugged his brother’s neck and rested his head against his shoulder.
Taehyung’s shoulder was very wide and his arms were firm with muscles.
He scanned the living room before deciding to put his brother on the white leather couch.
But Jimin shook his head. He was way too filthy.
“Bring me to the bathroom,” he whispered with his eyes closed.
His brother carefully placed him on the blue mat in the bathroom. When Jimin wobbled, he rushed to hold him.
Holding onto his brother’s shoulder, Jimin lowered himself to sit on the edge of the tub.
He looked up and stared at Taehyung’s face. Then, he smiled. “I want to take a bath.”
His brother closed the door on his way out.
Jimin twisted the tap and let the hot water slowly ease its way up the tub.
He kicked off his leather shoes, unbuttoned his shirt, stripping until he was stark naked. Only then did he sink into the water like a bird that had wet its wings.
Taehyung had gone to bed when Jimin came out wrapped in a bath towel. The living room light was off. The curtains were not drawn, and he could see the lights from the opposite building.
Jimin poured himself a glass of water but stopped halfway. He zoned out with the glass in his hand. The streetlights by the paths between the buildings were still lit, and the summer night bugs swarmed around the bulbs. The shadows of the trees were shrouded by the night, and only when the wind blew past did the branches swish and shuffle.
He rinsed the glass and switched off the kitchen light.
He padded across the dark living room and lingered outside his brother’s bedroom for a moment before quietly turning the doorknob.
Under the moonlight peeking in from the windows, he could see his brother lying on his side.
After a long pause, Jimin eased the door closed behind him.
The click of the lock awoke Taehyung who jerked awake and propped himself up.
“Hyung?”
Jimin stayed silent for a while before whispering, “Are you sleeping?”
“Not yet,” his brother replied.
Jimin walked over and sat down on the bed.
Taehyung sat up straight, waiting in the darkness for his brother to speak.
