My Annoying Brother

14

14.

I walk up to Lee Chan's room. His door is closed. I knock twice. But he doesn't answer. I think he is mad at me. I should leave. As I was leaving the door slowly opened.

"Come in."

His face looks bad. Not only swollen left cheek and bruised left eye but also a cut one the lip. Did I hit him that hard? Now I feel guilty.

"Why have you come?"

I wanted to treat his wounds like he helped when I got hurt.

"I don't need you to pay me back for that time. I didn't do that to owe you. I did that because... Just..just get out of my room."

I'm not doing this because I think I owe him. I'm doing this because I feel bad for him.

"I don't need your pity."

He keeps getting me wrong. I didn't mean it that way. But if he hates me this much and doesn't want me to treat his wounds then it's fine. I am not going to force him.

I feel hurt. I just wanted to help. No need to be this harsh. I walk out of his room.

"Just don't hurt me even more when applying the ointment."

I look back at him. He didn't need to act hard. What a weirdo! I sit on his bed and he sits in front of me. None of us talk. I apply the ointment on his wounds.

He speaks first, "I didn't mean to hurt your feelings today. I just wanted better for you. But since you've already chosen Joshua there's nothing I can do except respecting your decision. I won't bother Joshua anymore. And I'm sorry for my behavior."

What am I hearing? Am I hearing right? Did he just admit his fault and apologize? I'm too shocked to say anything. But I still tell him that ot was okay. And I also apologize for hitting him.

Wait. Now that I think about it I slapped him on his right cheek. How did he get a swollen cheek on the left side? Does that mean he actually got into a fight with someone else and it wasn't because of me? So should I be happy that he didn't get hurt so badly because of me or should I be sad because he got hurt like this because of someone?

Who did this to him?

"You don't need to know. It's none of your business. Just like Joshua and you dating each other is none of my business."

Wow, he takes words to his heart. I should choose my words against him carefully next time.

After treating his wounds I leave. I think Lee Chan is actually changing. He is changing for good. I'm happy to see him care for me. I guess my patience against him for all these years finally paid off.

I lie down on my bed because I was feeling really tired. And I don't realize when I fell asleep.

I wake up to Seok Min's voice,"Did you eat lunch?"

I didn't.

"Let's eat lunch together."

After a long time we are having a meal together. All of us except Seung Kwan. Suddenly I miss mom. I think all of us do. Before mom's death we used to be so lively in dinner table but everyone seems a little sad and gloomy today. I hope we get over this phase soon.