Beer and Spicy Rice Cakes

Chapter 13 - Brother [Jinhye]

I knew that I fucked up, when he raised his voice at me.

I could literally feel how pissed he was with every sense I had and it was disturbing for me.

And when he turned his back on me, I just silently watched him leave and began to stare at the ground.

I didn't even know how all of this happened, it just suddenly felt like there was a huge wall between us.

And somewhere deep inside of me, something broke when he threw these words at me.

I started remembering again.

Everything that happened seven years ago.

Every beating I took from my father.

Everything I went through.

But most of all, Jaehyun's face when he first stood next to me when it happened.

And his face when he told me, that he wasn't going to leave me with my parents.

His damn over-protectiveness that saved my life so many times.

It was the moment when I realized, that we would be inseparable.

Even if we fought a lot and wanted to punch each others faces sometimes, he was like a brother to me.

I watched him breaking apart, not being able to do anything against it.

But I had always been there for him, the same as he did for me.

And now... I lied.

Why?

I don't know.

I probably just wanted to protect him.

He was doing pretty good before this night happened and it bothered me that someone was with him when he got hurt this bad.

That someone was kind of at fault for it.

And I didn't want to accept the fact that it probably wouldn't have happened, if I just would've been there for him like I had always been.

I knew, that he wasn't feeling good that evening.

But I still decided to work an extra shift on my newest painting, instead of just taking care of him.

I clenched my teeth, as my eyes started to burn.

But I wasn't the kind of person to just cry alone and in silence.

I got up and suddenly found myself walking after that huge dummie, who was now standing behind the cash counter and approached his back to wrap my arms around him.

I didn't want us to be like that.

He was my favorite person. And I loved him like I loved my own life.

"Jinhye...what..."

I closed my eyes and buried my face between his shoulders.

"I'm sorry..."

I could feel how he inhaled deeply, before he carefully turned around inside my hug and put his arms around me.

His hand on my head, I still pressed my face against him, sobbing like a baby.

I couldn't help it.

And even if I didn't really want him to see my face right now, he still pulled it up and wiped my tears away with his hands.

"Idiot..."

His voice sounded softer than before.

At least a slight relieve.

I hugged him tighter and tried taking a deep breath, as he softly patted my back.

"But still... why did you do it?"

"I don't know... I don't trust her. She hurt you."

"It wasn't her who hurt me, tho... I do trust her. She's a good person. A bit cocky and weird, but she's good."

"How can you be so sure about it? Didn't you meet her like three days ago...?"

"I was sure about you too, when I took you home with me the first night I met you."

"That's totally different!"

I heard a light chuckle and looked up to him with a pouting face.

I knew it wasn't different.

Even if I wanted it to be different, it was the exact same situation I'd been in seven years ago. Except for the fact that it was my own father who hit me, not my boyfriend.

For a moment I let my gaze wander over him, until something on his neck catched my eye.

With one eyebrow raised, I watched the small spots closely and slowly poked it with my finger.

"Can't be. Is that... a bite mark?! Are you kidding me?", I spat out without thinking and widened my eyes to stare up to him.

But as fast as I talked right now, he quickly put his hand on the spot and slightly pushed me away.

"Let me see it!"

"No!"

I wanted to pull his hand away, but he was faster than me.

Before I could realize it, he ran away and hid behind one of the shelves and made me run after him.

Like that, a small race began.

"Don't you think you're taking it too fast?!"

"None of your business!"

"YAH, KIM JAEHYUN!!"

"Try catching me, you minion!"

"Come on, that's not fair! Your legs are like five feet longer than mine! Get over here!!"

My stamina was about to leave me completely, but I didn't want to give up.

So with the rest of my remaining power, I sped up one last time and quickly jumped on his back when I was finally close enough, and made him fall down in the end.

He struggled to get free, but I grabbed him by the wrists and pinned him down to the floor.

He was laughing hard and infected me pretty quickly.

I sank down to his back and cracked up on it, until I rolled down and tried catching my breath. 

And then we saw the customer who stood there in silence and watched us with a confused face.

I think I never got up so fast. Same for Jaehyun.

With a slight bow, we both quickly got back to our work and still giggled, when our eyes met from time to time.