Sticky End

three

            As years passed by them both learned to adjust with each other’s presence, and as well as learn to hide their atypical feelings for each other. Their short conversations started to grow longer as well, most of the times they would talk about classical music like how it was in the letters. After all, it had always been their way to connect with one another.

‘Just how much did you listen to them when we talked about it?’ Sehun asked. Timidly Luhan would give a laugh and answer, ‘I really have no idea.’ A simple conversation with his brother would make his day complete.

Before they knew it, the day came when Sehun graduated from high school. Although their mother wasn’t able to be there for his graduation Sehun he was still a bit happy for he was finally able to help his hyung in working. Sehun easily found a job in a company with his good marks. It was a blessing.

            Their days were in routine. Waking up in the morning, they’d use ‘rock, paper, and scissors’ as a way to decide who gets to make breakfast, and wash the dishes. It would be the same for dinner. Life was hard, but it was also good. It was enough for them.

            When they had extra money, they would treat themselves to Sehun’s favourite bubble tea. Some days they’d stay up late and watch movies together, other days they’d just do random stuffs that made them laugh. It was as if they were making up for every moment they had lost with each other.

Luhan felt so contented with what they had. He didn’t need to elaborate his understanding for his own feelings... what they had were what he could have, and he was happy about it. Although that was what he thought until a fateful day arrived.

            It was a Sunday morning, a normal day for both of them—or it should have been... A young woman stood before him, just where did she come from? With long straight brunette hair, pretty pink natural lips, a complexion white like porcelain and a figure guys would flock over. She was too beautiful, like a princess. Luhan was terrified to see her, clinging onto the arm of his beloved young brother.

‘She’s Daeun, my girlfriend’ he introduced, ‘and this is my hyung, Luhan.’

It stung his heart and he felt like it was crumbling into tiny pieces. The sudden realization that his brother found someone he loved, someone Luhan cannot be, and someone who’s going to steal Sehun away from him. Luhan wanted to cry, but he had to restrain himself.

            Nights suddenly became lonely for Luhan, at seven o’clock they should be having dinner and talk about how their day has gone. But now he sat alone at the dining table, staring at his food. His lovely brother was with his girlfriend having a romantic dinner, in a place like hell he’d know.

Luhan wanted to cry, so he would hide inside their bathroom and weep like he hasn’t cry for years. He couldn’t do anything, he was powerless and he understood that he was in no position to confess. They were brothers. Just the word it was enough to pierce his heart.

            ‘Isn’t this great, hyung?’ Sehun asked as they sat down patiently waiting for their order to arrive. He was sitting beside his girlfriend, Daeun right in front of Luhan at a restaurant the girl suggested. ‘Yes... its great’ Luhan weakly answered.

It might have not been the best decision for Luhan to have lunch with them, but he had no choice. Sehun practically pleaded to him, saying that he wanted to spend some time with both of the persons important to him.

            Eating at a fine dining restaurant was never a thing for Luhan, growing up with a household that had finance problems he had no chance to indulge himself with luxurious food. Daeun, on the other hand had a golden spoon in her mouth since she stepped into this world. She was too good for Sehun, Luhan thought. But that didn’t stop their relationship. Seeing how perfect Daeun could be, there was no chance Sehun would let her go. Luhan never thought he would be able to face someone like that... and to think it would be his younger brother’s girlfriend.

            In the midst of waiting, out of the blue another man came and greeted Sehun. Their ice broke as Sehun sees his old friend from high school, Kai.

            ‘Hyung, this is my friend Kai’ Sehun introduced him.

The two friends were laughing gleefully as they started to reminisce their times together, and then Kai remembered that he was with their other batch mates.

 ‘I’m going to borrow Sehun-ah for a while, okay?’ Kai gave a smile that made his eyes squint a little more. Both Luhan and Daeun didn’t interfere, and Sehun was dragged out of the restaurant.

            Slowly, silence started to overthrow their peaceful atmosphere, it was deafening. Daeun didn’t want that, so she started a conversation.

‘I had few chances to talk about you with Sehun,’ Daeun started ‘he never really liked to talk about you, you know?’ she chuckled and tried to read Luhan’s reaction. It was painful enough to hear.

‘I’m so glad to have this chance to have a moment with you’ she smiled gleefully then took a deep breath before she continued, ‘Since we have no idea about each other, why don’t we talk about something we both know?’

Luhan looked at her intimidating gaze, ‘Let’s talk about Sehun, you don't mind that won’t you?’ she asked. Luhan didn’t want to lose to her, so he agreed.

‘You know, Sehun is really a catch. He was like a package deal’ Daeun said ‘Everyone at work loved him, his handsome face, his perfect manly figure and his intellect... Everyone wanted him’ she sighed, ‘too bad it was obvious he was in love with someone’

Luhan’s attention got back to her, she smiled ‘And luckily it was me who he loved’ Daeun’s smile turned into a grin. It pierced his heart and made Luhan give a sour look on his face.

‘Did that hurt you? Omona...’ Daeun exclaimed. ‘If I were you, I’d give up on him’

Luhan could not help himself frown ‘What do you know?’ he hissed.

            ‘I know you guys are brothers, don’t you think that’s logical enough to be a reason as to why you can’t hold onto these feelings?’ She chuckled, ‘Luhan, you’re handsome and smart. Make a good use of that blessing and make others fall for you.’

Daeun stood up then went near Luhan ‘How disgusting of you to lust over your brother,’ she chuckled ‘wouldn’t Sehun think of the same? An older brother that fawns over him, such a lust, he’s going to loathe you, abhor you... isn’t that pitiful?’

‘To be hated by the person you loved most’

It was a nightmare, as he lied down at his bed staring at the ceiling; he remembered the hateful event that happened that afternoon. He couldn’t deny the fact that the witch was right, she was undeniably right in every aspect. It burned his heart, roasted even more. Luhan couldn’t help himself; he knew that he had fallen madly, deeply in love with Sehun. But he had to bottle them up, fearing the day would come when he couldn’t help it and confess.

‘He’s going to loathe you, abhor you...’ Daeun’s voice suddenly ran through his mind. No, he thought... he didn’t want to be hated by Sehun. He would never do anything to make Sehun hate him...

Undecided, he cried and drowned himself in his tears as he fell asleep. With the floating question up above his head, ‘Why did this have to happen?’