POISONED YOUTH: TWISTED

CHAPTER 38

That night, the newly discovered siblings sat across from each other at Treasure Café, separated by a small table and an entire lifetime of things they had never known about each other. Neither of them knew how to begin. The truth had only just settled between them, leaving a strange ache in their hearts as they tried to understand what it meant to suddenly have a brother or sister they had spent their entire lives believing did not exist.

Yoonoh had been the one to arrange their meeting, but the moment they arrived, he left them alone, probably knowing that whatever needed to be said between them had to come without anyone else interfering.

They settled in the leftmost corner of the café, far enough from the busy counter and the constant movement of customers that they could talk without being overheard. It was only eight in the morning, but both of them looked as though they had barely survived waking up. Jaemin quietly sipped his coffee while Yeoreum focused on the chocolate cake in front of her, shoving another bite into her mouth as if the sugar could somehow make everything that happened yesterday easier to process.

For a while, neither said anything.

Jaemin eventually lowered his cup and glanced at the girl sitting across from him. The more he looked at her, the more he noticed little things that felt strangely familiar—the way her expressions changed so easily, the way she became distracted by food, even the slight tilt of her head whenever she was confused.

"Yeoreum."

She immediately looked up.

Jaemin smiled softly, and something inside her chest melted at the sight.

"I always wanted to have a sister."

Yeoreum's lips curved into a small smile as she reached across the table and took his cold hand into hers.

"I wanted a brother too. I mean... Yoonoh's kind of like one, but it's different."

Jaemin's expression softened even more. "Breathe, Reum."

She laughed quietly, and for the first time since the family truth had been revealed, the awkwardness between them loosened just a little.

But it didn't last long.

Yeoreum's smile slowly disappeared as another thought crossed her mind.

"Donghyuck... he's not replying to me."

Jaemin's brows drew together. "Maybe he's still asleep?"

"Since last night." She lowered her eyes to their joined hands. "I can't reach him."

The sadness in her voice made Jaemin bite his lip. He had only known Yeoreum for a short time, but even he could tell how much Haechan mattered to her. Whatever strange bond existed between the two of them, it was obvious that his silence was hurting her.

"Don't worry," Jaemin said gently. "Do you want to visit him later?"

Yeoreum's eyes immediately lifted. "Can I?"

"Oh..." Jaemin leaned back slightly, thinking. "I think I'll ask Jaehyun first."