Chapter Text
Jungwoo was in trouble. Big trouble. And now, his mood had gone sour again.
All because he had spaced out in class (blame the teacher, whose voice sounded more like a bedtime story than an actual lesson), and now, for the third time this month, his parents were being called to school again.
It wasn't his fault the class was boring. Jungwoo had even answered the question correctly—he was smart, and he was proud of it. He knew the answer before the teacher even started explaining. But none of that mattered. What got his teacher mad was the fact that Jungwoo had clearly been ignoring him.
"That old man!" Jungwoo shoved his books into his bag, burning with anger.
"Your parents got called again," Minjun said, stating the obvious. "Aren’t they going to be mad you got in trouble again?"
Jungwoo pouted and slung his bag over his shoulder. "Mr. Lee is so annoying. He shouldn’t be calling parents over something this small."
"But you did answer him with a bit of an attitude. No wonder Mr. Lee got mad at you."
The two of them walked out of class. It was the end of the day, time to go home. Minjun stayed by Jungwoo’s side, listening as he continued to rant about boring Mr. Lee. As they were nearing the school gates, three figures blocked their way.
Jungwoo frowned. "What do you guys want?"
The three of them chuckled under their breath. Myungsoo, Donghyun, and Hyunbin. These three always seemed to test Jungwoo’s patience. Usually, he’d be ready to deal with them, but today, after getting scolded, he just wasn’t in the mood.
"Hey," Myungsoo greeted. His face looked scruffy, like always. "You wanna go to the bookstore? The new comic series drops today!"
Jungwoo just rolled his eyes and kept walking, ignoring him. But Myungsoo didn’t give up. He followed. "Hey!"
Jungwoo stopped. "Don’t try to pick a fight. I’m not in the mood."
"What’s wrong with you? You look like an angry dog."
Jungwoo growled, "I got yelled at by a teacher, my parents got called, and now you want to start something? Not today. I’m going home."
Myungsoo went quiet. For a split second, a disappointed look crossed his face, but Jungwoo didn’t notice the change on his face. "That’s the second or third time your parents have been called in, huh?"
Jungwoo snorted. "Why? Jealous?"
Jungwoo was the kind of kid who had a hard time keeping his cool, especially in front of Shin Myungsoo. Ever since they ended up in the same class in the 4th grade, they’d been at each other’s throats. It wasn’t even Jungwoo who started disliking Myungsoo. It was always Myungsoo who picked on Jungwoo first.
And yet, every time they fought, Myungsoo was the one who ended up crying—even though he clearly started it. Jungwoo only fought back.
Once, Myungsoo pulled Jungwoo’s hair, and Jungwoo, fed up, punched him in the face so hard he knocked out a tooth. Jungwoo’s parents had to personally go to Myungsoo’s house to apologize with heads bowed.
It hadn’t been his fault.
And now, with Myungsoo silent, Jungwoo just walked away.
Jungwoo was deep in thought. How could he keep his parents from coming to school, but still make Mr. Lee happy enough not to scold him again?
He pulled out his phone and opened the chatroom with his older brother.
Jungwoo:
hyung.
hyung, are you coming home???
hyung… you know mom misses you.
Okay. He’d use his brother as a shield. His parents were busy anyway, that could be his excuse. Hopefully, his brother could come meet Mr. Lee instead.
Stupid Dog:
no.
The blunt reply made Jungwoo growl in frustration. How dare he reply like that, so short, so cold.
Jungwoo:
hyung!!!
do you really not care about this family anymore?
don’t you miss me?
dad is mad because you haven’t come home.
hyung!!!!!!!!!!
Stupid Dog:
shut up.
That was it. Maybe it was a mistake to ask his brother for help. Fuming, Jungwoo began spamming the chat with every sticker he had in his collection.
Jungwoo:
don’t ever come home again!
from now on, you’re no longer a part of the Kim family!
His brother didn’t reply after that. Jungwoo shoved his phone back into his bag with an irritated sigh, his expression dark.
Fine. Whatever!
Now what?
He stared blankly at the ground for a moment, lost in thought. His mind was spinning, trying to come up with a new plan.
What could he do? He needed a way to keep his parents from coming to school, but still make Mr. Lee happy enough to leave him alone.
A nearly impossible task.
Jungwoo let out a frustrated groan, dragging his feet as he walked, still thinking hard about what to do next.
Jungwoo stepped into the house, still feeling heavy and uncertain.
"I'm home."
"Oh, Jungwoo," his mother called from the kitchen, where she was cooking. She glanced over at him. "Come here, I made your favorite snacks. Want some?"
Jungwoo dropped his bag on the couch and slowly made his way to the kitchen. On the dining table were slices of chocolate cake and cheese balls. Normally, he would’ve devoured them in a second, but not today. He just stood there silently.
He looked at his mother, visibly unenthusiastic. If his brother wasn’t going to come, then either his mom or dad would have to face Mr. Lee tomorrow. The guilt weighed heavily on him.
"Mom—"
"Oh, Jungwoo, can you take this fruit upstairs?" she interrupted, grabbing a bowl of freshly sliced peaches from the fridge and handing it to him. "Give it to your brother, okay?"
Jungwoo’s eyes lit up. "Hyung is home?"
"Yes, he is."
A smile spread across Jungwoo’s face as he took the bowl, nearly skipping as he made his way upstairs.
"Jungwoo!" his mom called after him, looking puzzled. She shook her head. "Since when does he get excited about his brother coming home?"
Jungwoo raced to his brother’s room, still beaming, the bowl of peaches in his hands. Without hesitation, he threw the door open.
"Hyung!"
But then he froze.
Inside the room sat a man he didn’t recognize. Around the same age as his brother, he was casually smoking, seated on the small sofa near the study desk and window.
Jungwoo stood there, mouth agape. Who was this ridiculously handsome guy?
So mature. So manly. So... cool.
The man put out his cigarette and gave Jungwoo a small smile. "You're back?"
Jungwoo blinked. "Doyoung-hyung..." He couldn't say anything more. His brain was still trying to process what he was seeing. "Did you get plastic surgery?"
The man just laughed. Jungwoo wasn’t imagining things. His brother had changed—completely. He was now stunningly handsome.
"Come here and tell me if the surgery was worth it or not," he said with a grin.
Even his voice sounded different.
This was a total transformation.
Jungwoo didn’t complain. Normally, Doyoung’s face annoyed him. But this new face? He kind of liked it. It was actually pleasant to look at.
He couldn't stop smiling.
As he walked closer, the strong smell of cigarettes hit him. Before he could say anything, another voice cut through the air.
"What’s the little devil doing in my room?"
Jungwoo turned around immediately, eyes wide. That voice—he knew it well—that annoying voice. Doyoung’s voice.
Sure enough, Doyoung was standing behind him, towel-drying his damp hair. "Hyung?" Jungwoo blinked in confusion.
Doyoung casually took the bowl of fruit from Jungwoo’s hands. "What kind of trouble did you get into this time?"
"I didn’t do anything," Jungwoo mumbled.
"No trouble? You begged me to come home, which definitely means you did something," Doyoung huffed. "Don’t lie to me."
Jungwoo hissed through his teeth in annoyance as Doyoung gave him a teasing smirk. His attention was quickly pulled back to the unfamiliar man behind him, who was chuckling at the scene.
"Doyoung-ah, is that your little brother?" the man asked, amused.
"Yeah. You’re looking at him. What, you thought he was my kid or something?" Doyoung shot back.
Jungwoo moved closer to his brother and whispered, eyes still locked on the handsome stranger, "Hyung, who is he?"
"He's my friend. Jaehyun."
Jaehyun smiled warmly and gave him a small wave. "Hey there, little brother. I'm Jung Jaehyun. Your brother's friend."
Jungwoo nodded slowly, still admiring how absurdly handsome Jaehyun was. So different from his annoying brother.
"Doyoung, I think we kind of look alike," Jaehyun said suddenly.
Jungwoo gulped. He had a feeling where this conversation was going.
Doyoung scoffed. "The bathroom’s down the hall. Go look in the mirror. Where in the world do you see a resemblance?"
Jungwoo’s face was already turning red with embarrassment, but Jaehyun didn’t seem fazed. He just kept talking.
"Your little brother, when he first saw me, asked if I’d gotten plastic surgery."
"What?!" Doyoung practically yelled. "You seriously thought he was me? Are you kidding me, Little Demon?!"
Jungwoo, now feeling defensive, raised his voice too. "How was I supposed to know?! Mom didn’t say you brought a friend! He was the only one in your room, so I thought he was you!"
Doyoung scowled, leaning in close until his face was inches from Jungwoo’s. “How dare you compare your handsome older brother to him?”
“You’re insane!” Jungwoo snapped back, just as furious. “There’s no way your face is better-looking. Even a monkey would be insulted to be compared to you!”
And just like that, the fight began.
The two brothers shouted over each other, flailing their arms in exaggerated gestures. Jaehyun, still sitting nearby, scratched his head awkwardly, unsure what kind of chaotic family scene he had just walked into.
“I’m done arguing with a kid,” Doyoung said at last, tossing his towel straight into Jungwoo’s face. “Jaehyun, let’s go.”
Jaehyun stood up and slung his bag over his shoulder, but Jungwoo suddenly panicked. He lunged forward and wrapped his arms tightly around Doyoung.
“Where are you going?! Don’t leave!”
Doyoung groaned, pushing at Jungwoo’s head to pry him off. “Let go. I have to go back to the dorms. I’ve got stuff to do.”
But Jungwoo only held on tighter. “Hyung, you have to stay until tomorrow! Dad will be mad if you leave again. You’re always at the dorms and you never come home,” he shouted. “Mom is making dinner! You have to stay!”
Doyoung sighed, annoyed. “What’s going on with you? Don’t say weird stuff. Usually, you can’t wait for me to leave.”
This was his chance. His one shot.
While Doyoung was here, Jungwoo wouldn’t have to get their parents involved. He could ask Doyoung to go to school in their place. No questions asked.
“Hyung, I need your help,” Jungwoo said, looking up at him with desperate, hopeful eyes.
“Help with what? I’m not interested.”
“Hyung!” Jungwoo whined. “You love me, right? You have to help me!”
Doyoung looked down at him and replied flatly, “I don’t love you.”
Jungwoo froze, stunned. He slowly let go of his brother, the dramatic tension rising between them as their eyes locked. Doyoung’s gaze was smug, challenging.
Jungwoo’s face turned bright red, the rage building.
“What? You gonna go cry to Mom now?” Doyoung teased, pointing at him. “What a crybaby.”
That was the last straw.
Jungwoo took a deep breath, then burst into the loudest, most dramatic wail he could manage.
“MOOOOOM!!!”
Doyoung’s eyes widened. Jaehyun also jumped in surprise.
“Oh my god! Little Demon, why are you crying?!” Doyoung stammered, panicked.
Jaehyun looked alarmed. “Oi, Doyoung, what did you do to your brother?!”
“I didn’t—! He’s the one—!”
“MOM!!” Jungwoo wailed again, tears and snot flowing on command like a seasoned actor.
From downstairs came their mother’s voice, sharp and thunderous.
“KIM DOYOUNG, WHAT DID YOU DO TO YOUR LITTLE BROTHER?!”
Mama Kim stormed into Doyoung’s room, hands on her hips. Her usually gentle face was now tight with anger. “Doyoung! Did you make your little brother cry?!”
Jungwoo stood beside Jaehyun, still wiping the tear tracks from his cheeks.
Doyoung glanced at him, then turned to Jaehyun. “Jaehyun-ah,” he said smoothly, “how could you make my sweet little brother cry?”
Jaehyun froze, mouth agape, completely stunned at being thrown under the bus like that.
Mama Kim turned her sharp gaze to Jaehyun, then to Jungwoo. “Oh, my baby, tell me, who made you cry?”
Without missing a beat, Jungwoo pointed dramatically at Doyoung. “Hyung hit me!”
Doyoung sighed in defeat. He didn’t even try to argue anymore. Of course Jungwoo would lie. And of course he’d get blamed.
Mama Kim gasped. “KIM DOYOUNG!”
Without giving him a chance to defend himself, she grabbed him by the arm and dragged him out of the room.
Doyoung shot Jungwoo a death glare over his shoulder, mouthing ‘you’re dead’ as he disappeared down the hallway, still being scolded.
Jungwoo sniffled once, then turned to Jaehyun with the most innocent expression he could muster.
Jaehyun stared at him, still clutching his bag. “Uh… you’re kinda scary.”
Jungwoo wiped away the last traces of his tears and sniffled. “Get me a tissue.”
Obediently, Jaehyun set his bag down on the small sofa and handed the kid a tissue, silently watching him blow his nose and wipe his face.
“Don’t worry,” Jungwoo said while wiping his tears. “We fight all the time. My mom’s not really mad at him.”
“You were asking your brother for help earlier,” he added. “Why were you two fighting all of a sudden?”
Jungwoo’s eyes widened, like he had just realized how badly he’d messed up.
He was asking for Doyoung’s help. Now, after that whole scene, there was no way Doyoung would want to help him. Not after being dragged away by their mom like that.
If he’d just been a little more patient, Doyoung probably would’ve agreed. But Doyoung was annoying. How was he supposed to be patient?
He frowned, looking up at Jaehyun. “What should I do?”
Jaehyun shrugged. “I don’t know… maybe apologize to your brother?”
Apologize to Doyoung? That word didn’t exist in Jungwoo’s vocabulary.
Nope. Not happening. He’d rather eat a spoonful of bitter ginseng than apologize to that guy. If he did, Doyoung would act all smug for days.
He turned his gaze to Jaehyun, eyes suddenly full of intent. “Hyung. You help me.”
Jaehyun blinked, taken aback. “Why me?”
“Because it’s your fault I fought with my brother.”
Jaehyun looked completely thrown off. He opened his mouth to reply but no words came out.
Jungwoo stared at him seriously. “If you hadn’t talked, he wouldn’t have gotten mad.”
“You’re blaming me?” Jaehyun pointed to himself, utterly baffled.
Jungwoo nodded solemnly. “You brought up the plastic surgery thing. If you hadn’t said that, Doyoung-hyung would’ve helped me.”
In his twenty years of life, this was the first time Jaehyun had ever been gaslit by a literal child.
“You have to help me, hyung.” Jungwoo said it in a tone that was somewhere between pleading and commanding, Jaehyun honestly couldn’t tell which.
“Help you with what? At least explain what’s going on,” Jaehyun replied, trying his best to stay patient with this peculiar little boy.
Jungwoo went quiet for a moment. “Do you have time tomorrow afternoon?”
“Why? What’s happening tomorrow afternoon?”
Jungwoo didn’t really want to explain. He just needed Jaehyun to show up and deal with his teacher. That was it. “Come to my school. It’s... important.”
Jaehyun raised an eyebrow, not about to let this kid win that easily. “What’s so important?”
Jungwoo bit his bottom lip, clearly dodging the question. “Can’t you just come without me having to explain everything?”
Jaehyun gave him a casual shrug, his tone just as cool. “In that case, I’m busy tomorrow. So, I guess I can’t help you.”
Jungwoo looked at Jaehyun in defeat. Jaehyun was still waiting for an explanation, what kind of situation would require his help?
Finally, Jungwoo gave in with a long sigh. “My teacher called my parents to school,” he muttered quietly.
Jaehyun frowned. “Did you get into trouble?”
Jungwoo quickly shook his head. “I didn’t do anything. I just... zoned out in class, but my teacher got mad because he said I wasn’t paying attention.” He lowered his gaze. “It’s not my fault he’s so boring.”
Jaehyun had to fight back a laugh at the sight of Jungwoo’s slumped shoulders.
“Then why not just ask your mom?”
“You don’t get it,” Jungwoo whined. “This is the third time this month they’ve been called to school.”
He sounded like a total troublemaker, but he wasn’t. Not really. Since middle school, Jungwoo hadn’t done anything particularly bad. He didn’t bully anyone, didn’t cause scenes. Sure, he used to fight a lot back in elementary school, but now? He just didn’t pay attention in class sometimes.
Seeing how down he looked, Jaehyun gently patted Jungwoo’s head. “Alright. So, what exactly do you need me to do?”
“Pretend to be my brother,” Jungwoo said quickly, eyes lighting up with hope. “Just go to my school, meet the teacher, that’s it. Nothing more.”
Jaehyun nodded and gave him a thumbs-up. “That’s easy enough.” He paused. “You are telling the truth, right? You didn’t do anything really bad? ‘Cause if you did, I’m not helping.”
“Of course not!” Jungwoo shook his head furiously. “I’m being honest.”
Jaehyun studied him for a second. And that’s when Doyoung walked back into the room.
“What are you two whispering about?” he asked, voice already annoyed.
“Hyung…” Jungwoo said, eyeing his brother warily as Doyoung glared at him.
“Out. I need to change clothes.”
“No,” Jungwoo replied, stepping closer to Jaehyun, using him as a shield. “I want to stay here.”
“Are you crazy? You want to see me naked or something?” Doyoung shot back.
Jungwoo gulped, then pointed at Jaehyun. “Jaehyun-hyung has to leave too. He doesn’t want to see your ugly body either.”
Jaehyun froze for what felt like the hundredth time that day. Did this kid ever think before saying things?
“Both of you. Out,” Doyoung said firmly.
Jaehyun let out a long sigh and shook his head. He stepped out of the room, with Jungwoo following close behind.
“Hyung, you’ll help me, right?” Jungwoo grabbed Jaehyun’s wrist, refusing to let go.
Jaehyun turned to him. “Why don’t you just ask your real brother? I’m sure he’d help.
It’s better than having me pretend to be him.”
“You saw how mad he was earlier,” Jungwoo replied, shaking his head firmly. “And I’ve been honest with you! Please just help me. It won’t take long.”
He looked up at Jaehyun with wide, pleading eyes—eyes that were dangerously close to tears—and pouted for extra effect.
“What are you asking Jaehyun to do?” Doyoung’s voice cut in from the living room, where he had flopped onto the couch.
Jungwoo turned away and ignored him completely.
Just then, Mama Kim stepped out of the kitchen, wiping her hands with a towel. “Where are you boys going? Come eat dinner first.”
“Ah, sorry Mrs. Kim,” Jaehyun said with a polite smile. “I’ve got to head out. I have a tutoring session.”
Mama Kim’s brow furrowed in disappointment. “Aw, that’s a shame. I made so much food tonight.” She turned to her son. “Doyoung-ah, you’re staying for dinner, right?”
“I’ve got to head back to the dorm, Mom,” Doyoung replied without hesitation.
Jungwoo’s head snapped toward Jaehyun, his eyes wide with panic. “You’re leaving? But… eat here first! Mom already cooked dinner for us!”
Jaehyun walked toward the front door and began putting on his shoes. Jungwoo trailed behind him like a small puppy that didn’t want to be left behind.
“Jaehyun-hyung… are you really leaving?” he asked quietly.
Jaehyun looked at him and smiled a little. “I’ll stay for dinner with you next time, okay?”
“When is next time?” Jungwoo pressed, eyes hopeful. He still hadn’t gotten Jaehyun’s promise to come tomorrow.
“Later,” Jaehyun said vaguely.
“Why do you look so sad when he leaves,” Doyoung chimed in as he reached the door and started putting on his shoes too, “but you’re never sad when I go?”
“No one would miss someone like you!” Jungwoo snapped back.
Doyoung responded with a dramatic, mocking expression, his eyebrows arched smugly, lips pulled into a crooked smirk, and a long, exaggerated exhale through his nose like he was the most pitiful person in the world.
Jungwoo almost punched that annoying face right then and there.
“Jaehyun-ah, don’t get too close to elementary school kids. They’re a pain,” Doyoung muttered.
Jungwoo’s eyes went wide. “Who are you calling an elementary schooler?! I’m in middle school!”
“You’re in middle school?” Jaehyun asked, feigning surprise. “How old are you now?”
Jungwoo paused for a moment. “…Thirteen.”
“Thirteen, but still acts like a kindergartener,” Doyoung said with a smirk.
“You’re no better than me!” Jungwoo shouted back, fuming.
Doyoung stuck his tongue out. Just as Jungwoo grabbed a shoe to throw at him, Doyoung bolted toward his car, laughing.
“Don’t come back!” Jungwoo shouted after him, clearly fed up.
Then Jaehyun turned to Jungwoo with a small smile and bent down slightly to meet his eye level.
“So, what school do you go to?”
“Yongsan Middle School,” Jungwoo replied quickly.
“That’s not far from our campus.” Jaehyun nodded. “What class are you in?”
“Class 7-1,” Jungwoo said proudly.
Jaehyun gave another small nod. “What’s your name, little kid?”
“Jungwoo. Kim Jungwoo,” he answered, smiling wide.
“Well then, Jungwoo… I’ll see you around, then.” Jaehyun waved as he walked past the front gate.
“Hyung! What about tomorrow?” Jungwoo called out after him, voice full of hope.
Jaehyun turned around with a big grin, walking backward now.
“You’ll know when we meet again!” he said, voice playful, before disappearing around the corner.
Jungwoo stood there silently, watching Jaehyun’s figure disappear down the street. His heart quietly hoped—wished, even—that he would see him again.