The Saint Wants to Rest - Chapter 23.1
“What nonsense are you talking about!”
Choi Ian is Choi Jae-heon’s younger brother. That is how he had identified him and how he had grown up since they were young. Because they were family, he must not harbor emotions beyond affection. Even knowing that, he was shaken by Vermouth’s words. Emotions he had pressed down deep for a long time opened the door and revealed themselves.
‘No.’
He must not harbor a different heart for his younger brother. Ian’s parents, who had taken Choi Jae-heon in, asked him to become part of the family. They raised him without discrimination from Ian and gave him their love.
Please be Ian’s, be our family.
Those words had enabled Choi Jae-heon to stand where he was today, but they also became shackles. Sometimes, looking at his younger brother smiling without a care in the world, his heart would stir. Because of that, there was a time when he distanced himself from his brother for a while. But that did not last long either.
It was because their parents passed away.
Because they were family, Choi Jae-heon did not abandon Ian. He was young himself, but he worked part time jobs to earn money and sacrificed himself for his younger brother.
Because he was the older brother.
He poured out overflowing affection. But was that truly because they were family, because he was the brother?
“Cough.”
Before he knew it, his strength had reached its limit. There was no more power left to scrape together. In the end, Choi Jae-heon could not defeat Vermouth. At Vermouth’s light, flicking touch, Choi Jae-heon slumped down right on the spot.
“Hyung!”
Ian called out to Choi Jae-heon and came running urgently. Ian frantically checked over Choi Jae-heon and carefully laid him down. Then, he placed a hand on his chest.
A warm energy gathered at Ian’s hand and was soon absorbed into Choi Jae-heon. However, even if the external wounds were treated, the mess inside was not resolved. Ian bit his lip hard, his face turning pale.
In the face of Choi Jae-heon’s crisis, the surroundings did not enter his sight. Watching Ian, Vermouth took off his outer coat and covered Ian’s head with it. Thanks to that, Ian’s actions were not visible to other people.
The moment he realized that, Ian unhesitatingly pressed his lips against Choi Jae-heon’s. The internal organs that had been churned from forcing out power began to settle gradually. Vitality started to return to Choi Jae-heon’s pale face.
The vision that had been blurred from burst capillaries was also restored. Only then could Choi Jae-heon see clearly in front of him. In the narrow, dark space, he could faintly see Ian’s face filled with worry. Those flickering lips were moist and darker in color than usual.
Only then did Choi Jae-heon realize.
Choi Jae-heon loves his younger brother, Choi Ian. But that was not love as a family member. Since when had he harbored and hidden this emotion? It had been so long he could not remember properly. However, it was certain that he had liked Ian since the time they were children.
Because he was small and white like a soft rice cake, and like a puppy, he thought he had liked him. Then they lived together, and as Ian grew, his heart gradually changed. A person liking another person did not require some grand turning point.
Choi Jae-heon reached out toward Ian, who was dripping tears out of relief. He wanted to wipe away the tears, but his hands were too dirty. Eventually, he tried to lower his raised hand again, but Ian was faster.
“Hyung, Hyung!”
Ian grabbed Choi Jae-heon’s hand and cried as if his eyes would become sore. Around that time, someone gently lifted the clothes that were over Ian’s head.
“He’s alive.”
It was Hong Seo-yun, letting out a sigh of relief.
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