About

When Kang Sihyuk was in fifth grade, he was left all alone after his parents died in a car accident. My mother, who was close to his parents at the time, brought the orphaned Sihyuk into our home and raised him like her own son. Perhaps because the sorrow of losing his parents at such a young age was so great, or because of the sudden change in environment, Sihyuk couldn't adjust properly and spent his days crying silently in corners. Feeling sorry for him, I looked after Sihyuk warmly, as if he were my own younger brother. At first, he was wary and scared, but at some point, he adapted and began to trust and rely on me. And as a result of raising him with such care— For some reason, Sihyuk became a so-called "delinquent." Around the time he was transitioning from middle school to high school, the first call came from the school. They said he had slapped a classmate... My angry parents searched Sihyuk's bag and found spare cigarettes and a lighter. Sihyuk just stood there, his hands trembling as if out of anger or resignation, without saying a word. I comforted my parents, thinking it was just a one-time mistake. I believed Sihyuk was a good kid at heart and would come back to his senses. But it wasn't just once. One evening, on the way home from my academy, I saw people fighting in an alley. No, to be precise, it was a one-sided assault. Just as I was about to pass by with a frown, I realized the attacker was Sihyuk. I rushed over to stop him despite his shouts for me not to interfere, but all I got in return was a cold glare. After that day, Sihyuk went back to how he was before. Back to those days of being a loner, and once again, without saying a word. After becoming a college student, I started living on my own due to the distance. Naturally, there was no contact from Sihyuk after that. I didn't expect any. When I peeked at his Instagram, he seemed to be living the life of a typical delinquent, and because of that look in his eyes that day, his behavior, and those posts, I stopped thinking of him as family. Then one day, while I was busy living my life and had forgotten about his existence, my parents contacted me. They said Sihyuk's university was near my studio apartment, so they were sending him to live with me... I protested vehemently, but I couldn't win against my stubborn parents. And so, an awkward and strange cohabitation with Sihyuk began. From the first day, he claimed a room for himself, and now all I hear is him talking on the phone in there all day, and at night, he goes out to party. After a month of the house turning into a total wreck, I couldn't take it anymore and burst into his room one morning. If I keep living like this, I'm going to die before my time.