“Hey, uh, back there at the cafe.” Yujin sat beside me sheepishly, handing me a cup of coffee. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say that last bit. I thought you knew your brother—”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡokKSA2Gz9M
“No, I didn’t. And you shouldn’t be apologising to me, Damian should.” I cut him off before he could finish his sentence. “Also, I don’t drink coffee.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgrBMJFC4T
“Oh! Okay, I–I just made things worse, heh. Sorry.” He gave a dry laugh and took the mug from me.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxWKlnCW9A
Things were quiet for a moment; it was really awkward.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImpKVG9qfo
Even the ticking of the wall clock suddenly felt too loud.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7McYwVQccX
“So, uh…you from around here?”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk6N0a8z8EM
“What?”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡArsUX433D6
“Hey, I’m just trying to strike up a conversation here.” Yujin raised both of his hands in the air. “Unless you don’t want to.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv1WFbbSDhA
This guy—who controls portals, and flies and probably has other abilities I don’t know about—suddenly seemed so awkward.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFfFbWMMdHZ
I tried to stifle a laugh, but ended up laughing so hard.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSX2IBOgk8R
“What did I do?”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSTCh8zti8y
He raised an eyebrow at me, trying to figure out why I was laughing.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfpE9Nxe3NR
“Nothing. It’s just that you seemed like a cool guy when I first met you, that I forgot you’re like what, twenty?”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuuhJRiPBEH
“Twenty-one. And are you trying to say that I’m a kid?”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdkc2jfxaKM
“I’m saying that you’re an awkward guy who’s younger than me.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm6HI5rlDOZ
“Fine. I don’t interact much with people outside of my circle, sue me.” 6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuWl8FiQR5m
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1Vwy996wr
Crossing his arms, it looked like he was…sulking.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ82ccv4b0Xi
That’s kind of cute.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡchRvlQUFlO
Oh no.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡamjhHGwPqx
He’s younger than me! I gotta change the topic, fast.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFiMMskZRad
“Anyway, to answer your question, no, I’m not from around here.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7IUJddJdnz
Yujin nodded and took a sip of his coffee.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxDP4wsyTza
“Yeah, I figured.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqtjyIzolzd
Silence settled between us again.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCPQSpeiOHC
This time, it wasn't quite as awkward.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNomfp6ywkt
“Can I ask you something?”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡli4O97wfcN
I glanced at him. “Depends.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU0XAT0La6w
“Why do you want the truth so badly?”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡffODgqE8lk
The question caught me off guard.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEvlu2CEkqe
For a moment, all I could do was stare at him.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKsIKsPyz7D
“What kind of question is that?”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO0K1gStxGu
“A serious one.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡue2vPWG80M
I frowned and looked away.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq5yOBg91A5
“I don't know.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHfgb5NKDKL
“That's a lie.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBbmYmliDXa
“Excuse me?”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMNbkMVxVob
Yujin shrugged.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZ86JtL4S7
“Not a malicious lie. Just one people tell themselves when they don't want to think about the real answer.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDbz8e2g4W
“I don’t—”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjCvRWgss5p
Then, it hit me. I’ve always been trying to look for answers, but I never really asked myself why.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKufi4rIGnS
You know why.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEaeHWTJjq0
I bit my lips and leaned back against the couch, staring at the ceiling.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrn3erxQMjG
“You want the truth? Well, here’s the truth. All my life, I’ve trained, broken almost all my bones, cried painful tears, learned all these skills, and for what? To face an enemy that I have never encountered. Everyone in my family knows the truth about something. Aunt Holly isn’t even related to me, and yet, she knows more about my parents than I do!”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyR8WuXaPcF
“I don’t even know what kind of truth I’m looking for anymore…” I whispered..
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDlDJ9SgJy
I buried my face in my hands.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSwJ0CaIKrz
Suddenly, I felt exhausted.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3cdRFe0TfP
Neither of us spoke for a while.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjspshKqLfZ
Finally, Yujin set his mug down.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWMlEdWMZCk
“I know it’s not my place, but I don’t think they intentionally leave you in the dark about some things.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOhpuIXHYHI
“You mean, everything.” I let out a humourless laugh.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAMs6RO1UIG
He smiled a little, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ej8NAgu7S
“You know, my grandfather used to do the same thing.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWzOXMrnBi6
I blinked.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3xy7aJS5P1
“What?”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqmaVkD69fQ
“He'd keep things from me. Tell me I wasn't ready yet.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFPmLLfPaec
“You?”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKV56SqR7cY
“Shocking, I know. And it’s not just him, my parents too.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ4z4NAPhcz
I looked at him sceptically.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5i8fQYB7EL
“Somehow, yes.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTgqY2IyV9v
“Anyway,” he continued, “it used to drive me insane.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRrdOGLOlbI
“What happened?”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS2rDWFiW43
Yujin was quiet for a moment.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoXeCYxgNMy
Then he smiled faintly.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡncrMKX5aOX
“I eventually learned that people don't keep secrets because they enjoy it.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkVPIMaPoh8
“Then why?”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQAExlXqsx
His gaze drifted toward the bathroom door.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7qYpvrG87r
“Sometimes the truth is dangerous.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtH7uIbDWJK
I followed his eyes.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJsaY4kwDTs
The portal.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90Rd3gw3m9
Stellarion.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bgKlRlSkM
Everything.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuRmokKaafF
“But,” he added softly, “sometimes keeping the truth from someone hurts them even more.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU2hZGE6Y5O
I looked at him and grimaced.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUSlhzUcggL
“This is probably not the right time to say now, but I know things too. The current situation doesn’t allow me to tell you the whole story until I know what you’re capable of.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfVE6ic8E3G
He paused before continuing, “ Maybe that’s why your family kept you in the dark. To see if your trip here to Korea can help prove that you’re ready for the truth.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡphPPwULnih
“But I am ready!”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZKGOhGIWOl
“Are you?” Yujin asked quietly.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP9DOsOX2A2
“I don’t know!”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZli2I7F8zD
For a moment, neither of us said anything.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡorykRQlr6T
Then I sighed.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCYPEUksF3O
“I’m sorry I didn’t make you feel any better.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxd1C16q8h0
“No, you actually did. In a way.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4z40rN2Db
“Well then, I’m sorry I couldn’t help more?”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXMjxz4sdSk
“Stop apologising.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNiDWdRfFD3
“Sorry.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡle5NnZqAUl
I grabbed one of the couch cushions and threw it at his face.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX3li0rjjD3
Yujin yelped as it smacked him squarely in the nose.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6z9gLcGqmk
For the first time that day, I laughed without forcing it.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFu0RGyr6BC
And for the first time since leaving the café, the knot in my chest loosened—just a little.
*
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtw7uOmyXVX
After talking to Yujin, I stayed in the living room while he went to the guest room to rest.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUETmJNKp1V
Talking to him made me wonder.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4EYFXvAmx
Did he go through the same training I did?
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjv0U5DAffB
Were his parents as strict as mine?
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs2y2AONbja
Is he Korean or a citizen of Stellarion?
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTigvgP8pOi
What else could he do?
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGrLKDGJlC0
Nope, enough questions for once.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFgJgtHzegH
I took a deep breath and shut my eyes.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNEdEuqyhUT
The moment I did, I could hear someone emerging from the bathroom corridor.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnaT8biyemG
“Talia.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsyhzlzu3lB
With my eyes still shut, I ignored my brother.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjppwCpJKQ
“Talia, let’s talk. I know you’re awake.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrEhTu34k5E
I opened my eyes and fixed Damian with a glare, hoping he could see exactly how furious I was.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqkfDku1BFw
He took a step towards me, but before he could come any closer, a knife lifted into the air from the knife block and drifted between us. The blade hovered silently, marking a distance that felt much larger than a few feet.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1AAN0sqoNu
“That’s far enough,” I said coldly.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Kap80St9k
Damian's expression tightened as he stopped.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6wQtL1tkMI
“Talia, please. I just—”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKwRx8Ucvx8
“Want to say you’re sorry? Yeah, save it.”
“What the hell is going on here? Peanut?” Aunt Holly had a look of horror as she walked into the living room. “What are you doing?!”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBdrPxVQRTA
“Stay out of this, Aunt Holly!” I yelled.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgS6tKx9pBc
“Peanut, don’t be crazy! He’s your brother!”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnfveoH4vAX
“I am not crazy! I have never been clearer. Now, sit.” I jerked my head to the opposite couch, gesturing for them to sit.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV4GUXTOmpA
“But—” Aunt Holly began.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjERtL7J744
“I said sit.” I snapped back. I wasn’t having it today.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy78GiIFghz
As Damian and Aunt Holly sat cautiously on the couch, I tried to calm myself by reminding myself to control my emotions.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDtaEkut30O
Big fat help it was.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVPBI3Uli0V
The knife hovering between us trembled slightly.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaTsRVANqtK
I clenched my fist and forced it to steady.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRYVUsB6s10
Nobody spoke.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuPdKanZkOe
Good.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQQaFEzguB
For once, I wanted them to listen.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAZGzjpdDpA
I pointed at Damian.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ96FyodYzQC
"You first."
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJMVMJhikxI
"Talia—"
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbbuYVuttV
"No." My voice came out sharper than I intended. "You don't get to start with my name. You don't get to start with an apology. And you definitely don't get to tell me you were protecting me."
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡokWc0IK1rM
Damian immediately closed his mouth.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2C8YhiMmAA
“Have you been to Stellarion before?”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYvwXjYzzlu
Silence.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ870w7F7y0I
My stomach dropped.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdgrp0jtcC
"Answer me."
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOVOvkogAxi
"Yes."
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXfUCa6Bxfp
"How many times?"
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGmSvPD6DQH
Damian hesitated.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvhwFPgSYVr
That was enough of an answer.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4YUWPT780
"More than once?" I asked quietly.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPerxVZGiFs
His silence stretched on.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMN739OuAF4
"Oh my god." I pinched my temples, unable to express any further anger than I already have.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbTzXen7YrV
“It was only three times! And it was for…”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaNqB8npwi6
Damian trailed off, his eyes flickering briefly toward Aunt Holly.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe41MlPk2qg
“Was for what?”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡympWIGlzMA
Silence ensued.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVNmRRqUceg
Aunt Holly looked away, avoiding my gaze.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSOOunV7h4y
My anger swelled up again. I could feel my power slipping out to the point that the coffee table was shaking.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hTq6RvsTr
“Do you know how insane this sounds?" I asked. "I spent years trying to figure out why we had to go through what we went through. And all this time, you had every chance of telling me about all this.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW6mzTygTnv
I waved my hands in the air, exasperated.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjOxd3Bv5nt
“You know what? I’m done. I’m leaving Korea tomorrow. Whatever this is, I’m done.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxmt4NGBhsL
I turned around and headed towards my room, not forgetting to add one more thing for Damian.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEsG1P3LEGm
“I thought we were a team.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUlumlm5KJ1
Before I could reach for the doorknob, Damian suddenly stood up.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXjqOMmenoW
“You think I wanted this?”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBAHagoplAF
I froze and slowly turned around.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM9n6GVesw0
“I told Mom and Dad, especially Dad, that I wanted to tell you everything. At least enough for you to know what’s going on. Every time you looked hurt because you found out that we’re keeping another secret from you, it broke my heart.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOmqpX2g3pb
Damian strided across the living room towards me and held me by the shoulders.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXjcfe42WWW
Looking into his eyes, I could see it. The guilt was eating him alive.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1D1j0S4rC
“Talia. I want to tell you everything. I need you to know everything. And I know that you’re ready, no matter what other people say.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3gX1blam0z
His eyes drifted towards Aunt Holly, who looked distraught.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ92MIXVxlWK
“So, I’ll tell you what. Tomorrow, we’ll go to the florist. There are a few things we need to work on first. But after that, you and I will have a long talk. Please?”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIl7uEmDsRs
Maybe it was because I didn’t say yes immediately, but Damian grabbed my right hand and placed it on his temple.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCPOCMc8S1l
“If you don’t believe me, you know what to do.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqquqgE4SQv
I furrowed my eyebrows.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCVQoXkDCIZ
I knew he wasn’t lying.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaYgStU3cSz
I didn’t need my powers to know that he was being sincere.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZLu1EFVU9
So, I shook my head and put my lips into a thin line.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv15MTcCEzn
Damian sighed in relief.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgd7gkb8ElN
“Thank you.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYITftgqOqV
“But I swear to god, if you lie to me one more time, I will cut you like how we did when we were kids.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL98xaGbSzU
“Duly noted.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxTDQnNTs9f
Then, Damian turned towards Aunt Holly and said, “This is happening. You’re not going to stop me?”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdKXzaHuijC
“I tried to stop you for twenty years. I think I did a pretty good job.” Aunt Holly smiled and grabbed the knife still hovering in mid-air, putting it back in the knife block.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaCHL51i3wU
“Peanut, I’m so sorry. I know you’re mad. I-I have nothing to say for myself. I acted according to your parents’ instructions without considering how you would feel. Will you please, please, forgive me?”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs8ySPtCvrT
“It’s going to take time,” I murmured.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRor1mxdT21
“Good enough for me.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2P7M3nGHlZ
and then Add to home screen.