“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—”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2nAPaaYrR2
“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.”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuKkpUC2yCU
“Oh! Okay, I–I just made things worse, heh. Sorry.” He gave a dry laugh and took the mug from me.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRHELcs2uE7
Things were quiet for a moment; it was really awkward.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8uVXmPQNHI
Even the ticking of the wall clock suddenly felt too loud.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMSchagfgK5
“So, uh…you from around here?”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp6pp2YfcQp
“What?”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbRe5734zMG
“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.”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNZfbwbsJbh
This guy—who controls portals, and flies and probably has other abilities I don’t know about—suddenly seemed so awkward.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjUI7fqJeMM
I tried to stifle a laugh, but ended up laughing so hard.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTw228JwpL
“What did I do?”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2HJzSHi8RD
He raised an eyebrow at me, trying to figure out why I was laughing.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWH8wai7Nj
“Nothing. It’s just that you seemed like a cool guy when I first met you, that I forgot you’re like what, twenty?”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbY1wGOlgr9
“Twenty-one. And are you trying to say that I’m a kid?”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaFiZa9HOS2
“I’m saying that you’re an awkward guy who’s younger than me.”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7S5lxy39Vq
“Fine. I don’t interact much with people outside of my circle, sue me.” 8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkVoa7Nwu6O
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkliaIzlIS9
Crossing his arms, it looked like he was…sulking.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsgxf5go32d
That’s kind of cute.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrd2OBQRhYL
Oh no.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfY4Jr7v89
He’s younger than me! I gotta change the topic, fast.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ24fon7n4ZS
“Anyway, to answer your question, no, I’m not from around here.”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡey93LC6gyY
Yujin nodded and took a sip of his coffee.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKfh4bwdjeK
“Yeah, I figured.”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl0rQTf2Nzq
Silence settled between us again.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvXUu769gxf
This time, it wasn't quite as awkward.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRdNEFSOvXd
“Can I ask you something?”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSxuRmZ1zk3
I glanced at him. “Depends.”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZ3zgPC8Zd
“Why do you want the truth so badly?”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8mLafbpG8y
The question caught me off guard.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSy4B9IjX5
For a moment, all I could do was stare at him.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxu8whN3xmK
“What kind of question is that?”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6kzPJ0vsY6
“A serious one.”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Q68ru7H2n
I frowned and looked away.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLDKZy7j9o
“I don't know.”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyyFjEnhVdd
“That's a lie.”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIPUWkLPaTW
“Excuse me?”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtVVegQo8pT
Yujin shrugged.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlpc9t70XFA
“Not a malicious lie. Just one people tell themselves when they don't want to think about the real answer.”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdvotyIszvu
“I don’t—”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzILOmtY4G
Then, it hit me. I’ve always been trying to look for answers, but I never really asked myself why.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCMW7QwYoZn
You know why.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrtreRvMzwe
I bit my lips and leaned back against the couch, staring at the ceiling.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnvEX28tV7
“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!”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuhuGhnSm05
“I don’t even know what kind of truth I’m looking for anymore…” I whispered..
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAqHYv3cAsZ
I buried my face in my hands.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY7Ylsptu2w
Suddenly, I felt exhausted.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKOXGKIbjTI
Neither of us spoke for a while.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvf4BOxeOpE
Finally, Yujin set his mug down.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoPkOPVQIDc
“I know it’s not my place, but I don’t think they intentionally leave you in the dark about some things.”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlUU5iWefJG
“You mean, everything.” I let out a humourless laugh.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmGyT68qRz4
He smiled a little, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhMUoasWtcN
“You know, my grandfather used to do the same thing.”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUR0hN1iGIW
I blinked.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP518X8sbwz
“What?”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Pt7MgTzuq
“He'd keep things from me. Tell me I wasn't ready yet.”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx5HNK4UFdO
“You?”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF9Vnfb4xAH
“Shocking, I know. And it’s not just him, my parents too.”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQmMH8xG5in
I looked at him sceptically.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNqpzvv89AB
“Somehow, yes.”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZIqr0022z4
“Anyway,” he continued, “it used to drive me insane.”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxRYbUrorpK
“What happened?”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjlMPUSh14
Yujin was quiet for a moment.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcpGH2vSj4K
Then he smiled faintly.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNTTXe2q8s
“I eventually learned that people don't keep secrets because they enjoy it.”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOupEA5A6N5
“Then why?”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPx0hgOVjP
His gaze drifted toward the bathroom door.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH6xBh8ZgCs
“Sometimes the truth is dangerous.”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNfItngnug
I followed his eyes.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQZiQA84O43
The portal.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5RMkdaRvZ2
Stellarion.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK6Ql9uWmNM
Everything.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCUyxrydCxJ
“But,” he added softly, “sometimes keeping the truth from someone hurts them even more.”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jI5KqdVuw
I looked at him and grimaced.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM0cwX0Op9s
“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.”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEouBtPnvoR
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.”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4h1jMcXPv
“But I am ready!”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVu9Hb8QXPD
“Are you?” Yujin asked quietly.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBZy54LawG
“I don’t know!”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRSUq2st6G
For a moment, neither of us said anything.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvc61hN2zqw
Then I sighed.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ069OzbZoiT
“I’m sorry I didn’t make you feel any better.”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWaDzfMVIfY
“No, you actually did. In a way.”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCtFGiSuQQN
“Well then, I’m sorry I couldn’t help more?”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmAFd2D1knc
“Stop apologising.”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLxKLxU6BO
“Sorry.”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0yqci0t2hi
I grabbed one of the couch cushions and threw it at his face.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6kAUbzpZDp
Yujin yelped as it smacked him squarely in the nose.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzTCZvjQFRk
For the first time that day, I laughed without forcing it.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpamDuD8DS2
And for the first time since leaving the café, the knot in my chest loosened—just a little.
*
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2uP3rz8IBK
After talking to Yujin, I stayed in the living room while he went to the guest room to rest.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVNAC6eTv4
Talking to him made me wonder.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2LAyzTF5s8
Did he go through the same training I did?
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrGBFSf6EIE
Were his parents as strict as mine?
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiFP2RohVjZ
Is he Korean or a citizen of Stellarion?
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlN9Su4t5yq
What else could he do?
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUuADxq3rvd
Nope, enough questions for once.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpFgUhjP60f
I took a deep breath and shut my eyes.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC1aj6xXbFx
The moment I did, I could hear someone emerging from the bathroom corridor.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsAtS7CgxYW
“Talia.”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJCk60of6c
With my eyes still shut, I ignored my brother.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi8CfVPtHa7
“Talia, let’s talk. I know you’re awake.”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXv4x3dx5B4
I opened my eyes and fixed Damian with a glare, hoping he could see exactly how furious I was.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvbI3IJV20f
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.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJNgJDSxBxd
“That’s far enough,” I said coldly.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtMYVkTBgiI
Damian's expression tightened as he stopped.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH8SdGqkWCI
“Talia, please. I just—”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy2gnY3UANh
“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?!”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmsPjdNvK6n
“Stay out of this, Aunt Holly!” I yelled.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyTnilhLiKo
“Peanut, don’t be crazy! He’s your brother!”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiW1OFhOL1t
“I am not crazy! I have never been clearer. Now, sit.” I jerked my head to the opposite couch, gesturing for them to sit.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnIHVyTebuB
“But—” Aunt Holly began.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM0wkv3A1bw
“I said sit.” I snapped back. I wasn’t having it today.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡti0eZ7b3UY
As Damian and Aunt Holly sat cautiously on the couch, I tried to calm myself by reminding myself to control my emotions.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgKH1zLMcSw
Big fat help it was.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2VVnvdhC4u
The knife hovering between us trembled slightly.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTG1QzXo9ql
I clenched my fist and forced it to steady.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡht46Li6eoq
Nobody spoke.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxpeQDKKa1
Good.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZKPkxctmS
For once, I wanted them to listen.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhHE2ZlQBEy
I pointed at Damian.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLx6iw39S81
"You first."
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtV8D2pfYdZ
"Talia—"
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNwMvJQVY2M
"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."
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHyUBit3e0f
Damian immediately closed his mouth.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8fp67Xwz4V
“Have you been to Stellarion before?”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaGcciKjTU0
Silence.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7Pb8YZbGM
My stomach dropped.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCpiP0mgRk7
"Answer me."
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrE6y4i7D1w
"Yes."
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBOxVqaQzh
"How many times?"
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4IuEktZldI
Damian hesitated.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYP4GGfnfPO
That was enough of an answer.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdXS2ga43gg
"More than once?" I asked quietly.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV4x71s9hFS
His silence stretched on.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVFOnPK4LH
"Oh my god." I pinched my temples, unable to express any further anger than I already have.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRO2hF7vhYe
“It was only three times! And it was for…”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfb8eYGYHLA
Damian trailed off, his eyes flickering briefly toward Aunt Holly.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSzeXLcTGBP
“Was for what?”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTxQSdNrqu
Silence ensued.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPmVOLS6rWj
Aunt Holly looked away, avoiding my gaze.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9q0VNcaYs
My anger swelled up again. I could feel my power slipping out to the point that the coffee table was shaking.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9yKf1gijL8
“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.”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6oS44yKar
I waved my hands in the air, exasperated.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvuR5TcBUL8
“You know what? I’m done. I’m leaving Korea tomorrow. Whatever this is, I’m done.”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUVpIK6bqGF
I turned around and headed towards my room, not forgetting to add one more thing for Damian.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsMxk6nIN3L
“I thought we were a team.”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkaeOr01wrL
Before I could reach for the doorknob, Damian suddenly stood up.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdbq5A8KRzB
“You think I wanted this?”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJG3VUeHhtg
I froze and slowly turned around.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSkvwCaoLGP
“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.”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvCUkFxgz0W
Damian strided across the living room towards me and held me by the shoulders.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnd4Uh3PiFB
Looking into his eyes, I could see it. The guilt was eating him alive.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡncL4SMUEz9
“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.”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ98iGbpLcd1
His eyes drifted towards Aunt Holly, who looked distraught.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGfDuKPOY2T
“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?”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrysIvGIP8a
Maybe it was because I didn’t say yes immediately, but Damian grabbed my right hand and placed it on his temple.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRy0OzTj3b
“If you don’t believe me, you know what to do.”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGxYaswWrVA
I furrowed my eyebrows.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk1ng4ra4QP
I knew he wasn’t lying.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGuWgWcL3Nh
I didn’t need my powers to know that he was being sincere.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmo7VmrP6n
So, I shook my head and put my lips into a thin line.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Dy240o0Jj
Damian sighed in relief.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwqQQCf8vFv
“Thank you.”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtHGniV4AeJ
“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.”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV5MCwhR6uU
“Duly noted.”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYwXplbUZtF
Then, Damian turned towards Aunt Holly and said, “This is happening. You’re not going to stop me?”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Hf7nnqNS9
“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.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7DBR1fLnNH
“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?”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuR9LUZuQds
“It’s going to take time,” I murmured.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrMZuCVsMuw
“Good enough for me.”
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsVT6vsxK3W
and then Add to home screen.