Chapter 390: Brotherhood

June stayed silent, giving Minjun as much time to process his thoughts and feelings as possible.

Then, he placed his hand on the younger's shoulder and gave him a reassuring nod.

"I guess it started when my dad went back to the States. Then, you had to go, too. I know we don't even see each other as often because you were busy with Rising Stars, but I just felt like we'll see each other even lesser than before," Minjun started off.

"Then, before I even knew it, I started feeling...different," he sighed.

"I used to enjoy being alone since I could play games or even write articles for my page, but all of those just started losing their sparks."

"The silence in my room grew so loud that I just wanted to escape," he said, his voice breaking in the end.

June pursed his lips and looked away from the young teen, feeling a burning sensation in the back of his throat.

"Everything I enjoyed felt like chores," Minjun continued. "And I felt like I had no one there to talk about my feelings. I know I should have talked with Grandma. I bet she would have understood...but she's been understanding me since I was young. I didn't want to give her any more burden."

"I just felt alone...and sad, and trust me when I say I tried to fight it. I really did. Who chooses to be sad anyway?" he chuckled, a lone tear falling from his eyes.

June reached out and wiped the younger's cheeks, silently encouraging him to speak more.

"But it just became worse," Minjun concluded.

"There was one time we had a play at school, and I didn't land a major role since I'm not really a good actor," he chuckled, but there was still an underlying sadness in his voice.

"I played one of the animals on the side, and I merely had one line. It was one of the times I became excited since I made some friends. But then, they told us to bring our parents, and I just knew that no one would come for me," he smiled.

"I told my parents, but just as usual, they couldn't really fly back to Korea just because of a measly play."

"Why didn't you tell Grandma?" June asked. "Or me?"

"Grandma wasn't feeling too great," Minjun said. "And you...I know you also wouldn't have come. You were too busy with your promotions back then."

June pursed his lips, feeling an ache in his heart.

If only he could turn back time, he would have dropped everything to watch Minjun on stage.

"It was alright," Minjun said. "I wasn't too sad about it. I was used to it. It's always been like that since I was younger," he smiled.

June shook his head. Nobody should be used to being alone.

"What happened after was definitely worse," Minjun said. "I never really had friends in school because they thought I was too 'smart.' I'm not saying this to brag," he quickly added.

"I just felt it. My classmates were wary of my presence."

"So, I stayed quietly on the side, just doing my best. But, they still managed to find a way to rattle my quiet life."

"Kim Duri?" June asked.

Minjun nodded.

"I guess it was also my fault. I've been on edge for the past months, and I had him and his friends as my groupmates since nobody wanted to team up with them or me. They didn't help me at all, so I submitted the assignment with just my name on it."

"Rightfully so," June chimed.

Minjun smiled.

"I tried consulting them about it, and I also warned them beforehand, but they never listened. However, thinking back, maybe I shouldn't have done it," he sighed.

"You did the right thing," June assured.

"Did I really?" Minjun asked. "Because after that, I became their target. They insulted me for not having my parents around. They called me 'Grandma's boy' because she's all I had. I tried to be strong, but it was just too much."

"I started acting distant. Everything made me angry. I just felt like what they were saying were...right," he defeatedly said.

"What did they say?" June asked.

"That I'm not good at all. That I'm just good at school so I can show my parents I can do a good job...but in the end, they'll never really notice."

"That everyone will leave me in the end," Minjun cast his eyes to his lap, and June watched as tears fell freely from his eyes, wetting his trousers.

"Like how my parents left me."

"...how Grandma's time is limited, and she'll also leave me in the end."

"...and how you're going to reach your dreams and eventually leave me too."

"I've been telling myself that this is just how life is. Everyone has their own battles to fight. People come and go. People lose people all the time, and I'm no special," Minjun sobbed.

"But I can't help but ask—why me? Why is it me out of all people?"

"Then it hit me," he said, harshly wiping the tears from his eyes.

"Maybe the problem is...me. Maybe there's something wrong with me. That's why people always leave."

June couldn't help it anymore. Despite the ache on his shoulder, he wrapped Minjun in a warm and tight embrace, letting the young teen cry in his arms.

June let out a deep breath as he placed his chin over Minjun's head.

"I'm sorry," June whispered. "I'm so sorry."

Minjun continued to sob as June held him.

The two of them sat there for a while, Minjun's sobs being the only sound heard in the small, white room.

"You didn't do anything wrong," Minjun said. "It's my fault. I shouldn't feel so alone."

"It's not your fault," June quickly cut him off.

"It's not your fault," he repeated.

"Life is unfair, and it's easy to internalize the struggles we face as if they are somehow our own doing. But I want you to know that it's not. The world throws challenges our way that we didn't choose," June said. "It's bullshit when people say we are only given challenges to make us stronger."

"Sometimes, they're just there because they are. Some grow strong from it, while some grow weak and never recover," June continued.

"I should have done more to make you feel like you weren't alone. I'm really sorry."

"But you also have your own life," Minjun said.

"Still, there's always more each of us could do. So, from now on, please promise me that you'll share your struggles. You don't have to bear the weight of it all alone. It's not a burden for me. You were there during my darkest times, too, and I want to make you feel like how you made me feel."

At that moment, Minjun sobbed even harder.

Then, he wrapped his arms around June's shoulder, reciprocating his hug.

"I'll always be here for you even when I'm not physically present," June sincerely said.

"You got that, little bro?"