IPSTDS Chapter 30

Chapter 30

“Hyung, I’m home.”

It was Heechan’s voice, soaked with sweat as if he’d been caught in the rain.

“Kim Heechan. Don’t even think about wandering around—go straight to the bathroom and wash up. If you mess around without washing, you’re dead. Seriously.”

“Hyuuung, come on…! I was going to shower anyway!”

How much running around did it take to get that sweaty? He was his younger brother, sure, but really, Heechan was like a wild horse.

Before heading to the bathroom, Heechan lifted his white T-shirt and roughly wiped the sweat running down his forehead.

Kim Daon, who was watching intently to make sure his brother actually went straight to the bathroom, suddenly thought of Yoon Noah.

The day of the car accident—how Noah had run toward him on that road, his face pale as a sheet.

The line of sweat trailing down his ashen cheek. The drop that fell from his jaw and dampened the deep line of his collarbone.

The sensuous look in those reddened eyes that looked up at him like he was about to cry.

How could someone who was so sick be so seductive?

Yoon Noah, who looked like he might collapse with a single touch, had somehow radiated something oddly erotic.

The first time Daon had ever felt a physical attraction to someone of the same gender was undoubtedly with Seo Dowoong.

But that day, seeing Yoon Noah gripping his sweater and gasping for breath—he couldn’t deny that something inside him had stirred.

Maybe even made his heart race a little…

That far into the thought, Kim Daon’s face contorted slightly.

“Ugh, seriously! I said I’m going into the bathroom, so don’t make that face!”

Heechan, assuming his brother was frowning because of him, glanced over nervously. But it wasn’t because of him.

Soon, Heechan tossed off his white T-shirt. And in that moment, Daon was reminded again of Yoon Noah, who had shown up wearing a slightly oversized shirt, as if he’d rushed out in a hurry.

The pale skin that peeked through that shirt—how soft and fair it looked. The scent of his untanned skin—how unexpectedly good it had been.

Daon lifted the phone in his hand. Then, as if it were the most natural thing in the world—like he was possessed—he typed out a message.

–Sunbae, have you been discharged? How’s your condition?

That strangely familiar message was addressed to Yoon Noah.

---

The exchange of messages with Yoon Noah, which had started by chance, continued into the next day.

There wasn’t any specific topic guiding the conversation. They talked about everyday things, like meals—perfectly mundane subjects.

However, there was one topic both were careful to avoid.

Seo Dowoong.

Kim Daon didn’t bring him up, and Yoon Noah didn’t mention his name either. In fact, Noah only ever expressed concern for Daon—even though he was the one who had been sick.

Was this really the same Yoon Noah who used to go crazy over Seo Dowoong for years?

‘Daon, they say people change when they’re close to death.’

Was that really true?

It just made Daon feel sorry for Yoon Noah—finally able to look at things objectively only when death was knocking at his door.

He should’ve stopped caring about someone who always treated him with contempt a long time ago.

Regardless of how he felt about Seo Dowoong, Daon had never approved of Noah’s blind devotion toward him.

Not out of jealousy, but because he felt sorry seeing Noah constantly berated by Dowoong.

At that moment, another message came from Yoon Noah.

–Daon, what do you do when you’re resting?

He must’ve asked after hearing that Daon had taken a few days of paid leave.

What had he been doing, really?

During his time off, he hadn’t gone out much. He’d mostly cleaned the house or cooked meals for his younger brothers. Far from being boring, that life had been relaxing and fun—as if he was naturally suited to being a homemaker.

Daon shared that warm, ordinary part of his life with Noah.

–I cook for my younger brothers. One’s an adult, and one’s still a student, but to me, they both still feel like kids.

Just as he hit send, a voice called out—it was Garam, the brother Daon still thought of as a kid.

“Hyung, do you have a girlfriend?”

Since it was Saturday, Garam had come home early from work and was eating lunch Daon had prepared.

The menu included a savory soybean paste stew, freshly made sweet-and-sour seaweed salad, and several side dishes he’d prepared in advance.

Garam loved seaweed, so Daon made that salad for him often.

“…Huh? No, why?”

“You keep looking at your phone and smiling instead of eating.”

Was I smiling? I don’t even remember doing that.

Daon awkwardly rubbed the corners of his mouth with his hand.

“It’s not a girlfriend. I was just messaging a sunbae I know.”

“You’re not, like, flirting or something with this sunbae, are you?”

“What? No way.”

That sunbae was a guy—and super picky, too. Daon couldn’t bring himself to say all that and simply smiled.

It’s not that Daon thought he was unattractive.

But considering Noah’s feelings for Seo Dowoong, Daon didn’t think he was Noah’s type at all.

“He’s really frail but still keeps worrying about me… I guess I found it kind of funny and cute without realizing.”

Garam set down his chopsticks and looked unusually serious.

With his lips drawn in a straight line and a thoughtful expression, he looked stunning—even Daon, as his older brother, couldn’t help but think so.

Unlike their youngest brother Heechan, Garam resembled Daon quite a lot—more beautiful than handsome. Even the beauty mark below his eye was in the same spot. Some people even mistook them for twins.

After sorting through his thoughts, Garam finally spoke.

“Maybe this sunbae likes you.”

That idea was even more ridiculous than assuming Daon liked Noah.

Yoon Noah, the great and unattainable, liking Kim Daon?

Not a chance.

Apart from the fact that Daon wasn’t his type, Noah seemed to be drawn to people who were confident and a bit domineering—people who could control him.

Kim Daon, who had spent years acting as the head of the family, taking care of his cute younger brothers like a father, was as far from domineering as it got.

“That’s not it. That sunbae was in love with someone else until very recently.”

“Hyung. Love moves. He might’ve started liking you. If he doesn’t like you, then why worry about you and keep texting?”

“By that logic, I’ve been replying to his messages too.”

Garam chuckled and answered without hesitation this time.

No soul-searching—just a simple answer, like it was obvious.

“Then you must think positively of him too.”

---

In the evening, Kim Daon stepped out of the house.

He had already prepared dinner and side dishes for Heechan and Garam, so there was nothing to worry about.

Even though he’d only been indoors for a few days, it felt like the weather had suddenly gotten hotter. Daon slipped off the cardigan he’d thrown on and draped it over his arm.

He left the apartment complex and walked down the street illuminated by streetlights.

Just a bit farther from where he lived was the downtown area, lined with shops. That was where Daon was headed.

It had been a while since he’d walked all the way into town. Ever since buying his car, he usually drove.

But that car had crossed the point of no return after the recent accident. So, with no other choice, he was walking. Still, it felt surprisingly nice to be on foot again.

As he arrived downtown, the lively noise reached his ears. People meeting their lovers, hanging out with friends, strolling with their families… so many people were out and about.

Passing them all, Daon came to a stop in front of a building.

And to his surprise, he spotted a familiar figure from behind.

Brown hair just like his own, tall and slender frame, and a round, perfectly shaped head like a porcelain sculpture.

“…Noah sunbae?”

To run into Yoon Noah here?

He felt a strange tightness in his chest. Not unpleasant—more like a tense flutter of excitement.

In his ears, Garam’s words echoed like a distant chime.

‘Hyung, you must think positively of that sunbae too.’

Why’d he go and say something like that, just to throw me off?

Daon considered pretending he hadn’t seen Noah. Even though his destination was just ahead, for some reason he felt hesitant about facing him.

But before he knew it, his feet had already carried him to the spot right behind Noah.

It was only then that Noah, sensing someone behind him, turned around.

“Daon?”

He too looked like he couldn’t believe they had run into each other.

“I didn’t expect to see you here, sunbae.”

“I—I know, right? Do you live around here?”

“Yes. About a 30-minute walk from here.”

“Ah… I live nearby too.”

Now that he thought about it, there was a wealthy neighborhood on the opposite side of where he lived. Noah was probably from there.

Daon recalled what Noah used to say back then, never tired of bragging.

‘My house is fucking huge. Like, you can’t even compare it to yours. People should date within their class, don’t you think? You get what I’m saying?’

In other words, he was saying he and Seo Dowoong, heir to a prestigious family, were well matched—and that Daon, who lived in a modest apartment, should know his place and back off.

“So the fucking huge house you used to brag about must be nearby, huh?”

“F… fucking huge house? I said that?”

“Yes, quite often. You really used to brag about your house a lot, sunbae.”

Yoon Noah blushed, uncharacteristically. He seemed embarrassed about having been so boastful.

“Ugh, forget that. I don’t brag about stuff like that anymore.”

“Why not?”

“Well… it’s not like I earned any of it. It’s my parents’ money…”

“When did you suddenly become so mature, sunbae?”

“Because I’m dying? Hahaha.”

Noah sunbae, you’ve really changed.

It was something Daon felt every time they met.

At the same time, he couldn’t even begin to imagine how much emotional turmoil Noah must’ve gone through after realizing he might die. For someone to change this drastically… how much pain must they have endured?

Maybe that was why—without even thinking—Daon reached out and patted Noah’s head. Just like he did with his little brothers.

“…D-Daon?”

“Don’t talk about dying like that. You’re going to live, sunbae. You have to.”