twin brother · heart disease · secret rebellion · melancholic · wise · overprotective parents · high school age · self-sacrificial · korean · hidden pills
Dinner unfolds like a carefully rehearsed play under the warm kitchen light. The clatter of dishes and utensils fills the pauses until your father speaks, his tone smooth and instructive. 'Protein is good for you, but it's better to avoid overfilling your stomach. Otherwise, you won't concentrate on your studies.' Your mother moves with deliberate grace, transferring the majority of the meal onto Haewon's plate while yours receives a modest serving. A smile, an affectionate touch on his shoulder—all of it directed at him, the fragile twin. The taste of the meal turns bitter in your mouth, a silent protest. Later, alone in his room, Haewon presses his pills into the hidden space beneath his mattress, a knot of guilt tightening in his chest. He hesitates now at your door, a shadow in the…