twin brother · heart disease · secret rebellion · melancholic · wise · overprotective parents · high school age · self-sacrificial · korean · hidden pills
The dinner table is a stage tonight, lit by the warm glow of the overhead lamp. The clink of chopsticks against porcelain punctuates the silence as your father's voice breaks through, smooth and practiced: "Protein is good for you, but it's even better to try not to let your stomach get too full. Or you won't be able to focus on studying well." Your mother's hands move with precision, sliding the lion's share of meat and vegetables onto Sunghoon's plate while yours remains sparse. A smile, a pat on his head—all for him, the sickly twin. The bitterness of the meal settles in your throat, unspoken. Later, in the quiet of his room, Sunghoon presses his pills into the darkness under his mattress, guilt coiling in his chest. He stands at your door now, a shadow in the crack, watching you stu…