Chapter 6: You like... who?

                                    

                                          
Gyuvin woke up to the sound of a knock on the door. His head throbbed, and for a moment, he couldn't remember where he was or how he'd gotten there. He blinked, his eyes gritty from crying, and realized he was still on the floor, exactly where he'd collapsed after coming home. His heart raced as he scrambled to find his sunglasses, his hands shaking as he grabbed them from where they had fallen.
He pushed himself up, slipping the sunglasses on just in time, and made his way to the door. He hesitated, his hand hovering over the doorknob, before finally pulling it open. To his surprise, it was his younger brother, Yujin, standing there, a worried expression on his face.
"Hyung!" Yujin exclaimed, immediately stepping forward and wrapping his arms around Gyuvin in a tight hug. "How have you been?"
Gyuvin stiffened at the sudden contact, but then relaxed, his arms wrapping around Yujin's small frame. He took a deep breath, trying to push the lingering sadness away. "I'm fine, Yujin," he said softly, patting his brother's back. "How about you?"
Yujin pulled back slightly, his eyes scanning Gyuvin's face. "You've been crying," he said, his voice quiet but firm.
Gyuvin froze for a second, then quickly forced a smile. "No, no, I'm fine," he lied, shaking his head. "Just tired, that's all. Come on inside."
Yujin looked at him for a moment longer, clearly not convinced, but he didn't push it. He followed Gyuvin into the small house, glancing around as he stepped inside. Gyuvin closed the door behind them and motioned for Yujin to sit on the couch.
"Sit down, I'll get you something to eat," Gyuvin said, trying to keep his voice steady as he walked to the fridge.
Yujin sat down, watching as Gyuvin began rummaging through the fridge, pulling out some leftovers and setting them on the counter. "Hyung, you don't have to—"
"It's fine," Gyuvin interrupted, his voice a little too sharp. He softened his tone as he added, "I want to. You must be hungry."
Yujin watched his brother quietly, his concern growing. He could see the tension in Gyuvin's shoulders, the way his hands shook slightly as he moved around the kitchen. Something was wrong, and Yujin knew it. But before he could say anything, there was another knock at the door.
"I'll get it," Yujin offered, already getting up from the couch. He crossed the room and opened the door, expecting to see a neighbor or maybe even one of Gyuvin's classmates. Instead, he found himself face to face with Hanbin, Matthew, and Taerae, all with backpacks slung over their shoulders.
"Yujin! When did you get here?" Hanbin asked with a grin, playfully ruffling Yujin's hair as he stepped inside.
Yujin laughed, ducking away from Hanbin's hand. "Just now. What are you guys doing here?"
"We're here to crash at your brother's place," Matthew chimed in, his tone teasing as he bumped shoulders with Yujin. "You know, keep him company, maybe steal some of his food."
Yujin chuckled, moving aside to let them all in. "You guys are so mean."
Taerae laughed as he followed the others inside, closing the door behind him. "Well, someone's got to keep an eye on him."
The three of them made their way into the living room, and Gyuvin looked up from the kitchen, a small smile tugging at his lips when he saw them. "Hey, guys," he greeted, his voice softer than usual.
"Gyuvin!" Hanbin called out, dropping his backpack on the floor and plopping down on the couch. "What's up? We thought we'd spend the weekend here and prep for the math test together. Hope you don't mind."