Good Night, Brother! - Chapter 11

Plip, plop. Swoosh.

As the workday neared its end, the sound of heavy raindrops pelting against the windows of the high-rise office grew louder. The sky, which had been shrouded in dark clouds since midday, finally began to release its rain.

“Ugh, it’s raining? I don’t even have an umbrella…”

A coworker’s voice grumbled somewhere in the office. Others blamed the inaccurate weather forecast, which had said the rain would start late at night. Eunhyun, however, felt a wave of relief as he remembered the folding umbrella tucked away in his desk drawer. Yi Hyeon had handed it to him that morning as he rushed out of the car.

For some time now, Yi Hyeon had been driving Eunhyun to work every morning. At first, he would even pick him up after work, but Eunhyun’s unpredictable schedule often left Yi Hyeon waiting in the car for hours. Eventually, Eunhyun managed to convince his younger brother to limit it to morning drop-offs, a compromise they both agreed on.

Even though the car was far too luxurious compared to his manager’s, and Eunhyun made a point of getting out a short distance from the office, it was still a far more comfortable commute than the subway. He was starting to understand why so many people buy cars as soon as they get a job.

Just as Eunhyun sighed at the thought of a damp, exhausting commute home, his phone lit up and vibrated.

Yi Hyeon:

Hyung, are you coming home early today?

Eunhyun:

Yeah, I’m leaving on time.

Yi Hyeon:

What do you feel like eating?

What did he want to eat? Maybe it was the sound of the summer rain cascading down the windows, but Eunhyun suddenly thought of kimchi sujebi. It was a dish their mom used to make on rainy days. As he pictured the steaming, spicy red broth, his appetite surged unexpectedly.

During the early stages of his pregnancy, Eunhyun often felt nauseated by certain smells and frequently battled queasiness. But now, that phase had passed, replaced by a new challenge—an empty stomach or unfulfilled cravings made him feel just as sick. Alongside this, his appetite had grown noticeably stronger.

Eunhyun:

I’m craving sujebi.

Yi Hyeon:

Sujebi? Should I make it with potatoes and clams?

Eunhyun:

No, kimchi sujebi.

Do you remember the kind Mom used to make sometimes?

Yi Hyeon:

Yeah, I remember. I’ll make it. Just come home quickly.

Eunhyun:

Okay.

Does he even know how to make kimchi sujebi? Still, given his skill with other dishes, Eunhyun figured he’d manage somehow. The thought of going home to a bowl of spicy, steaming-hot sujebi already had his mouth watering.

As expected, the subway during the commute home was unpleasant. Despite the air conditioning, the air was heavy with humidity and uncomfortable to breathe. Thankfully, it wasn’t too crowded, so Eunhyun didn’t have to deal with anyone’s sticky skin brushing against his arm. Small mercies.

As Eunhyun stepped off at his station, the thought of kimchi sujebi waiting for him at home lifted his mood. Dodging puddles on the sidewalk, he walked quickly, his steps almost cheerful.

The moment he opened the front door, the rich aroma of kimchi sujebi filled the air, warm and inviting. But as soon as the smell hit him, Eunhyun froze.

He didn’t want it anymore.

Yi Hyeon, who had been wiping his hands on the hem of his apron, walked over with a cheerful smile.

“Hyung, you’re home? Perfect timing—I just finished the sujebi. Wash your hands and sit down.”

Eunhyun hesitated, setting his umbrella down and taking off his shoes. He lingered near the doorway, casting uneasy glances at Yi Hyeon before finally speaking.

“Uh… Yi Hyeon? What should we do?”

His awkward tone made Yi Hyeon’s bright expression falter. He knew exactly where this was going. It was a scenario that had already played out more than once. He didn’t even need to hear the next words.

“I… suddenly don’t feel like eating sujebi.”

Eunhyun offered a sheepish smile, continuing apologetically, “Sorry. You know how I get—if I force myself to eat something I don’t want, it just doesn’t sit well.”

“Yeah… I know.”

“So, um… instead, I think I want tteokbokki. But with wheat cakes, not rice cakes.”

“Hyung, can’t you at least try a bite? I made the broth from scratch, and I even kneaded the dough by hand. It turned out really well….”

Desperation edged into Yi Hyeon’s voice as he pleaded, clearly hoping Eunhyun would at least taste it. Meanwhile, Eunhyun absentmindedly rubbed his slightly rounded belly—not yet visibly pregnant—and looked back at Yi Hyeon with a guilty expression.

“Yi Hyeon, Euni says they want tteokbokki instead of sujebi. What should we do?”

With a sigh of resignation, Yi Hyeon removed his apron and asked, “Should I get some from Hodori Snack Bar? They use wheat cakes, right?”

“Yes!”

“Alright. I’ll be back soon. Just wait a little.”

The rain outside was still pouring heavily. Yi Hyeon grabbed an umbrella and stepped out into the downpour, his retreating figure looking lonely and a little defeated. Eunhyun felt guilty, but what could he do? Eating something he didn’t want always made him feel sick.

That evening, Eunhyun happily devoured tteokbokki and soondae, a satisfied smile on his face. Meanwhile, Yi Hyeon ate two servings of sujebi by himself—and ended up with a stomachache.

Ever since finding out about the pregnancy, Yi Hyeon had treated Eunhyun as delicately as if he were made of glass—afraid he might break with the slightest mishandling. The same care extended to Eunhyun’s cravings; whatever food he wanted, Yi Hyeon would go to great lengths to get it for him.

Eunhyun often craved the takeout meals he used to enjoy in the past. Yi Hyeon, who rarely ordered delivery and didn’t even have a food delivery app on his phone, had since become a VIP customer thanks to his brother’s demands.

Sometimes, Eunhyun wanted the foods their mother used to make. But his cravings were unpredictable. He could ask for something and, within an hour, refuse even to smell it. Yi Hyeon didn’t mind when Eunhyun refused takeout or food he’d picked up from a restaurant an hour away.

But it was a different story when Eunhyun rejected food Yi Hyeon had made himself—especially if it was a dish for which he had called their mother to get the recipe.

In the beginning, Yi Hyeon couldn’t help but feel a little hurt. The disappointment built up over time, and his patience began to waver. That was when the “Strawberry Incident” occurred—a moment that made Yi Hyeon realize his role was not just as Eunhyun’s brother but also his chef and deliveryman.

It had happened not long ago. Eunhyun’s body had become increasingly uncomfortable with the pregnancy, and his sleep habits worsened. That night, he tossed and turned in his sleep, waking Yi Hyeon, who was a light sleeper, several times. Suddenly, Eunhyun’s eyes shot open, and he shouted loudly.

“Strawberries!”

“…What?”

Startled, Yi Hyeon jolted awake. Eunhyun, still half-asleep, murmured in a daze.

“Oh… it was just a dream.”

“Did you dream about something?”

“Yeah. I’m not sure if my body shrank or if the strawberry was massive, but in my dream, I was hugging this enormous strawberry and eating it.”

“Really?”

A dream straight out of a fairytale. Yi Hyeon couldn’t help but think Eunhyun was adorable. Smiling, he reached out to smooth Eunhyun’s messy hair.

The room was dimly lit, with only a soft bedside lamp casting a faint glow. But even in the shadows, Eunhyun’s eyes sparkled as he suddenly turned to Yi Hyeon.

“Yi Hyeon, I want strawberries.”

Yi Hyeon quickly ran through the contents of their fridge in his head. Since Eunhyun had been eating a lot of fruit lately, he had made sure to keep a variety on hand. But as luck would have it, they were completely out of strawberries.

“Right now?”

“Yeah, I want some now.”

Perhaps because he was still groggy, Eunhyun’s tone was almost whiny, tugging at Yi Hyeon’s heart. But it was 2 a.m. Yi Hyeon gently tried to reason with him.

“If you eat right after waking up, it might upset your stomach. You know your digestion’s been sensitive.”

“…I guess.”

“When the store opens in the morning, I’ll go buy some first thing, okay?”

“Okay…”

Though his response was compliant, there was a note of lingering disappointment in his voice.

“Let’s go back to sleep, yeah? You need rest, and I’ve got work tomorrow.”

“Mm… good night.”

“Good night, hyung.”

It couldn’t have been long after they lay back down when Yi Hyeon felt Eunhyun’s body shaking beside him. Then, he heard it.

“Sniff… hic…”

A quiet, unmistakable sound of sobbing reached his ears.

…Is he crying over strawberries? Seriously?

In disbelief, Yi Hyeon turned toward Eunhyun, who had his back to him. Gently placing a hand on Eunhyun’s shoulder, he asked cautiously,

“Hyung… are you crying?”

The moment Eunhyun realized he’d been caught, his sorrow burst forth like a dam breaking. He hiccupped between sobs, struggling to explain through his tears.

“S-Strawberries… hic… it’s not me, it’s… hic… Euni wants them!”

“Oh, I’m sorry, hyung! I didn’t realize you wanted them that much!”

Shocked, Yi Hyeon scrambled out of bed, hastily throwing on the nearest clothes and grabbing his car keys.

“I’ll go get some right now, okay? Don’t cry….”

“Sniff… but where can you even buy strawberries at this hour?”

Good question. Where could he find strawberries at this time? Yi Hyeon pulled out his phone and searched for places that might sell fruit in the middle of the night. Thankfully, there was a 24-hour produce market near Dosin Station.

“There’s a market nearby. I’ll be right back!”

With his messy, sleep-tousled hair flying, Yi Hyeon rushed out the door in search of strawberries.

Once alone in the silent room, Eunhyun’s sobs slowly subsided, replaced by a wave of embarrassment.

Ugh, why did I cry over something so dumb? This is mortifying. Making someone go out for strawberries at 2 a.m.… even my boss wouldn’t pull something like this. Should I call and tell him not to bother? But… I still kind of want them….

By the time Yi Hyeon returned, his car trunk loaded with strawberries of every variety, Eunhyun was fast asleep.

The next morning, Eunhyun stared at the mountain of strawberries on the breakfast table with an awkward smile.

“Uh… Yi Hyeon, sorry, but… I think I’d rather have an apple instead….”

Without a word, Yi Hyeon quietly put the strawberries into the fridge. He pulled out an apple and began peeling it, the red skin curling away to reveal the pale yellow flesh beneath. Watching Eunhyun, who now waited patiently for the peeled apple, Yi Hyeon couldn’t help but laugh silently to himself, his shoulders shaking.

As Yi Hyeon chuckled while peeling the apple, Eunhyun, feeling increasingly self-conscious, rubbed his belly out of habit.

Support