Good Night, Brother! - Chapter 9.1

Weekend Afternoon

Eunhyun was out for a stroll with Yi Hyeon in a park near their home.

Taking refuge from the early June sun under the shade of a bench, they sat down. A brown poodle, panting from the heat, approached them while wagging its tail. It was on a leash, walking with its owner.

“Would you like some water, Jaerong?”

The owner, seated on a nearby bench, pulled out a portable water bottle from her bag. With the press of a button, water filled the cup-like top of the bottle. Eunhyun marveled at how innovative pet accessories were. The little dog eagerly lapped at the water, its focused enthusiasm as it drank captivating her.

“Ah, the dog is so cute. Isn’t it?” she said.

“Yeah… it is,” Yi Hyeon replied indifferently. However, Eunhyun was too engrossed in watching the dog to notice his lack of enthusiasm.

After quenching its thirst, the dog hopped down from the bench and sniffed around the grass. Soon, it wandered over to Eunhyun, sniffing her shoes curiously.

“Jaerong, come here. Don’t do that,” the owner called out in a slightly stern voice.

“Oh, it’s fine,” Eunhyun reassured her.

The dog’s damp nose brushed against Eunhyun’s exposed ankle, stirring an urge to pet its soft, curly fur.

“Um… may I pet your dog?” Eunhyun asked.

“Of course,” the owner replied with a smile.

Bending down carefully, Eunhyun reached out and stroked the dog. Its small, fluffy head felt so fragile, as if it might break. Holding a tiny, helpless being that depended entirely on her—what would that feel like? The dog gazed up at Eunhyun with innocent, trusting eyes, clearly enjoying the gentle touch.

“Wow, it’s so adorable! It looks like such a baby. How old is it?” she asked.

“Just a year old. Maybe that’s why it’s so curious and loves people so much,” the owner said with a chuckle, adding playfully, “Sometimes it feels like it likes strangers more than me.”

“Your dog is so well-behaved and sweet,” Eunhyun complimented.

“Thank you.”

Satisfied with the affection it received, the dog strutted back to its owner. Though Eunhyun felt a pang of disappointment, she reluctantly pulled back her hand. The soft warmth of the dog’s fur and its body heat lingered on her palm.

As the owner and dog walked away, Eunhyun, still lost in thought, turned to Yi Hyeon.

“Seriously, dogs are all just so cute…”

“How many times are you going to say that?” Yi Hyeon muttered, a touch of irritation in his tone.

“If you think they’re that cute, why don’t you get one?”

“What? No way. I work at the office all day. The poor dog would be left alone at home,” Eunhyun said.

Yi Hyeon shrugged nonchalantly. “Plenty of people do it. If you’re that worried, there are doggy daycare centers now.”

“It’s not just that. Owning a dog requires a lot of responsibility—vaccinations, cleaning up after them, giving them baths, taking them for walks. And did you see that water bottle earlier? Even their supplies are specific,” she replied.

“That’s all manageable. You can just buy those things when needed. I’ll handle the cleaning, bathing, and walking,” Yi Hyeon said casually.

Startled by his offer to take on all the burdens, Eunhyun pressed her lips together, unsure how to respond.

“You just handle the fun stuff—petting, cuddling, playing.”

Eunhyun imagined it briefly but soon sighed, shoulders slumping.

“…No, forget it.”

“Why? At this point, all your excuses sound like cop-outs. What’s the real reason?”

Under Yi Hyeon’s knowing gaze, Eunhyun hesitated before letting out a deep sigh and confessing,

“Dogs… they die too soon.”

“…”

“No matter how happy you are while raising one, losing them would hurt too much.”

Her brows furrowed, reflecting a sadness as if she’d already experienced such a loss. Yi Hyeon tapped his knee with his long fingers, his expression suddenly mischievous.

“Then why not get a dog that outlives you?”

“What?”

“A dog named Jeong Yi Hyeon.”

“…”

Eunhyun’s melancholy was instantly replaced by a glare at her brother, whose cheeky grin only grew wider.

“It’s the perfect dog! No need to feed or bathe it, and it even walks itself. If it gets sick, it goes to the hospital on its own. Smart, right?”

“…Stop it.”

“All you’d have to do is pet it and say nice things to it, like earlier. Doesn’t that sound easy?”

“Enough,” Eunhyun growled, gritting her teeth in warning.

Unfazed, Yi Hyeon tilted his head innocently.

“Why? Is it because it doesn’t seem dog-like? Should I strip, wear a leash, and crawl on all fours?”

“You’re insane! Shut up!”

“Ah, I get it. You think it’s disrespectful for a dog to talk like a person, huh? Woof woof!”

“…I swear…”

A headache brewed in Eunhyun’s temples. Then, a dreadful thought struck her. Narrowing her eyes suspiciously, she asked,

“…Jeong Yi Hyeon.”

“Yeah?”

“If I come home tomorrow and see you naked with a leash on, you’re dead.”

How did he know? Yi Hyeon chuckled but said nothing, his smile sly.

Eunhyun turned around with a beautiful smile. His mother, Lee Ji-min, quickly approached him, showing him the peach she was holding.

“Look at this peach! Isn’t it huge?”

When Eunhyun reached out his hands, Ji-min, as though it was only natural, handed over the peach. Holding it with care, Eunhyun beamed brightly, showing his teeth, and looked at his mother. Seeing his radiant smile, she couldn’t help but smile back.

Ji-min woke from her sleep with a faint smile, as if she were still dreaming. The dim light of dawn streamed in, softly illuminating the face of her sleeping husband beside her. For a moment, she couldn’t discern whether she was dreaming or awake. The dream had been so vivid, it felt like reality.

Ji-min rarely dreamed, much like her son Eunhyun, as both of them were deep sleepers. Maybe that’s why this dream, so rare and clear, lingered in her mind like an enchanting memory. Lost in thought, she murmured to herself, “What a strange dream…”

Time steadily moved forward, and early June grew warmer. As the days passed, Eunhyun, shedding his rookie demeanor, became accustomed to his routine and was assigned more tasks at work. The company seemed determined to get their money’s worth, working him harder with each passing day. Meanwhile, Yi Hyeon, with final exams fast approaching, was consumed with assignments and studying, making him busier than ever.

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