Kei ignored him, gesturing wildly at the night in general. “Take a walk? At this hour, in a weird town, in a foreign country—”
“Aww, it's not even a foreign country for Ari. This is his country now, he's moving here. It’s home.” Namgyu grinned. “I've got this. No more tears! Big Brother Hong is here!”
“Who taught you how to say that in English?” Kei exclaimed.
Max went back for his blanket. “I’m going with you. Walking is stupid, we can just borrow one of the vans. It’s freezing out here.”
“Aww! It’s not that cold, I think it feels nice!”
“Respectfully,” said Max, “you’d be wearing shorts in hell, hyung.”
“Ha! That’s so true!”
“It’s not true. Gyu would never end up in hell.”
Max shot him the most withering glare. “It was a goddamn joke, Keiichi. But don’t worry, because I’ll explain it to you when we’re both in hell, I’ll even talk slow so you’ll get what I’m saying—”
“Go ahead and explain it now. Aren’t we in hell? This is hell for me! I hate it here!” Kei turned to Namgyu. “You can’t take Ari and go walking around in the damn countryside. That’s insane. You’re being insane, okay?”
A light flared up in Namgyu’s eyes. Grabbing both younger brothers, he said, “You’re being insane,Namgyu-hyung. Walking is stupid,Namgyu-hyung. But that’s okay,Namgyu-hyung. You’re my big brother and I’ll listen to you,Namgyu-hyung.”
“Oh, shit,” muttered Max, because they’d done it now. This was not a brother who pulled rank very often. When he did, you were screwed.
Eunjae berated himself for not agreeing to the walk as soon as it was suggested. “You’re my big brother and I’ll listen to you, Namgyu-hyung.”
“Ha!”
“I’m sorry, Namgyu-hyung.”
“What for? Silliest thing you’ve ever said.”
Eunjae prodded the other two with his foot until they got the hint. This resulted in the weariest, most begrudging sigh he’d ever heard, but Kei broke first. He mumbled, “You’re my big brother and I’ll listen to you, Namgyu-hyung.”
“There we go. And what about our knight in shining armor, Lee Seojin?”
“Yeah, yeah. You’re my big brother and I’ll shut up now, Namgyu-hyung. Go take a goddamn stupid walk, Namgyu-hyung.”
“Aww! See, that wasn’t very hard. I knew you could do it. Gosh, I’m so lucky. I have the best baby brothers ever.” He took Eunjae by the shoulders. “Anyway! Ready?”
“Ah, yeah. I’m ready.”
Max and Kei shuffled indoors. There was some grumbling about serial killers potentially lurking beyond the property’s walls, but the matter was settled, and Namgyu had won. “Goodnight!” he called after them. “Love you so much!”
They set off toward the tennis court. The grounds were cloaked in deep blue shadow. Soon, some of these trees would be bare, the roses withered by frost. Eunjae imagined the house’s grand facade hung with holiday lights. Time kept flowing, whether it did so at a trickle or swept through like a riptide, dragging him under. Where would he be, when the seasonturned again? What else would change? In the stillness, his thoughts were much too loud.
He looked to Langley House just once. Simultaneously comforted and concerned by the dim glow of Jiyeon's window on the second floor, Eunjae hoped the day’s troubles weren’t keeping her awake. But he didn’t send a message; he kept going, letting his brother steer the course.
Namgyu hummed a ballad as they walked. He didn't speak again until they came to the property’s edge, Monroe slumbering in the valley below.
“You’ll listen to what he said, right?”
The only brother he’s got is me! Just me, but he doesn’t even care!
Eunjae swallowed hard, throat aching. “You mean what Ezra said, hyung?”
It’s all because of you, you, you.
“Aww, no. I already knew you were listening to him. But did you hear your dad when he said this isn't your fault?” Namgyu reached over to ruffle his hair. “Make sure you listen, okay? Because it isn't your fault. Everything can't be your fault, Ari. That's a lot.”
