Time [4/4]

[honou_no_izumi]

Title: Time
Series: 너를 기억해 / Hello Monster
Characters: Cha Jian, Lee Min, mentions of Lee Hyeon
Summary: For once, Min wanted to try make things better.

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Min let out a long sigh, as he tried to understand the things that Jian tried to tell him earlier. What did she mean about both of them not being able to get a happy ending? What did she mean about trying to do it for his brother? Would he understand why it was wrong to kill someone, even if that person was bad and deserved to be killed? Would he be able to understand it, if he do that? Why couldn't they just forget about it?

"A person harming another is still wrong in any circumstances."

"... I would've stopped the bodiless murders..."

Min cocked his head to one side. "Oh."

That reminds him, his brother never looked pleased whenever he spoke about the things he used to do. Or whenever he talked about certain cases. What was it his brother used to say? Oh... 'it was all right'. But he could see that Hyeon was not all right about it. Hyeon didn't try to force him to change the way he thinks... but it's not as if his brother wanted him to remain the same.

"...Would your brother be happy if someone was hurt because of him?"

"Promise me something. If you have to kill someone... that someone have to be me."

As he thought, even if he wanted to stay with his brother... and no longer wanted to associate himself with Lee Junyeong; a happy ending... it would still be impossible for both of them to get it. Min walked up towards one of the bedrooms and saw that Hyeon was still sleeping. But he noticed that Jian was no longer by his brother's side. Did she left? After talking to him earlier, Jian returned to tend to his brother... and if he recalled, she had fallen asleep beside Hyeon after a while.

Min looked around the house lazily. Oh, it was already dark outside... he didn't notice. Was that why he didn't notice when Detective Cha left the house? 

The rice cooker was already turned off. All that was left was for him to prepare some dishes to go along with it. He snickered.

Detective Cha had offered to cook something for him to eat—she wasn't as good a cook as Hyeon but she could still try making something edible—but he declined the offer. Since she looked like she needed some rest herself. 

"Min... did you tell Lee Junyeong about the incident that both of you were involved in when you were little?"

To be completely honest, he couldn't even remember ever telling Uncle about that. Though he might have told, or Lee Junyeong managed to find out about it by himself. He certainly had the means to it, and he had their father's journal.

"Your brother blamed himself for everything. You know that, don't you? To protect you, your brother shot the criminal that hurt your mother. It was a justified self-defence, but because of what happened to you... he felt responsible for making you this way. Are you aware of that, Min?"

Min stopped pacing as he got out of the house to get some air. So even if he didn't cause any more trouble for his brother, he would still ended up becoming a burden to him. Min stared blankly in front of him... before noticing a familiar car parked at the nearby lot. He frowned. He thought that Detective Cha has already left.

But surely enough... not long after he had that thought, he saw Cha Jian walked over to her car. She looked as if in a daze but he couldn't be so sure. But at least she seemed fine, Min thought as he went back in to cook up something for Hyeon and himself.

xxx

"Don't worry about it, you just take it easy at home. I'll call if we needed you... but right now, it's okay."

Jian glanced around to check if anyone was watching her before continuing, "We've officially started the investigation with Eunbok, but I suppose it'll be a while before he start to talk. You don't need to worry about that." She sighed. "Sorry, it seemed that I'd be pretty busy with work for the time being. I won't be able to see you for a while,"

Jian ended the call before letting herself be lost in thoughts.

"You seemed well today, Detective Cha,"

Jian jumped in alarm before realizing it was just Min. "Ah... it's just you, Mi—I mean, Mr. Jeong. What brings you here?"

Min shrugged. "I just wanted to visit—" he said before frowning. "That bruise... when did...?"

Jian touched her neck briefly without thinking as she hastily brushed it off. "It's... nothing big. There's no need to be worried."

"Did something happen? Did you went to see... Uncle? I saw you, last night."

Jian sighed. "Don't tell Hyeon. He'll be anxious. And I did promise him last time that I'd be more careful. He won't stop fussing if he knew about this..."

She shrugged. "As always, you caught me in the act again."

He could see that she was trying to make light of the situation. He was just making a wild guess, but it appeared that she did go to see Lee Junyeong last night. Was it because of his brother? Because of him?

"Detective Cha, why did you like my b—Hyeon so much?"

Jian just let out another long sigh.

xxx

"I could not ignore that person. I cannot stand.. leaving him alone by himself. I guess, when you care a lot about someone; you end up wanting to protect that person with everything you've got."

"You could do anything to me all you want. But don't shake Min. Don't touch him..."

He didn't expect to see Hyeon get so mad like that. To be so angry as to aggressively threaten Lee Junyeong like that. It was a side of his brother that seemed foreign to him. His kind and gentle brother. Min thought about Detective Cha. What could have happen to give her a bruise like that? Did Uncle attacked her? Did she tried to arrest Lee Junyeong by herself?

Would Hyeon get hurt while protecting him—the same way Detective Cha get hurt to protect his brother? Because why else would she go to Uncle's place last night? Why did she do something so reckless, knowing his brother would be devastated if something should happen to her?

"Neither you...or your brother will ever be happy."

As long as Lee Junyeong is around, he would always go after Hyeon. And he realized, as long as he was around... his brother would have a hard time to get to Lee Junyeong. And as much as he wanted to always be with his brother, Min wouldn't dare force Hyeon and Detective Cha apart. Because no matter what, his brother would still be in pain. He already caused his brother enough grief due to Lee Junyeong's lies and his misunderstanding.

In the end, that was the only answer. The only way to end things and not cause his brother any more hurt. To protect his important one. Even if it meant that he had to disappear as well. His brother would certainly be saddened because of this. Detective Cha too. But at least they could be happy without having to worry about Lee Junyeong again. Time would heal all wounds.

"Hyeon, are you busy tomorrow?"

Min smiled. Before anything, he should make his brother happy for once.