The Regret We Bring

“-ung!” a muffled voice called as Lee Ha Min snapped out of his reverie. “Hyung you’re spilling it!” Lee Jae Min’s voice was heard as Ha Min snapped out of his reverie. He glanced down at his table where his banana milk had slightly spilled. Smirking slightly he got out of his spot before heading to the small booth. Grabbing napkins Ha Min glanced outside as he was wiping his hands.

The sun was shining brightly outside and no clouds were seen in the skies. Everything seemed to have come out of a drama. Fitting perfectly together and shining on one person sitting by the windows. To Lee Ha Min his younger brother was like a saint, a bright being who shone brighter than the sun itself. Lee Jae Min was popular and many people admired him.

“Aren’t you Ha Min?” a voice asked as Ha Min turned to look. “It is you! Wow fancy seeing you here!” Ha Min gave a small smile as he spotted Bo Mi standing in the middle of the convenience store. She held two ice creams in her hands as she looked at him with her usual warm smile. It was unusual seeing her without their school uniform but nonetheless, she was beautiful.

“What are you doing here?” Ha Min asked as he scratched at his neck. “Are you alone?” Bo Mi chuckled as she shook her head in disagreement. She pointed to another female student who waved to the two of them.

“I’m with her,” Bo Mi said as she tucked another piece of hair behind her ear. “Anyways, I have to get going but nice seeing you!” with that Bo Mi was gone leaving Ha Min alone in the section of the convenience store. Jae Min wanting to see what was taking his brother so long raised an eyebrow.

“You look gross hyung,” Jae Min said as he rolled his eyes, “the look on your face, I don’t like it. It’s weird.” shivering as if he felt some bad presence Jae Min went to the ice cream section as he peered inside the glass cover. Ha Min followed him as he picked out the ice cream that he wanted. When they arrived at the cashier the two of them glanced at each other.

“I’m not paying for it,” Jae Min said as he turned away, “I already paid for the meal, you pay for the dessert.” Ha Min watched his little brother go in shock before groaning and paying for the ice cream. When he had gotten out of the store the two brothers made their way back to their apartment. The sun was getting darker and people were slowly getting back to their homes.

“I’m so tired!” Ha Min exclaimed as he closed the door to their apartment. “Gosh, school’s so tiring.” Jae Min just rolled his eyes as he slammed the door to his room. Ha Min shook his head as he too made his way to his bedroom. Their parents weren’t home as of yet as always, which meant everything relied on Ha Min to take care of his younger brother.

“Hey, Jae Min ah!” Ha Min cried as he knocked on the boy’s door. “Get out and shower!” Jae Min who was just about to change grumbled as he threw his bag at the door. Ha Min just flinched as he knocked one more time before heading to the kitchen to fix his parents’ dinner. He glanced at the still-closed door before deciding that Jae Min would do everything himself.

The sound of the door alerted the two that their parents were home. The two came out of their rooms to greet their parents. They smiled at the two before heading to their own room to change. Ha Min took a deep breath as he reheated the food before serving it on the kitchen table. His parents glanced at him before eating, Jae Min who had been playing on his phone glanced up at his brother who shrugged.

“I know your grades came,” Mrs. Lee said as she took another bite, “show them to me.” Jae Min gave a low grumble before making his way to his room for inspection later. Once Mrs. Lee had finished her meal she went into her youngest room first. She knew he wouldn’t disappoint her and as always Jae Min was at the top of his classes. With a smile, she patted his head.

Exiting the room she went into her eldest son’s room. Ha Min showed her the marks before waiting for her response. Upon looking at the marks anger began to rise from inside her. “Why can’t you be like your brother!” Mrs. Lee cried as she slammed the paper down on the table. Ha Min flinched as he glanced at the marks. His mother narrowed her eyes as she grabbed the related book. “This is so easy, I could do it in my sleep!”

Ha Min flinched when she prepared herself to throw it at him. Jae Min who had been listening the whole time entered the room and let the book hit him. Mrs. Lee hesitated before dropping the workbook still in her hands. “Stop this Mom,” Jae Min said as he held a determined gaze. “Hyung’s trying his best! Can’t you understand him once?” Mrs. Lee only scoffed as she wiggled her pointer finger at Ha Min.

The next day, Ha Min groaned as he woke up to the sound of his alarm. It was a rainy Monday and he dreaded going to school. On days like this, everything felt tedious and boring. Jae Min on the other hand enjoyed rainy days more so than sunny days. He had told Ha Min one day saying that rainy days made him feel calm, and helped him wash away his feelings.

Ha Min had never understood him, the feeling of being relaxed on a rainy day. He had always hated the smell of the aftermath. Alas, he did nothing but get ready for the day. When he got out of his room, their mother had already left. Jae Min sat alone in the kitchen eating a simple breakfast, “Morning hyung.” Jae Min said as he yawned. “It’s raining quite heavily today.”

Ha Min nodded as he prepared two umbrellas for them to use. “It’s supposed to rain all day,” Ha Min added as he sighed, “Man, I was looking forward to gym class today.” Jae Min just rolled his eyes at his brother’s antics. The two of them stayed silent for a while basking in the silence and the sound of the rain pelting on the window. The two of them got ready as they made their way to the bus.

The bus was crowded as usual when the two brothers entered it. Many were sleeping and others stayed silent as they listened to music. The bus ride continued on as they stopped occasionally to drop off and pick up more people. Jae Min stayed quiet as he plugged in his headphones, Ha Min on the other hand looked out the window. Many students wearing uniforms were making their way to school.

The different colored umbrellas were uniquely seen as they bobbed with their owners. A pink umbrella stood out to him as they were slowly approaching their high school. Once they had gotten off the two of them made their way up the hill to their school. Many other students groaned at the terrible weather before heading inside. Bo Mi who had just entered shook off her pink umbrella.

“You are here early,” Bo Mi said with a smile as she turned to look at the two, “it’s raining so heavily today.” Jae Min nodded his head in agreement as he switched his outside to inside shoes. The rain continued to pour making the air even more humid, and more and more people wanted to stay home. As the rain continued gym class outside had been canceled.

“Aww!” a few male students said with a sigh, “I was gonna enjoy gym today.” Bo Mi just shook her head as she turned back to the homework in front of her. Jae Min sat facing her as they reviewed their assignments together. Some students glanced at them smirking and pointing at them. Jae Min only raised an eyebrow at what they were saying before focusing once again on the homework.

“Gosh they look good together.” a male student said as he talked to his friends. “The most popular and smartest student, and the class president.” Bo Mi turned to look at them with a small glare. Her cheeks blushed as she turned away used to the teasing their classmates gave. The two glanced at each other before chuckling, as usual, the chatter between the students at self-study was familiar.

“Isn’t that Known Ho Joon?” a few students whispered, “I heard he’s you know.” A few students snickered at the comments as Jae Min tilted his head to look. As usual, the boy was wearing his usual cold face. Many students stayed away from him giving disgusting looks, although Ho Joon didn’t seem to mind it one bit. Bo Mi sighed as she shook her head.

“I feel bad for Ho Joon,” Bo Mi said as she looked at her homework. “He’s always so cold, so nobody wants to get close to him.” Jae Min stayed silent as he just shrugged. Ho Joon glanced at Jae Min before making his way to his own desk. When class ended for the day Lee Jae Min stood inside the classrooms as he glanced out the window. The rain was still pouring heavily.

“Are you almost done,” Lee Ha Min said as he leaned against the door, “let’s go home, isn’t mom coming home today?” Jae Min nodded as he grabbed his backpack and slid his chair in. The two brothers headed outside as a slick black car arrived at the gate waiting. Lee Ha Min sighed as he watched a figure get out of the driver’s seat.

“Shall we get going young masters?” their head butler said as he bowed, “Your father is waiting for you.” Lee Jae Min gave a bright smile as he hurriedly went into the car.

The car ride home was silent, Lee Jae Min was brimming excitedly at the prospect of finally meeting their father again. Since their father was a businessman he had always been away. They had always seen their father only twice a month and they had missed him. Especially Lee Ha Min, as the only parental figure who didn’t treat him like a nobody he had always been happy to see his father.

Once they arrived at the mansion once again, their father stood waiting for him with a bright smile. “Welcome back father!” Lee Jae Min said as he ran towards him. “We missed you!” their father smiled as he hugged his two sons. Mrs. Lee smiled as she greeted her husband, the two stepped away as they glanced at each other. Lee Jae Min noticed this as he clenched his fist.

Jae Min had always known what was going on between his parents. The fights that they had every time their father came back, and Jae Min had witnessed everything. He looked away pretending to know nothing. Ha Min, on the other hand, didn’t know anything. He had always believed his parents would be together forever and there was nothing to stop him.

That night, Jae Min lay awake all night. He couldn’t sleep as he sat up in his bed, the entire house was dark except for the living room downstairs. He could see his parents fighting despite trying to be quiet. He leaned against the stairway as he listened in on what they were saying. “You can’t just dote on Jae Min!” Jae Min heard his father say as he slammed a fist on the table. “You’re spoiling him! What about Ha Min!”

“What about him!” Mrs. Lee replied back her voice cold, “That idiot can’t even be as good as my Jae Min.” Jae Min gripped the staircase tightly. He bit his lips as he glanced at their family photo. The smiling faces of his family seemed to deceive him, taking a deep breath he got down the staircase pretending to be confused. His parents stopped arguing to smile at him.

“Couldn’t sleep?” Mr. Lee asked as he watched Jae Min grab himself a cup of warm milk. “You should sleep soon, you have school tomorrow.” Jae Min gave a small smile as he nodded. After placing the cup in the sink he made his way back to his bedroom.

The next day the sky was bright and clear as if telling Jae Min everything would be okay. “What a lie,” Jae Min whispered as he sat at his school desk. “As if everything was good, to begin with.” Bo Mi who had been sitting beside him frowned as she tilted her head.

“Everything okay?” Bo Mi asked as she placed a hand on his arm. “You look really down, and you have such eyebags.” Jae Min nodded his head as he slapped his cheeks. Bo Mi frowned again as she pulled away from the boy confused about why he was doing this. Shaking her head she returned back to focusing on finishing the previous notes of their class.

“Gym’s next!” a few boys exclaimed in excitement, “I wonder what today’s sport is going to be!” Jae Min only shook his head as he turned to look at them.

“Do you guys only think about sports?” Jae Min teased as he pointed to their empty notebooks. “You guys should really focus on studying.” the two boys only laughed as they teased the boy back. Bo Mi watched with a small smile, this was the Jae Min she knew. The one who always smiled and teased with the other students, sighing she pulled out a small gift wrapped in a box.

“What’s that?” Kim So Hee another fellow student asked as she glanced at it, “Is it a gift to your lover?” Surprised Bo Mi hid the gift in her desk as she blushed. The other students including Jae Min turned to look at her. Bo Mi tucked a hair behind her ear in embarrassment as she waved her hands in protest. Ho Joon came inside the classroom and he gave a small smile.

“Hul!” Choi Do-Hyun said as he gave a chuckle, “didn’t know Ho Joon could smile.” the other boys sitting and standing beside Jae Min chuckled. Jae Min just shook his head a small smile on his lips. Ho Joon rolled his eyes at the boy’s antics before standing with them. Do-Hyun placed an arm on the boy’s shoulder before pulling him down to rub his head.

“Hey stop that!” Ho Joon protested as he struggled against him. “You’ll mess up my hair!” Do-Hyun chuckled as he released the boy before sighing. The bell rang for the next period as they got themselves ready. Their gym teacher stood waiting for them with her arms crossed. He looked at them sternly as he rested a leg on a soccer ball. Do-Hyun smiled brightly.

The running exercise began as they ran laps around the field. Jae Min smiled as he laughed at some of his friend’s lack of energy. The teacher called them back once everyone had finished their laps. “Alright listen up kids!” the gym teacher said as he tossed the soccer ball in the air and caught it. Some girls complained about getting their hair or outfits dirty.

Bo Mi just tied her hair back as she gave a bright smile. “Dang,” Do-Hyun said as he chuckled, “didn’t know the class president liked soccer.” Jae Min who had been standing behind him slapped him behind his head. Surprised Do-Hyun turned around holding the back of his head, Jae Min just shrugged as he turned away pretending it wasn’t him. Once the teams had been chosen the games started.

After a few rounds, the losing team gasped as they glanced at Jae Min. “no fair!” a male student as he tried to collect his breath. “They got Jae Min on their team! He’s the best soccer player!” the others shook their heads in amusement as they continued on. The games continued as they played together, Ho Joon who had been on the other team ran to steal the ball.

Trying to get it he accidentally hooked legs with Jae Min. The two stumbled forwards, and when Jae Min opened his eyes again his eyes widened in surprise. He was lying on his back with Ho Joon on top of him. Ho Joon had braced himself with one arm as he stared down at Jae Min below him, the two stayed like that frozen in shock. The people around them seemed to freeze.

“I-” Ho Joon said as he looked around at his fellow students. “I’m sorry!” Ho Joon quickly got up and raced out of the field and into the school.