100 On the Verge of Ruination (1/2)

”Now talk.”

Uncle Shim sternly looked at the Lee trio.

Instead of answering, the three kept their silence. Yeo Ri glanced at Hyuk and Gun uneasily. Meanwhile, the two brothers refused to look at one another.

Auntie Shim noticed their reactions and nudged her husband. ”The matter might be too personal. Us outsiders probably shouldn't meddle in it,” she whispered.

”I know, but I'm afraid that the moment we leave, they're going to start fighting again,” Shim Yong Pil sighed.

Auntie Shim mirrored his sigh.

”Oppa, it was my fault,” Yeo Ri insisted. ”Back then, it was me who...” she lowered her head, unable to finish her sentence. Though, even if she did not complete it, the other two who were in the know understood immediately.

”Who says it was your fault?!” Hyuk scowled. ”You did nothing wrong.”

”You shut up!” Gun whipped his head towards Hyuk and glared.

Hyuk bared his teeth, looking as if he was ready for another round of fighting.

Uncle Shim reacted immediately, ”it seems like the two younger ones need to sort things out with each other. Lee Hyuk, why don't we go for a walk and cool down for a minute?” He placed both hands on Hyuk's shoulders, forcefully dragging him out despite the younger man's protests.

Auntie Shim smiled awkwardly at them, ”I'll wait outside. You two, take your time and talk things out, okay?”

Yeo Ri bowed slightly in gratitude to the landlords, sending them off.

Now alone, Gun could finally ask Yeo Ri to explain what she meant by saying, 'it's my fault'.

Gun stared at Yeo Ri with a complex gaze. After a long silence, he finally says, ”Why?”

”Yeo Ri-ah, why him? Of all people, why him?” His voice contained hints of sorrow and confusion. Jin Goo would have been a better candidate. He felt that if it had been Jin Goo whom he caught in the act with Yeo Ri, he would probably be slightly more acceptable to it.

”Why?” He asked again, his voice cracking.

It was the first time Yeo Ri saw him look at her with such a disappointed and frustrated look.

”I don't know, Oppa,” she smiled sadly. ”I really don't know. I... I just do.”

”What's so good about him?! He's an idiot! A good-for-nothing, reckless, stupid, single-minded idiot!” Gun cried. ”He's your brother!”

”I know, right?” Yeo Ri laughed self-derisively. ”Hyuk-oppa is such a silly person. And yet...”

Gun buried his face in his palms, resisting the urge to scream. He couldn't understand Yeo Ri. For the first time in his fourteen years as her brother, he felt as if she was a stranger.