There's No Love In the Deathzone (BL) novel Chapter 701

Chapter 701: Side Story 3. Stellar Blossom - 36

Certainly, fifteen-year-old Joon was very different from the seven-year-old Joon.

Gone was the innocence in those black eyes. They had turned deep by forced maturity. Zein easily found his old self inside those eyes: a kid who had to bear the responsibility of another life while living under the abuse of the environment. They could see his reservation, mindful steps, and careful words in everything he did.

Honestly, it was rather saddening.

But then, sometimes, they could see sparkles inside those black eyes, and Han Shin said his brother definitely smiled more than the real fifteen-year-old Joon. It gave them hope that the sliver of freedom he got in the past week wasn’t for naught.

That even if it was small, he was healing nonetheless.

"Anyway, you should go to the hospital and have a check-up, Joon," Calix advised after the reunion was done. "Or would you rather the doctor come here?"

"No, Sir--I’ll go," Han Joon refused politely while standing up. "It’s not like a medical checkup can be done from home, right? And I had been cooped up here since I got out of the hospital."

"I’ll help you change!" Shin raised his hand as he saw his brother move toward the stairs.

"I’ll prepare the car, then!" Bassena stood up too, and raised his palms toward Calix--because his car was in another building and had a pair of baby seats attached there.

Calix laughed and dropped his key on Bassena’s palm. "So you’ll be the one going with him? Guess we’re no longer needed, Laurel."

"Huff. Kids grew up too fast," Laurel sighed and shook her head in lament.

While Bassena was taking out Calix’s car from the garage, Han Shin was staring at his brother’s back. No matter how many times he healed it, Shin could never completely erase the scars etched from the many years of abuse. On one hand, it was a trace of misery. But on the other hand, at least for Shin, it was a trace of his brother’s bravery and tenacity.

It was both sad and beautiful.

"Hyung...do you also remember what happened before you were fifteen?" he asked quietly, but the voice carried well inside the silent room.

"Naturally."

"It’s...painful, isn’t it?" Han Shin bit his lips and lowered his head. "I’m sorry..."

He had already said it so many times, but at the time when Han Joon was fifteen, Shin knew nothing. He was just a kid, and while he knew their father was scary, he didn’t know yet about the abuse. Even after he saw his brother’s bloody back, he didn’t know it was a deliberate wound inflicted by their father.

That was how well Han Joon hid everything from him. And so, at that point, Shin had never said sorry to his brother.

"Shin," the footstep that was yet to be silent arrived in front of the healer, and a warm hand patted the fluffy black hair. "I didn’t do it for you to apologize to me."

Han Shin raised his head. "Yeah, I know," he smiled helplessly before grinning. "Thank you, hyung, for helping me grow up like this."

"Are you happy?"

"Yeah," Han Shin answered without hesitation.

There was no reason for him not to be happy when his hyung was alive in front of him, smiling.

"I’m glad," Han Joon nodded, patting his head just like always, with that unchanging calm tone. It just turned cheekier later on.

Han Shin grinned and was about to follow his brother out of the room when Joon paused and looked around the room.

"Shin,"

"Mm?"

"This is House Mallarc’s mansion, isn’t it?"

"...yeah?"

Han Joon looked at his hand for a few seconds before glancing at his nervous little brother. "What is my relationship with Radia?"

Han Shin pressed his lips. He couldn’t answer, but he also couldn’t lie to his hyung. For all he knew, Joon and Radia didn’t have an established relationship yet at that point, and it would be weird to suddenly announce that they were husbands.

So, he just pulled his zipper up to his chin and mouth, shaking his head desperately.

At that, Han Joon let out a soft laugh of curiosity. Han Shin raised his brows in surprise. This laugh was also new--not the mischievous or mysterious kind of laugh that adult Joon had. It was fresh and made him sound a bit bratty?

How interesting.

Han Shin followed his brother curiously to the porch, where Zein, Laurel, and Radia were waiting. Bassena had already perched behind the steering wheel, tooting the horn like a kid about to go sightseeing.

Even Zein shook his head exasperatedly.

Before climbing down the steps, Han Joon turned toward Radia. "Are you not coming?"

The crimson eyes narrowed. "Why should I?"

"Hmm...that depends."

Radia’s jaw hardened at the sight of the smile so familiar during his teenage days. That life-ruining, heart-tickling smile with a twinkle inside the black eyes.

It took him much self-control to reply. "Depends on what?"

"Whether this is for a promise ring," Han Joon raised his hand, where a clear mark circled the base of his ring finger. "Or a wedding band."

"Oh, for fuck’s sake."

Radia grumbled and walked quickly toward the car while Han Joon chuckled. He was planning to go with his car later--just to take care of the administration since he was Joon’s legal ’guardian’--but what did it matter if Joon already found out anyway?

Han Joon chuckled and tilted his head to look at Radia--who, for some reason, had been overly worked up since entering the car. "You changed, huh? You used to be more fun, but you’ve become so uptight." _{ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com}