Won sat at the bar, nursing a glass of amber liquid, his gaze unfocused as thoughts swirled in his head. The noise of chatter and clinking glasses filled the room, but he hardly noticed.

Behind the counter, Sean casually dried a glass, studying him with a half-smile.

“You’ve been quiet,” 

Sean said, leaning closer. 

“Trouble with the kid at home?”

Won exhaled, swirling the drink before taking a sip. 

“It’s nothing... Michael’s just acting weird.”

Sean chuckled, resting his elbows on the counter. 

“Heh, well, you were acting pretty weird yourself the other night.”

Won raised an eyebrow, a flicker of confusion in his eyes. 

“What do you mean?”

Sean’s smirk widened as he set the glass down.

 “When I dropped you off that night, you kept mumbling.”

Won froze, his grip tightening around his drink.

 “Wait... you took me home?”

“Yeah,”

 Sean replied, grin never fading. 

“Who else? You called me halfway through your drunken mess. I came to get you.”

Won blinked, processing the words slowly. 

“So... you’re saying I didn’t bring anyone home with me that night?”

Sean leaned back, arms crossed, amused by the disbelief written all over Won’s face.

“Nope,” 

he said with a shrug.

 “Just you, me, and that kid—who looked ready to murder me when I showed up.”

Won stiffened at Sean’s words, his glass pausing midway to his lips.

“By the way,” 

Sean said casually, watching him closely,

 “is he... the little brother?”

The question made Won’s stomach twist. His heart sank, and his mind raced, scrambling for answers. Michael had been there that night, looking upset... but why? What had happened after Sean left? His memories were nothing more than fragmented blurs drowned in alcohol and exhaustion.

Sean tilted his head, picking up on the shift in Won’s expression. 

“Yo? You good?”

Won tightened his grip on the glass, forcing a nonchalant shrug. 

“Yeah… just trying to remember.”

Sean smirked knowingly. 

“Figures. You were wasted, man. I doubt you’ll ever remember.”

Won exhaled, rubbing his temple as frustration simmered beneath his skin. The fact that Michael had been there gnawed at him, digging deeper with every thought. But no matter how hard he tried, the memory slipped further away, elusive and cruel.

He set his drink down, fingers drumming restlessly against the rim. The unease inside him refused to settle. Michael had seen something—he was sure of it. But what?

Sean, ever observant, leaned back against the counter, watching Won like he was an entertaining puzzle.

 “You’re really overthinking this, huh?”

Won shot him a sharp look, his frown deepening.

 “Shut up.”

Sean only chuckled, taking a sip from his own glass before resting his elbows on the bar, his gaze steady and probing.

“You sure you’re just worried about the kid?”

 he asked smoothly. 

“Or is it something else?”

Won didn’t answer. His grip on the glass tightened, knuckles pale against the dim bar light.

Sean studied him for a moment before sighing and shaking his head. 

“Look, man, if you’re that stressed, maybe you should just go home and talk to him.”

Won exhaled slowly, dragging a hand down his face. The thought of facing Michael right now made his stomach twist—but ignoring the nagging weight in his chest was no longer an option.

Abruptly, he pushed back from the barstool. The sudden scrape of wood against the floor made Sean raise an eyebrow.

“Yo, where are you going?”

 Sean called.

“Home,” 

Won muttered.

Sean’s lips curled into a knowing grin.

 “Told you so.”

Won rolled his eyes but didn’t argue. Without another word, he snatched his jacket and headed for the exit, his heart pounding harder with every step as he prepared himself to face Michael.

---

That evening, the house was quiet.

Michael was already at the dining table, quietly eating with Rocky. His movements were stiff, his expression unreadable.

Won slid into his seat across from him, eyes never leaving Michael’s face. 

“Michael—”

“I’m not hungry anymore.”

Michael pushed back his chair, picking up his plate to put it away.

Rocky sighed, his tone low but sharp. 

“Won, fix it already.”

Won clenched his fist, frustration sparking inside him.

“Michael, sit down!” 

His voice rang louder than intended, making Michael freeze mid-step.

Won’s tone shifted, softer this time, almost pleading. 

“Please... we’ll talk later.”

Michael’s shoulders stiffened. Reluctantly, he lowered himself back into his seat, but he kept his gaze fixed anywhere but on Won.

The silence between them was thick, heavy with everything unsaid.

----

LATER

The hallway was dim, only the faint glow of a nearby lamp lighting the tension between them.

Won stepped forward, cornering Michael before he could retreat to his room.

“Michael, listen—”

 Won began, his voice strained.

Michael’s eyes flashed, cold and sharp. 

“Did you have fun drinking?”

The iciness in his tone made Won flinch.

“I… I need to talk to you about that night,” 

Won pressed, his throat tightening.

Michael’s fists curled at his sides, his knuckles white. 

“Why? You don’t even remember it, do you?”

Won’s chest tightened, frustration breaking through. 

“What happened that night? What did I do?”

Michael’s breath hitched, panic flickering across his face. He shook his head, trying to shut it down.

 “Nothing! You were drunk. Just… just forget about it.”

“I can’t!” 

Won’s voice rose, almost desperate.

 “I need to know!”

The silence between them snapped. Michael’s voice cracked, breaking past his defenses.

“You… you kissed me, okay?!”

Won froze. The words slammed into him like a weight, his heart dropping to the pit of his stomach.

“…What?”

 His voice was barely a whisper.

Michael’s chest heaved, his eyes shimmering with anger and something deeper he couldn’t name.

“You kissed me like I was… like I was one of them!”

The words hung heavy in the air, raw and trembling.

Michael’s voice trembled, but his eyes were sharp.