The afternoon sun hung high, casting warm streaks of light over the apartment complex. Outside the door of unit 209, a few moving boxes were stacked haphazardly, some freshly sealed with tape while others bore the scuffs of being handled too many times.
Movers bustled about, lifting and carrying the last of the siblings' belongings into the waiting truck outside the gate.
Jihoon stood near the doorway, watching over the process, making sure nothing was forgotten.
"Please carry that one gently," he said, resting a hand on one of the boxes. "It has fragile materials inside."
The worker gave him a brief nod before adjusting his grip and walking away with more care. Jihoon sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.
It was almost over. Soon, they would finally leave.
Just as he was about to check on the last few items, the sound of the elevator doors sliding open caught his attention.
Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted Aunt Miyong stepping out with grocery bags in hand.
His stomach tightened at the sight of her, but he forced a polite smile and greeted her anyway.
She didn't answer. Instead, her scrutinizing stare drifted over the movers before locking onto Jihoon, her lips pressed into a tight line.
"Let me carry those for you-"
"Don't try your goody-two-shoes act on me," she snapped, clutching the bags tighter against her chest.
Jihoon barely had time to react before she stomped past him, disappearing into the apartment and slamming the door shut behind her.
The sound echoed through the hallway.
For a moment, Jihoon stood there, staring at the closed door. Then, with a quiet exhale, he let out a soft laugh.
The movers exchanged wary glances but said nothing.
"Let's keep going," Jihoon muttered, dusting off his hands.
Lately, Aunt Miyong had been acting even more confrontational than usual. Before, her insults had been passive-aggressive, muttered just loud enough for him to hear. But ever since the funeral, she had stopped pretending. Now, the hostility was open, direct, and impossible to ignore.
Jihoon made his way down to the front gate, watching as the moving truck pulled out of the complex. His eyes settled on the scuffed boxes inside.
Five years.
For five years, this place had been their home. Yet, everything they owned fit into those few battered boxes.
His chest ached, not just for himself but for Haneul.
So young, yet already forced to endure so much.
But this was a fresh start. Once they settled into their new home, Jihoon swore to do better for his little brother- to give him the stability and warmth he deserved.
As he prepared to leave, bittersweet emotions swirled within him.
His uncle stepped forward, clearing his throat before wrapping Jihoon into a firm hug.
"Take care, Jihoon," his uncle said gruffly, patting his back. "Be careful, and live well."
Jihoon offered a small smile. "I will. And I'll visit when I can."
Aunt Miyong never came out to see him off.
He didn't expect her to.
With a final glance at the apartment, he shouldered his backpack and turned away. Haneul was still at school, and Jihoon planned to pick him up and take him straight to their new place. He wanted to avoid any more unexpected outbursts from their aunt.
This was a new beginning.
For both of him and his brother.
The apartment was far from grand, but it was theirs.
Inside, it was cluttered with moving boxes, some stacked neatly in the corner while others lay open, their contents spilling out onto the floor. Clothes, books, and toys peeked out from the mess, scattered around like remnants of their old life waiting to be sorted. The air smelled faintly of cardboard and lemon-scented disinfectant.
The walls were bare, the space unfamiliar, but it already felt lighter and less suffocating than the apartment they had left behind.
Wiping the sweat off his forehead with the back of his hand, Jihoon released a weary breath as he took in the mess of the living room.
"Let me just… drag this over here," he muttered, pushing a few unopened boxes to the side to clear some space.
He would be unpacking slowly, but for now, the essentials were out.
The move had been rushed, but there was no other choice. The sooner they left, the better. Given the growing hostility in the old apartment, he didn't want to stay a second longer than necessary.
Dusting off his hands, he glanced at the clock.
"Oh, it's already this late?" he murmured to himself.
Just as he was about to get up, the door swung open.
Haneul stepped in, his small feet padding across the floor. As soon as he spotted his big brother, his face lit up, and he ran toward Jihoon with his arms stretched wide.
"Welcome back," Jihoon greeted, pushing himself up onto one knee. "How was your day?"
"Good~!" Haneul beamed, pressing his face against Jihoon's chest like a kitten nuzzling its owner.
Jihoon chuckled but then pulled back slightly. "Did you walk home alone? You should've waited for me."
Haneul pouted, looking up at him with big, round eyes. He had thought his brother would be proud that he came back on his own without bothering him. But instead, Jihoon didn't look too happy.
"I'm not scolding you," Jihoon reassured, ruffling his hair. "I just want to know since I was worried."
Haneul's frown melted away instantly.
"Should we have tonkatsu today?" Jihoon asked, his tone playfully teasing. "Isn't that your favorite?"
Haneul gasped, his face lighting up with excitement as he bounced on his toes. "Yes, yes, yes!"
His giggles bubbled through the air, his earlier pout completely forgotten.
Jihoon laughed at his reaction. It had been a long time since he had seen his little brother this happy.
For the first time in a while, their home felt warm.
The past had been bitter, but right now, in this apartment filled with scattered boxes and the scent of new beginnings, Jihoon knew this was the right path.