3 Chapter 2: Half-brothers

"I think that's all for today, Ladies and Gentlemen". he announced while fixing his handcuffs in his gray office coat. "I will see you all again on our next meeting".

Juno stood from his chair, followed by Justin holding some more papers for him to sign. And as both of them rode the elevator again in silence, the young secretary's phone rang loudly.

"D-dae...yoboseo?". he saw him answer the call from the corner of his eyes. "Yes, I'm in the office".

He looked at Justin with a raised eyebrow as if to signal who it was, and his lips curved slightly in a frown as his secretary mouthed the name "Samuel-hyung", his brother.

No, his half brother, whom was sent to New Zealand to study food services and fulfill his dreams of becoming a chef. While him on the other hand, was still trying to prove his own honor to a family that never accepted and kept him as their own. So forgive him if even just the slightest mention of his brother's name leaves a bad taste in his mouth and not liking the idea of having the same mother as he is. The same mother that abandoned him for years and left him with his alcoholic and abusive father and came back trying to own up for her mistakes a decade too late, because she felt the regression of leaving her own son, which turned out to be his illegitimate child after all.

Juno vividly remembers how his mother begged for his forgiveness and promised to not leave again. But his hesitance and neglect towards her soon vanished, and of course he forgave his mother.

Soon after, everything went downhill again when they discovered their mother had cancer, and a few years later succumbed to her illness and died. So he was left in the custody of his stepfather, the real husband of his mom, whom only had eyes for his biological son, Samuel.

Don't get him wrong, he wasn't envious of how his half brother had almost everything in his life, he was actually thankful of him for being there as his brother especially when he needs someone to talk to. But maybe he was just mad at how lucky his half brother was for living a comfortable life with a complete family, while he was out there figuring out how to escape his lowly life as a teenager. And though Samuel's dad kept and provided for him even after his mother's death, it wasn't right for him anymore. He was made to live in a house where he was never loved and had to prove himself worthy of everything he was given, up to the last cent. It was suffocating him. The reason why when he reached his twenties and after his college graduation, he decided to leave home, if that's what it seems, and build his own empire. And the rest, as they say, was history.

Yes, he kept in touch with Samuel, but it was all because he was bugging him and even hired a private investigator to follow him around. So he just gave up and reconnected with his half brother a few years after he built his own name in the industry he is in, but that doesn't mean he likes him now than before. He still has a bit of neglect but surprisingly, he can now tolerate him.

"Oh, Juno-hyung?-..." Justin looked at him with a worried expression, as if seeking for help. "He-..."

Juno signaled Justin to tell the person on the other end that he wasn't there with him and even bit his lips and made a "shush" sign.

"H-he...isn't here with me hyung". Justin made a huge gulp and felt the need to loosen his necktie to rid a bit of his nervousness. "Do you want to leave him a message?".

Juno was intently trying to listen to Samuel's voice on the other end but couldn't quiet hear him. So he just busied himself scrolling through his phone as an excuse.

"Samuel-hyung just said he's-..."

"I know." he stopped Justin in mid sentence. "He wants to see me, right?".

His secretary silently nodded and was about to say something again but he quickly just answered.

"Tell him I'm busy. I have another meeting or something like it". Juno demanded without hesitations and let out a tired sigh.

He couldn't deal with Samuel today because he has a lot of things on his mind lately. With the upcoming expansion and new developments of his company, he just can't seem to find the time to talk with "family". Somehow this CEO job of his drains him, physically and emotionally. Don't get him wrong, he isn't complaining or anything, he just sometimes wish to have a little time for himself, to maybe ease his tensions and slow down but he still has a lot to prove, most especially to his stepfather who always looks him down as a neglected child of his own mother. So exhaustion is never an excuse for him to stop now, not while he's still on top of his game.

"But he-..."

"Justin, please just do as I say". he insisted with a tone of authority.

The elevator door opened and both men stepped out. But as soon as they were walking towards his office, Juno noticed a strange silence as there wasn't anyone around. All work stations were empty and even Miss Choi was missing.

"Where is everybody?". he asked with arched eyebrows. "Why isn't anyone working!?". and he slowly felt disappointed at his people, thinking they had an inexcusable break that wasn't even approved by him.

"Uhmmm, sir-..."

And Juno's heart almost dropped when as he opened the door to his office, a loud explosion erupted followed by sprinkles of confetti in front of him.

"Surprise!".

He heard loud cheering accompanied by a birthday song which made him even more confused as he is. And then he remembered, it was his birthday.

"Happy Birthday, Mr. Park!". his staffs cheered loudly and clapped altogether while beaming at him, but his attention went straight towards the man at the center holding his birthday cake.

"Happy Birthday, Juno-ya!".

Juno looked behind at Justin having the same confused expression as he is but still managed to give him an apologetic smile.

"You know about this Justin Jeon?". he asked in a booming angry tone. "Everyone was in on this?. Is this what I'm paying everyone of you for!?".

The room felt silent. Everyone were frozen in their places and no one dared to speak because all of them were afraid to be terminated from their jobs.

"C'mon Juno, it's just a small surprise for you-..."

"And you think I'm okay with all this, Seokjin!?". he was starting to feel irritated at the thought of seeing his half brother again, smiling stupidly at him and making him feel like he's the villain.

And slowly, the room's atmosphere went from festive to suffocating, as if all the happy energy was sucked out into a dark hole filled with rage.

Juno noticed Samuel's face turned from smiling to serious in a split second, and that's when he knew he touched a sensitive part of his half brother's ego.

"Everyone, I'm so sorry-..." Samuel's apologetically looked at all the people around them, but still managed to smile a little for them to feel reassured that they won't be kicked out of the office just because of what happend. "Could you please leave me and my brother alone for a minute?. We have something important to talk about".

All of them followed silently and went out of the room with worried or scared looks on their faces, while some of them started crying or whispering to one another.

"That's the same with you too, Justin". Samuel also signaled for Justin to leave, and the latter silently nodded and followed.

"Juno-ya-..." Seokjin started to speak as soon as they heard the door closed. "Is this how you welcome me back?".

"Well, whoever told you to do such a thing as this?". He answered with raised eyebrows. "You know I hate surprises".

"Exactly my point!". his brother raised both hands as if to emphasize a point. "You sometimes have to loosen up a bit, y'know".

"I'm not like you, Samuel". he frowned while fixing his handcuffs again to hide his face. "Not everyone has the freedom to choose what they want to do in life".

"My point again". Samuel answered. "Look Juno, I'm not saying you should be like me. I'm just saying you should enjoy your life a bit more. Loosen up a bit because not everything is about work".

"Easy for you to say". Juno snickered. "You're not the one who should have to prove-..."

"Juno-ya please, if this is about dad again, I told you his-..."

"You know he doesn't want to see me". he cut Samuel's words out before he even explains the same things again. "I'm not his son anyway".

"But you are. You always are, always will be". Samuel tapped his shoulder. "Please reconsider what I told you the last time. I know dad would be very happy if you comeback home to us".

Juno heavily let out a sigh and was about to sat down in his chair when his half brother quickly hugged him and patted him in the back.

"S-sam!".

"Yah! now you don't call me hyung anymore?". he heard him say. "Is this how we live now huh, Juno-ya?".

"H-hyung...I can't breath!". he exclaimed and felt Samuel's tight hug loosened.

"Sorry". his half brother quickly let him go and beamed at him like nothing happened. "So are you ready for tonight?".

"What do you mean?". he answered while massaging his neck and still catching his breath.

"Well, it's your birthday. And as your hyung, I say we party tonight". Samuel crossed his arms proudly. "I booked and paid a first-class restaurant with a private noraebang just for tonight".

"You did what!?". Jimin's eyes grew wide at the thought of his half brother spending money for his birthday that he himself had almost forgotten. "But-..."

And before he could even protest, Samuel was out of his office and loudly announcing it to his employees.

"Everyone is invited to Mr. Park's birthday tonight!". he heard him say it followed by loud cheers from his employees, and Juno knew there's no turning back now.