Why are you like this?

The twins took me to a restaurant before I could even have time to refuse. Plus, they literally threatened me with the picture I took. It didn't need to be said directly with words for me to understand.

"What would you do if people started looking at you as a pervert?" Seojin asked with a smile. "You wouldn't want that, right?"

I looked at his smile and gulped. This was a threat, right?

"Come on, Hyung." Seojun placed his arms around my neck. "Let's have a meal together and talk."

"T-talk?" I stuttered. "We... We don't..." I kept blinking, feeling flustered. "I don't t-think we have anything to talk about."

"Now, now, Hyung." Seojun said, inching closer to whisper in my ear. "It's been so long. Don't be so heartless."

I flinched.

This sort of close contact... Why were they doing this?

We were close when we were young but it's been so long and we're grown-ups now, so acting like this in public... Acting like nothing happened... I rubbed my arms. It was weird.

We were all men too. People would definitely start talking if they saw us like this.

"I... I'll go." I said and walked ahead of them but Seojin caught my arm. I looked back at him to find him still smiling.

"Not that way, Hyung." He pointed at the back. "It's over there."

"R-right." I said.

"Come on, we'll lead you so you don't get lost. It's your first time here anyway." Seojun added and I nodded.

They were nice in acting like we were okay but I couldn't stay comfortably around them, not after what happened.

But more importantly... I secretly glanced at them... They grew up so well.

They used to be two gloomy kids who looked like they would have one expression all their lives.

Now, they were smiling so brightly that I couldn't help but feel mesmerized.

After 'that' happened, they must've lived in a nice environment. They must've been showered with the love that their father never gave them. They must've been happy.

I clutched my chest. I really hope that was the case. Yes, that had to be the case, seeing how happy and bright they were.

"Here, eat this, Hyung." Seojin said, pushing his nearly cut steak over to my side and taking mine in return. "Try it, it's really good."

I looked at their eager expressions as they waited for me to take a bite.

My conflicted mind wanted to refuse their hospitality but my stomach took the lead in this decision. I was so hungry.

I picked up the fork and took a bite. The steak melted in my mouth immediately, leaving a sweet and spicy taste lingering at the tip of my tongue.

It was so good.

And before I knew it, I was stuffing my face like a person who hadn't eaten in days.

The twins stared at me in delight as they watched me devour the food in satisfaction. They looked like they were enjoying the sight of me stuffing my face with the food they ordered.

After the steak was the dessert cake which looked absolutely pleasing to my eyes and tasted heavenly in my mouth.

Seeing them watch me happily as I ate made me a bit uncomfortable. Luckily, I was able to stomach it all without getting indigestion.

After stuffing my face, I said,

"Thank you for the meal." I glanced at them and lowered my head. "I'll pay for..."

"Here's the receipt." The waiter's voice interrupted my statement and I saw her passing on a receipt towards Seojin.

She had a red blush on her cheek as she stared at the two identical handsome men sitting opposite me.

"You were saying, Hyung?" Seojin asked after taking the receipt.

When did they have time to pay for the meal?

I must've been too busy stuffing my face to notice.

How was I going to pay them back for the meal?

I didn't need to see the check to know that the meal was expensive. Ugh, and I was so low on cash.

"Is there anything else you'd like to eat?" Seojin suddenly asked.

"If not, we can take you around the block and show you around. This area is my specialty so we won't get lost." Seojun added and I furrowed my eyebrows, lightly clenching my fists under the table.

"Why are you like this?" I asked and both paused keen attention to me.

"Like how, Hyung?" Seojun asked.

"Like this." I said but I wasn't making myself any clearer than I could.

I bit my bottom lip and got up, bowing my head at them.

"I'm sorry for taking your picture without your consent. I'll delete it right away and you won't ever have to see me again. I promise." I took up a lot of courage to say that and inevitably drew attention to us.

Both fell silent but then Seojun laughed.

'Why is he laughing?'

I got anxious. I was probably making a fool of myself but that was okay. I couldn't... I shut my eyes... I couldn't afford to go back to how things were. I was guilty of so many things and could not just brush it off simply because they acted okay about it.

"Hyung, can you sit down first?" Seojin requested and I raised my head.

Seojun had stopped laughing and was looking at me with eyes filled with interest.

"Why are you acting like we're strangers?" Seojin asked as I slowly sat back down. "Do you know how much we wanted to see you after then?" He asked. "It broke our hearts that we couldn't even say goodbye."

I heard that and gritted my teeth. Why was he talking like that? It wasn't their fault. It was...

"Hyung." He placed his hand on mine. "You mean so much to us."

I raised my head and stared at his face. His eyes looked sad. I turned my gaze to Seojun, who had the same expression. It was as if I had hurt them. Yeah... I did.

"You're both weird." I said and their expressions flinched.

They almost faltered but kept their expressions as they were.

"That's quite hurting." Seojin said and took back his hand. "So, you really don't want to go back to how it was?"

"What are you even talking about?" I asked. "You two... It's been more than ten years. You guys were no more than 12 years back then. Not only did you recognize me right away, but you're also acting like you would to a friend you meet regularly." I explained. "You're both acting like I went on a short vacation and returned. It's weird and it makes me uneasy."