Chapter Text
Kihyun held onto the white porcelain sink in his bathroom. He stared at the mirror; eyes narrowed at his reflection. Nothing made sense anymore. He punched the mirror, a growl of frustration escaping his lips. Glass shards sprinkled onto his sink. His eyes drifted toward a reflection of his brother in the mirror.
“I’m fine, Hyungwon,” Kihyun said.
Hyungwon moved closer, a frown on his lips.
“Are you sure?”
Kihyun turned around, leaning on the sink. “You worry too much.”
“You smashed a mirror,” Hyungwon said, glancing at the broken mirror. “Of course, I’m going to worry. Why did you do that?”
Kihyun shrugged, crossing his arms.
“I’ll just fix the mirror. It’s fine.”
Hyungwon looked at his hands, eyes wide. “Ki, you are bleeding.”
Kihyun glanced at his hands, wincing at the pain. He guessed the pent-up anger had distracted him from the pain. He bit the inside of his cheek. Hyungwon reached out, taking a hold of his hands.
“You aren’t—Ki, you aren’t healing,” Hyungwon said, voice shaking. “Ki, why aren’t you healing?”
Kihyun pulled his hands from Hyungwon’s gentle grasp. “Go to bed, Hyungwon.”
“Ki, why aren’t you healing?” Hyungwon asked, voice soft.
Kihyun frowned, analyzing the blood upon his knuckles. He wished he hadn’t broken the mirror. There was no reason to cause so much destruction late at night. Unfortunately, he had been blinded by anger.
“Seriously, Hyungwon. Go, to sleep,” Kihyun said. “You’ll wake mom and dad. I’m fine. We got school tomorrow. Remember?”
Hyungwon nodded. “Okay.”
“Good,” Kihyun said. “I’ll clean up in here. Don’t worry too much.”
Hyungwon frowned. “I’m really worried. I know you said don’t worry.”
“You should be more worried about waking up on time,” Kihyun said. “We aren’t going to be late because of you again. Right? You promised.”
Hyungwon chuckled.
“We’re never really late.”
Kihyun snorted. “Hyungwon, you can’t keep manipulating time like that. No one is stupid. They know exactly what you’ve been doing. Why do you think we are still getting in trouble if we are ‘on time’?”
Hyungwon rubbed the back of his neck. “I’ll practice harder and then no one will notice. I don’t want to embarrass the Yoo name.”
Kihyun rolled his eyes. “Right. Of course, the family reputation.”
Hyungwon shrugged. “I’m being serious. Remember what dad said?”
Kihyun rolled his eyes. “Dad is a little obsessed with the family reputation. Take what he says with a grain of salt.”
Hyungwon nodded. “Maybe you are right.”
Kihyun rolled his eyes harder. “I’m always right. Now, go to sleep, Hyungwon. The Yoo family reputation is going to be just fine.”
Hyungwon snickered. “Yeah, that’s because the oldest son, you. Everyone at school is already talking about the oldest sons and daughters of the most powerful magic families coming together to rule the world or something.”
Kihyun smirked.
“Well, can’t help them for talking. I’m pretty amazing.”
Hyungwon snorted.
“Anyway, I just came to check on you,” he said. “Oh, don’t forget to clean up that mirror or mom and dad will talk.”
Kihyun nodded. “Night, Wonnie.”
Hyungwon looked over his shoulder. “Night, Ki.”
Hyungwon walked out the door, shutting it behind him. Kihyun turned back to the mess, blood smeared on his knuckles. The encounter with Hyungwon had been a close one. He reached out placing a single finger upon the mirror. He concentrated, channeling his magic into his finger. For several seconds, nothing happened.
Kihyun gritted his teeth, eyes narrowed at the mirror. After another few seconds, pieces of glass shards left the sink and entered the cracks in the mirror. He watched the mirror come back together before his very eyes. His eyes drifted to his knuckles. He turned on the faucet and washed his hands. After washing his hands, he grabbed a piece of paper towel and dried his hands. He inspected the skin closely. A sigh of relief escaped his lips when he noticed his skin had healed.
“I guess I still have time,” Kihyun said, voice soft.
Kihyun turned toward the door and turned off the light. He walked out of the bathroom and headed over to his bed. A yawn escaped his lips as he slipped beneath the covers. He looked up at the ceiling of his bedroom. After a few seconds, he drifted into a troubled sleep.
“Hyungwon!”
Hyungwon slept in bed peacefully. Kihyun narrowed his eyes at his brother. He couldn’t believe they were going to be late again. A heavy sigh escaped his lips as he crossed his arms.
“Kihyun, is everything alright?”
Kihyun looked over his shoulder at his mother, frowning. He knew their mom wouldn’t be pleased to know they were going to be late for school again. It was unfair. Most of the time they were late because of Hyungwon.
“Everything is perfect, Mom. Just waking up, Hyungwon.”
“Let me guess, you both are running late,” she asked, a single brow raised.
“Not my fault,” Kihyun said, arms crossed.
His mother laughed and then looked to Hyungwon.
“Hyungwon dear, please get up.”
Hyungwon turned to his left, eyes opening slowly. Kihyun frowned and then turned to their mother, perplexed. His mother was able to wake Hyungwon up without any trouble. She didn’t have to yell.
“Mom? Ki?”
His mother crossed her arms. “Hyungwon, do you want to explain to me why you both are running late again?”
Hyungwon sat up in bed, running fingers through his red hair. “I’m sorry Mom. I’ll be ready soon.”
Their mother nodded softly and then took one look at him. Kihyun sighed. Their mother gave him a gentle pat on the back before leaving through the door. Kihyun turned back to Hyungwon who had started to stretch. He narrowed his eyes at him.
“You’re unbelievable,” Kihyun said. “I can’t believe I wake up at 6 a.m. just to wait for you.”
“No one told you to wake up that early Ki,” Hyungwon said, removing his covers from his body. “You can always sleep in.”
“No, no I can’t. You literally never wake up on time!”
Hyungwon made a face. “No need to yell. I’m going to get ready.”
Kihyun frowned.
“Just hurry up I don’t want to be scolded by my teacher.”
Hyungwon nodded, entering the bathroom. Kihyun’s eyes drifted toward the alarm clock on Hyungwon’s night table. He raised his hand in the air and paused for a few seconds before bringing his hand back down. He frowned. The alarm clock didn’t move. A frown spread across his lips.
Kihyun bit the inside of his cheek. Maybe he needed to try again. Kihyun snapped his right fingers, but nothing happened. His heart rate increased as he placed his hands into his pockets.
“You okay, Ki?”
Kihyun looked up at Hyungwon. His younger brother stood in his room dressed in a white t-shirt and blue jeans. He rubbed a towel against his wet red hair while he stared at him. Kihyun gave his brother two thumbs up to assure him all was well.
“Yeah, I’m fine. I’ll wait for you in the car. Just hurry up,” Kihyun said.
Hyungwon nodded. “Okay, I won’t be long.”
Kihyun nodded and then headed out the door. He walked down the steps, his keys in his right hand. All he could remember was the alarm clock. Outside, he paused to wipe away the tears in his eyes and then opened his car door.
“I know I shouldn’t say this, but,” Hyungwon said. “Most of the people at this school are really annoying.”
Kihyun snorted. Seoul Magic Academy was well known for providing a well-rounded education. However, there were also some very interesting individuals attending the school. Kihyun grinned as he fished a couple pieces of chicken from his Tupperware and dropped them on Hyungwon’s rice. Hyungwon looked at the rice and then him, a small smile on his face. Kihyun gave Hyungwon a warm smile in return.
“You know you don’t have to do that,” Hyungwon said, grabbing his chopsticks. “I’m fine. I always eat all the meat first before the rice. I don’t need more but thank you.”
Kihyun grinned.
“Hey, I have to look out for you while I’m still around, right? It’s an older brother thing.”
“You are only older by a couple months,” Hyungwon said, amused. “No need to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. And what do you mean while you are still around. Are you going somewhere?”
Kihyun chuckled.
“Ignore me. I’m being dramatic. I’m not going anywhere.”
“Good, because who am I going to call annoying and argue with,” Hyungwon said, amused.
Kihyun raised a single brow. “Annoying? Me?”
“Ah, are the famous Yoo brothers fighting again?”
“Where were you, Minhyuk?” Kihyun asked, staring at crossed. “I was about to file a missing person report.”
Minhyuk took a seat at their table and then brushed stray pieces of blonde hair out of his eyes. A wide smile spread across Minhyuk’s face. Kihyun chuckled. The Lee's and the Yoo's had been friends for years and years. Naturally, their children became close friends.
Minhyuk smirked. “That’s so sweet. You missed me.”
Kihyun rolled his eyes.
“I was just having a chat with our Magic teacher, Mrs. Park,” Minhyuk said. “She wanted to talk about techniques. As you know I’ve been trying to learn some tougher spells.”
Kihyun nodded quietly. “Right, makes sense.”
“Are you okay, Kihyun?” Minhyuk asked. “You were pretty quiet in class today. Usually, you love getting up in front of the class to demonstrate some of the harder spells. But today you were quiet and didn’t volunteer. That isn’t like you at all.”
“I’ve been tired,” Kihyun said. “I figured I would just quietly observe.”
“Sure, as long as you don’t do that for our final project,” Minhyuk said.
“Of course not,” Kihyun said. “That’s 50% of our final grade.”
Minhyuk nodded. “Good, glad we had this talk.”
Kihyun laughed. His eyes drifted to Hyungwon’s warm brown inquisitive eyes. Kihyun turned away, avoiding his brother’s stare. He didn’t want to call too much attention to himself. There was a secret he wished to keep to himself.
“I was thinking we could all hang out this weekend,” Minhyuk said. “There’s a movie out that I know you both will like.”
Kihyun nodded, breaking away from his inner thoughts. “Sure, yeah. Movies are good.”
Minhyuk gave him a look.
“Yeah, they are. Well, I better eat I know I don’t have much time," Minhyuk said.
Minhyuk grabbed his chopsticks and quickly ate from his tray. Kihyun sighed, reclining against the cafeteria chair. He couldn’t help but think about what Minhyuk said to him. Despite everything that happened over the past few days, he had tried his best to act normal at school. However, Minhyuk had noticed his new behavior. Then again, Minhyuk was his best friend of course he would notice things about him.
“Are you sure you are, okay Ki?”
Kihyun looked at Hyungwon and gave him a smile of assurance.
“Of course, I’m perfect.”
Hyungwon smiled.
“Okay, that’s good.”
Kihyun glanced at the last few pieces of chicken on his rice. Honestly, nothing was perfect. Actually, he was in a lot of trouble. A heavy sigh escaped his lips as he ran his fingers through his dark black hair.
Kihyun was running out of time, and he realized there was nothing he could do to stop the inevitable.