Chapter Text
Flashback
"Minho! We're leaving now, take good care of your brother okay?" The woman hugged her 8 year old son tightly as he cried in her hold "But why do you have to go too? Isn't dad enough?" Minho sniffled, not wanting to let go of his mother who smiled sadly at him as she held the side of his arms "We'll be back before you know it, baby"
Minho hiccuped but he wiped his tears with his small hands before bringing out his pinky finger "Promise?" he mumbled to which his mom grinned and wrapped her own pinky around Minho's "Promise."
Minho nodded and watched his mom stand up while carrying out her suitcase. She handed it to her husband while she walked back to Minho, leaning down to kiss his forehead "I love you so so much, my sweet boy" she whispered at him while fixing his messy hair with her hand "I love you too, mom"
Her husband called out to her, saying they had to leave otherwise they would miss the train so Mrs. Lee hugged Minho one last time, the small boy hugging back. Then she let go and pushed Minho lightly into the house before closing the door. Minho went to the window and looked outside as he watched his parents whom he loved so much leave with the car.
He had stopped crying but dried tears were still resting on his soft puffy cheeks which were red from the crying as well as his eyes and whole face.
They would be back. His mom had promised him.
Now he was left alone to take care of his brother, Felix who was only 6 years old. Minho wasn't any older than him but as the older brother he was responsible for him. And that was exactly what he did.
His aunt would drop by different time during the day, cooking and making sure they were okay.
2 weeks later..
While Felix was sleeping, Minho heard the doorbell ring so he went to the window to check who was it and when he saw his aunt, his mother's sister, he ran to the door and opened it "Auntie Soojin!" he jumped onto her while having a big smile on his face. However he could feel something was off with her..
Once on the floor, he furrowed his brows and tilted his head "Auntie, what's wrong?" he took a look at her face and he could see she was crying silently "Why are you crying??" he frowned and brought her to the couch by the hand, sitting down next to her.
Soojin was looking at her trembling hands while the boy was still confused with the situation. He was suddenly pulled into a hug as his head was buried in Soojin's neck "I'm so sorry, Minho-yah" she started to sob, her grip around the boy's body tightening "Huh? Sorry for what, auntie?"
Soojin didn't reply for a while. She kept crying while Minho grew even more confused. But when his aunt announced him what happened he felt empty inside. He completely broke down, "B-But she promised! She promised they will be back!" his hands gripping the back of Soojin's shirt as he cried in her neck.
The worst thing however was when Soojin opened her eyes and noticed Felix standing at the end of the stairs, small tears running down his own face. He had heard everything, "Mom and dad died..?" Her eyes widened and watched as Felix ran to her before bringing him into her arms too.
They were just kids..
She told herself she was going to look after both of them until they grow up.
For the sake of their parents.
11 years later..
Minho, 19 now, was in the kitchen eating his breakfast in peace while Soojin and Felix were running around the house because both of them were late. Soojin was going to drop Felix off at school and she would go to work afterwards. Minho had graduated the previous year so for the moment he was just chilling at home.
He found it entertaining watching the other two panic to get ready quickly while he was just sitting, "You know just because you run doesn't mean you're going to be ready in a minute" he chuckled and heard Felix's deep voice from upstairs "Stop being so negative, hyung!" he rushed down the stairs and into the kitchen, taking a single piece of toast in his mouth.
Soojin had already gone outside to start the car while waiting for Felix to come. Soon he too exited the house, yelling a 'bye' to his older brother before closing the door.
Minho watched them drive away from the house and once they were out of sight he walked back to the table to finish his breakfast. He was scrolling through his photos but paused once his eyes caught that one picture. He pressed on and stared at it for a few seconds as he bit the inside of his cheek.
It was a photo of him, Felix and their parents together the day before their business trip. The last time they saw them. It had been 11 years but Minho still was not over their death. The moment Soojin told him his parents died in a car crash on their way back he couldn't handle it.
He didn't believe it.
At least he had Felix and his aunt so he wasn't completely alone. He was so grateful to Soojin for helping both him and his brother grow up without missing anything. Felix was 17 years old. Watching Felix grow up was something Minho really liked.
Dispite the accident Felix was a very positive person, he was someone his friends could trust and rely on. They had even come up with a nickname for him which was 'sunshine'. Since he would bring light to their lives.
A few hours later Minho was worried because his aunt and brother were supposed to be back home. Usually Soojin would leave from work to pick Felix up and bring him home since the bus wasn't going towards their house and then go back. But time had passed and they weren't back.
That moment he got a phonecall.
And it was the police.
Minho had no patience and he needed to know why the police called him in the first place.
"Kim Soojin and Lee Felix were involved into a tragic car crash and unfortunately didn't make it."
The phone falling on the ground was the only noise someone could hear after the police told him that. First his parents and now his brother and aunt. Minho was standing frozen in the middle of the living room, feeling completely numb.
This couldn't be happening to him. Not again.
Minho's hand hung to his side as he stared nowhere in particular with an expressionless face, he was extremely shocked and heartbroken. And lonely. He had no one anymore.
He didn't cry.
The last time he cried was years ago when he had to stop being so vulnerable in front of Felix because he wanted to be a role model for him. Someone who was mentally strong, trustworthy, who would help without asking for something in return. Kindness was always something their parents told them was important.
Felix was really looking up to Minho. They were brothers after all, of course he would admire him. But Minho wouldn't admit that Felix was also his inspiration. He envied how many friends the younger boy had, how everyone found him very handsome -especially whenever he smiled-, how everyone loved him and never said anything bad about him.
And now he was gone.
He passed the same way their parents did.
Every single family member he had in his life was gone. And there was only one thing he could to do to be with them again..