I Became the Villain's Little Brother

In the reverie of that melody, you return.

***

The cold wind enters from the window outside the ward. With a vacant gaze, a young man hums a raspy melody. He stops after feeling his voice run out.

His body is thin and his eyes sunken with the grief and resentment buried deep within his heart.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, the young man presses his throat. His vocal cords have been damaged, and his dreams of years have turned to nought.

Though treated and medicated, his voice is no longer the same. He has lost the purpose of his life.

His dream that made him distance himself from his family, his dream that arose because of someone he once loved, is also the dream of his life that he now hates so much.

The young man suddenly lets out a small laugh, as if mocking his own foolishness. He left his family for a woman who ultimately betrayed him.

The heartache in his heart is indescribable, even if his heart were to be pierced, he would not feel as much pain.

"Why?" he mutters through gritted teeth.

He bites the inside of his mouth until it bleeds.

"I did everything for you, so why?"

Droplets of liquid fall onto his hand. It is not tears, for he can no longer cry. It is blood.

His nose continues to bleed, and it only worsens. But he does not do anything to stop it.

His hospital treatment costs have been exhausted, he should leave tomorrow if he cannot pay.

His family has suffered from helping him, and now they are trapped in a huge debt.

His eldest brother, the family leader, has gone abroad to resolve it. His second brother was involved in a bad scandal as an actor and lost all his support. His sister passed away while protecting him.

His parents have been gone since he was young. His family relatives hate him for being the cause of Reina's, his sister's, death. He has finally been left with no one by his side.

He has destroyed his family and has no one left.

It was only after losing everything that he realized how cruel the person he once loved was.

Elaine. His fiancée.

They were engaged to connect two large families. It was on the advice of their family relatives. Because Elaine's family only had their young daughter Yoru's age, the engagement was arranged between them.

Although his elder brother opposed it, Yoru accepted the engagement because he liked Elaine, his childhood friend.

But what is the result now?

Elaine betrayed him.

She has also destroyed his family.

Yoru keeps wondering why she did this? What was her reason for going so far? What mistake did he make that made Elaine end up doing this to him?

In the final days of his life, Yoru thinks it's better if he doesn't know that. So he can continue to bear the guilt over the destruction of his family.

"I'm sorry... brother...."

Yoru gets up from his bed unsteadily. He removes the IV needle from his arm and lets the wound stay open. His blood drips onto the floor as he walks towards the open window.

He touches the window ledge and looks down. There's no safety railing, isn't this set up for him?

Yoru wipes his face. He takes a deep breath. How can he have the luxury to end his own life?

At the very least, he should take Elaine with him.

This ward is arranged by Elaine. His treatment costs are taken from Yoru's own savings and continuously drained until exhausted.

None of his siblings were informed about his condition because he is being treated in a hospital far from his family.

However, due to all his mistakes, it's not surprising if his siblings hate him and won't visit even if he tells them.

There are many strange things. Elaine's hatred towards him is almost unreasonable, as if Yoru has committed a more cruel crime than Elaine, so he is being punished.

Nevertheless, it does not change the reality of the present.

Yoru shifts his gaze from the window as he feels someone entering his ward.

A familiar perfume scent, as he expected. Elaine comes to visit him with the same expression on her face.

Yoru does not turn around. He doesn't want to see her.

"You make me pity you..." Elaine comments in an odd tone.

As if her actions so far have not been enough.

"Well, the end of your life is near. Don't you want to talk to me?"

Her gentle voice brings a frown to Yoru's brow. He doesn't know what else Elaine is planning.

"Alright, then just listen. You must think of me as very wicked and unforgivable. I'm not asking for your forgiveness, so don't worry. You can keep hating me."

Elaine's footsteps approach him. Yoru knows she is standing behind him.

"To find the extreme sense of the world, I needed you to suffer. Do you know? I killed Reina, I also killed some of the people you cherished."

Yoru's pupils widen and tremble. He can't believe it.

Reina died protecting him from a serial killer. His friends died in various accidents. And his elder brother...

Elaine didn't disappoint his expectations.

"I've left your beloved elder brother for the last. He's on his way here because of the message I sent. So..." Elaine leaves the words hanging, but the meaning is clear.

She wants Yoru to do something for her, or his elder brother won't survive.

Yoru takes a deep breath, closing his eyes briefly. Then he finally responds, "What do you want?"

Elaine laughs. Her laughter sounds pleasant to others, but it is a demonic laugh to Yoru.

"Die for me! So, my task will be complete."

Yoru clenches his fists. He wants to push Elaine and kill her, but he knows Elaine has strong guards he can't comprehend.

There's always something mysterious about her, as if she's protected by the unseen.

If Yoru attacks her, he himself will die.

So, everything has turned out this way.

Recalling all his false memories with Elaine and about his remaining family, Yoru makes a decision.

"Alright."

He finally turns around, his gaze filled with determination. He smiles strangely as he steps back and climbs onto the open window. He is on the sixth floor, it's clear what will happen if he falls.

His face is obscured by his long black hair. But Elaine can feel his gaze fixed on her.

"Elaine... You know, I loved you. But you're not Elaine."

Elaine freezes. For the first time, her calm expression cracks.

"Anyway, I'll also die from the illness. So, this might be better. I can meet Elaine on the other side and drag a devil like you to hell."

Yoru, who is not used to saying many things, starts coughing.

Yoru glances out the window and sees a car he recognizes arrive in the parking lot. His smile deepens. He finally understands something from all of this.

"Goodbye, devil. I'll make sure you pay for everything."

Then, he releases his grip on the window ledge and falls backwards.

The clear blue sky looks so captivating in his eyes. What a beautiful world.

The last expression he sees from Elaine satisfies him as he closes his eyes and feels the sensation of his fall to the ground.

...

Wrapped in blood and with all his limbs shattered, his consciousness still remains.

He seems to see many people running towards him in panic, and one of them appears utterly desperate.

"Yoru!"

He seems to hear that scream from the depths of his soul.

***