Unbrotherly Love - Chapter 1

Takumi’s heart was burning like wood in the fire. The sound of his own breathing was resembling the sound of the fireplace at the end of the huge, dark lit room. This was not the first time he had visited his lover’s house, yet everything seemed different today: the sofa they used to make out on, the chairs they would sit on and eat, the TV they would spend countless nights in front of. Every piece of furniture, even the walls, seemed cold. Distant. Just like his lover. Across the room, Min-Jun sat rigidly on his usual spot, a glass of his favourite brand of Scottish malt whiskey swirling in his hand. His cold demeanour and indifference were apparent in his stance towards Takumi. His jaw was clenched, eyes like chips of ice that refused to meet Takumi's gaze.
"We should break up," Min-Jun finally spoke, his voice devoid of warmth. Cruel and enraged, Min-Jun broke his lover’s heart with just a few words.

"Break up?" Takumi choked out, his voice barely a whisper. "What... What do you mean we should break up? Min-Jun are you joking?". Takumi’s voice was trembling. Deep down he knew Min-Jun was not the type to joke about their relationship. He knew this was Min-Jun’s desire to be freed from him. Even though they had been through a lot since the beginning of their relationship, Takumi put his trust in Min-Jun’s love for him. Now it seems the hope to grow old together was his own wishful thinking.
Min-Jun’s words brought him back to reality. "I am being dead serious, Takumi. I do not want to be with you anymore. Pack up your things and leave".

Takumi made a concerted effort to maintain his composure. In that precise second, he put into action all of the breathing techniques he had acquired during his five years of meditation practice. "Take a deep breath in, hold for a moment, and then exhale. As you inhale, hold your breath, and exhale, release any mental clutter. Take a deep breath in, hold for a moment, and then exhale. Take deep breaths in and out. More quickly. Take deep breaths in and out. Things were going wrong. Take deep breaths in and out. Take a deep breath in... Just take a deep breath. Take a deep breath!"

Despite Takumi's obvious distress, Min-Jun made no effort to assist him. He sat there, passionless, and kept staring at Takumi’s eyes. Was he trying to find evidence of Takumi’s feeling, or was he enjoying the affect his words had on his lover? Takumi was not sure what the answer was. In all the years he had known Min-Jun, this was the first time he experienced such an attitude from him.
"Everything will be all right. Everything will be all right". In an effort to calm himself down, Takumi closed his eyes. "It is probably a misunderstanding. All you have to do is explain yourself and Min-Jun will forgive your mistake", Takumi thought to himself. "Take a deep breath in, hold for a moment, and then exhale".
Min-Jun waited patiently for the man in front of him to calm down. Takumi was his lover for three years after all. He did not want to harm him, albeit he did not want him in his life anymore. Today was the day he would be free again. Takumi was the last thread of his old life and he himself would be the knife to cut the thread and then burn it.

"Pull yourself together. I have work to do. Be gone by the time I return". Min-Jun placed the empty glass on the coffee table and stood up. With an air of casualness, he drew nearer to Takumi. For a split second, his hand was freed from his control and moved on his own to caress Takumi’s face. Thankfully, for a split second. He stopped himself and grabbed Takumi’s neck instead. Angry as he was, he tightened his grip more than he originally intended. "Stop pretending to be hurt by my words. This was inevitable, as you knew. Your quiet demeanour, your submissive and timid character, is dull and uninteresting. You tyre me out. If I find you in my house when I return, I will report you to the police for breaking and entering".

Takumi was thrown to the floor by his lover's hand before he could respond to Min-Jun's harsh words. The intact was hurting his body all over, but his heart hurt even worse. Takumi remained still. Silent and bereft, he stayed on the floor.

The tears that escaped his dark almond-shaped eyes were leaving a burning trail on his slender smooth neck. He took one last look into his lover’s light brown eyes, trying to find remnants of their love, of Min-Jun’s love. The hairs on the back of his neck prickled with unease, as he discovered that their love had long since faded. There was not even an ounce of love, respect, or affection in Min-Jun’s eyes. Nothing except annoyance. In his haste to rid himself of him, Min-Jun was utterly distraught.

"What am I to do?" Time was of the essence in Takumi's thoughts. "Should I leave quietly, preserve what little dignity I have left, or follow him, beg him, love him? Time ticks by, time ticks by. What am I to do?" Takumi asked himself. As Min-Jun made his way towards the door, his footsteps could be heard.