#hwang bros

[hwangbros]

In-ho is really pushing his luck during this scene because

Jun-ho only has one bullet left

Jun-ho does not know it’s In-ho behind the mask

Jun-ho is cornered, he most likely thinks he'll die here, and it will make a lot more sense for Jun-ho to aim for the head or the heart, instead of the shoulder, and kill In-ho with that one bullet he has left.

yes, Jun-ho ends up only shooting him on his shoulder. but the point is that Jun-ho doesn't know it's his brother when he shoots him. so there's a very real possibility of him ending up killing In-ho here.

imagine the angst, what will happen if Jun-ho actually aims for In-ho's head or In-ho's heart and realizes belatedly it's In-ho he killed.

[lost-in-thoughts03]

Falling for you // Hwang brothers

Previous part:

Summary: Reality constantly confuses you. Who will you choose?

" And maybe you, change your mind."

Warning: Thick tension, heated kiss, confession, beating, arguing, more teasing, In-ho is being In-ho, Jun-ho realized something, broken hearted, pain, rejection, realization, grammatical errors

Love moves in ways we can’t always understand. Sometimes, it sneaks up on you, soft and quiet, like the warmth of the sun on a cold morning. Other times, it crashes into your life like a storm, wrecking everything you thought you knew about yourself.

It doesn’t care about timing. It doesn’t wait for you to be ready. It finds you in the most unexpected places—maybe in the eyes of someone you never thought you'd love or in the touch of a hand you can’t seem to forget.

It can make you feel invincible, like you’ve finally found the missing piece of your soul. But it can also break you, leave you aching for something—or someone—you can’t have.

Love lingers in the spaces between words, in the glances that last too long, in the silences filled with everything left unsaid. It stays even when you try to walk away. It makes a home in your heart, even when it has no right to be there.

And sometimes, love is cruel. It asks you to wait, to sacrifice, to fight battles you never wanted. It can betray you, leave scars so deep you wonder if you'll ever heal. But even then, love never really disappears. It changes, reshapes itself, finds new ways to exist in you.

Maybe that’s the mystery of love—it never truly leaves. No matter how much time passes, no matter how much it hurts, it stays. And sometimes, if you're lucky, it finds its way back to you.

Those three words. Three unexpected words that slipped out of his mouth.

It is what you have been waiting for. You continue to wait for someone to declare their love for you, but it doesn't bring you joy.

“ I love you.”

Instead…

Your body goes stiff. The air is sucked from your lungs.

“ I’ve loved you for a long time.” He continues, his voice steady, controlled—but underneath, you can hear the cracks forming. “ Long before you ever looked at my brother the way you did. Long before you ever ran after him like he was the only one who mattered.”

Your knees go weak.

You open your mouth, but nothing comes out. You’re too stunned, too blindsided by the weight of his words.

“ I was always there.” He presses on, stepping closer, his gaze burning into you. “ I watched you fall for him. I watched you break for him. And I—” His voice falters just slightly, but he keeps going. “ And I hated him for not seeing what he had.”

A shiver runs through you. This is too much. Too intense.

“ This…” Your voice was shaky as you pushed against his chest, creating some distance. “ This is all wrong.”

In-ho frowned, his grip on you loosening slightly. “ Wrong?”

You swallowed, trying to steady your breathing. “ I—I don’t see you that way.” You blurted out, your thoughts still scrambled from the kiss. “ I only see you as an older brother.”

Silence.

For a second, he just stared at you. And then—he laughed.

A low, sarcastic chuckle escaped him as he ran a hand through his hair. “ Older brother?” He repeated, his voice laced with disbelief. “ You’re really going with that?”

You frowned. “ What’s so funny?”

He scoffed, shaking his head. “ Oh, nothing. It’s just… that’s exactly what you said to Jun-ho, isn’t it?” He met your eyes, his gaze sharp, unreadable. “ And look how that turned out.”

Your stomach twisted at the mention of Jun-ho, but you refused to let it show. “ That’s different.”

“ Is it?” His voice was calm, but there was something bitter underneath. “ Tell me, Y/n, did you kiss him like that too?”

Your face burned. “ That’s not the point!”

“ Then what is the point?” He stepped forward, his frustration bubbling to the surface. “ Because from where I’m standing, it sure as hell doesn’t feel like I’m your brother.”

You clenched your jaw, hating how he was turning this on you. “ You’re just being stubborn.”

“ Oh, I’m the stubborn one?” He let out a short, humorless laugh. “ You’re the one running from this. From us.”

“ There is no us, In-ho!” You snapped, frustration boiling over. “ I can’t—we can’t—”

But before you could finish, he grabbed your wrist again, pulling you toward him.

And then he kissed you.

Your lips still burned from the kiss you had just shared, a kiss that had shattered every line you swore you wouldn’t cross. Your breath came in short, uneven gasps, your heart pounding so loudly you were sure he could hear it. But instead of pulling away, In-ho stayed close, his forehead nearly touching yours, his dark eyes searching yours with an intensity that made it impossible to look away.

" Is it still wrong?" His voice was low, hoarse, barely above a whisper.

You didn’t answer. You couldn’t. The words tangled in your throat, trapped between the battle in your heart and the fire in your veins.

" Tell me." His voice was more urgent this time, his fingers tightening around your wrist.

Still, silence.

Frustration flickered across his face, but then, something else—something deeper. Without warning, he pulled you to him, crushing you against his chest as if afraid you’d slip away. And then his lips were on yours again, desperate, raw, consuming. This wasn’t just a kiss; it was a storm—raging, relentless, and devastating.

His hands found your waist, fingers tracing your curves before gripping you with a possessiveness that made your breath hitch. He held you like he was afraid to lose you, like you belonged to him, like he had every right to claim you. And maybe, in this moment, he did.

Your hands found their way to his shoulders, then to his hair, pulling him even closer, deepening the kiss until there was no space left between you. Every touch, every movement, was a plea—one neither of you dared to speak aloud.

You knew this was dangerous. You knew the world outside this moment was still waiting, still ready to tear you apart. But right now, wrapped in his arms, tasting the urgency on his lips, feeling the way he held you like you were the only thing keeping him breathing—you didn’t care.

Maybe it was wrong.

Maybe it always would be.

But right now, in this stolen moment, nothing else mattered.

Your breath hitched, your entire body frozen as his words sank in.

" I don’t care what they say, I’m in love with you."

His voice was barely above a whisper, but it crashed into you like a tidal wave, drowning out every rational thought. His fingertips brushed through your hair, slow and deliberate, like he was memorizing the feeling of you—like he was afraid you’d disappear if he let go.

Your heart pounded so violently that it hurt. Your mind screamed at you to run, to push him away before this became something neither of you could undo. But your body—your traitorous, aching body—leaned into him instead, craving the warmth of his touch, the quiet promise in his gaze.

His eyes burned into yours, filled with something so intense, so raw, it shattered every wall you had left. It wasn’t just passion. It was devotion, desperation, a plea without words.

He had already made his choice. And deep down, you knew you had made yours too.

Slowly, cautiously, his hands traced down to cup your face, his thumb grazing your cheek as if he were touching something fragile, something precious.

" Say something." He pleaded, his voice thick with emotion.

But you couldn’t. Because if you spoke, if you admitted to yourself that you felt it too—that you had always felt it—you would never be able to walk away.

And maybe…maybe you didn’t want to.

“ And I don’t care if you think it’s wrong. I don’t care if I’m older. I don’t care if you only saw me as someone who protected you.” His forehead pressed against yours, his breath warm against your skin. “ Because the truth is, I wanted to protect you. I wanted to be the one you came to. And I still do.”

Your chest tightens. “ In-ho…”

“ Just give me a chance.” He pleads, his voice raw with emotion. “ Give me a chance to prove to you that I’m serious. That this isn’t some mistake. That I’ve always loved you—long before you ever saw me this way.”

Your heart is aching.

You’ve never seen In-ho like this—vulnerable. He’s always been strong, always the one who carried the weight of the world on his shoulders without breaking.

But right now?

Right now, he’s breaking for you.

And you don’t know if you can handle it.

…

Jun-ho stood at the entrance, frozen, his breath caught somewhere between his chest and his throat.

He hadn’t meant to eavesdrop. He hadn’t meant to see this. But now, the sight was burned into his mind—the way In-ho held you so possessively, the way your body molded into his, the way your lips clung to each other like you were both starving. And then, In-ho’s whispered confession—words so raw, so painfully sincere, that Jun-ho felt them like a knife to the gut.

“ I love you.”

" I don’t care what they say, I’m in love with you."

Jun-ho’s hands clenched at his sides, his jaw locking so tightly it ached. He should be happy for you, for both of you. That’s what he told himself. That’s what should make sense.

But then why did it feel like something inside him was cracking apart?

Why was there a burning in his chest, a bitterness on his tongue, a rage curling in his fists?

Why did it feel like he was the one losing something—no, someone—he never even had?

His heart pounded as he forced himself to take a step back, then another, as if putting distance between himself and the scene would somehow lessen the weight pressing down on him. But it didn’t. It only made the emptiness inside him more apparent.

He had always known there was something between you and In-ho, something neither of you spoke about but was always there, simmering beneath the surface. He had ignored it, pushed it aside, convinced himself it wasn’t what it seemed.

But now, there was no more pretending. No more denying.

You and In-ho weren’t just a fleeting moment, a reckless mistake.

You wanted each other.

And Jun-ho… Jun-ho was just standing there, watching it happen, realizing too late that he had lost something he never even got the chance to claim.

Until the sound of the punch landing was deafening.

One second, you were locked in that heated, breathless moment with In-ho—the next, he was stumbling backward, blood trickling from his nose.

You barely had time to react before Jun-ho was on him, fists clenched, voice shaking with fury. “ What the fuck do you think you’re doing to her?!”

Your eyes widened. “ Jun-ho—”

“ Get your damn hands off of her!” He shouted, grabbing In-ho by the neck, ready to swing again.

In-ho, to your horror, only smirked, wiping the blood from his nose with the back of his hand. “ Took you long enough.” He muttered before swinging his fist in return, landing a solid punch on Jun-ho’s jaw.

Jun-ho stumbled but recovered quickly, shoving his brother back with even more force. “ You bastard—”

Before you knew it, they were on each other, fists flying, bodies colliding as they fought like they’d been waiting years for an excuse to do this.

“ Stop it!” You rushed between them, grabbing onto Jun-ho’s arm just as he was about to land another hit, but he barely budged. “ Jun-ho, stop! It’s not what you think!”

“ He was forcing himself on you, wasn’t he?!” He snapped, eyes wild with rage.

“ No! It wasn’t like that!” You insisted, pulling at his sleeve. “ Just listen—”

But before you could say another word, In-ho—still smirking despite the cut on his lip—let out a low chuckle. “ What’s wrong, little brother? Are you jealous?”

Jun-ho lunged at him again, and you barely had time to react before they were crashing into the table, sending plates and cups shattering onto the floor.

You grabbed In-ho’s arm next, trying to shove yourself between them, but he barely glanced at you, too focused on his brother. “ You always act like you’re better than me.” He growled, wiping more blood from his nose.

“ Like you have any right to tell me what to do.”

“ And you always act like you don’t give a damn about anything!” Jun-ho spat, chest heaving. “ But when it comes to her—suddenly, you do?”

You froze.

For a split second, In-ho didn’t respond.

And that silence? It spoke louder than anything.

Jun-ho let out a breathless laugh, shaking his head. “ You’re unbelievable.”

In-ho’s jaw clenched, his smirk faltering just slightly. “ You’re a pain in my ass.”

Jun-ho scoffed, wiping at his bleeding lip. “ Right back at you.”

The tension in the room was suffocating. The anger, the resentment, the years of unspoken things between them—it all boiled over in that moment.

And you?

You were stuck between them, trying—and failing—to stop a war that had already started.

The tension was unbearable. You stood between them, your heart pounding as they glared at each other, both still seething, both still ready to lunge again.

“ In-ho, Jun-ho—enough!” You shouted, your voice cutting through the thick silence.

Neither of them moved. Their breathing was ragged, their fists still clenched. The only sound in the room was the dripping of water from the sink and the faint ringing in your ears from the chaos that had just unfolded.

Jun-ho turned to you first, his expression still stormy. “ Y/n, why the hell are you defending him?” His voice was sharp, filled with disbelief.

You exhaled, frustration boiling inside you. “ Because you’re not listening to me!” You gestured between the two of them. “ You just assumed things and started throwing punches before even asking what was happening!”

Jun-ho’s brows furrowed, but before he could argue, In-ho let out a scoff. “ She’s right, you know.” He muttered, running a hand through his messy hair. “ Typical of you to act first, think later.”

Jun-ho tensed, his jaw clenching. “ Shut up."

You shot In-ho a glare. “ You aren’t helping either!”

He held up his hands in mock surrender, but that damn smirk was still on his face, despite the blood trickling from his lip. “ Hey, he started it.”

“ Oh my god.” You groaned, rubbing your temples. “ You two are impossible.”

Jun-ho was still glaring at his brother, his breathing unsteady, his hands shaking slightly. But then he turned back to you, his expression shifting to something more vulnerable—something almost hurt.

“ Why, then?” He asked quietly, his voice lacking the previous anger. “ Why were you letting him kiss you?”

Your stomach twisted.

In-ho’s smirk faded slightly at the question, but he stayed quiet, watching you carefully.

You swallowed hard, suddenly feeling exposed under both their gazes. “ I—I don’t know.” You admitted, your voice barely above a whisper.

It wasn’t a lie.

Because even you weren’t sure what had led to that kiss. Maybe it was the frustration, maybe it was the heat of the moment, maybe it was something buried deeper inside you that you had been refusing to acknowledge.

But Jun-ho didn’t seem satisfied with that answer. He scoffed, shaking his head. “ Unbelievable.” He muttered, stepping back. “ I thought you were smarter than this.”

His words stung.

Before you could say anything, he turned toward the door. “ I need to clear my head.” He muttered, storming out without another word.

The door slammed behind him, leaving an aching silence in his wake.

You stood there, frozen, the weight of everything crashing down on you.

Then, after a long pause, In-ho exhaled and ran a hand down his face. “ Well.” He said, voice light despite the tension still lingering. “ That went great.”

You turned to him with a glare, shoving him in the chest. “ You’re such an ass.”

He barely moved, only raising an eyebrow at you. “ Me? What did I do?”

“ You taunted him!” You snapped. “ You know how he is! You knew that would make it worse!”

He tilted his head slightly, studying you. “ And what about you?” He asked, voice lower now.

“ Are you mad because of the fight? Or because you’re starting to realize that you liked kissing me?”

Your breath hitched.

You opened your mouth, but no words came out.

Because you didn’t have an answer to that.

And from the knowing look on In-ho’s face, he already knew that.

The room was suffocatingly quiet, the weight of In-ho’s words pressing down on you like a boulder.

Your heart was still racing, your skin still tingling from the kiss—the fight—everything. And now, with Jun-ho gone and only In-ho standing in front of you, watching you with that unreadable expression, you felt more exposed than ever.

You swallowed hard. “ You’re full of yourself.”

He huffed a small, amused breath, his lip still slightly swollen from the punch. “ Am I?”

You crossed your arms, trying to regain some control over this situation. “ That was a mistake.”

In-ho took a step closer. Not enough to touch you, but enough that you could feel his presence. His warmth. His intensity.

“ Funny,” He murmured, his gaze locked onto yours. “ Didn’t feel like a mistake to me.”

Your stomach twisted. “ That’s because you don’t take anything seriously.”

His smirk faded slightly. “ And you take everything too seriously.”

You turned away, frustration bubbling in your chest. “ This isn’t about me, In-ho.”

He exhaled sharply, shaking his head. “ It never is, is it?”

You froze.

His voice wasn’t teasing anymore. It wasn’t smug or taunting—it was tired.

When you looked back at him, there was something in his eyes that sent a strange pang through your chest. Something vulnerable.

Something real.

For the first time since this whole mess started, he looked…wounded.

“ You always run.” He muttered, more to himself than to you. “ Always pretending like none of this means anything.” He let out a short, humorless laugh. “ But when it’s Jun-ho, you don’t hesitate, do you?”

You flinched, his words cutting deeper than you wanted to admit.

“ In-ho, it’s not—”

He shook his head, stepping back before you could even try to explain. “ Forget it.” His voice was quiet now. Resigned.

You hated the way that made your chest ache.

He licked his split lip, his usual smirk forced and empty. “ You should go after him.” He muttered. “ That’s what you always do, right?”

Your throat tightened. “ In-ho—”

But he didn’t wait for you to finish.

He just turned and walked away, leaving you standing there in the wreckage of what just happened, your heart pounding with an answer you still weren’t ready to face.

You found Jun-ho outside In-ho’s house, his back turned to you as he kicked at the gravel on the pavement. His posture was tense, his hands shoved deep into his pockets, shoulders rising and falling with heavy breaths.

You hesitated for a moment before stepping closer. “ Jun-ho.”

He didn’t turn around right away. Instead, he let out a frustrated sigh, kicking another rock before finally glancing at you. His jaw was clenched, his expression unreadable.

“ What are you doing here?” You asked cautiously.

Jun-ho scoffed, running a hand through his hair. “ I came to say sorry to my asshole brother.” He muttered, voice laced with irritation.

“ But then I walked in on that and—” He exhaled sharply, shaking his head. “ Guess I changed my mind.”

You bit your lip, shifting uncomfortably. “ Jun-ho, it wasn’t—”

“ You kissed him.” He cut in, his voice quieter now, but still firm.

Your stomach twisted. “ I—”

He turned fully toward you now, searching your face for something—anything—that would make this make sense. “ Tell me, Y/n.” He said, voice low, almost pleading.

“ Was it just him? Or did you kiss him back?”

You swallowed, the memory of In-ho’s lips on yours flashing through your mind—the way you had melted into him, the way you hadn’t pulled away.

You looked down. “ I…didn’t mean to.”

Jun-ho let out a bitter laugh. “ Didn’t mean to?”

“ It was just—it was just the moment, okay?” You said quickly, feeling your own frustration rising. “ I got carried away. It didn’t mean anything.”

“ Didn’t mean anything.” He repeated, his tone unreadable.

You sighed, rubbing your temples. “ Jun-ho, it was a mistake.”

He was quiet for a long time before he finally spoke again. “ You don’t know him like I do.”

You looked up, confused. “ What?”

“ My brother.” Jun-ho muttered, crossing his arms.

“ He’s not some good guy, Y/n. He’s reckless. He doesn’t care who gets hurt in the process of getting what he wants.” His voice hardened. “ And he will hurt you.”

Your brows furrowed. “ Jun-ho, that’s not fair.”

He scoffed. “ Not fair? You think I don’t see what’s happening? I don’t know what his deal is with you, but I do know one thing—he’s dangerous.”

You frowned, crossing your arms. “ You’re acting like he’s some kind of criminal.”

He shook his head. “ Maybe not. But trust me, Y/n, you don’t want to get involved with him.”

A strange unease settled in your chest.

Jun-ho’s anger wasn’t just about the kiss.

It was something more.

And you weren’t sure you wanted to know what.

You stared at Jun-ho, frustration bubbling up inside you as his words sank in. “ Why are you being like this?” you demanded, crossing your arms tightly over your chest.

“ You keep acting like you’re trying to protect me, but it's just—” Your voice wavered, and you hated it. “ It just makes everything worse.”

Jun-ho’s expression shifted, softening for a split second before he forced it back into that same hardened mask. “ I’m trying to look out for you.” He said evenly. “ That’s all.”

“ Why?” You shot back, feeling your throat tighten. “ Why do you even care so much? It’s not like I—I mean, you don’t even…”

You trailed off, the words sticking in your throat.

You don’t even like me.

Jun-ho looked away, kicking at the ground again, and for a moment you swore you saw a flicker of something—regret, sadness, guilt—but he buried it just as quickly. “ You’re important to me.” He muttered. “ But not like that.”

Your heart twisted painfully. “ Then why do you keep acting like—like you—”

“ Because you’re family.” He cut in, his voice firm. “ You were always part of my life, Y/n. You’re the closest thing I have to—” He swallowed, frustration and something else bleeding into his voice.

“ I don’t want to see you get hurt. Not by him.”

Your lips parted, a bitter laugh slipping out. “ You think you haven’t already hurt me?”

He stiffened.

“ All those times.” You went on, bitterness rising with every word, “ That you pushed me away, that you treated me like I was just some responsibility—you think that didn’t mess me up? That I didn’t—”

“ Y/n.” He warned, his tone flat, but you weren’t done.

“ You don’t get to act like this.” You snapped, your voice trembling as you fought back the sting of tears. “ Like you’re just some protective older brother who doesn’t know what’s going on—who doesn’t see what this is doing to me!”

Jun-ho’s fists clenched at his sides. “ You’re twisting this.”

“ No.” You said, stepping closer, refusing to back down. “ You are. You keep treating me like some little sister, and it’s bullshit.”

“ It’s not—” He broke off, looking away, and you saw the muscles in his jaw tighten. “ You’re making this more complicated than it has to be.”

“ Am I?” You shot back, your heart pounding. “ Or are you just too much of a coward to admit that you feel something too?”

The silence was deafening.

Jun-ho stared at you, his expression blank, but you could see the storm raging behind his eyes—the way he flinched, like you’d just hit him where it hurt most.

“ I don’t.” He said finally, and the emptiness in his voice cut deeper than anything else. “ Not the way you want me to.”

Your chest heaved, but you refused to let yourself fall apart in front of him. “ Fine.” You said, barely recognizing your own voice.

“ If that’s how you feel, then stop trying to control my life. I don’t need you to protect me. I don’t need you to save me from In-ho or anyone else.”

“Y/n—”

“ No.” You snapped, backing away. “ I’m done. If I get hurt, that’s on me. Not you.”

He looked like he wanted to say something more, but the words never came.

And you didn’t wait.

You turned on your heel, walking back toward the house, your chest aching, but you refused to stop, refused to give Jun-ho the satisfaction of seeing just how deeply he’d broken you.

You’d given him enough of yourself.

It was time to stop letting him rip you apart.

You barely made it a few steps before Jun-ho’s voice rang out behind you, sharp and filled with something raw.

“ I like someone else, Y/n!”

Your entire body froze.

His words echoed in your head, repeating over and over again, until they didn’t even sound real anymore.

Slowly, you turned around, your heart hammering in your chest. “ What?”

Jun-ho ran a hand through his hair, frustration evident on his face. “ I’m courting someone. I love her.”

The world tilted under your feet.

He didn’t stop there.

“ She’s kind, she’s patient—she actually listens instead of picking fights with me all the damn time,” he went on, his voice laced with irritation, like he had been holding this in for far too long.

“ She doesn’t make things complicated. She just understands me.”

Every single word was a dagger to your heart.

You felt your breath hitch, your hands curling into fists at your sides. “ Why—why are you telling me this?” You asked, your voice barely above a whisper.

Jun-ho scoffed. “ Because you keep acting like there’s something here when there isn’t.”

You swallowed against the lump in your throat, trying to keep yourself together, trying not to show just how much his words were destroying you.

“ You didn’t have to say it like that.” You mumbled, your voice trembling despite your best efforts.

Jun-ho sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “ I don’t want to keep hurting you, Y/n. But you’re not her. And you never will be.”

Your entire world shattered.

It was one thing to suspect it. One thing to wonder if Jun-ho had ever seen you as more than just a sister figure.

But to hear it out loud?

To hear him describe someone else—someone he loved—so effortlessly, so casually, as if it didn’t crush every last bit of hope you had clung to?

It was unbearable.

You let out a hollow laugh, shaking your head as you blinked rapidly, forcing back the sting in your eyes. “ Wow.” You muttered, wrapping your arms around yourself. “ Okay.”

Jun-ho’s expression faltered slightly, like he realized just how deeply he had cut you. “ Y/n—”

“ No.” You said quickly, holding up a hand. “ I get it. I really do.”

You turned away before he could see the tears forming. “ Good luck with her.” You said, your voice barely steady.

And then you walked back inside, slamming the door behind you before your walls could crumble completely.

The moment you stepped inside, you pressed your back against the door, shutting your eyes tightly as you let out a shaky breath.

Your chest felt hollow. Your heart pounded painfully against your ribs.

You’re not her. And you never will be.

Jun-ho’s words kept replaying in your head, over and over again, like a cruel mantra you couldn’t escape.

You wanted to scream. To cry. To erase whatever part of you still cared about him after everything.

But before you could completely break down, a voice pulled you from your spiral.

“ Tough conversation?”

Your eyes snapped open to see In-ho standing a few feet away, leaning casually against the counter with his arms crossed. His lip was still swollen from the punch, but there was no anger in his expression—just something unreadable, something almost knowing.

You swallowed hard, straightening. “ I don’t want to talk about it.”

In-ho hummed, tilting his head as he studied you. “ You sure? You look like you’re about to cry.”

“ I said I don’t want to talk about it.” You snapped, harsher than you intended.

Instead of looking offended, In-ho just let out a quiet chuckle. “ So that's bad, huh?”

You clenched your jaw, glaring at him. “ Why are you even still here?”

He raised a brow. “ My house.”

You let out a frustrated sigh, running a hand through your hair. “ Right. Of course.”

For a moment, neither of you spoke. The weight of the conversation with Jun-ho still hung heavy in the air, suffocating.

Then, In-ho took a step closer, his voice softer than before. “ So…what did my dear little brother say to break your heart this time?”

Your breath hitched, your eyes flickering up to meet him.

You wanted to lie. To pretend that Jun-ho’s words hadn’t just shattered you into a thousand pieces.

But something in In-ho’s gaze made it impossible.

So instead, you whispered, “ He loves someone else.”

In-ho’s smirk faded. His eyes darkened slightly, his jaw tightening just the smallest bit.

“ Of course he does.” He muttered under his breath.

You frowned. “ What’s that supposed to mean?”

He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he took another step closer, so close that you could feel his warmth.

Then, with a slow exhale, he said, “ It means Jun-ho is an idiot.”

You blinked. “ Excuse me?”

In-ho’s gaze locked onto yours, and for the first time, there was no teasing, no smugness—just quiet certainty.

“ He doesn’t see what’s right in front of him.” He said simply. “ He never has.”

Your heart skipped a beat.

You didn’t know what to say to that. Didn’t know if you wanted to say anything at all.

Because for the first time since you walked through that door, your mind wasn’t stuck on Jun-ho.

It was stuck on In-ho.

You stared at In-ho, his words settling deep into your chest, stirring something you weren’t ready to acknowledge.

He doesn’t see what’s right in front of him.

There was something about the way In-ho said it—so certain, so matter-of-fact—that made your breath hitch.

You swallowed hard, shaking your head. “ It doesn’t matter.”

In-ho raised a brow. “ Doesn’t it?”

You let out a bitter laugh, crossing your arms. “ I don’t know what you’re trying to get at, but I’m done talking about Jun-ho.”

“ Good.” In-ho said smoothly. “ I’m sick of talking about him too.”

You glanced at him warily. “ Then why do I feel like you’re about to say something annoying?”

He smirked. “ Because I usually do.”

You rolled your eyes, but before you could shoot back a response, he took another step closer.

Your breath caught.

There was something different about the way he was looking at you now. No teasing glint in his eye. No smug amusement.

Just…intent.

“ You deserve better.” He said suddenly.

Your heart skipped a beat. “ What?”

“ You heard me.” He tilted his head slightly, studying your face like he was trying to memorize it.

“ You deserve someone who actually sees you, Y/n.”

You opened your mouth, but no words came out.

Because the way he said it—so effortlessly, like it was just an undeniable truth—made your chest tighten in a way you weren’t prepared for.

You swallowed. “ And what, you think that’s you?”

A slow smirk tugged at his lips, but his eyes remained serious. “ Maybe.”

You scoffed, trying to ignore the way your pulse was racing. “ I just had my heart broken minutes ago, In-ho.”

“ I know.” He murmured. “ That’s why I’m not doing anything about it.”

You frowned. “ Then what are you doing?”

He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to something almost too soft.

“ Waiting.”

Your stomach flipped.

He didn’t move closer. Didn’t push any further. He just held your gaze, waiting for you to process his words, letting them sink in.

And for the first time, you weren’t sure if it was Jun-ho or In-ho who was making your head spin.

Gosh...that was intense.

If you are in the situation of Y/n, who will you going to choose?

Team In-ho or Team Jun-ho?

N/A: Y/n and Jun-ho met when they were 16. In-ho, on the other hand, began to like her when she reached her legal age—around the time Y/n was in her twenties. (I need to clarify this to avoid misunderstandings between the characters)

Y/n and Jun-ho's age right now: 23 (College students)

In-ho's age right now: 30 (I need to lower down his age to make it more accurate)

Tags: @maah-sama @storytellers-randomshortstorys @colorwastaken @frontwomann @roach457855688568876 @coruja12345

See u in part 8. 😝

[harmonyneverends]

Happy World Kidney Day to Hwang In-ho and Hwang Jun-ho !!

May the kidneys you both share to each other strengthen your bond forever.

I just found out that today 13th of March is World Kidney Day and I immediately think about the Hwang brothers 🥺🥺

[everwhovian]

what remains. | Hwang brothers

(Warning: squid game typical violence, background character death)

Part 1 | next part | masterlist

Part 25: Red Light, Green Light

The moment the first body hit the ground, panic erupted.

Screams. Sudden movement. More bodies dropping in an instant. The sharp, mechanical voice of the doll rang through the open field.

Red Light.

Everything stopped.

Except for the ones who didn’t.

More gunfire.

More bodies.

Blood seeped into the dirt, pooling beneath limbs that had barely taken a step before they were cut down.

In-ho didn’t flinch.

He couldn’t.

The mechanics were simple. Stop when the doll turned, move when it didn’t. A childhood game turned into a death sentence.

Green Light.

He moved. Steady. Calculated. Every footstep placed with precision.

Around him, others rushed, stumbled, fought against their own instincts, their own fear. The players ahead of him blurred into nothing but bodies, obstacles, numbers waiting to be erased.

Then –

A sharp gasp.

A shuffle of feet.

Someone was falling.

Instinct moved before thought.

In-ho lunged. His hand snapped out, fingers clamping onto fabric, gripping hard, yanking back with sharp force. The weight of the other player jerked against him, unsteady, nearly dragging him forward too. But In-ho held firm. Braced his legs. Dug his heels in.

For a moment, it was a struggle. The player’s balance was already gone, his body pitching forward, momentum carrying him toward the ground. A single second, and he’d hit the dirt – exposed, vulnerable. Dead.

So In-ho didn’t just pull – he caught him. A hard, quick tug backward, shifting the weight into him, forcing him upright before his knees could buckle.

Red Light

They froze.

The player was half-leaning into him now, barely standing on his own. His grip clenched onto In-ho’s sleeve, trembling. Short, sharp breaths. A shuddering inhale.

The doll’s head clicked. The eyes scanned. Searching.

Not them.

Not this time.

The moment stretched – too long, too tight, suffocating. In-ho could feel the the player shaking against him, the way his entire body was still locked in that near-fall. Could feel the grip knotted into his sleeve, desperate, like letting go meant collapsing.

When the countdown resumed, the grip on his sleeve was still trembling.

He looked down.

A boy – no, not a boy, but young enough that In-ho’s stomach twisted – stared up at him, breathless, wide-eyed, shaking. He barely looked old enough to be in his twenties, with sharp angles and too-thin limbs, dark eyes lined with exhaustion.

And on his chest –

062.

“…You –” The kid swallowed, words breathless, barely audible. “You – You pulled me back.”

In-ho didn’t answer.

Didn’t acknowledge the way the kid was still gripping his sleeve like a lifeline, like he hadn’t processed that he was still alive.

Didn’t acknowledge the way the kid reminded him of someone else.

The doll’s voice rang out. The game wasn’t over.

So he didn’t waste time with words.

In-ho just pulled his arm free. Didn’t look at the kid. Didn’t acknowledge the way he nearly swayed, like he wasn’t sure if he could stand on his own yet.

He kept moving.

When the game ended, when the screams faded, when the bodies were dragged away and silence settled over the remaining players, In-ho expected 062 to disappear. To stick with the others, to run to the safety of a crowd.

But later that night, In-ho sat on his cot, his back against the cold metal bars, staring at the ceiling. He wasn’t sleeping. He hadn’t even tried. It wasn’t that he wasn’t tired – he was. Bone-deep, inescapably tired. But that kind of exhaustion didn’t lend itself to rest. It just settled into his body, into his mind, into the spaces behind his ribs where something unnamed had started to root itself.

Survival. That was all that mattered.

A shadow moved in the corner of his vision. Someone hesitated near his cot. Too close.

His muscles tensed, already preparing for a fight.

“Hey.” A quiet voice. A little uncertain, but not afraid.

In-ho turned his head.

062 stood there, hands in his pockets, shifting on his feet like he wasn’t sure if he should be here. Not much younger than Jun-ho.

The resemblance wasn’t exact, but it was close enough to make something tighten in In-ho’s chest. The way he held himself, the way he looked at him, head tilted like he was sizing him up, trying to decide whether or not he was worth trusting.

The kid shifted, awkward, like he wasn’t sure if he was allowed to be here. Like he wasn’t sure if he should be talking to him at all.

Then, hesitantly, “…Thanks. For earlier.”

In-ho said nothing.

The kid exhaled. “Guess you’re not much of a talker, huh?”

Still nothing.

But 062 didn’t leave.

Instead, he dropped onto the empty bunk across from him, leaning forward, arms braced against his knees.

“I’m Oh Young-il,” he said, voice still quiet, still uncertain. “Since we’re gonna be here a while, I figured I should at least tell you my name.”

Something in In-ho’s stomach twisted.

His fingers curled slightly.

He didn’t want to know that. Didn’t want to hear it. Didn’t want to see anything in 062 beyond what was printed on his uniform.

062.

A number.

Not a name.

Not a story.

Not someone he had saved.

But 062 just kept talking, filling the silence between them, his words easy, careless, like he wasn’t sitting in a room full of the dead and the dying. Like he didn’t understand how this would end.

Eventually, the kid sighed, shaking his head. “Alright, alright. I get it. I’ll stop bothering you.”

He stood, stretching, before taking a step back toward his own bunk.

Then – hesitation.

And, with a smirk, almost teasing – “For the record… if you don’t wanna call me Young-il, that’s fine.”

In-ho stared at him, unreadable. Then, slowly, his gaze flicked downward. To the number. The only thing that mattered.

“Go to sleep, 062.”

The kid blinked. Then, after a moment, he huffed a soft laugh. Shook his head.

“Alright, alright,” he muttered, walking off, slipping into the dark, into the spaces between bunks where other players tried to disappear.

In-ho didn’t watch him go.

Didn’t acknowledge the way his throat felt tight.

Didn’t acknowledge the way something in his chest felt heavier than before.

Instead, he turned his gaze back to the ceiling

❛ ━━━━━━･❪ ○△□ ❫ ･━━━━━━ ❜

Part 1 | next part | masterlist

[hwang-inhos-fish]

Re: the dynamics of 457 and the hwang brothers, do you have any intention of either writing a fic exploring that or exploring it in either white mask or Superposition? I'd love to hear more about your thoughts on the dynamic of the three of them!

Actually, yes! Jun-ho features heavily in Superposition, in both dimensions. In Seoul 132 he's a P.I. with In-ho, as we've learned, so they'll be working together throughout the fic. And in The Middle Of the Fucking Ocean 456, OG!Jun-ho is still sailing around like "WHERE'S THIS FUCKING ISLAND" and... I mean, In-ho 132 already thinks of his brother as his right-hand-guy, and they're gonna need away off that island... like... a boat... 🤷🏻

And Jun-ho has a part in White Mask as well, though not as large.

I actually just jotted down the bare bones for a scene later in White Mask, in their Pink Motel era (lil tiny spoilers 👀), where 457 runs into In-ho's mom and brother while out and about in Seoul, as a total coincidence, and his mom sees him holding hands with Gi-hun and makes several nearly-accurate deductions and just breaks down crying like "Oh, my son! You stayed away for TEN YEARS because you thought I wouldn't accept you being GAY??" And then as everyone else is kind of agape like how do we handle this she just goes to In-ho and gives him a big hug and then turns to Gi-hun and gives him a big hug and is like "If my son loves you so do I, love is love, as long as the naughty stuff stays behind closed doors" and Jun-ho is like "MOM" and In-ho is absolutely dying inside for like ten different reasons lol.

But anyway! Yes! Jun-ho will be around.

[ikjun]

Hyung. Why?

SQUID GAME (2021) 1.08 - THE FRONTMAN

[maryonaccross]

AU where Inho and Gihun meet and eventually start dating when they are in their mid twenties and Gihun and little Junho (who's about 8) get up to all kinds of shenanigans

Think this scene from season 1

I just love Gihun with kids, imagine him babysitting

[seamayweed]

+ Bonus:

HWANG JUN HO & HWANG IN HO + being murder bros SQUID GAME — 1.03 // 2.06 & 1.05

[ourwhisperingtorment]

Reminder that this was how Junho looked when he found out the frontman was his brother.

And this was how Inho looked after he shot his little brother.

Now, imagine their reunion in season 3.

[yellowwwcrayon]

Imagine if it was the Salesman that Inho tasked to try and distract Junho/keep him from investigating the games instead of the boat captain, and the Salesman does too good of a job (they hook up repeatedly and then proceeds to actually get into a relationship).

Inho, who's keeping tabs on his brother's social media accounts across all platforms, sees one day that Junho posts a photo of them together with the caption "one year anniversary with this weirdo ❤️" and flips the fuck out, because that was not the deal.

And that ironically is what gets Inho to finally show up in his full Frontman getup, kidnap Junho in that limo, and tell his baby bro very very seriously that he has to break up with his boyfriend because that man is a freak. Stranger danger.

(Salesman probably fake cries to Junho about how Inho threatened him and the Hwang bros get into a shouting match, and Junho gets to say the classic rebellious teenage girl line of "you don't get to tell me what to do, you're not my dad!" and Inho goes quiet and cries a little on the inside.)

Junho: Mission Accomplished. I got laid and got my brother to come crawling back. Two birds with one stone. 🤪

[antiguagealach]

I´m sure that when Dae-ho talks about his sisters, In-ho is thinking about his baby brother. JUST LOOK HIS FACE 😭😭

[hwangbros]

canon divergence where Jun-ho sneaked into the island and broke into In-ho’s personal quarters like he did in season 1 (where he broke into the Front Man’s room), not knowing the Front Man was his own brother. then he saw a photo on the Front Man’s desk, and at first he paid it no mind, until he did a double take and realized and the photo the Front Man had framed — in a sentimental, loving manner — on his desk was Jun-ho’s own photo smiling at the camera. and it’s the photo In-ho took.

Jun-ho: “what the actual fuck?”

[seodongjae]

he's taking and leaving, but i keep believing, i'm staying believing— i can't believe that he's gone, he'll come 'round soon, i know.

오징어 게임 / SQUID GAME (2021-) dir. Hwang Dong-hyuk

[bebx]

unpopular opinion (or not?) but I think the reason Jun-ho didn’t tell Gi-hun that the Front Man was his brother wasn’t because Jun-ho wanted Gi-hun to trust him and agree to work with him.

Jun-ho purposefully kept his brother’s name and face a secret from Gi-hun because he knew Gi-hun wanted to kill his brother, and he’d be making it easier for Gi-hun to achieve that if he told Gi-hun who the Front Man was and what he looked like. and despite what In-ho did, Jun-ho still loves and cares about him. and that’s the real reason he kept the Front Man’s identity a secret from Gi-hun AND from his fellow police officers.

Jun-ho, while wanting and trying to stop In-ho, doesn’t want In-ho dead. he’s still protecting his brother. in this essay I will —

[everwhovian]

Season 3 hwang brothers predictions?

Ohhhhhhh! Anon, this can go either way.... for my own sanity, I really hope they get a happy ending. Jun-ho manages to get to In-ho, In-ho turns against the games, and they're reunited and just finally happy again!

Realistic predictions, though?

I fear one or both will die... I don't think they will get a happy ending, definitely more hurt/no comfort...

So far they're mirror images of each other (I actually read this somewhere here on Tumblr but I don't remember whose blog it was)

In-ho gave his brother a kidney - they both share the scar

Jun-ho shot In-ho, In-ho shot Jun-ho - they both share a scar

So... what if only one of them dies? First of all it will BREAK me! Just imagine In-ho standing over Jun-ho's body, falling to his knees cause that's his baby brother, then turning against the games, sacrificing himself now that he has NOTHING left

Okay, in this version, they both die... but... honestly? It would work...

The first human emotions from the front man we saw in s1 was after he had to shoot Jun-ho. That was the breaking point.

If Jun-ho dies first... In-ho loses his last connection to humanity!! What if he goes rogue, taking down as many people as possible in like a suicidal mission against the games

So... it would be fitting to let it all end with Jun-ho, too.

But if In-ho dies... especially before Jun-ho and In-ho are reunited and get a chance to TALK... I don't wanna witness Jun-ho's guilt, desperation, etc... cause his whole arc was to find and save his brother

Everything about them is just so TRAGIC

Give them a happy ending... PLEASE

[hwang-inhos-fish]

Jun-ho really is that bitch, huh?

Looking for his elusive big bro off the clock, happens to see a business card in his room of the same type some random drunk guy in the police station had.

Casually lies to get "drunk guy's" (Gi-hun's) address.

Follows said guy until he's picked up in some weird car, then follows the car to a ferry. Ferry is FULL of identical cars of unconscious people?? Well that's weird, better sneak on, play dead and MURDER SOMEONE HOLY DAMN OKAY JUN-HO (??)

Steals worker's clothes. Worker goes into the ocean. Bye now. You just got murked by a police officer, what else is new.

Staff uniform acquired. Time to be a full-time employee for however long it takes to locate his bro on this whole island. How hard can it be?

Everyone else is going to their rooms for the night? Hmm, better check his pockets. Oh, a number? Sure, this is his bedroom now.

Meanwhile he's just COMPLETELY deaf and blind to the RANCID vibes being radiated his way by the other organ pinks, it's so fuckin funny they're like BRO and he's just (mii theme)

Takes notes on his phone under the covers at night like a child staying up late to play the game boy.

Goes along with whatever the hell these other pink guys are doing. Oh, they're harvesting organs. Oh, they harvested his brother's organs. Maybe more murder? He considers more murder.

Kidneyless corpse was not bro.

He does some more murder anyway because these guys suck ass.

Continue search for bro.

Casually enter Front Man's personal office to snoop, play hide and seek with bro (but it's a secret and he won't know until later.)

What's this, a VIP area? "Your shift is over," he tells the first man of his approximate stature he finds.

Salad fork over face, phone in the sleeve, now he's a waiter.

Gross old rich guy wants to get lucky? Okay sure, let's just head on over to the porno room and POINT GUN AT VIP HEAD HAHA HOW THE TURNTABLES.

Hide and seek again.

Scuba dive escape. (Okay?? Have you done this before?? This is just routine to you?)

Run around the island with phone above head trying to send seven videos at once (bro trusted that SK internet speeds a lil too much).

Uh-oh, pink guys found you.

Front Man is bro!

Reject bro.

Fall off cliff.

Best character tbh. He's the most competent AND the most chaotic one and that's my favorite combo.