Vol 5 Ch 4

A room adorned with movie posters. Beige curtains swaying in the wind. A bookshelf packed with books, some with fingerprints on them. … And a boy.

 

Inseop blinked blankly. Unable to distinguish between dream and reality, he remained like that for a while.

 

“Are you awake?”

 

The boy, or rather the man who had been leaning against the window sill reading a book, closed it and asked.

 

“…Why… am I here….”

 

Instead of answering, Wooyeon sat by the bedside and brushed Inseop’s hair away. It was a tender touch.

 

“I brought you here because you fainted. Don’t you remember?”

 

Only then did Inseop realize the situation he was in.

 

“You should eat something.”

 

“I don’t feel like it.”

 

“Have some water at least.”

 

“It’s fine.”

 

“Inseop.”

 

Wooyeon called him with a dry voice. The smile faded from his face.

 

“You’re going to get in big trouble if you keep this up.”

 

“Not eating, not sleeping.”

 

“…I’m sorry.”

 

Wooyeon lightly tapped Inseop’s round nose with his finger.

 

“Why apologize for something you shouldn’t be sorry about.”

 

“…Really, I’m sorry.”

 

Inseop apologized in a mumble, unable to meet Wooyeon’s eyes.

 

“If you tell me where the kitchen is, I’ll bring you something to eat from the fridge.”

 

“No, I’ll go. It’s okay.”

 

Inseop tried to get up. Wooyeon gently laid him back down on the bed.

 

“Don’t make one more thing to apologize for.”

 

When Inseop was in pain, he would do as Wooyeon said in any situation. That was their promise to each other.

 

“…It’s in the left corridor from the living room. You’ll see it right away.”

 

“Is there anything you particularly want to eat?”

 

Inseop smiled and nodded.

 

“Then I’ll bring something suitable.”

 

Wooyeon kissed Inseop’s forehead and closed the door, disappearing. Left alone, Inseop stared blankly at the ceiling. Having spent a long time lying in bed during his childhood, it was a very familiar sight.

 

[Peter. My beloved baby.]

 

A gentle voice echoed in his ears. The sadness he had held back rushed in. It felt like plunging his throat into hot water. His eyes swelled up hotly. Inseop quickly wiped his eyes with the back of his hand.

 

“I brought some drinks and fruits.”

 

Wooyeon came in with a tray of food. Inseop quickly sat up.

 

“Please eat a little.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

When his fever rose, Inseop particularly struggled with food. He could only manage to eat as much as a handful of fruits that weren’t too burdensome.

 

Wooyeon pulled a chair and sat next to the bed, watching Inseop eat.

 

“…Would you like some?”

 

Inseop offered.

 

“Sure.”

 

Wooyeon replied as he took a sip.

 

Watching Inseop offer half of the orange, Wooyeon suppressed a laugh. Perhaps because his mouth was small, Inseop’s upper lip tended to get dirty when eating. Finding it adorable, Wooyeon deliberately watched him eat, and each time, Inseop would split the food he was eating and offer it to him.

 

“Ah.”

 

Wooyeon shamelessly opened his mouth. Inseop hesitated, then put a piece of orange into Wooyeon’s mouth.

 

“Would you like more?”

 

Inseop asked, smiling. Wooyeon nodded with a smile. Inseop slowly ate the orange and cheese pieces and drank some water.

 

“Can’t you eat anymore?”

 

“…No.”

 

When his fever rose, Inseop always coughed if he ate too much. Wooyeon gently removed the tray and propped up a pillow behind Inseop’s back.

 

“Shall I read you a book?”

 

“I’m okay.”

 

“Then, what can I do for you?”

 

Wooyeon muttered, mixing a sigh. Inseop raised his head and met the eyes of the man who was genuinely worried about him.

 

Inseop took Wooyeon’s hand and brought it to his cheek. The large, ample hand gently squeezed Inseop’s cheek.

 

“…It’s the first time anyone besides Jenny has come into this room.”

 

Although Wooyeon had visited the house a few times before, this was the first time he had entered Inseop’s room.

 

“So it feels strange.”

 

“Did you feel happy when Jenny came in?”

 

“…Wooyeon.”

 

“I’m just kidding.”

 

Wooyeon sat up and pulled Inseop into a hug from behind, resting his chin on Inseop’s shoulder.

 

“It’s a room that’s just like you, Inseop.”

 

Wooyeon said slowly as he looked around Inseop’s room. Books lined the shelves, movie posters adorned the walls, and a neatly arranged desk with photos on top. It was a room that showcased Inseop, or rather young Peter, entirely.

 

“It looks like you’ve done a lot of thinking here?”

 

At the teasing question, Inseop’s face turned red instantly.

 

“Did you sit there and write letters to me?”

 

“…”

 

Inseop’s face, as well as his ears and neck, gradually turned red.

 

“Did you have any naughty thoughts?”

 

“Ah, no, I didn’t.”

 

Inseop’s eyes widened, and he looked back, shouting. Wooyeon let out a short laugh.

 

“If you look so serious, it makes me a bit upset.”

 

“I didn’t. That kind of… I didn’t do it.”

 

“How can you not have naughty thoughts at that age?”

 

Though Wooyeon persistently teased Inseop, who kept steadfastly denying, Inseop pushed his arm away. Wooyeon pulled him closer, burying his face in Inseop’s neck.

 

“If we had met back then, I would have had many naughty thoughts.”

 

Inseop chuckled quietly. Wooyeon often asked when, where, and how they met and what happened. Inseop would always vaguely say they just happened to run into each other, laughing it off. While Wooyeon felt sorry for not remembering even when he spoke, he also had a desire to quietly cherish those moments he remembered alone.

 

“Your eyes are really swollen.”

 

Wooyeon lightly traced his thumb over Inseop’s swollen eyelids.

 

“You didn’t sleep yesterday because of this?”

 

“Huh?”

 

“This. The greeting card.”

 

Wooyeon took out a piece of stationery from Inseop’s pocket.

 

“How did you know?”

 

Inseop asked, surprised. Wooyeon handed the paper to Inseop.

 

“I just had a feeling.”

 

While watching from behind, Inseop repeatedly put his hand in and out of his pocket. It meant he had something important in there. Since he had already given the ring to propose to him long ago, there must have been something else important inside. Since it was a farewell message to his grandmother, it would be a significant memory.

 

Inseop lightly touched the neatly folded corner of the paper and chuckled softly.

 

“I worked hard on it but couldn’t read it to her. …Couldn’t even say goodbye until the end…”

 

Tears welled up in Inseop’s eyes again. Wooyeon clicked his tongue, pulling Inseop into a tight hug.

 

“You cried for no reason bringing it up.”

 

“No, it’s okay.”

 

Wooyeon wiped Inseop’s cheeks with his palm.

 

“Read it. I’ll listen.”

 

“No, it’s okay. Let’s just…”

 

“It was what you wanted to say today, right? Then read it today.”

 

Wooyeon urged Inseop quickly. Inseop hesitated but unfolded the paper. Tears stains were visible on the densely written words. Thinking about how Inseop must have stayed up all night writing this, Wooyeon felt a burning churn in his gut.

 

“My grandmother, Emma, is the bravest and sweetest person in the world…”

 

After reading up to that point, Inseop folded the paper.Then he unfolded the paper again and continued speaking.

 

“Both families went crazy when my grandmother said she was marrying my grandfather.”

 

Talking about love stories of deceased people was so damn boring and cliché. Nevertheless, Wooyeon asked, unfazed, “Why?”

 

“Back in those days, it was hard for both families to accept a marriage between an Asian and a Westerner.”

 

“That’s true.”

 

Even if it wasn’t recent, racial discrimination was a deeply ingrained repertoire. Inseop’s maternal grandmother in the photo had blonde hair and blue eyes. It was easy to imagine how difficult it must have been for her to marry an Asian man decades ago.

 

“My grandmother convinced both families. My grandfather’s mother, so… “

 

“Maternal great-grandmother.”

 

“Oh, right. Maternal great-grandmother.”

 

Inseop followed Wooyeon’s words and chuckled softly. Wooyeon silently stared at Inseop, finding his slightly protruding canine teeth adorable.

 

“At first, she was strongly against it, but she changed her mind after meeting my grandmother in person. That’s what my grandmother said. She negotiated in Korean. Haha. They became so close, like friends. It’s amazing, isn’t it?”

 

“It is.”

 

Wooyeon answered while brushing Inseop’s tousled hair.

 

“My grandfather and grandmother, who were doctors, dedicated their lives to medical service. They met in Africa. It sounds like a movie, doesn’t it?”

 

“They both seem like wonderful people.”

 

“They also did medical missions in Korea. That’s how my path crossed with theirs, and that’s how I ended up here.”

 

“That’s fortunate.”

 

Today, it was the only sincere remark in their exchange.

 

“My grandmother was truly a good person. Kind and affectionate. She never got angry to the point where I never saw it. She really rarely got mad.”

 

“Is it because you were naughty?”

 

Wooyeon jokingly asked, and Inseop nodded slightly.

 

“It’s not like I am, but it’s true. Once, my grandmother got angry because of me. There was one time when my grandmother’s friend invited us to bake cookies. There were a few of my peers there.”

 

Remembering the past incident, Inseop’s flushed cheeks caught Wooyeon’s attention.

 

“At that time, those mischievous kids said they would make my skin color better and smeared cookie dough all over my face.”

 

The hand embracing Inseop tightened slightly. Inseop quickly added, “They all moved away afterwards.”

 

“Really? Do you know where they moved to?”

 

“I… don’t know. And I received apologies from all of them.”

 

Inseop continued, “That day, my grandmother was really furious. Later, when everyone came to apologize, it turned out my grandmother went to each house to explain how wrong their actions were. She even fought with her closest friend’s family, who invited us.”

 

Inseop chuckled softly, saying he had never seen such a sight. Every time he laughed, Wooyeon lightly kissed his protruding cheek.

 

“In fact, I didn’t want to go bake cookies with them that day. They always teased me. But since it was my grandmother’s friend’s grandson’s invitation, I went anyway. And then… I felt resentful towards my grandmother for no reason, and I was so sad that I covered myself in a sheet and cried. I didn’t even respond to her words… Wasn’t I bad?”

 

Inseop’s question made Wooyeon suppress a laugh without saying anything.

 

Wouldn’t it be considered bad to smash six of the same classmate’s teeth with a chair for making racial discriminatory remarks? …Or was it seven? Anyway, damn it. Those bastards who teased Choi Inseop should’ve had all their teeth pulled out.

 

“That night, my grandmother eventually came to my room. She wanted to tell me a secret.”

 

Inseop bit his lip, as if trying to contain the surging emotions. His fingertips were trembling. Wooyeon silently patted Inseop’s back.

 

“My grandmother, we were a big family, so we had a lot of relatives. Both paternal and maternal sides.”

 

Tears welled up in Inseop’s large eyes.

 

“But, my grandmother, in fact, she said… I… “

 

[Peter. My beloved baby.]”

 

Inseop remembered the kind and affectionate hand that used to caress his face.

 

“She said, she… loves me the most. She said she loves me the most. My grandmother said… even though I’m not of mixed blood.”

 

The tears he held back burst out.

 

[Don’t tell anyone else. It’s my biggest secret. Baby.]

 

Whether that statement was sincere or not didn’t matter. Peter cherished that voice so much that he hugged his grandmother and shed tears like a child, reveling in her embrace.

 

“…But then… I couldn’t even say goodbye… I… I…”

 

Wooyeon hugged the sobbing Inseop tightly. Inseop cried like a child, surprising how so many tears could pour out from such a small body. After crying for a while, Inseop fell asleep as if fainting.