DOGC Ch 19

The secretary, who had maintained a blank expression the whole time, offered a gentle smile. It was a brief moment, but he was the type of person whose impression changed completely when he smiled.

“It must have been a bother for you since the morning.”

“It’s my job. Thank you for your consideration.”

The secretary turned around neatly without another word. Left alone in the empty entryway, Seorim sighed at the sight of the piled-up luggage. It looked like he would need at least a couple of trips.

With his hands full of shopping bags and boxes, Seorim returned to the living room. He pushed a box in front of the sofa, then opened a shopping bag first.

A thinly folded shirt, a thick knit sweater, pants made of a sturdy material. Opening a box revealed even a black coat with a luxurious silhouette. It was a combination that seemed to have been thoughtfully chosen and put together.

Below it was a shoe box. When he opened the lid, a pair of sneakers with a simple design was revealed. It was a design that looked like it would not squeeze his feet.

Not a single item looked cheap. On top of that, all of them were designs that suited him well. Seorim let out a small sigh as he felt the texture of the shirt with his fingertips.

This time, he opened a small shopping bag. A box with a telecommunications company logo printed on the surface slipped out.

It was a new mobile phone with a slim design. When he held it in his hand, a clean screen that had not been set up yet turned on.

When he turned the shopping bag upside down and shook it, a small memo with scrawled handwriting fluttered down.

[Save this]

A simple phrase and a contact number. He could tell at once who the owner of the memo was without having to ask. Seorim saved the number in his contacts and picked up another small shopping bag.

Inside was a brown card wallet. A black plastic card was neatly inserted.

“When did he prepare all of this…….”

For a person who must be incredibly busy.

The mumbled words scattered into the air. By now, his company must be buried in all sorts of work due to his absence. Yet, the fact that he had taken care of such detailed things felt heavy.

Seorim picked up his mobile phone and brought up the text message screen. He wondered what he should send, but soon typed two short lines.

[I received everything well. Thank you.]

Is it too stiff? After pressing the send button, he felt unnecessarily awkward, so he placed the phone face down and covered it with his palm.

Even after waiting, a reply did not come.

Suddenly, he remembered that Ryu Hyun-jun used to reply instantly, as if he had been waiting for the message to be sent. Come to think of it, what had happened to him now?

He did not know much about accounting fraud, but he knew it was a major crime. And because of it, Ryu Yeonho must be going through a lot of trouble right now.

He must have made the wrong choice, unable to overcome his inferiority complex. Given how he had lost his mind, it was not very surprising that he would do such a thing.

Seorim, who had been staring intently at his mobile phone, opened an internet browser and searched for ‘Ryu Hyun-jun’. Along with a profile stating he was a businessman, articles related to his corruption immediately popped up one after another.

When he clicked on one of them, he saw a picture of Ryu Hyun-jun entering a building in a suit. His eyes lacked focus even more than when Seorim had seen him at the mansion, and the whites of his eyes were bloodshot red.

So he really was investigated. The entire nation must have seen those eyes that radiated an abnormal energy. Regardless of what the background feelings were, knowing that he had tried to help with goodwill made his heart feel uneasy.

When he scrolled to the end of the article, the headlines of a few related articles caught his eye.

[Chairman Ryu Sang-man, Dies in House Fire… Shock to the Business World]

[Fire at the Ryu Family Mansion… Chairman Ryu Sang-man, Passes Away in Accident]

[Taehwa Construction Family Mansion Burns to the Ground, Chairman Ryu Sang-man Dead… The Background of the Mysterious Fire?]

Chairman Ryu died in a fire accident?

Seorim looked down at his mobile phone screen, his fingertips trembling weakly.

It was still vivid in his memory. The chilly air inside the mansion and the horrific moment when Chairman Ryu glared at him and choked him. That night when he felt like he would stop breathing, when his vision went white.

If Yeonwoo had not struck Chairman Ryu’s head with the lamp stand, he probably would not be sitting here alive.

The sticky malice that had pressed down on his neck was still vivid now. Seorim unknowingly drew his knees together and curled up.

While terrified, he wanted to know the details of what happened, so Seorim moved his finger to one of the headlines.

‘Taehwa Construction Family Mansion Burns to the Ground, Chairman Ryu Sang-man Dead… The Background of the Mysterious Fire?’

[It has been confirmed that Chairman Ryu Sang-man (73) of Taehwa Construction died in a fire at his home in Gyeonggi Province. After investigating the circumstances of the accident, the police concluded it was an accident caused by carelessness and closed the investigation.

According to the police and fire authorities, the fire broke out in the kitchen of Chairman Ryu’s home last dawn.

On the day of the accident, it was determined that a housekeeper, Ms. A, who was using the kitchen, had left the area without properly turning off the cooking appliance.

In this process, the fire spread from near the countertop and quickly engulfed the entire house, and Chairman Ryu, who was in his second-floor bedroom, was unable to escape in time and died from smoke inhalation.

In particular, it was pointed out that Chairman Ryu’s residence, a high-end wooden structure, was vulnerable to fire, which was one of the factors that exacerbated the damage.

At the time, in addition to Chairman Ryu, some staff were inside the residence, but it was reported that they all successfully evacuated, resulting in no additional casualties.

The police investigated the staff member, Ms. A, but determined it was simple carelessness with no intentionality, and sent her home without booking her.

Taehwa Construction stated, “We express our deepest condolences for having to part with our chairman in a tragic accident,” and added, “The future funeral proceedings and company management will proceed as planned.”]

Only after reading the entire article did Seorim slowly lower the mobile phone he was holding.

Did he say he burned the mansion down because he did not need it?

How could he cover it up so perfectly like this. He had buried the incident so that neither myself nor Yeonwoo would get caught in the investigation, so that no suspicion would remain. Accurately and meticulously.

It was a moment where he felt a sense of relief at being alive, and at the same time, clearly perceived Ryu Yeonho’s cold side. It was a moment when he should be grateful that he could live openly, but he could not close his mouth.

He was a crazier bastard than I thought.

🦅

In the afternoon, after taking a light shower, he took out the clothes Ryu Yeonho had sent and prepared to go out.

The reply to the text he sent earlier arrived around the time he opened the front door to leave.

[Just with words?] 1:08 PM

Even though it was a text message, it was as if he could hear a slick whisper from somewhere. Seorim did not reply to it and asked what the front door passcode was. Soon, two strings of numbers and special characters came back as a reply.

He passed through the entryway and got on the elevator. 39th floor. He left the quiet officetel, passed through the underground parking lot, and stepped out onto the main street in front of the building.

Seoul.

A dry wind of early spring blew. Sunlight shattered into pieces between the tall buildings.

Seorim leisurely walked around the unfamiliar neighborhood. He had no set destination. He just followed where his feet led him, stepping into the small shadows under the roadside trees, and watched the scenery of cars lined up at the crosswalk.

My own time, fully found, without being chased by anyone, without needing to hide. How long has it been since I have enjoyed freedom in its truest sense?

He was not yet used to this feeling, and a shrunken fear pressed down on his heart from a corner of his chest. Seorim tried his best to ignore the weak emotion. That was what this outing was for.

Walking down a narrow alleyway, Seorim suddenly stopped.

A simple sign caught his eye. ‘Curry Specialty Restaurant’ written in black letters on a white background. The restaurant, seen through the glass window, was not large.

Seorim opened the door as if drawn in.

“How many people in your party?”

“Just one.”

Following the employee’s guidance, he took a seat at a small table by the window. Then, after flipping through the menu, he ordered the most basic beef curry.

The curry came out quickly. Feeling the rich aroma of spices and the savory taste, Seorim ate the entire bowl.

He had just eaten a bowl of curry by himself, but he felt strange.

A sweet, lighthearted, and somehow desolate feeling. What was certain was that it was the first time he realized his stomach’s capacity was this generous. And also that there were so many delicious foods in the world.

After finishing his meal, Seorim walked toward the place that was the main purpose of this outing. It was located not far from the restaurant.

‘Pogeun Obstetrics and Gynecology.’

His steps stopped beneath that sign. It was a small clinic with a light beige exterior wall and a white cloud painting engraved on it. It looked like a fairly old clinic, but just as its name suggested, it had a cozy feeling.

Seorim took a deep breath, then carefully opened the automatic door and went inside.

Over the soft classical music playing quietly, the receptionist greeted him brightly.

“Welcome.”

“Um, I came for a check-up.”

“Is this your first visit?”

“Yes.”

With a friendly smile, the employee handed him a piece of paper.

“Then please fill this out.”

Name, contact number, trait. This time, he could proudly write down information about ‘Baek Seorim’. It was so comfortable, this world where it was okay not to hide the child, or himself.

After finishing the registration, Seorim sat in the waiting room and looked at the number ticket in his hand.

He had not received a single check-up since confirming his pregnancy before. He had not been able to treat it very well, so he was worried that something might have happened to the child in the meantime. It seemed that carrying it in his belly had made his paternal feelings grow vigorously.

“Mr. Baek Seorim, please come in.”

At the nurse’s call, Seorim rose from his seat.

When he opened the examination room door and went inside, the doctor sitting inside greeted him with a gentle smile.

“Hello. You came to see the baby, right?”

“Yes.”

“Then let’s start with a basic ultrasound.”

It was the first time he was seeing the shape of the baby in his belly with his own eyes. The doctor led the nervous Seorim and had him lie down on the bed. The sensation of the cold gel being spread on his lower abdomen was a little creepy.

The probe moved gently. The moment he saw a small, round shape faintly appear on the monitor, Seorim inadvertently held his breath.

“It’s very healthy and doing well. It’s a little over 15 weeks. Can you see here?”

“Huh?”

“Between the legs. Oh my, it’s a little prince.”

The doctor burst out laughing. So when the belly is this big, you can even know the baby’s gender. Seorim could not take his eyes off the squirming life inside the monitor that only had black and white.

“Fortunately, there seem to be no problems so far. In a little while, you’ll also be able to know the baby’s trait.”

“Ah……. Yes.”

“Are you eating your meals well? You need to eat a balanced diet with all the nutrients.”

Since he had eaten things like ramen, there was no way his nutrition was balanced. He felt a little sorry for the baby.

“You just need to keep managing it well like this. Did your guardian not come with you?”

“Ah, the guardian.”

He had a guardian now. For the baby, and for himself who carried the baby. Ryu Yeonho is my guardian and this child’s guardian. Repeating that sentence in his mind made the tip of his nose tingle for some reason.

“My guardian is at work right now. We’ll come together next time.”

“Yes, that’s great. Please take the ultrasound picture. He’ll love it.”

After wiping off the gel, the doctor briefly summarized and informed him of the health guidelines. It was about nutritional supplements that were good to take and periodic check-ups. Seorim quietly nodded his head and listened to her words.

He gently stroked his belly with his palm. A life was truly growing inside here. Today, when he first confirmed it, seemed like a day he would never forget for the rest of his life.

He offered a greeting to his slightly protruding belly.

Hello, baby.

🦅

In the evening, when the sun had completely set, the mechanical sound of the front door passcode being entered spread.

Seorim, who was sitting on the sofa, lifted his head with a start. There was only one person who would press the code and open the front door. It was not something to be nervous about, but his fingertips trembled lightly.

Soon, a familiar figure entered the living room. He had taken off his suit jacket and slung it over his arm, and his face was slightly tinged with fatigue.

Their gazes tangled in the air. Yeonho said nothing and just looked at Seorim with sunken eyes. Seorim awkwardly received his gaze and mumbled quietly.

“You’re here.”

What on earth was he thinking? Ryu Yeonho just stared blankly even after hearing the greeting. He ran a hand through his hair. Then, he slowly approached where Seorim was sitting.

“……Did you wait?”

“Yes.”

“It feels strange. Having someone greet me.”

Saying so, Yeonho pulled Seorim into his arms. The scent of pheromones and the sophisticated perfume he used mixed together and washed over him.

“The clothes look good on you.”

“Thank you, thanks to you.”

“What did you do for fun today.”

His voice was more hoarse than usual. It seemed this person also had a great deal of work. Seorim glanced at Yeonho over his shoulder and answered.

“I went out alone and looked around a bit, and I went to the hospital.”

“What hospital.”

“Um.”

As Seorim took a breath, a coldness flickered in Yeonho’s eyes. He pulled Seorim away, met his gaze head-on, and asked.

“Are you sick somewhere?”

“No, that’s not it.”

“Then why did you go to the hospital.”

“There’s one more besides me here. I went to see it.”

At those words, Yeonho’s gaze dropped to his slightly swollen belly. Seorim wrapped his hands around his belly and asked.

“Does Mr. Ryu Yeonho want to see it too? This one.”

Yeonho shot him a look as if asking what he meant. Seorim pretended not to see such a look and turned his body toward his bag. Then, he carefully opened the zipper and took out a thin envelope he had put inside.

With a rustling sound, the folded-in-half ultrasound picture came into his hand. Seorim unfolded it and held it out toward Yeonho.

Yeonho, who took the picture, lowered his head and looked down at the paper. Seorim also lowered his gaze and fixed it on the picture. A small, squirming life was faintly captured within the dark and light colors. It was a picture that made him feel strange even looking at it again.

Ryu Yeonho looked at the picture for a long time with his mouth closed. On his face was neither his usual blank expression nor the occasional playful smile.

It was an indescribable expression for some reason. Whether he was surprised, or happy. He was clearly feeling something, but it was difficult to guess what that exact emotion was.

Ryu Yeonho just could not take his eyes off the picture. His lips were thinly closed, and his pupils were fixed unwaveringly on the small creature imprinted in the photo.

Since this was the first time he had seen this side of Ryu Yeonho, Seorim was also busy stealing glances at his side profile.

“……Does it look like me?”

“How would you know from an ultrasound.”

“I think it looks like me.”

Finally, Yeonho, who tore his eyes from the photo, reached his hand toward Seorim’s belly. He placed it on the skin of his stomach covered by the knit sweater and said.

“It’s in here.”

Although he had carried it in his belly for over three months, he himself still could not fully grasp the reality of it, so Seorim nodded his head a little slowly.

“Should I make it an actor.”

“What?”

“If it looks like you and me, it won’t be able to live as an ordinary person.”

What is this doting nonsense. And he was even saying it in his usual calm tone, as if it were nothing. Seorim let the corners of his mouth droop and, after staring at Yeonho, opened his mouth.

“But what should I call it? I can’t just keep calling it ‘this one’ or ‘baby’.”

“Does it need a prenatal name.”

“The doctor said it’s a boy. I don’t know if it’s an Alpha or an Omega yet.”

Because it was a union between a dominant Alpha and a dominant Omega, the possibility of a Beta being born was almost nonexistent. If possible, he hoped it would be born an Alpha. Life as an Omega, no matter how positively he thought about it, had far more inconveniences than good points. He did not want his child to go through such things.

While Seorim was thinking about the child’s trait, Yeonho was also lost in other thoughts. He furrowed his brows faintly with his gaze fixed on Seorim’s belly. He seemed to be in deep thought, as if he were really naming a child.

“Miyeok-ie.”

“Why?”

“You only ate miyeok. Or what about Jogi?”

“No matter how you look at it, aren’t miyeok and jogi a bit much for a baby.”

To think that was the conclusion he came up with after thinking so hard. He was confident he could think of a better prenatal name than miyeok or jogi with just a little thought.

“How about Bada?”

“Bada or miyeok, what’s the difference.”

“Bada is much better.”

“Too common.”

He was being unnecessarily picky while not being able to come up with anything decent himself.

Yeonho let out a deep breath, looking at the ceiling like someone facing a momentous decision. Seorim narrowed his eyes and stared blankly at that serious expression.

“Let’s make it Haenam-ie.”

“Haenam-ie…….”

“It has meaning, and it’s not common.”

It seemed the time spent in the seaside village had also remained quite memorable for Ryu Yeonho. Haenam was certainly a special place. It was the place where he first realized the baby’s existence, and where he decided he must live, that he must endure.

The sea with its rough wind and salty smell, the warmth of the modest guesthouse. All of it would not be easily erased from his memory for a long time.

“……He says that’s your name, Haenam-ah.”

As a sign of agreement, Seorim spoke quietly to the small being in his belly. The prenatal name that hung on the tip of his lips unexpectedly seeped into his heart with familiarity.

🦅

A few days later, the empty room that had been vacant all this time began to be filled with new things.

Large canvases, pristine white sketchbooks, organized sets of paints and brushes, and various art supplies packed tightly together.

A faint smell of paint and the unique, clean scent of new paper subtly permeated the room. Seorim leaned against the doorframe and scanned the inside of the room. He could really learn to paint. It was the moment he realized that this room had become ‘Baek Seorim’s’ room.

When the promised time came, the doorbell rang. Seorim quickly went and opened the door.

“Hello! You must be Mr. Seorim, right?”

In front of the door stood a young woman with bright brown, short hair and a wide smiling face. Her eyes were bright and her expression was full of life. Her bag dangled every time she moved.

“Hi, my name is Jung Sohee, and I’ll be in charge of your lessons starting today!”

Even her voice was cheerful. It had been a long time since he had interacted with this type of person. He felt a little drained of energy already, but the cheerful energy being transferred to him did not feel bad.

Seorim pushed aside his bewilderment and nodded his head.

“I look forward to working with you.”

“Me too! I was a bit nervous. I was curious about what kind of person you would be. But you’re really, how should I put it, pretty, and mysterious. Like a hydrangea. A white hydrangea.”

She used a peculiar metaphor. While walking to the art studio, Sohee held up the art supplies bag she was carrying.

“Today, we’ll do a warm-up. And I’d like to hear what Mr. Seorim wants to draw! Slowly, and have fun!”

He had heard vaguely through Ryu Yeonho that she had graduated from a prestigious university’s art school and was a rising star in the contemporary art scene these days. Now that he was facing her in person, her bright personality stood out more than her glamorous background.

Sohee pulled over a small cart and took out the art supplies one by one.

“Shall we get started then?”

She squeezed tubes of paint onto a pristine white palette and arranged brushes of various thicknesses and spatulas. Her hand movements were careful yet skillful. Seorim stood beside her and watched her.

Sohee, who was arranging the brushes neatly, looked up at Seorim.

“By any chance, is there a painting you want to draw or one you’ve thought was good?”

It was a question asked without any pressure, but Seorim hesitated for a moment. He was momentarily hesitant to answer the question of what he wanted to draw. In fact, if he were to hold a brush, there was a mountain of things he wanted to draw. But, among them.

“……I want to try marbling.”

Hearing the answer, Sohee’s eyes sparkled.

“Oh, why?”

“Oil and water don’t mix, you know. But I like how you can use that to contain them together in one frame.”

It was a short and simple sentence. However, for Seorim, it held many meanings.

The property of being together yet never becoming one. And at the same time, staying side by side within the same canvas without leaving it.

Their backgrounds were different, and the worlds they had lived in were different. There were parts that could not be reached even if he tried. There were lines that could not be crossed, events that could not be erased, and areas that could not touch. Nevertheless, they were together. He wanted to be together.

So, like two people staying in the same place.

Seorim did not bother to say all of that. Sohee, with a face that knew nothing, smiled brightly.

“Great! Then let’s prepare for marbling together today!”

Sohee quickly started moving busily. She took out watercolor solution, oil, and a transparent tray, then created a small workspace in a corner of the room. Beyond her youthful face, her movements had the air of a professional.

“Marbling is,”

Sohee said, dusting off her hands.

“Basically, it’s drawing on water. But since water and oil don’t mix, it all changes depending on how you drop the paint, how you disperse it.”

Seorim nodded and approached the tray. Sohee poured water and a special solution into the transparent tray, creating a clear water surface.

“Do you want to give it a try?”

Seorim carefully picked up a brush. He dipped the tip of the brush in diluted paint and dropped it very lightly onto the tray. Plop, as a drop of paint fell on the water, it spread out slowly as if it were breathing.

He dropped one drop, then another. Blue, green, light gray. The colors brushed against each other on the water, avoiding each other, and at the same time, creating a single pattern.

Things that do not mix but stay within the same frame.

Seorim relaxed his fingertips and then parted the paints with a comb-like tool. A beautiful, yet chaotic, grain spread wherever the paints intertwined. It was a marbling similar to the one hanging on the hallway wall.

“You did well. Now, you press this onto the paper, like this.”

Sohee placed her hand along with his so he could press the paper onto the pattern. When they lifted it up, he could see that the water and oil, while not mixing, had created a single work of art.

Seorim held the paper with both hands and gazed at it quietly.

Forms that could not melt into each other but were alive together. Colors that brushed past, did not touch, but were in one frame. He did not know why Ryu Yeonho naturally came to mind when he saw that image.

At first, it was the worst. He was uncomfortable, annoyed, and thought nothing good would come from getting involved with him. But from a certain point, he did not dislike him entering his orbit. Furthermore, he started to care. In the end, he wanted to believe him.

His white fingers carefully swept the edge of the paper.

Like this life growing in his belly right now, it was neither planned nor intended from the beginning, but some force was carefully, yet clearly, weaving them together.

It was not grand enough to be named love. Seorim did not know what love was. He had never felt such deep affection for anyone. He thought Ryu Yeonho was probably the same.

But, nevertheless.

The time he spent with him was comfortable. He felt less empty than when he was alone. What is he thinking right now, why is he saying that. Ryu Yeonho seeped into the small cracks of his daily life.

It’s scary. At the same time, he wanted to be with him. He wanted to know more. Perhaps this feeling was something that did not need a name. It was a very simple and quiet attraction. It was just a desire to be together.

“……Oh.”

Just now, what was that?

Suddenly, he felt a very faint movement-like sensation from his belly. Somewhere inside had clearly rippled like a wave.

The doctor had definitely said that quickening is felt as early as 17 weeks, and usually after 18 weeks. It was 15 weeks now. It was a somewhat early sensation.

He placed his hand on his belly again, but he could not feel that unfamiliar sensation. For some reason, he felt that it was not a delusion, but that the baby was talking to him. That it was here, that it was doing well.

Just then, Sohee, while cleaning up the work tools, said.

“Let’s end today’s class here. From next time, should we try painting with oils step by step?”

When Seorim nodded, Sohee smiled brightly.

“Since you have experience learning art, I think you’ll follow along quickly. You have a good sense, too. I look forward to working with you!”

She was a person who had an energy that made others feel good. Seorim also gave a small smile.

“I had fun today too.”

He meant it. From the moment he first picked up a brush and released colors onto the water, he felt a corner of his heart flutter. He might have found it again. The thing that keeps me alive. Not a murky black and white, but colors that emit a beautiful light.

Sohee, who was packing her bag, suddenly muttered.

“But really, it must be nice to have a private art studio like this in your home.”

“…….”

“The Executive Director must cherish you a lot.”

How does this relationship look to others? Not knowing how to answer, Seorim smiled awkwardly.

“See you again next week. I’ll be going now!”

Leaving behind the smell of new paper and the scent of paint, Seorim followed Sohee out of the art studio.

The life he had lived so far had been a series of nasty pranks played by the heavens. What scene did it want to see this time, to lead him down this path? What would be at the end of it?

He could only walk forward. Hoping that the choice of every moment was in the best possible direction.

🦅

We have to sleep together.

On the first day he came to this house, that was the only constraint, which was not quite a constraint, that Yeonho had given Seorim. He had not vowed to strictly abide by it, but Seorim had never once gone against his words.

In the first place, refusing was impossible. Because there was no bed in the other rooms. Even if he happened to fall asleep on the sofa, he did not know what he did, but he would always wake up next to Ryu Yeonho in the morning.

Yeonho, who had just come out of the shower, lay down on the bed. Seorim, who was already sitting at the head of the bed, lifted the blanket to make room for him. The two lay side by side, their shoulders touching.

The room was quiet. A faint city noise could be heard from outside the window, and Seorim, quietly catching his breath in it, opened his mouth.

“Is everything at the company resolved?”

Yeonho was silent for a moment. He spoke a little later in a languid voice.

“Mostly. It’s not easy to build it back up after hitting rock bottom. It’ll take some time.”

“Aren’t you tired?”

“I’m tired.”

It was an honest answer, but not a complaint.

“But what can I do.”

Seorim timidly reached out his hand under the blanket and gently grabbed the end of Yeonho’s sleeve. When his hand touched him, Yeonho smiled faintly.

“What about you?”

“Me, I’m having fun. It’s comfortable, to the point I wonder if it’s okay to be like this. And extravagant.”

Suddenly, Ryu Yeonho turned his body to the side. The bed sheet sank as much as he moved, so Seorim reflexively lifted his head.

“On the weekend.”

Yeonho continued slowly.

“Do you want to meet Yeonwoo?”

Seorim took a short breath. The suggestion seemed to knock on the inside of his chest.

Of course he wanted to see him. It had been nagging at a corner of his mind the whole time. Is he doing well, has his hurt heart healed since that day.

Seorim did not want Yeonwoo to be broken. He wanted that child to live loving himself and loving others.

He was worried that the memory of ending his father’s life with those delicate hands might have torn Yeonwoo’s heart to shreds. No matter how much Chairman Ryu was not a good parent, no matter how unavoidable the action was. The shock and confusion Yeonwoo must have felt at the time would have been too much for an elementary school student to handle.

He regretted not being able to tell him enough that he did nothing wrong. He should have told him more that he was thankful for saving his life. Far from it, he had disappeared the very next day, so there must have been no one to soothe the child’s heart.

Seorim clutched the edge of the blanket tightly and nodded his head.

“I want to see him.”

Yeonho silently put his arm under Seorim’s neck. Then he pulled his shoulder to make him rest his head on his chest.

“Okay.”

An arm pillow provides more stability than I thought. It was a position that put his mind at ease for no reason. Seorim quietly closed his eyes.

The room was soon filled with a gentle silence, as if it were warmly embracing even the darkness outside the window.

🦅

Time flowed faithfully as if by promise, and the weekend arrived quickly.

He wondered if meeting Yeonwoo was something to be this nervous about. His lips felt dry for no reason, and he drank water repeatedly. Yeonho had left the house saying he would bring the child, so Seorim had to deal with his anxiety alone.

Beep, beep—.

After tormenting his innocent fingernails for a few minutes, he finally heard the sound of the passcode being entered from beyond the front door.

Following that, he clearly heard the creak of the door opening along with a short melody. Seorim shot up from his seated position on the sofa.

The first to enter the living room after passing through the hallway was Yeonho. He glanced at Seorim once and put the car keys down on the table. In fact, Seorim had no interest whatsoever in what he was doing.

A moment later, a small figure appeared from behind the wall.

It was Yeonwoo. Seorim unconsciously took a step forward.

Yeonwoo was looking around the living room with a seemingly unfamiliar expression. The way he kept glancing around the house with his hands clasped tightly was like a baby kitten.

Seorim felt his chest tighten and moved a little closer to Yeonwoo.

“Yeonwoo-ya.”

The careful call scattered into the air. Yeonwoo flinched and then turned his head toward the source of the sound. And his eyes met Seorim’s.

His youthful face was the same. His white, plump cheeks had hollowed a little, but his impression was still clear. He could see his small lips part into a circle.

Yeonwoo, who had been hesitating, suddenly seemed to break down and, without even putting down his bag, ran towards Seorim. Instead of being surprised, Seorim caught Yeonwoo in his arms right where he stood. A light body crashed into his chest.

“Have you been well?”

Seorim wrapped his arms around Yeonwoo’s back and let out a quiet breath. Yeonwoo burrowed into his embrace like a baby animal clinging to its mother.

“Hyung-ah, hyung-ah.”

“I’m sorry hyung-ah came so late.”

“In the morning, I looked and hyung-ah wasn’t there, you were completely gone.”

“Yes, I’m sorry for leaving you. You must have been scared.”

Yeonwoo nodded his head vigorously. The being that was such a nuisance when they first met was now so dear. It was only natural in a way, since he would have lost his life if it were not for this child.

“I missed you all the time. So I asked hyung where hyung-ah was, but. Hyung said he didn’t know either.”

“Did he?”

“Hyung went out saying he would find you, but he didn’t come back for a long time. I waited with Mallang-ie.”

Mallang-ie, he remembered, was the cactus Yeonwoo was raising. Seorim knelt on one knee and met the child’s eyes.

“Mallang-ie must have grown a lot too.”

“Yes, it’s long and plump.”

“Did Yeonwoo take good care of it?”

“I gave it water, and let it get sunshine. I’ll show you Mallang-ie next time. Hyung-ah, you can’t go anywhere.”

Yeonwoo’s pupils trembled weakly as if in anxiety. Feeling sorry for making him wear such an expression, Seorim hugged his small shoulders tightly.

At that moment, Yeonho, who had been quietly sitting on the sofa watching the reunion of the two, muttered nonchalantly.

“Both of you, tell me what you want to eat.”

He seemed to have held back his hunger and waited for the reunion process to finish. Seorim held Yeonwoo and sat him on the sofa and asked.

“What does Yeonwoo want to eat?”

“Um, me, omurice.”

“Omurice?”

“With ham, and potatoes, and onions.”

He had never made it himself, but it did not seem too difficult. The refrigerator was poorly stocked, so he had to go out to buy ingredients. Seorim said to Yeonho.

“Shall we go grocery shopping.”

“We can just order it. Why bother yourself with grocery shopping.”

“But it’s fun to make it. I’ve never been grocery shopping either…….”

When Seorim showed a slightly sullen look, Yeonho got up from his seat and picked up the car keys.

“Let’s go, then.”

“Wow, we’re going grocery shopping!”

Yeonwoo was already excited and clutched his small bag. The child was probably unfamiliar with the experience of grocery shopping itself. Seorim was the same.

The three of them left the living room together. Yeonwoo walked bouncy-bouncy next to Yeonho, and Seorim slowly followed behind them.

While waiting for the elevator, he glanced over and saw that the child was excited with his lips tightly sealed. That expression was both pitiful and cute for some reason, so Seorim suppressed a laugh.

🦅

The supermarket was not far. It was not very big, but it was a place sufficient enough to have everything they needed. Going down to the food section in the basement, Seorim’s eyes searched for the location of the shopping baskets.

“I got it.”

Before he could even say anything, Yeonho slightly shook the shopping basket in his hand. He looked like he had never been to a supermarket in his life, but he was surprisingly resourceful.

“Yeonwoo-ya, what do you want in your omurice?”

“Ham, and potatoes, and onions.”

“Anything else?”

“Um, cheese.”

Yeonwoo walked with his hands clasped tightly, sticking close to his side. Seorim muttered as he scanned the shelves full of groceries.

“Ham, potatoes, onions, we need eggs too. And cheese.”

“We have to buy ketchup too!”

“Ah, ketchup.”

Yeonho shook his head as he picked up a bag of already peeled potatoes.

“There’s ketchup. At home.”

“There’s ham over there!”

Pointing to the corner where the ham was displayed with his small hand, Yeonwoo bounced his way through the processed foods. What if he falls or gets lost doing that. He ran so fast, like an arrow, that there was no time to stop him.

Seorim looked up blankly at Yeonho, who was putting onions in the basket with a serious expression. With his eyes still fixed on the pile of onions, Yeonho opened his mouth.

“Is there anything you want to eat?”

“Not really for me.”

“Do we not need to buy jogi and miyeok?”

“I’m fine now.”

It seems that him frantically searching for miyeok and jogi in Haenam as if possessed had left a strong impression. Feeling unnecessarily embarrassed, Seorim looked around the fruit section.

“Should we have grapes after our meal?”

“Buy shine muscat or something. That’s sweeter.”

“It’s expensive.”

“I earn money to eat expensive things to my heart’s content.”

Yeonho, without hesitation, put a bunch of shine muscat with firm grapes into the basket.

“In terms of money, the jogi you ate was much more expensive.”

Looking back now, it did seem to be of a very high quality. The skin was glossy, it was large in size, and the flesh was so tender it melted in his mouth. Thinking of jogi made his mouth water again. It seemed Haenam-ie was trying to live up to its name.

“Then shall we buy some jogi too?”

“Sure.”

While he was looking for where they sell fish, Yeonwoo came running up, clattering, with ham in his hands.

“Ham!”

He threw the ham into the shopping basket and made a triumphant face. That sight was so endearingly like an elementary school student. It was a relief. That this child could laugh so brightly without falling into the mud he had made himself.