Ch 59 [END]

<59>

 

Beginning of a New Time (20)

 

“……Haa.”

 

The various books that had once densely filled the bookshelves and the spacious desk were nowhere to be seen; the room was now filled with ivory-colored wallpaper, bedding, and oak-colored infant furniture arranged charmingly. Eunho let out a hot breath involuntarily. He approached the black-and-white mobile hanging from the ceiling and spun it around, producing the cozy yet clear sound of a Schubert lullaby played on a kalimba. Remembering how Yoonjae must have worried about the interior design, even changing the location of the study upon hearing the pregnancy news, made emotions surge up, choking him.

 

“Scaring people like that, really……”

 

Eunho slumped onto a nearby ivory-colored fabric sofa and covered his face with both hands. Even with just his duties as Executive Director and the company, it must have been overwhelming, yet his heart welcoming the child shook Eunho. The hands covering his face slid down his neck to his chest. The tip of his chin trembled delicately from the hotly rising emotions.

 

Yoonjae was always one step ahead of Eunho. Not in a noisy or boisterous way, but always standing by his side or behind him, watching over him meticulously. Thinking back, Eunho had no memory of ever complaining while craving affection from Yoonjae. Though he rarely expressed it, perhaps finding the words “I love you” embarrassing, his eyes when looking at Eunho were always filled with abundant affection.

 

Eunho stayed in the baby’s room for a long while, thinking of Yoonjae.

 

***

 

Yoonjae’s briefcase on his way home was packed with work. Even the workload filling his bag wasn’t enough, so he had to carry additional reports in a shopping bag, but despite his murderous schedule, Yoonjae somehow managed to stick strictly to his quitting time. The moment he got home, he would have dinner together and report his daily routine in detail for Eunho, who might be feeling bored, transforming into a chatterbox limited to Eunho. He also didn’t forget to nag, saying that since Eunho’s return to work was scheduled for next week, he should get his necessary sleep in advance.

 

While Yoonjae washed up, Eunho sat in the living room and unfolded the reports he had brought. The reports were so thick they went past his knuckles, and he couldn’t muster the courage to read them all, so he carefully checked them, highlighting important parts with a highlighter to make them easier to read. If this could help him read more comfortably, Eunho was confident he would do it as much as needed.

 

Eunho sat Yoonjae, who had come out with his wet hair wrapped in a towel, on the floor, then took out the hairdryer and deeply inserted his fingers as if giving a scalp massage. Eunho continued blowing air until the wet hair fluttering in the cool breeze dried completely, then turned off the power and casually let out a remark.

 

“By any chance, if you don’t have anything special after work tomorrow, shall we go to the hospital together?”

 

At the word “hospital,” Yoonjae first poured out his gaze asking if something hurt, but upon grasping the meaning again, he nodded.

 

“Even if there is something, I’ll cancel it unconditionally and go. And from now on, we go together. Don’t try to go alone; you must tell me. Understood?”

 

Eunho spread his arms and hugged Yoonjae. He had a talent for melting people’s hearts like cotton candy, expressing even a single word prettily.

 

Because Yoonjae’s workload was so immense, Eunho ended up falling asleep before he could review all the reports he had brought. Even when Eunho woke up in the early dawn to drink water, Yoonjae was still focused on reviewing reports. Recovery and reinvestment from some invested places, sales of investment products, and organizational restructuring—everything had piled up at once, but Yoonjae responded calmly as usual. Eunho laid Yoonjae on the bed, saying he needed to sleep at least a little to clear his head. Watching him fall asleep as if fainting the moment his head touched the pillow, a soft sigh scattered through the gap of Eunho’s red lips.

 

The next day, Yoonjae, who had left work precisely on time again, came home with bundles of documents just like yesterday. With Eunho in the passenger seat and the destination set to the obstetrics and gynecology department, Yoonjae’s face was slightly tense and rigid, but he couldn’t hide his excitement either. After completing the pregnant patient registration and waiting in front of the examination room, seeing Yoonjae swallowing dry saliva due to the unfamiliar experience, Eunho quietly interlocked their fingers. Yoonjae’s palm was damp with sweat, as if he were very nervous.

 

Entering the examination room and lying on the bed, Eunho naturally lifted his top. Cold, viscous gel was sprayed over his slender stomach, and as the ultrasound machine was rubbed over it, a white baby appeared on the previously black monitor screen.

 

“Huh? It looked like a gummy bear, but it’s gone.”

 

“It looks quite human now, right?”

 

At Eunho’s words, the doctor, who had been smiling softly, carefully checked the baby’s head, torso, and limbs. The baby, curled up, had roughly taken on a human form. Eunho pulled his gaze away from the monitor and turned it toward Yoonjae. Countless emotions swirled on his face as he gazed at the monitor, unable to look away, fascinated.

 

“The baby’s nose is prominent.”

 

As the doctor said, the baby’s nose in the side-profile photo was indeed prominent. The muscles on Yoonjae’s face pulled upward as he smiled contentedly. Should it be said it was a more intense reaction than expected? Affection didn’t just drip but streamed from his eyes as he stared at the baby.

 

As if he couldn’t believe it, Yoonjae alternated between looking at Eunho’s flat stomach and the monitor. The fact that a baby, not even the size of a finger joint, was taking human form and growing bit by bit inside Eunho’s belly made Yoonjae’s heart race.

 

“I’ll let you hear the heartbeat.”

 

Thump, thump, thump, thump. The intense heartbeat, approaching as if resonating through the entire examination room like being submerged in the deep sea, caused Yoonjae’s eyes to moisten. His pupils trembled, soaked in emotion. Yoonjae, who had been aware of becoming parents but had felt it like a fantasy, now truly felt like real parents upon hearing the baby’s heartbeat and sent a tender gaze. Seeing him trying to capture every small movement of the baby like a photograph made a smile form naturally.

 

Eunho suddenly thought this:

 

The vague assumption that he thought Yoonjae, though affectionate toward him, would be unfamiliar and find it difficult to show affection to the child, might perhaps be a misjudgment. He would pour out sincere affection toward the child more than anyone, and everything he gave would be blind trust and absolute love.

 

***

 

After returning to Korea, Yoonjae’s sleep time over the past week had reached an extreme, averaging around two to three hours. It almost seemed like he was testing how long he could go without sleep, making Eunho anxious every day. He tried to stockpile energy through meals to compensate for the lack of sleep, but that also became impossible starting from the fourth day. When his mouth started to develop sores, leading to loss of appetite, Eunho clung to him and pleaded.

 

Our little wriggler, I don’t want to make a child without a dad due to death from overwork. The power of a mere 3-centimeter baby was tremendous. At Eunho’s one strong remark, Yoonjae put down the bundle of documents he was holding and pressed the power button on his laptop.

 

“I’m sleepy. Let’s sleep together.”

 

The traces of all-nighters hanging long under his eyes. His eyebags were not just sunken but deeply hollowed. Yoonjae, who had been pressing his tired eyelids with his palm, grabbed Eunho’s hand like that, went into the room, and slept straight for 5 hours without tossing and turning. For reference, he had stayed up all night the previous day.

 

After being bestowed with the mission of being a dad, Yoonjae attempted clumsy prenatal education. He didn’t put his hand on the belly and talk or sing like in dramas or movies, but he would ask how it was doing and occasionally stroke it. Once, after a meal, when Eunho vomited what he had eaten, Yoonjae’s gentle scolding, saying things like you shouldn’t trouble your dad, and anyway, only you will lose out, made Eunho, who had been feeling drained, burst into laughter.

 

Yoonjae wasn’t the type of only child who grew up showered with parental love. His parents clearly separated their lives from their child’s. He received parental love, but it might be said that they instilled independence in him from a young age, so he grew up without lingering attachments. The blunt personality seen at work was largely influenced by inheriting his parents’ mindset. Yoonjae had gained independence, but the deficiency of not having been lavishly loved was evident throughout his life.

 

Still, Eunho praised Yoonjae and patted his back because of his efforts and attempts to fill the parts lacking in the values influenced by his parents. Who could hate this man, with his innate abilities combined with effort? Eunho hugged Yoonjae every day and whispered.

 

That he loves him.

 

***

 

A week later, Eunho started work at the secretary team as a 6-month short-term contract employee. When news of Eunho’s re-employment spread as backup for Chief Yoon’s maternity leave, the employees were most curious about his position. Though it was short-term backup, everyone speculated it would be manager or higher, saying he’s the Executive Director’s spouse, so he wouldn’t come to a minor position, but upon hearing the word “employee,” they were briefly taken aback, then unanimously agreed it was indeed like Executive Director Choi. Thanks to that, on his first day back, the secretary office staff, who had been cautious due to the title “Executive Director’s spouse,” straightened their hunched bodies and welcomed him gladly, as Eunho acted no differently from before.

 

At Eunho’s single remark that he wanted pho for lunch, Yoonjae, who had returned from a finance team meeting, hurriedly took Eunho toward a famous pho place. Since it was the first time Eunho had said he wanted to eat something after becoming pregnant, his heart soared like a hot griddle. While driving, Yoonjae grew even more impatient, worried that Eunho might say he no longer felt like eating pho.

 

After arriving, the moment they sat down, Eunho stopped Yoonjae, who was about to order everything on the menu.

 

“Let’s not create food waste.”

 

Eunho, with a bright face, suggested ordering just enough to eat and, among the many menu items, chose only one, deflating Yoonjae’s energy.

 

Do you know with what feelings I came here, my heart racing? The words he meant to complain with lingered on the tip of his tongue then vanished. Yoonjae, feeling stubborn, additionally ordered rolls, grilled pork skewers, and two more bowls of pho. Spouting the absurd logic that they should eat it all because they’re hungry.

 

“Regarding this short-term bond that came up from the passive management team. Wouldn’t it be okay to extend this for another 6 months or a year?”

 

“Reason?”

 

“Looking at the dollar’s weakness and long-term bond yield trends, it seems most investment management companies are betting on stock prices rising next year.”

 

“……Did you study?”

 

“No. I’ve been continuously reading investment management reports, so should I call it a bit of experience and cleverness?”

 

Eunho’s remark that his brain had stiffened from resting for a month and a half was a complete lie. Sometimes he could read the direction Yoonjae was thinking, and he would throw questions that hit management’s weak points, making him think again. When Yoonjae jokingly asked if it wasn’t combined with the little wriggler’s brain, Eunho clapped his hands happily, saying it seemed so, making Yoonjae smile.

 

“Still, unexpected adverse events might occur, so I plan to extend only a portion and recover the rest. The passive management team is the one that should be operated most conservatively in our company. Each division has a balance regarding its reason for existence, so we shouldn’t disrupt that rule.”

 

“That’s true.”

 

As expected, Eunho felt ashamed of himself for trying to keep up with Yoonjae with shallow knowledge. As the ordered menu arrived and chopsticks became busy, Yoonjae checked Eunho’s meal portion and gently coaxed him to eat more.

 

“Let’s stop talking about work and try this.”

 

“Can you really eat all this?”

 

“There’s nothing I can’t eat. If you help a little.”

 

“Me?”

 

Eunho was dumbfounded seeing Yoonjae nodding nonchalantly. He pouted, saying it doesn’t make sense for two people to finish three bowls of pho, a roll set, and grilled skewers unless they’re athletes, but when they got up from their seats, everything was empty. There was also the effect of increasing meal portions to compensate for lack of sleep, but Eunho’s single remark about not creating food waste had stimulated Yoonjae.

 

After buying an Americano and grapefruit ade from a nearby coffee shop and getting in the car, Eunho took a sip through the straw and glanced up subtly at Yoonjae, who was holding the steering wheel.

 

“Managing Director Kang attended the prosecution, right?”

 

“Yes. Probably Vice President Choi Seryeong will also be summoned soon.”

 

A few days ago, Kang Taeoh attended the prosecution and underwent over 5 hours of investigation. Taeoh, who submitted additional evidence to the investigators, maintained a composed demeanor even amid flashing cameras from reporters everywhere. Though there were criticisms in the business community asking if it wasn’t behavior violating business ethics among large corporations, as usual, most understood it as an eat-or-be-eaten relationship in the capitalist market economy. Eunho checked Yoonjae driving slower than usual, then turned his gaze forward. The weather, entering early autumn, offered a deep blue sky due to the large daily temperature difference.

 

“Yuseong Group.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“How far are you thinking?”

 

“Are you asking about the target for dissolution?”

 

When Eunho cautiously nodded yes, Yoonjae, stroking his chin with his hand, recited in a monotonous tone, lowly.

 

“I plan to leave only the torso and cut off all the limbs.”

 

“……You’re targeting the hotels and resorts, right?”

 

“Yes, looking about 2–3 years ahead, so that only the headquarters barely maintains.”

 

Even if they look glamorous on the surface, often when you dig deeper, the value doesn’t match, and most of Yuseong Group’s assets were like that. Their credit rating had long hit rock bottom due to piled-up debt, and due to a chain reaction, the condition of the hotels and resorts that needed reinvestment deteriorated, gradually moving away from people’s demand.

 

After SH Investment officially signed a 50 billion won investment in Seoin Construction, contact came from Choi Seryeong. Contrary to expectations that she would yell, she, having lost steam, revised her plans entirely with a smirk. When she tried to persuade him, bringing up her late father Chairman Choi, saying you shouldn’t do that, Yoonjae ended the call, saying it was no longer worth listening to.

 

“Choi Youngjae-ssi’s shares are still in the company.”

 

“Rumors are circulating that he’ll sell them.”

 

“…….”

 

“His circumstances must be urgent. The stock price plummeted, so he lost trust, and there’s no place to get secondary bills, but he has no cash assets.”

 

If he sells the remaining shares, he could sufficiently block the secondary bills, but since there are more than one or two loans, he ultimately has to reduce his size by selling assets and proceed with improving his constitution. Anyway, there’s nothing Yoonjae will touch. Even if left alone, Yuseong Group would start walking the path to self-destruction, and now they were standing at that starting point.

 

Stopping the car at a red light, Yoonjae snapped his fingers to bring Eunho, lost in thought, back to his surroundings. Responding to the sharp sound and turning his head, a long, straight hand that had come close caressed Eunho’s ear.

 

“Whenever, it doesn’t matter, if there’s something you want to eat, tell me. Okay?”

 

“Can I bother you?”

 

“Of course.”

 

Though it was far from recovering the lost weight, if he consumed as much as today, it wouldn’t take too long to get back to his former self. Eunho grabbed Yoonjae’s hand touching his earlobe and lightly brushed his lips against it. At the moist, soft sensation felt within his palm, Yoonjae’s eyebrows half-folded as he smiled.

 

Eunho took over and checked all the tasks that Chief Yoon had been reporting. He passed the decision-making authority to Yoonjae, which caused some delay, but he bundled and organized the final reports by division and quarter for easy viewing, shortening the time. Thanks to that, after Eunho’s re-employment, the amount of work Yoonjae brought home decreased rapidly. The frequent meetings with the Management Support Division Head and the HR Team Leader for organizational restructuring were also nearing completion.

 

Yoonjae frequently contacted Eunho’s parents in the U.S. to coordinate the wedding date and exchanged greetings. This time, he didn’t handle it alone but shared opinions with Eunho, deciding even the smallest things together.

 

Even for a small family wedding, there weren’t just one or two things to take care of. Even after finishing everything from flight tickets, accommodation, wedding venue reservation and proceedings, photography, to selecting catering companies, the invitations, small gifts for the attendees, the bride and groom’s dresses, and makeup remained, tiring Eunho. The two exchanged playful jokes, saying they didn’t have the confidence to prepare for the wedding again, so they had to push through somehow. When the preparations were done, they keenly felt that the saying “marriage is a great human affair” wasn’t an empty phrase.

 

After going out to the terrace and exchanging specific discussions about the roadmap for the first half of next year with the Real Estate Investment Division Head, when he returned, the brown hair lying face down on the living table fluttered softly in the wind coming through the door crack. Yoonjae approached closely and carefully lifted Eunho, holding him.

 

“You’ll catch a cold.”

 

Eyes hazy with sleep half-opened then gently closed again. As if naturally trusting that he would, of course, carry him to the room, Eunho’s gesture of burying his face against Yoonjae’s shoulder felt natural. Yoonjae pressed down the wriggling corners of his mouth appropriately and slowly walked to the master bedroom. The room, with the floor stand lamp’s brightness adjusted, was dyed in a cozy and soft yellow light.

 

Bending down, he slowly laid Eunho down, and Eunho sank into the bedding as if deeply embedded. Watching him fall into deep sleep, rubbing his cheek against the fluffy pillow, Yoonjae quietly sat at the head of the bed. Affection lingered on his fingertips as he neatly brushed back the fallen front hair.

 

Yoonjae carefully lowered his upper body. Soft lips touched and parted from Eunho’s white, round forehead. As Eunho’s breath gently scattered, Yoonjae’s face was painted with elation.

 

Every moment I felt alive, I was thrilled and rejoiced. The day we promised the future and parted for a while, the sense of loss I felt when your subtle scent that filled my nasal passages dried up was indescribably devastating.

 

I missed your vibrant self. Every little gesture that followed me like a shadow remained as an afterimage, and when it flickered before my eyes, I was desperate enough to reach out and grab it.

 

Even the smallest aspect of you was precious. Seeing you smile brightly at me, I realized that you were the comfort of my everyday life.

 

I was ready to give you everything, the one who made me realize the value of my existence.

 

I think of you as I breathe,

 

I love you.

 

<The Returned Time>

 

-Fin. –