As soon as I opened my eyes on Saturday morning, the rose I saw naturally made me think of Kkotmoa. I tossed and turned in bed for about an hour just staring at the flower. Feeling like I’d become weird to the point of no return at this rate, I called out Kang Junwoo. From morning, we ate the greasy pizza that bastard liked and watched a movie. The whole time I watched the movie, I had these thoughts.
You said it was your first time at a cafe—have you ever been to a movie theater? If possible, I want to be the first to take you to a movie theater too.
“So I have no interest in our company, so why do I have to be stuck in a corner of my room every Sunday receiving some heir education or whatever? Aren’t adults really too selfish?”
Since he was a guy who dreamed of being a film director, this wasn’t the first or second time he’d complained like this. Anyway, since we were people whose futures were decided, it was a meaningless complaint. Every time we came out after watching a movie, Kang Junwoo’s complaints were more intense. I half-heartedly went along with the words he poured out beside me.
“Still, I at least have older brothers, so it’s better. If I were an only son like you, I’d want to die. How do you handle those expectations?”
If my family had been like other upper-class families, I would have suffocated too. However, thanks to Mom, I’d never once felt pressure or suffocation. Since after stepping into society I’d have to walk a predetermined path different from others whether I liked it or not, Mom hoped that at least while I was a student, I could spend my teens normally like other kids.
Although people came to clean once or twice a week, Mom generally managed our 200-pyeong house including the second floor by herself and ran the household herself. I know that’s by no means an easy task. Mom had even fought with Dad about that issue, but when she said she wanted to be like other kids’ moms until I went to college, Dad shut his mouth too. Although his expression was quite twisted at the time, Dad gave in because he loved Mom too much. Instead, they decided to hire a professional for garden management. Because Dad said he couldn’t stand to see Mom tending to the garden herself even if it killed him.
The fortunate thing was that our mom was good at cooking. So I really loved home-cooked meals. When I was young, I’d even deliberately brought kids home because I wanted to brag about our mom’s cooking. Come to think of it, when Kang Junwoo came over when we were young, he mistook our mom for an ajumma who worked at the house and treated her rudely, so we got into a brawl. Now he’s a guy who treats our mom more warmly than anyone else. Sometimes he’d act even more warmly toward our mom than me and display aegyo.
“I’ve been grumbling so much my sugar’s dropped. Want to go to a dessert cafe?”
Kang Junwoo quite liked snacks and munchies, and he liked sweet things even more. He liked sweets to the point where if there was a new dessert cafe opening, he’d definitely go. It was fascinating to see him not gain weight despite living with sweets in his mouth like that.
“I found out about a place that’s totally famous for chocolate cake. My small hyung’s secretary noona recommended it, and the chocolate cake is really amazing.”
Ah, chocolate cake…
‘If I buy a chocolate cake when I go later, Jaea will really like it. I saw a cake in the display case earlier that Jaea would like. I wanted to buy it for Jaea, but something smaller than my palm was more expensive than I thought so I hesitated, but now I can buy it. Actually, I’ve already spent all my allowance for this month.’
Just like word association, I only heard the words “chocolate cake” but it was as if I could hear what Kkotmoa had said. Come to think of it, even on the day I went to the flower shop, Kkotmoa’s younger brother was eating bread with both hands covered in chocolate.
Does Kkotmoa like chocolate cake too?
Yesterday Kkotmoa bought one slice of chocolate cake, but that probably all went into the small lump’s mouth. That’s what he bought it for anyway. While feeding the lump chocolate cake, didn’t Kkotmoa want to eat it? If it were me, I’d give the kid just a little and eat it all myself, but somehow it seemed like if it were Kkotmoa, he’d feed it all to the lump without even touching it himself.
“Let’s go.”
“Ooh. What’s gotten into you? You said the thought of two guys with dicks going to a dessert cafe together made you want to puke.”
Sitting at a dessert cafe with just Kang Junwoo and eating cake still made me want to puke just thinking about it, but now I had a purpose. I gestured at Kang Junwoo with my chin as if to say stop with the useless talk and let’s hurry. Kang Junwoo, under a huge misunderstanding, smiled pleasantly and put his arm around my shoulder. And I smacked that arm away.
The dessert cafe recommended by Kang Junwoo’s small hyung’s secretary was bustling with couples, probably because it was the weekend. It was quite a small place too, and I wondered just how delicious it must be for people to be lined up like this. I always turned around and left when there was a wait. Knowing me like that, Kang Junwoo glanced at me nervously.
“There are hella a lot of people. Just buying and leaving will take 30 minutes. Should we just go somewhere else?”
“No.”
Even while showing a surprised expression as if unexpected, I just fiddled with my phone nonchalantly. I wanted to contact Kkotmoa to ask if he was at the flower shop, but come to think of it, I still didn’t even know Kkotmoa’s number. Kang Junwoo, the school’s information source and social butterfly, would definitely know, but it was a bit awkward to ask. It was because I felt guilty for no reason since we were in front of a dessert cafe. The so-called state of a thief’s feet tingling.
Thanks to people buying and leaving right away, after about 20 minutes it became my and Kang Junwoo’s turn. Instead of all those many people who had been in front of me disappearing in an instant, that many people had increased behind me.
“Want to buy it and go eat at my place?”
“No.”
Whether Kang Junwoo was disappointed or not, I answered in a monosyllable and immediately paid for the chocolate cake. I didn’t forget to say to wrap it up. Kang Junwoo seemed like he’d eat several pieces as he was still choosing. Three fingers on his left hand were already folded. That pig bastard must be buying more than three.
Meanwhile, the chocolate cake I ordered came out wrapped. When asked how many candles I needed, I said to give me five. Just because—I remembered the age of the five-year-old small lump who’d only held up four fingers.
“I’m leaving.”
I gave a short farewell while looking at Kang Junwoo handing his card to the employee. I heard sounds from behind asking where I was going, telling me to wait, but I ignored them and immediately got in a taxi. My mood was floating the entire way to the flower shop. It was probably excitement. I was proud and pleased with myself for finding an excuse. Unlike the day I followed Kkotmoa, today I could confidently go straight into the flower shop.
There wasn’t a single customer in the flower shop. Even though it was the weekend, with no customers like this, I wondered if their family’s circumstances were difficult. Where the hell were all those numerous couples with feathers flying doing what that they weren’t even buying flowers? I wanted to threaten the couples who filled the dessert cafe earlier to come here and buy flowers to give to their girlfriends as gifts. Then suddenly I got worried. Flowers have a set lifespan, so what happens to Kkotmoa’s dad if he can’t sell all these flowers before they wilt? Would Kkotmoa’s family’s situation become even more difficult then?
“Huh? Hyeondo-ya, what brings you here? Did you come to buy flowers?”
Kkotmoa, who spotted me first, came out while holding the child. The life form that looked like a small lump only stared intently at me with jet-black eyes but didn’t acknowledge me. So I greeted first.
“Hello.”
“…”
“Our Jaea couldn’t take a nap today so he’s sensitive right now. His irritation level is maxed out.”
Instead of the lump who mercilessly trampled on my greeting and buried his face in Kkotmoa’s nape, Kkotmoa whispered. He seemed to have lowered his voice with the intention of not letting the child hear, but wouldn’t it be heard even better by the child being held? Sure enough, the fidgeting lump stared intently at me again. While whining as if to say I’m really annoyed right now so don’t annoy me more. I didn’t know what this situation was and tried to figure it out for a moment. Surely that tiny lump who was only five years old wasn’t protesting for me to read the room.
“Can I come in?”
“Of course. Come in.”
It was the first time seeing Kkotmoa in casual clothes. A loose white knit sweater and neat jeans suited him well. He looked prettier than in his school uniform. I suddenly thought that if he touched flowers dressed like this, the area around him would be bright. As always, the prettiest flower among all these many flowers was decided.
“Hello.”
“Hm? Was it Hyeondo? Welcome. Are you here to buy flowers today too?”
“No. My mom sent greetings saying that even though it’s a friend’s family’s place, she bought a splendid flower basket too cheaply. It’s nothing much, but please accept this.”
I spat out the words I’d prepared in the taxi the whole way here and held out the chocolate cake I’d carefully carried in my arms. As if this was the first time, Kkotmoa’s dad said thank you and that my parents seemed like good people, looking awkward. The guy who showed a clear smile while holding the lump also said thank you. With that size, no matter how much of a pig bastard the lump was, he couldn’t finish it all even if it took him a week by himself. So Kkotmoa would definitely eat some too.
“Then I’ll be going. Please take care. I’m leaving.”
I cleanly achieved only my purpose and turned around. This time too, Kkotmoa followed me out.
“You have to tell your mom we’re grateful.”
“Yeah. But what’s your number?”
“My cell phone number?”
“Yeah.”
Because he was holding the lump, Kkotmoa called out his number with his mouth. I pressed each number he called out one by one and saved it. And I pressed the call button. A vibration sound came from the back of his jeans.
“I called.”
“Okay, I’ll save it. Let’s go, I’ll walk you to the bus stop.”
I had no intention of refusing today. Even though the bus stop was only a 5-minute walk away, if I walked as slowly as possible, it would take about 8 minutes.
The moment Kkotmoa stood next to me, the late April air suddenly became muggy as if it were August. However, my wish was just a wish. Kkotmoa had to turn around before taking even two steps. Because the squirming lump was irritated and whined so much, he had no choice but to return to the flower shop.
Even though he’s five years old, your kid is really understanding.
I wanted to complain but couldn’t. Anyway, since I’d planned to just drop off the chocolate cake and leave, I consoled myself that it was okay and got in a taxi. However, I couldn’t shake the uncomfortable feeling that the lump with jet-black eyes seemed to have done it on purpose.
