“What are you doing, Do Hyeondo sunbae-nim.”
“Just put it on. I don’t want to wear it because it’s stuffy, but it’s annoying to carry.”
“Am I your luggage carrier?”
Even though he said it in a sharp tone, I was just happy that he spoke to me like before.
“……Just pretend you don’t notice and let it slide, something like this. You look cold.”
His lips, which had been moving to say something, pressed shut. Still, I was relieved that he didn’t take off the trench coat I’d draped over his shoulders. Honestly, I was a bit cold since I was only wearing a shirt, but I pretended otherwise and straightened my shoulders confidently. In this weather, if it had been Kang Junwoo walking beside me, I would have taken the clothes he was wearing by force and put them on myself. That’s how much I hated the cold.
But I hated you being cold more.
The place Kkotmoa went to pick up Deonggeori was an apartment complex not far from the villa where Kkotmoa lived. The day after sleeping over at Kkotmoa’s place, Kkotmoa had also gone to this apartment complex to pick up Deonggeori.
“Whose house did you leave him at?”
“My aunt’s.”
According to the report, this was the house where they were left for a month and a half after their dads disappeared.
“She was an aunt I met for the first time two years ago, and she’s Dad’s younger sister. But since she doesn’t have kids, she dotes on Jaea like her own son. Jaea follows her well too. If it weren’t for me, she probably would have wanted to raise him.”
I was a little happy. That he still opened up to me about his story so calmly.
‘The next day, they got in contact with someone called an aunt, and they moved into that house. It seems their dad asked her before leaving, but she seemed to have thought about it for a while. Taking in an adult and a young child isn’t easy.’
At that moment, Kkotmoa’s words overlapped with Kang Junwoo’s words. The reason this aunt person contacted them late must have been because of Kkotmoa. It was heartbreaking that a person endlessly precious to me could become a freeloader and an uncomfortable existence to someone else.
“Deonggeori…….”
“Wants to live with me. Honestly, thinking about Jaea, I know living at my aunt’s house is the right path for him, but now I can’t do without Jaea. That’s selfish, isn’t it?”
“……Not at all.”
The reason Kkotmoa was able to get a consensual dissolution of adoption was because he was an adult. And for Deonggeori, who was still young, the procedures were a bit complicated, but according to what I was reported, the ones who helped at that time were the aunt and her husband—the younger sister of their flower shop dad. I had received a report that both Kkotmoa’s flower shop dad and the dad who was in the hospital had cut ties with their families, but when the situation became difficult, it seemed they swallowed their pride and received help from the younger sister.
After entering the apartment complex, Kkotmoa’s steps became noticeably slower. I knew it was wishful thinking, and it could just be that he was uncomfortable going to his aunt’s house, but I wanted to think what was favorable to me.
That he slowed his steps because he wanted to walk with me a little longer.
“But you’re not asking me anything?”
“About what.”
“You came to my house, so you know it’s just me and Jaea living together. Ah, did you already hear from Junwoo?”
“Ah…….”
There were things I heard from Kang Junwoo, but the overall situation was actually thanks to having Secretary Park investigate. But since I couldn’t answer properly, Kkotmoa seemed to think I heard it from Kang Junwoo.
“It was you, wasn’t it?”
“What?”
“Our Daddy’s hospital bills back then.”
“Ah…….”
Like an idiot, I just repeated “what” and “ah……” to Kkotmoa’s words. I’d already missed the timing to say no. I’ve never lost in words to other kids, but in front of Kkotmoa, even my good brain doesn’t work well. I was just desperate to look good.
“Why did you do that?”
“……Because at that time, that was all I could do for you. I’m sorry for doing it without telling you. But it definitely wasn’t out of pity.”
“I know. It’s late, but…….”
“Yeah.”
“……Thank you. I also found out later, but it wasn’t just that our family situation was difficult—we apparently had a lot of debt. So even though Dad earned a lot of money, it was so bad that he couldn’t resolve all the overdue hospital bills. I didn’t know any of that, you know. Anyway, it’s very late, but really, thank you. Our dad said an angel had visited and cried a lot.”
I was dumbfounded by the unexpected words of thanks. I thought he’d say it was unpleasant and ask why I did that, but it wasn’t like that at all. Rather, on the contrary, Kkotmoa conveyed his gratitude sincerely. But there’s no angel as selfish as me in this world. If I had known it would be like this, I should have gone a little earlier to swipe my card back then—I felt regret.
“I thought I only had luck with family, but I guess I have luck with friends too.”
Just being promoted from acquaintances to friends made me happy for now. I would get closer to him little by little like this. I’d never been his friend even once, but I felt both sorry and grateful that he called me a friend with just one apology. Kkotmoa was still kind.
“And Junwoo did that thing with the villa I’m living in now too.”
“What?”
“A proxy came to sign the contract, but Kang Junwoo’s name was on the contract. At first I wondered if it was someone with the same name, but I became friendly with the people living in the villa and found out—only my rent is half price. So I was certain.”
“He doesn’t seem to know…….”
“Yeah. He seemed like he didn’t want to tell me, so I pretended not to know. I think he deliberately sent someone else because he was afraid I’d refuse. Still, I’ll buy him soju when I get the chance and thank him properly.”
Kkotmoa seemed unchanged but had changed. He used to be someone who refused help from others. But now he had grown enough to accept it with gratitude.
Even though we walked at an endlessly slow pace, we were already standing at the entrance of an apartment building. I said I’d wait because it felt awkward to follow him in. Kkotmoa nodded and went into the apartment alone.
I made tremendous progress in just one day. He kept calling me “Do Hyeondo sunbae-nim” and used stiff formal speech—no, even his formal speech was soft and gentle. Anyway, I broke through that faster than expected. I thought that what Kkotmoa wanted to hear might have been my sincerity.
“So I told my aunt I’d only come sleep over when hyung-ah is busy……, huh? It’s that weird hyung-ah from back then.”
Deonggeori, who had been chattering while holding Kkotmoa’s hand and swinging it back and forth, spotted me first.
“Hello, Deonggeori.”
He was now clearly in human form with distinct arms and legs to the point where it was embarrassing to call him Deonggeori, but I didn’t know what else to call him, and it felt too cringeworthy to say “Jaea-ya,” so I just called him Deonggeori. But as expected of Kkotmoa’s younger brother, he was no pushover. Deonggeori was still my greatest rival.
“Are you not only weird but also ignorant? I clearly told you back then…….”
“I know. You’re Shin Jaea, 3rd grade, class 6, number 18 at Gukmin Elementary School.”
“……Hyung-ah, I’m scared. I think this hyung-ah is going to come to school and kidnap me.”
No, what does he think I am?
“Excuse me, go look somewhere else, our family is poor. We have no money. My hyung-ah’s back is breaking from working part-time to raise me.”
Where did this little one learn the expression “back breaking,” and yet the way he looked me straight in the eye while saying it was quite manly and bold. Still, I found it admirable that he knew his hyung was raising him while working part-time. Kkotmoa, who had been watching with giggles, mediated the situation.
“He’s hyung’s friend. Don’t you remember seeing him often when you were little, our Jaea?”
“Really? I saw someone this weird often?”
“Hey, do you know how much I held you?”
“Ugh, what’s he saying.”
When I joined in, number 18 from 3rd grade, class 6 at Gukmin Elementary School pretended to vomit. It seemed he’d forgotten even the promise we made as men. I had vowed to keep the secret to the grave, but it was all for nothing. This is why you can’t trust small creatures that haven’t achieved human form.
“What do you want to eat?”
“……Hyung-ah, you’re eating dinner with this hyung-ah?”
I asked Kkotmoa, but number 18 from 3rd grade, class 6, who had been alternating glances between me and Kkotmoa for a moment, asked.
“Yeah. Let’s eat out after a long time. Jaea, what do you want to eat?”
“Excuse me, weird hyung-ah.”
Number 18 from 3rd grade, class 6’s expression was solemn.
“What.”
“Buy us meat. Then I’ll acknowledge that you’re our hyung-ah’s friend.”
“……What?”
“Junwoo hyung-ah bought meat three times, so I acknowledged him as our hyung-ah’s friend.”
I didn’t need to worry about this kid. Unlike Kkotmoa, he was very wise to the ways of the world. I quickly stopped Kkotmoa from trying to scold number 18 from 3rd grade, class 6.
“An important deal is happening right now, so you stay out of it.”
“That’s right, hyung-ah just needs to trust me.”
Kkotmoa watched us, both exasperated and amused. I’d already finished calculating how to easily make number 18 from 3rd grade, class 6—my greatest rival and obstacle—into my ally. Three-six-eighteen is no match for me.
“What kind of meat did Kang Junwoo buy you?”
“Pork belly. Three whole times.”
“Good. If I buy you pork belly three hundred times and sirloin three hundred times, what will you acknowledge me as?”
“Our hyung-ah’s friend.”
“Hey, that’s not a profitable deal. Why are three times of pork belly and three hundred times of pork belly plus three hundred times of sirloin getting the same result? You’re bad at studying, aren’t you?”
“Tsk, I’m still around the middle of my class, you know?! And don’t use difficult words. Are you looking down on me because I’m an elementary schooler right now? At this rate, I might not even let you be our hyung-ah’s friend.”
The way he threatened showed he’d done this more than once or twice. The kid was cunning, and not just ordinarily cunning. He was completely different from his hyung. Even when he was Deonggeori, he only knew his hyung, and even after becoming three-six-eighteen in human form, he was still the same. Even if he was cunning, it felt newly pleasant that Kkotmoa had such a reliable younger brother.
“Number 18 from 3rd grade, class 6. Which is more, three times or three hundred times?”
“Obviously three hundred, are you really looking down on me?”
“No. I’m just confirming to be precise. If you want, I can buy you and your hyung meat every single day until I die.”
“Really? Hyung-ah, do you have a lot of money like Junwoo hyung-ah too?”
“Yeah. Fucking tons. Way more than Kang Junwoo. He can’t beat me with money.”
Die, Do Hyeondo.
I was bragging about money in front of an elementary schooler, something I’d never done in front of Kkotmoa. Even I thought it was childish and embarrassing, but somehow I felt like this was an opportunity, so I couldn’t stop.
