“Regretful?”
Hae-won nodded and answered.
“I suppose so. Since there aren’t many opportunities to be alone with hyung.”
“Right, there are some restrictions.”
Seo-an smiled awkwardly. As Hae-won said, Seo-an’s time flowed entirely centered around Ji-yu. Ji-yu was still at an age that needed adult care, and it was a dangerous time to leave her alone. Since she was a young child who could bounce anywhere, you never knew when or where something might happen, so he had to pay close attention as close as possible.
That said, he never thought of it as inconvenient.
But might it be a bit inconvenient for Hae-won who doesn’t have a child?
Seo-an unknowingly checked Hae-won’s complexion. Fortunately, the regret that seemed to linger on his face for a moment soon disappeared. As if to say what can you do, Hae-won shrugged his shoulders and rested his chin on his hand with that characteristically bright and pretty smile.
They left the theater solemnly to spend time together just the two of them, but since the given time was short, the place the two people arrived at was just a cafe across the street.
There were many people in the cafe who appeared to be children’s guardians. Though he didn’t know what circumstances each person had, seeing that most were men, it seemed like husbands who had lost their place while their wives watched the musical with the children were wandering around the cafe.
Seo-an met eyes with Hae-won, who was staring at him wondering what he was thinking, and recalled this morning’s phone call. Did he say he welcomed getting to know each other again? On top of that, he openly scolded him to learn from Ji-yu. Seo-an rolled his eyes for a moment, then looked at Hae-won again and asked.
“So why aren’t you getting a job? Isn’t it more awkward to see your parents because of that?”
“You’re only asking that now?”
Hae-won twitched his eyebrows lowly. But as if he wasn’t particularly offended, he made a sound with his vocal cords going “mm” and rolled his eyes upward.
Seo-an bit his straw while deducing the answer. The cool beverage went down his throat. On cold days, he always drank hot beverages, but today for some reason he was craving an ade so he ordered it.
“Is there a separate reason?”
When he added the question one more time, Hae-won shook his head side to side. It was quite a different answer from when he wiggled his eyebrows as if there was a reason he was playing around.
“Then?”
“Just. Anyway, I think I’ll have to enter my father’s company.”
Ah, as expected.
He had heard whispers at university saying “he’s a rich family’s son.” He never directly asked if the rumor was true. It was his personal situation anyway, and he thought he didn’t need to know even his background. To be precise, his background had no influence on him.
But it seems his parents run a business. It seemed to be a scale large enough to pass down too.
We’re really getting to know each other anew.
While it was funny that Hae-won’s words seemed to be coming true, Seo-an substituted an answer with a low nod. Hae-won continued his answer while scratching his eyebrow as if it wasn’t very pleasant.
“If I start working, I won’t be as free as now, and I can’t play when I want to play. So it’s just a kind of grace period. I’m going to play for exactly 2 years and then get a job.”
“Didn’t you already play quite a bit?”
“That… is true. What, are you management?”
“What management?”
It wasn’t like he worked at his father’s company, so Seo-an laughed lowly at Hae-won’s behavior of attaching nonsensical words. Regardless, Hae-won grumbled while drooping the corners of his mouth as if displeased.
“Don’t nag. I went today and heard that the whole time too.”
Aigoo, I’m tired.
As if exhausted just thinking about it, Hae-won shook his head and sprawled over the table. Even in the midst of that, it was funny how he glanced to check the cup’s position in case he spilled the drink, so when he laughed, Hae-won’s lips also curved up prettily.
Since he already brought it up, Seo-an decided to rather ask more about his story. Hae-won would persistently ask him about this and that if given the chance anyway. Since he still didn’t want to reveal his own circumstances, getting to know Hae-won seemed like a much better direction.
“You don’t have siblings separately. Then if you enter your father’s company, you’ll become the chairman there later, right?”
“It’s not enough to call it chairman.”
“Then just CEO?”
“Probably? My major was actually to take over my father’s company.”
“…Your father is in advertising?”
I didn’t know this either.
Seo-an thought what would have happened if he hadn’t brought this up today.
It’s not my company, is it? Seo-an looked at him with eyes saying no way, but Hae-won was just smiling brightly.
…Well, how many advertising companies are there in Korea? Among all those companies, there’s no way his company’s CEO would be Hae-won’s father. Plus, the CEO’s name was different.
I guess not, when he was about to move on, Hae-won looked at Seo-an with eyes asking if there was anything else he was curious about.
“When did Ji-yu say she liked Ye-in? She didn’t say that to me.”
“It’s been a while. But she’s embarrassed so she told me not to tell daddy. She said when she makes her her girlfriend later, she’ll brag to daddy then.”
“Really….”
“Ji-yu is so cute. It shows that hyung loved her.”
“Really…?”
Seo-an bore a low smile.
Thank goodness. No matter how much children don’t know their parents’ affairs, it would be a lie if he said he didn’t worry that since a man was raising her alone, she might not be as meticulous as other homes, and whether that might show on the outside.
Seo-an inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. A child who shows signs of being loved. It was words he wanted to hear, and words he wanted to make heard. Ji-yu hears those words. Just that alone was rewarding, and the smile blooming on his lips gradually deepened.
Then, as if the musical had ended, a call came from Ye-in’s mother with whom he had exchanged numbers. Seo-an, who smiled slightly at Hae-won who was showing regretful signs, answered the phone.
“Yes, ma’am. Has it ended?”
—Yes, sir. It has ended, but… Ji-yu seems really sad to part with Ye-in. We’re going camping this evening, and could we possibly take Ji-yu along with us?
“…Camping? Ji-yu?”
Seo-an, who opened his eyes wide, looked at Hae-won. As if it was welcome news from what he was hearing, Hae-won nodded his head very busily.
Seo-an smiled awkwardly and answered.
“No, still… Ji-yu isn’t prepared at all, so it would be difficult for you if you just take her. Plus she’s a boy….”
It would be a lie if he said he wasn’t tempted. Still, he couldn’t readily entrust the child to someone else’s house. Plus, she should be a bit lively. He could already hear the sound of bouncing around from beyond the receiver, so he was worried about what kind of fuss she would make if she really went camping.
But from beyond the receiver, as if to say what’s the problem with that, a willing answer came back.
—Ye-in won’t let go of her hand saying she wants to go with Ji-yu too…. Ye-in has an older brother above her. The baby’s daddy also likes kids, so I think it would be fine to go together, but would it be too hard for Ji-yu?
“Ah, no. It’s not that… I just feel like we’re imposing too much.”
—Ah, it’s okay. Or next time when we’re having a hard time, I’ll ask you to watch our kids. We’re just helping each other like that, you know.
Is this how everyone lives? Seo-an was confused. In the meantime, Hae-won, as if telling him to appropriately agree, kept closing his eyes tightly and nodding his head shallowly whenever their eyes met.
“…Then, could I talk to Ji-yu briefly?”
—Uh-uh, daddy?
The child’s cute voice with clear pitch dug into his ears. The difficulty from just moments ago also disappeared, and when he swallowed the laughter that burst out because she was just so cute, he heard another cute sound saying ‘daddy’ from that side.
“Yeah, Ji-yu-ya. No… are you going camping with Ye-in?”
—Mm-hm. Ji-yu, camping with Ye-in. Ji-yu shouldn’t go?
“No, …um, yeah. Have fun and come back. But Ji-yu-ya.”
—Ye-yeah?
“Ye-in’s parents aren’t daddy. Even if you’re tired, endure it a little, listen well, and then come to daddy and be tired. Got it?”
Seo-an controlled the young child’s behavior with an anxious heart, worried that even the tantrums a young child would naturally throw might make her hated, and whether she might hear bad words for no reason.
Fortunately, the child didn’t feel hurt and answered clearly with a “yeah.” As if this kind of nagging was familiar from hearing it several times, a firm voice saying she could do it was also heard.
Only after calling Ye-in’s mother again and greeting her asking her to take good care did Seo-an make a somewhat comfortable expression. If there’s any problem at all, please contact right away, and he’ll come pick her up. He didn’t forget to say that too.
“Haah….”
Is this okay?
When Seo-an put down his phone with a sigh, Hae-won grinned and pulled his body forward. Supporting his chin prettily with both hands, he was smiling brightly.
“As expected, things that are meant to be work out somehow. Heaven is helping, right?”
“Is heaven really helping? Is it okay to just entrust the kid like this?”
“Next time we can watch their kids. We’re younger than them, so we can play more intensely.”
…Well, that’s also true.
Seo-an drank all of the remaining ade while still holding onto the lingering unease.
Since the child ended up going to play with Ye-in’s parents, there was no reason for the two of them to spend time here either. Thinking it would be good to get up soon, Seo-an showed Hae-won an expression saying let’s go.
“Then, …since it turned out like this anyway, let’s drink.”
There’s no kid anyway, and tomorrow is the weekend.
The incident from a few days ago was still settled in his mind, but for now, Seo-an first recited what he wanted to do. Hae-won nodded as if there was no difficulty.
“Good, let’s go to my house.”
At the added words, Seo-an also nodded saying he understood.
He had been curious anyway. What was his house like where he lived alone? How had he set it up? He’d never properly seen it, so he was secretly curious….
***
“Ah, hey… wait, just a sec….”
This wasn’t what I meant by doing this right away…?
Seo-an urgently grabbed Hae-won’s hot hand that came inside his T-shirt and groped his body fumblingly.
To be continued in Volume 2.
