“Why did you come out alone? Where’s Father?”
“He says he has something to do.”
His feigned innocence was brazen even to himself. Fortunately, the family lost interest without much suspicion.
Just then, the nephew who had been crawling around started whining as if something displeased him. Jun-wan stretched out his arms and took the one-year-old baby instead.
His form of holding the baby was unexpectedly skilled. He personally wiped the drool from the baby’s mouth, and when he made eye contact, the crying baby grinned, showing teeth the size of rice grains as if nothing had happened.
“……”
The sight was so unexpected that Yu-shin couldn’t help but have his gaze stolen. At the stare fixed on him, Jun-wan looked to the side.
“Why?”
“No, nothing.”
He couldn’t bring himself to say that the sight of him with a child suited him more than expected. Yu-shin silently sipped the tea Jun-wan had poured while repeatedly taking in the sight of him and the baby.
If he had lived an ordinary life, if he had married someone of the opposite sex like everyone else, he might have had a child and become a father, holding his own child in his arms.
Many thoughts arose. Yu-shin originally had no thoughts of marriage and even less thought of continuing the family line. When he could barely take care of his own body, what was this talk of a second generation?
But Park Jun-wan was different. He would surely have been a good father. Because he married a man who was fundamentally incapable of childbearing, the opportunity for happiness that Jun-wan could have enjoyed had flown away forever. Though it wasn’t his fault, the feeling of being sorry and pitiful was unavoidable.
Yu-shin’s gaze gradually moved downward. The feet floating in the air were so small that his hand moved automatically. The plump instep and the wriggling little toes—how could a person’s feet possibly be the size of a palm?
As he absentmindedly played with them, his sister-in-law watched the scene closely and laughed.
“Cute, right?”
“Yes, even the baby smell… is so nice.”
“Yu-shin, you should hold one too. Here’s one more.”
His sister-in-law pulled up the baby in her arms like pulling a radish and handed it over. Yu-shin ended up holding the baby in his arms. The one-year-old was heavier than expected and sat up straight rather than snuggling in. Both the one holding and the one being held faced each other looking mutually uncomfortable.
“Uh uh… is it okay? Sorry. What should I do?”
When he floundered, having never held a baby before, the family all laughed without exception. Advice poured in saying to support here, cradle this side. It was small, but this was the charm of family gatherings.
Some time later, the study door opened and Minister Park slowly walked out. Having composed himself, his face looked as stern as usual.
“Father, have some cake.”
“No, rather than that.”
Minister Park looked around at each family member’s face. His gaze lingered particularly briefly on Yu-shin. After clearing his throat loudly, he spoke leisurely with his hands clasped behind his back.
“Since we’re all gathered for once, let’s take a family photo.”
At the unexpected suggestion, Madam Son was surprised and eldest hyung’s eyes widened. But they were only a little surprised—it was a suggestion they would welcome with both hands.
Eldest hyung stepped forward to set up the phone camera. Since he frequently took photos with the babies, he always carried a portable tripod.
“It would be good to take it from this side.”
What kind of day was this? Not only suggesting taking a photo was surprising, but he was even designating the location. Following Minister Park’s active request, the family took a photo with Ungang’s landscape painting behind them.
“Ahem, well… would it be alright to take one separately with Kim Yu-shin?”
Everyone except Jun-wan looked confused about the reason. Is he being considerate because he’s new family? Hyung Jun-seo volunteered as photographer and held the phone in his hand.
“I’ll take it. One, two!”
While the photo was being taken, Minister Park quietly made a V-sign with the hand placed on his lower abdomen. While his expression was stern, the pose he struck was somehow full of excitement.
It was about time to leave. Minister Park, who had come down to the parking lot to see the family off, suddenly requested a handshake from Yu-shin.
“Thank you for coming. Thank you so much for becoming part of our family.”
It was an excessive greeting. Yu-shin smiled deliberately and gently clasped hands with Minister Park.
“Please cherish those precious hands… and by all means, I ask for vigorous artistic activities. In my view, Yu-shin’s talent is too precious to let it sit idle and go to waste.”
“Thank you for viewing it favorably, Father. And happy birthday.”
At the word “Father,” Minister Park showed his front teeth widely. For such a man, even smiling like this was rare.
Leaving the send-off behind, they got in the car. Yu-shin, who sat in the passenger seat and fastened his seatbelt thoroughly, was lost in thought for a moment. Only after exiting the apartment complex and merging onto the road thick with darkness did he open his tightly closed mouth.
“You knew, didn’t you?”
“How could I not know?”
Jun-wan leisurely gripped the steering wheel. His voice was utterly calm.
“I told you he’s a huge fan. He’s someone who’s looked at Ungang’s paintings until they’re worn thin.”
“He might think you were influenced by him. There are actually many such artists.”
Jun-wan briefly rolled his eyes. It was a look reproaching that it was nonsensical talk.
“You should have painted moderately well.”
“……”
Yu-shin scratched his forehead for no reason. He didn’t know if it was praise or criticism, but heat rushed to his face anyway.
“I asked him not to let it show. Father is the type to keep his mouth shut, so you don’t need to worry about that.”
“He must feel frustrated inside.”
Yu-shin looked toward the car window and let out a breath.
“Haah, maybe I shouldn’t have given it.”
“He was extremely pleased. It’s the first time I’ve seen him so moved.”
“Then that’s fortunate.”
Jun-wan’s words at least settled his uncomfortable feelings. Yu-shin leaned back more comfortably. Fatigue seemed to be coming belatedly. As tension released, his limbs felt heavy as a thousand pounds.
“…Did I make any mistakes today?”
There was no energy in his voice. Even his eyelids were flickering.
“You made no mistakes and did well. You worked hard.”
“…That’s a relief.”
Yu-shin yawned softly. His long eyelashes also blinked slowly. Soon his eyelids couldn’t overcome sleepiness and sank. Yu-shin’s even breathing filled the quiet car interior.
Jun-wan was sensing the person next to him with his whole body while driving. He knew Yu-shin had fallen asleep from exhaustion.
He saw an unexpected side of Kim Yu-shin mixed in with his own family. He thought they would float apart like water and oil, but they were more like one family than expected.
Courteous attitude, neat bearing, gentle voice and fresh smile. How could anyone not like Kim Yu-shin?
“……”
Taking advantage of being caught at a signal, Jun-wan rested his chin and fell into thought. His gaze turned once more to Yu-shin’s sleeping face.
Since everyone does.
Perhaps I naturally do as well.
***
5
Where the Typhoon Passed
There was a typhoon forecast.
From morning the sky was ominously dark, and now a fierce downpour was pouring so heavily you couldn’t see ahead. On the news, special reports continued instead of regular programming. With news that a large typhoon was landing, most shops closed their doors and schools issued closure orders. Jun-wan also received two days of leave.
Yu-shin also stopped working. Now he was sitting glued in front of the living room window, enjoying the outdoor scenery.
“Wow, the rain is falling sideways.”
Due to the roaring gale, the leaves were all swept to one side. Even the torrential rain flew sideways, defying gravity. Sometimes the dark sky flashed. It had really been several years since such a storm. There was a reason everyone was taking shelter and hiding.
Jun-wan had prepared for the typhoon early on. He moved all the terrace furniture to the basement and secured the garage door firmly. Since they had to be stuck inside the house until the typhoon subsided, he even stocked up thoroughly on food supplies to eat in the meantime.
After finishing all that work alone, he was now quietly working in the living room. The sound of tapping the laptop keyboard was newly pleasant to hear. Yu-shin stretched out his legs and gazed out the window. Unlike the fierce scenery outside, inside the house was only cozy.
“…Huh?”
Suddenly Yu-shin braced himself on the floor and stood up. After carefully looking out the window, he suddenly opened the double window and rushed outside.
“Kim Yu-shin!”
At that insane action, even Jun-wan, who had been still, left his seat. Was he in his right mind? Wind and rain were raging outside. Kim Yu-shin had gone out there with his bare body.
Only after going outside did he understand the reason for Kim Yu-shin’s impulsive action. A stray cat had come in to avoid the typhoon. Because the wind was so strong, it was crouched flat in the middle of the garden. Yu-shin, who had run out wearing slippers, picked up the frightened cat in his arms.
Jun-wan wrapped his arm around Yu-shin’s shoulders and brought him back inside the house. The rain poured so heavily that both of them got drenched in just a moment. When he closed the double window, the sound of dripping water echoed pathetically in the cozy house interior.
He was so dumbfounded he couldn’t speak.
Jun-wan swept back his wet hair and glared. In front of that, Yu-shin, who had been enduring the fierce gaze head-on, carefully opened his mouth.
“Don’t glare… talk with words.”
“I’m holding back. Because if I talk, I’ll obviously get angry.”
“You’re already angry.”
