When the assorted sashimi came out as the next course, his round eyes sparkled like starlight. Sitting down on his knees as if moved by the glossy fresh fish sashimi, his face pondering which one to eat first was innocent like a child.
“Wow……”
Ian’s face melted smoothly as he tasted the sea bream sashimi. The translucent white flesh was firm yet chewed softly.
Light yet with a subtle sweetness lingering like an aftertaste, he immediately picked up another piece to eat. When it felt slightly rich, adding wasabi made the umami even stronger.
Ian, who had been tasting the sashimi almost in a state of rapture, discovered that only the sashimi on his side was decreasing. When he raised his head, he met the face that was smiling while looking at him.
“……Did I eat too ravenously?”
Only then did he become aware that he had been so absorbed in the food that he had forgotten who was in front of him. Just in case, he felt around his mouth with his fingertips. Nothing came off on his fingertips, but he was concerned.
“No. It’s nice to see you eating well. If it’s not enough, I’ll order more, so eat it all.”
“Why aren’t you eating, Executive Director-nim?”
“I naturally have a small appetite.”
Convinced, Ian cleared his throat once then ate the remaining sashimi thoroughly. Every kind was delicious, so he didn’t even know he was full.
After eating the grilled conger eel that came out after the tataki, and the tofu dish topped with sea urchin and caviar, when the assorted tempura came out as a course dish, his stomach was bulging out.
“I’m so full, but I think I’ll regret it later if I leave this.”
Seeing how big and plump the shrimp was, Ian slyly placed his finger next to it and compared. It was thicker than his finger.
“You can also pack it to go, so don’t force yourself to eat. It’ll be troublesome if you get indigestion.”
“Yes.”
Though his stomach was full, Ian cleanly emptied the plate with the tempura, and thoroughly ate even the yuzu sorbet and dango that came out for dessert.
Ganghyuk barely touched his food, so it was virtually as if he had eaten almost two servings of the course meal and three specialty dishes by himself. Standing next to Ganghyuk who was paying, he tried to glance at the receipt but failed.
“Next time, I’ll buy you something delicious.”
Feeling sorry that he seemed to only be treated every time, he said this, but Ganghyuk just laughed as if amused. The smile that had been awkward at first now suited him as if drawn on, so Ian, while blushing, stubbornly added:
“Business at the restaurant is doing well these days. I can definitely buy Executive Director-nim one delicious meal. Really.”
Of course, an expensive place like the restaurant Ganghyuk just paid for would be difficult, but there were plenty of delicious places at a reasonable price point.
And if he kept saving money little by little, the day would come someday when he could buy a meal at a place like this too. He was working hard every day to repay the debt he owed to Ganghyuk, after all.
“I like the soup restaurant you make the most.”
At Ganghyuk’s words as he stroked his head, Ian’s face heated up like a red radish. Though they were nothing special, one corner of his chest shook as if receiving a big shock.
Even though he already liked Ganghyuk so much, he had a premonition that he would like him even more in the future.
As they came out of the restaurant, the wind grew colder. Ian, who had subtly approached Ganghyuk’s side, held his hand.
“Ah, the wind is cold.”
When Ganghyuk stared at him intently, he looked elsewhere for no reason and complained about the weather. Why was this kind of physical contact more heart-fluttering than sex?
A low laugh reached his ears. When he glanced up, he could see Ganghyuk’s face smiling wonderfully, so Ian followed along with a laugh, unable to even hide his flushed face.
He wished every day could be like today.
Days where the soup restaurant business went smoothly, he didn’t have to worry about his father, didn’t have to tremble in fear of Hongdo coming back, and could enjoy small dates with Ganghyuk.
If he spent his days like this, the sadness of losing his grandfather, the shock of being betrayed by his father, and everything that happened with Hongdo would all fade.
He decided not to think about the too-distant future. This moment was so precious that the warmth of their clasped hands seeped into his chest.
On the way home, Ian fell into a deep sleep with his head leaning on Ganghyuk’s shoulder.
His stomach was full, the car was warm, and the shoulder he leaned on was reassuring. Ganghyuk’s pheromones occasionally enveloping his body felt cozy, making drowsiness wash over him.
His deceased grandfather appeared in his dream. As always, he looked at Ian affectionately and endlessly stroked his head.
‘My baby, don’t be too upset. Everything will be okay.’
I’m okay now. You know that boy you saved when he was young, grandfather? The one who was skinny and starved every day. That person helps me a lot. And he’s the person I like. I’ll introduce him to you soon, grandfather. I’m sorry I couldn’t visit often.
He had many things he wanted to say, but as if waking from the dream, his grandfather’s figure gradually faded, so Ian grabbed his grandfather’s hands that had been stroking his head with both hands.
Just as he couldn’t grasp all the grains of sand flowing down, his grandfather’s hands soon disappeared like an illusion.
‘You’re still a baby in my eyes…’
His grandfather’s voice also faded. Ian urgently stretched his arms forward, but it was useless.
Left alone in the empty space, Ian sobbed and cried. A suddenly unbearable loneliness rushed in.
In the dream, he couldn’t smell the scent he missed. He couldn’t feel his grandfather’s warmth either.
Only piercing longing remained, and tears dripped down. If he could see his grandfather just once more, he felt he could do anything.
He had only received too much. He had mistakenly thought his grandfather would be by his side forever. He had sent him off without being able to repay the love and grace he’d received from his grandfather.
Would it have been less difficult now if he had passed away after battling illness instead?
He resented the person who hit his grandfather with a car and ran away. Because of the bastard who didn’t even call 119 and just left him there, his grandfather passed away without receiving proper treatment.
How much must it have hurt? How cold must it have been?
Why did he oversleep that day too and couldn’t even see his grandfather off to the market? If he had known a little earlier that something had happened to his grandfather, wouldn’t his grandfather still be by his side?
Knowing that everything was futile imagination, Ian still couldn’t cut off the thoughts choking him.
“Yeon Ian.”
Then a voice calling Ian flew in from somewhere. Ian raised his eyes stained with tears at the low voice that suited the expression ‘resonating.’
But there was nothing to see. All around was pitch black. His crying grew louder from the fear of being swallowed by darkness.
“Wake up.”
The voice became even clearer than before. Even though he was sitting still, he felt his body shaking.
When he looked around thinking something was strange, this time his cheek was pinched. Startled, Ian stroked his cheek with his palm. Though it didn’t hurt, the pitch-black darkness was gradually breaking.
Only then did he realize he was wandering in a dream. As the darkness receded, his vision brightened.
“Kid, did you have a nightmare?”
As soon as he opened his eyes, he met Ganghyuk right in front of his nose. His face, with bangs naturally flowing down over his forehead, was full of worry.
A large hand stroked his forehead soaked with cold sweat. Ian blinked blankly, trying to accept reality.
When he said he wanted to eat raw fish, Ganghyuk had taken him to a wonderful restaurant and bought him delicious food. After eating until his stomach was about to burst, he had dozed off on the way home.
Ian was currently sitting with his back against the living room sofa. Unlike Ian, who was still in the clothes he’d worn out, Ganghyuk’s hair tips were moist, as if he’d just washed up.
“…Grandfather appeared in my dream.”
His voice came out deeply hoarse, as if he’d opened his mouth after a very long time. Just from speaking, his emotions welled up and tears streamed down.
His cheeks were drenched with tears, whether he’d been crying continuously in his sleep. Ganghyuk silently wiped Ian’s cheeks with the back of his hand.
“Executive Director can do anything, right?”
