Love Me More

Love Me More Side Story 12

“Ice cream is here!”

After the distribution was over, it was snack time. As soon as they heard “ice cream,” the children rushed over in a crowd. Even when told to line up, they were unstoppable. They surrounded the person holding the ice cream in a circle, each stretching out their hands. Some clever children even managed to grab two.

“My, they’re something else, aren’t they?”

As Woo Hyun-se watched from a distance, a volunteer who had approached nearby struck up a conversation. Whether he had received the ice cream during the commotion or had gotten it before giving it to the children, he was holding two. He offered one to Hyun-se, who accepted it.

“Don’t the kids ask you to buy them things?”

While they often clung to Woo Gi-bbeum, children didn’t approach Hyun-se. Although he looked kind, his puffy ears like dumplings or the scar-like mark near his neck seemed to instinctively repel them. Touching his ear, which was still swollen despite the blood being removed, he answered indifferently.

“Yes.”

The volunteer laughed, saying he was lucky, and continued talking. Although Hyun-se found the conversation bothersome, he remained silent as he had nothing else to do.

“When you volunteer at orphanages, there’s always one or two cunning children. They’re actually starved for affection, but it can be quite troublesome for volunteers.”

“Is that so?”

“Especially that child. His name is Kwon Yuwon, and he’s like the boss here. He’s so sly. He’s already using his looks to his advantage. Be careful. If he comes and asks you to buy something, you might end up doing it without realizing.”

The volunteer pointed to one of the children in the group. He was a pretty boy. His upturned eyes were sharp and clear. Even now, he was tugging at the collar of a naive-looking volunteer, begging for ice cream. The volunteer, falling for his cute face, handed over his own portion.

However, Kwon Yuwon didn’t eat his spoils. Instead, he ran over to a child sitting in a corner, holding the ice cream. The child who had been drawing on the ground with his finger slowly raised his head at Yuwon’s call.

Just then, someone passed by, blocking the view, so it wasn’t clear whether the child accepted the ice cream or refused it. As Hyun-se was about to watch further, he heard Woo Jung-ryeol’s forced laughter from behind and turned away in disgust.

Leaving the auditorium, he looked for a secluded place. Following a fragrant scent from somewhere, he found a bench overgrown with wisteria behind a building. Clusters of flowers like bunches of grapes hung down from the branches.

Since no one was around, he sat comfortably on the bench, stretching his legs out. He was thinking of killing time and joining the others at the departure time. If he was caught before then, it couldn’t be helped.

He crossed his legs, rested his elbow on the bench, and lifted his head. The flower clusters were hanging low enough to touch his nose. As he was about to pluck one, enjoying the scent, he sensed a small presence nearby. He lowered his hand and turned his head.

A child was standing behind the wall, peeking out hesitantly with half his face showing. His moonflower-like fair face seemed somewhat familiar.

A beat later, Hyun-se remembered where he had seen him. It was the child to whom the cunning little one had delivered his spoils.

Although he wouldn’t have cared who came, seeing the child’s large eyes made him unable to remain indifferent. Those eyes, which seemed like they would burst into tears at the slightest touch, like water droplets, piqued his interest.

“Hello.”

Sensing that the child seemed scared, Hyun-se put on his gentlest smile and greeted him. The child glanced at Hyun-se occasionally, then slowly emerged from behind the wall. Noticing the child’s gaze wandering near his hand, Hyun-se realized he was fixated on the tube-shaped ice cream he had inadvertently brought out, having nowhere to throw it away.

“Do you want this?”

When Hyun-se offered it, saying he didn’t like sweet things anyway, the child hesitated, fidgeting. Eventually, seeming to have made up his mind, he cautiously approached. However, he struggled to open the wrapper. His face looked dejected as he glanced back and forth between Hyun-se and the ice cream.

“Give it here.”

Hyun-se unwrapped it, removed the cap, and placed it in the child’s hand. Only then did the child sit down next to him, swinging his legs and putting the ice cream in his mouth.

After focusing on eating for a while, the child suddenly looked at Hyun-se. Furrowing his brow as if in thought, he abruptly held out the ice cream.

“You want me to eat it?”

The child didn’t answer but just nodded. Finding his sincerity cute, Hyun-se opened his mouth, but before the ice cream reached him, the child’s expression became desperate. His reddened lips also parted. Thinking the child might cry if he actually took a bite, Hyun-se chuckled softly and straightened up.

“You eat it all.”

The child’s previously gloomy expression brightened again. He nibbled away at the ice cream. After sucking out the last drop, he got up and threw the wrapper in the trash.

Having completely let his guard down after the ice cream, the child soon climbed onto Hyun-se’s lap. Like a small puppy finding a soft cushion, he wriggled his bottom to get comfortable. Hyun-se, suddenly turned into a chair, was surprised but didn’t push the child away heartlessly.

‘Sometimes there are children who ask to be held. But it’s best not to indulge them if possible. If they get used to it, it becomes difficult for the next volunteers.’

He vaguely recalled the caution he had heard from a staff member. But he didn’t mind. The child’s body temperature, snuggled in his arms, was as warm as if he had absorbed the May sun. Thinking there were no prying eyes, Hyun-se thought, “What the hell,” and firmly wrapped his arm around the child’s waist to keep him from falling.

The child, seemingly in a good mood, swung his legs that didn’t reach the ground and hummed a song. Curious about what song it was, Hyun-se listened closely. He thought it would be a children’s song, but it was an old tune.

Fly me to the moon.

Let me play among the stars…

Isn’t this selection a bit too mature for a child to sing? The pitch and rhythm were almost completely off. Yet, with his pronunciation lisping due to two missing front teeth, the child sang enthusiastically. Hyun-se buried his face in the child’s nape, his shoulders shaking with suppressed laughter. He hadn’t had anything to laugh about lately, but thanks to this child, he was filling his monthly quota of laughter.

After finishing the song, the child glanced at Hyun-se with coy eyes. Though wordless, it was clear he was seeking praise. Clearing his throat, Hyun-se clapped his hands.

“You sang well.”

Only then did the child grin and wriggle. Hyun-se quickly loosened his arms, and the child squirmed to sit facing him. Then, he carefully reached out towards Hyun-se’s ear. His hand, as delicate as early spring leaves, brushed past the area with the bandage.

“Does this hurt a lot?”

“…”

For a moment, Hyun-se was at a loss for words, just looking at the child. The child was probably just asking about the swollen ear, but to Hyun-se, it sounded like a question with a deeper meaning. The child’s small, warm hand seemed to be soothing more than just the wound on his ear.

“No. It doesn’t hurt at all.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

Hearing the firm answer, the child grinned broadly. Even with his missing front teeth, he smiled brightly without hiding it. A breeze blew between them. Light purple flowers fell softly onto the child’s black hair and small shoulders. As the child shook his head, the flower petals now landed on Hyun-se’s hand, thigh, and shoes.

Hyun-se didn’t particularly like children. They cried and threw tantrums often, and were noisy. But this child was different. He was like a small, young, and delicate animal. One that hadn’t yet left its mother’s embrace.

His eyes were as clear as a mountain stream, and every movement was careful and lovable. The way he caressed the ear, the way his feet tapped to the rhythm of the song.

A child like this could be a good younger brother.

Or even a son.

“Do you want to be my son?”

Of course, it was an impossible proposal. It was a sudden, thoughtless suggestion, but even if it was taken as a joke, Hyun-se couldn’t push this lovely child under Woo Jung-ryeol’s shadow. It was enough for him and Woo Gi-bbeum to go through hell.

The child blinked his large eyes slowly. After a beat, he lowered his head, but not long after, he shook it. It was a wise choice.

Hearing footsteps running towards them, Hyun-se turned his gaze first. The child that the volunteer had called cunning earlier was glaring at the bench, panting. The child sitting on Hyun-se’s lap flinched and quickly got down. Feeling the sudden loss of warmth, Hyun-se briefly clenched and unclenched his fist.

“Where have you been? I’ve been looking for you!”

“You were looking for me?”

“Yes. I said I’d give you snacks, but I couldn’t find you…”

Kwon Yuwon tightly grasped Si-yul’s hand and pulled him towards himself. Hiding him behind his back, he glared at Hyun-se with wide eyes. He looked exactly like a wildcat with its fur bristling.

“You, didn’t I tell you not to talk to strangers?”

“But he’s nice… He gave me ice cream.”

“You shouldn’t trust adults. Come here. Let’s go inside.”

Yuwon pulled the hesitant child. Before leaving the bench, the child looked back. When his eyes met Hyun-se’s, he opened his mouth in a crescent and grinned broadly. That beaming smile was as vibrant as roses blooming on a fence, and as modest as hydrangeas in full bloom.

“…”

Wisteria flowers fell like a sudden shower in the breeze. After brushing back his disheveled hair, the child was nowhere to be seen.

Only Hyun-se remained. He too soon stood up, dusting off his pants. Before leaving the bench, he looked back briefly, just as the child had done. The clusters of light purple flowers were dancing gently, scattering a fragrance reminiscent of the child.

Hyun-se inhaled deeply, taking the scent into his lungs. It was a fragrance that seemed like it would linger in his memory for a very long time.

―Fin.