Chapter 44
‘Ajumma wants to adopt me.’
There was a couple who had been sponsoring Minhyeon for quite a long time. Both were art professors, and they actively taught Minhyeon art, saying he had talent. And when Minhyeon became a high school student, they said they would officially adopt him and even help him get into art school. Coincidentally, this couple had no children of their own.
‘I want to keep living with hyung… Should I tell the Director I don’t want to go?’
‘Are you crazy? How well have ajumma and ajeossi treated you.’
Minhyeon genuinely hesitated about the adoption. Every night, lying side by side with Yuwon, he said he wanted to live with his hyung, not ajumma and ajeossi.
Yuwon’s answer was always the same. Are you crazy, stop thinking like that and leave this place. He repeated only those words like a model answer.
Not only Yuwon but the teachers also actively persuaded Minhyeon, and after agonizing for quite a long time, Minhyeon eventually accepted the adoption. He wasn’t foolish enough to throw away such a good opportunity that anyone could see.
Just before high school entrance, Minhyeon officially went through the adoption process. As the day of parting approached, the two of them spent each day as if nothing was wrong. They played games all night, chatted, and laughed even more brightly for no reason.
But on the day Minhyeon left the orphanage. When they were saying their final goodbye, Minhyeon finally shed the tears he had been holding back.
‘Hyung, I’ll miss you. Take care of yourself.’
Yuwon patted the back of Minhyeon, who was crying loudly in his arms. Ridiculously, no tears came. Even as he watched Minhyeon finish saying goodbye to the teachers and other children, get into the black car, and that car gradually move away, he felt strangely unaffected.
But when that black car appeared as small as a dot and then disappeared from sight forever, a single tear dropped. Another drop fell, and another drop plopped down. Just like that, tears burst forth helplessly.
In front of everyone watching, Yuwon collapsed like a child and poured out his tears.
Why did sending people away always have to be his burden? He couldn’t bear it because it was so unfair. He felt so sorry for himself, left alone in the end. He was also sorry for ultimately failing to congratulate Minhyeon.
I was jealous, so jealous of you. Imagining being left alone again was so scary, so terribly hateful…
Tears wouldn’t stop with all the emotions rushing in at once. After sitting on the cold winter street and crying for a long time, Yuwon had to suffer from a terrible fever the next day.
“…”
Lost in thought, Yuwon turned his gaze away from Minhyeon’s photo. It was all in the past anyway. There was no point in remembering.
Just then, Hyojin returned to the office, and Yuwon smiled brightly again. As they asked about each other’s well-being and shared barley tea, Minhyeon’s crying face gradually faded.
Then his phone in his pocket vibrated briefly.
[Did you arrive? Why haven’t you contacted me]
It was a text from Jeonghyeok. Come to think of it, the last message he’d sent was about going home. By now, he should have arrived home and then some.
“Teacher, I should get going now.”
“Already? That’s a shame.”
Yuwon hurriedly got up from his seat and sent a reply saying he’d forgotten to contact him because he was washing up. It was a lie that would be immediately exposed if he got a phone call, but it was an instinctive action without time to think deeply.
Fortunately, there was no particular contact from Jeonghyeok until he arrived home. The message showed as read, but no reply came. He was probably very busy.
While thinking it was fortunate, on the other hand, he found it amusing that he was relieved over something like this. He was blindly following his words because he didn’t want to see the angry ajeossi, but sometimes he wondered if this was normal.
‘Even if it’s your partner, you don’t have to accommodate everything. If they nag too severely, or interfere in everything. That’s not okay.’
Suddenly, Sohyeon’s words came to mind. Those words about not having to accommodate everything even if it’s your partner.
Am I being too accommodating to ajeossi? Won’t I become a pushover if I keep giving in to everything like this? Yuwon, who had been squinting hard, shook his head and headed to the bathroom.
Having such feelings was wrong. Considering the kindness ajeossi had shown, this much was nothing.
He was the person who embraced me when I had nowhere to go. He was the first person to tell me it was okay to lean on someone. My first kiss, my first sex—everything was with ajeossi.
So I should endure this level of interference. It’s not even difficult.
Yuwon thought this as he undressed. With each layer of clothing he removed, traces that Jeonghyeok had left on his white body became visible here and there.
His earlobes turned red for no reason. He seemed to feel the hot temperature of Jeonghyeok, who had persistently explored his body. Yuwon turned his gaze away from the mirror and hurriedly finished his shower.
After coming out of the bathroom, changing clothes, and checking the time, it seemed just right to slowly prepare dinner and wait for Jeonghyeok.
Just as he was walking toward the refrigerator, wondering what to eat, his phone on the dining table rang briefly several times. Looking at the screen, messages were continuously appearing in the group chat that had been quiet.
Even while unlocking the phone, Seongcheol and Jaejoon’s names alternately appeared.
[Brothers, this hyung has returned]
[Oh, vacation? Congrats]
[Yeah, let’s set a date quickly]
[Kim Yuwon said he’s not working part-time these days, tomorrow call?]
[Wow, Kim Yuwon not working? What’s the occasion]
After checking the messages, Yuwon slowly typed and sent a message.
[Taking a break for now]
Then an immediate reply came from Seongcheol.
[Then we can meet tomorrow right away]
A large OK emoticon that Jaejoon sent appeared. When Yuwon also replied that he understood, tomorrow’s appointment was decided swiftly. After deciding to meet at the usual bar and even setting the meeting place, he put down his phone, when suddenly Jeonghyeok’s warning came to mind.
‘From now on, whenever you meet those bastards, make sure to tell me every time.’
On the day he was severely scolded for meeting Jaejoon without saying anything, Jeonghyeok had definitely said that. To make sure to inform him when meeting Jaejoon and Seongcheol.
I should tell him right away when ajeossi comes later. With that thought, Yuwon opened the refrigerator door.
***
“No.”
At Jeonghyeok’s firm answer, Yuwon couldn’t even ask back and just opened and closed his mouth. Did he just… say no?
“Only drink alcohol in front of me.”
Having unilaterally ended the conversation, Jeonghyeok indifferently took off his shirt. As he lowered his hand to unbuckle his belt, Yuwon quickly approached and grabbed his forearm in protest.
“You didn’t say that last time! You said I just needed to let you know when I had plans to meet them!”
“I changed my mind.”
It was a brazen response, beyond just confident. Yuwon let out a hollow laugh in disbelief.
“How can you do this?”
“I’m doing it right here.”
“Ah, really!”
“I’ll think about it if you promise not to drink.”
Having pulled out his belt, Jeonghyeok now even undid the buckle. Just how far did he plan to undress while they were still talking? Feeling unnecessarily embarrassed, Yuwon dropped his gaze to the floor.
Of course, he’d expected him to be displeased. Ajeossi hated it when I left the house.
But he hadn’t expected him to be this firmly against it. What’s so serious about having a drink with friends?
Yuwon offered a compromise.
“…I’ll only drink a little.”
Having pulled off his pants, Jeonghyeok silently turned his body. It meant that wasn’t nearly enough. As he indifferently reached for the bathroom door handle, a desperate Yuwon shouted.
“Fine! I won’t drink, okay? I won’t drink!”
Jeonghyeok stopped dead in his tracks.
“Not even one glass.”
“I understand. I won’t drink.”
When he spoke as if making a vow, Jeonghyeok briefly nodded and entered the bathroom. Yuwon stood quietly in front of the closed door and rolled his eyes.
Complete petty person. Cheapskate. Tiny-minded jerk.
He couldn’t bring himself to say it out loud and only grumbled internally. Not long after deciding to try to understand Jeonghyeok’s interference, that resolve was already shaking.
Wasn’t this going too far? Telling me not to drink at all. Maybe he’s just saying that? Surely… one beer would be okay.
Just as he was scheming to somehow drink alcohol, the door suddenly opened without warning.
“Aah!”
He almost fell backward. Yuwon tensed his trembling legs.
“What are you so surprised about?”
“Because you suddenly opened the door!”
“You’re the one at fault for still standing there.”
Jeonghyeok continued speaking as he put out the empty shampoo bottle.
“Don’t tell me you want to wash together?”
“No. Not at all.”
“It seems like you do.”
Even while watching Yuwon shake his head, instead of going back into the bathroom, Jeonghyeok took a step toward Yuwon. Noticing Jeonghyeok’s suspicious movement, Yuwon quickly ran to the kitchen.
Jeonghyeok, who had been watching the round back of his head with playful eyes, smiled briefly and soon disappeared into the bathroom.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
