Chapter 66
The next day, contrary to Yuwon’s worries, Minhyeon was no different from usual.
They met warmly at the orphanage entrance, went up to the third-floor room together, and met the children. Even when they read picture books to the children who had gathered around, and when they picked up the books scattered messily afterwards, Minhyeon treated Yuwon as if nothing had happened.
“Hyung, where did this book originally go?”
“Ah, that one. On that bookshelf over there.”
“I’ll organize it, so watch the kids for me. These little rascals only look for you even when we play with them the same way.”
Indeed, the children were tugging at Yuwon’s clothes, whining for him to please look at them. Yuwon hugged the children who were desperately calling for him and exchanged greetings.
I’ll come again tomorrow. Eat your lunch well, and listen to your teachers. Even though he said the same thing every time, the children’s eyes sparkled as they nodded, wondering what was so great about it. It was such a cute sight that Yuwon also smiled at them fondly.
The two who finished organizing the room headed to the dining hall. As soon as they opened the door, the spicy smell of stir-fried pork hit their noses. White steam was gently rising from a bowl piled high with boiled cabbage.
Yuwon took out two food trays and handed one to Minhyeon. The way he received the tray with an indifferent face suddenly felt distant. Yuwon quickly lowered his gaze, hurriedly served food, gathered utensils, and headed to the dining table.
Is this what they mean by a guilty conscience? Minhyeon was clearly the same, but he kept finding himself being overly cautious alone.
“Eat well, hyung.”
“Yeah, you too.”
With that brief greeting, the meal began. Though they usually didn’t talk much anyway, today’s silence bothered him more. His chest felt queasy, and even though he hadn’t eaten anything, he already felt like he might get indigestion.
After picking at his side dishes a few times, Yuwon scooped up a large spoonful of stir-fried pork with his spoon and mixed it with his rice. He had to eat quickly and get up soon—dawdling would only prolong this awkward time.
“But you know, aren’t you going to give me any explanation?”
However, at Minhyeon’s unexpected voice, Yuwon had no choice but to put down the spoon he was about to put in his mouth.
“Huh? What explanation?”
“Yesterday’s incident. Aren’t you going to explain it to me?”
“Ah…”
So it wasn’t just going to pass by after all. Looking at Minhyeon who was silently waiting for an answer, Yuwon swallowed his dry saliva once and slowly began to speak.
“As you probably noticed, that person you saw yesterday is the person I’m living with. He’s also my… lover.”
The word “lover” made his lips tremble for no reason as he spoke it aloud. But Minhyeon continued his questions matter-of-factly.
“How old is he? He looked like he had some age on him.”
“Thirty… seven.”
“Thirty-seven?”
Though he had expected there would be some age difference, to think it was even more than a twelve-year gap. Even though he tried to act like it was nothing, he couldn’t hide his momentarily shaken pupils from the shock.
“Ah, he really… looks young for his age.”
Minhyeon swallowed his trembling voice and lowered his gaze. For a moment, he recalled the hands of the man who had grasped his own. Those moderately rough, warm hands were definitely different from his own trembling ones.
Could hyung’s taste really be that type? What if he only gets excited by much older men, or something like that? Then wouldn’t there be absolutely no possibility for me? When he thought that far, his complexion rapidly darkened.
Unaware of Minhyeon’s inner thoughts, Yuwon was just busy controlling Minhyeon.
“Hey, it’s really, really a secret from the Director. You know?”
“Don’t worry. If I was going to tattle, you would have already been called to the Director’s office and gotten in trouble.”
“Still…”
Yuwon didn’t want to disappoint Misook. A precious and lovely child. He didn’t have the confidence to break the upright image that Misook had defined when he was young.
But how long could he hide Jeonghyeok? It was something that would definitely be discovered as time passed. As Yuwon kept his mouth tightly shut in dejection, Minhyeon spoke with deliberate calmness.
“Hyung, we’re adults now. Even if the Director finds out, it’s not like we committed a crime, so what’s the problem?”
“…”
“Even if she’s disappointed, it can’t be helped. The Director isn’t living your life for you.”
At the rather mature words, Yuwon snapped to attention. Minhyeon, whom he had always thought of only as a younger brother, seemed to have grown up significantly.
Come to think of it, many things had happened to Minhyeon while they were apart. He had learned the art he so desperately wanted and entered university. He had gained parents and lost them too. At a young age, he had even held his mother’s funeral alone.
Perhaps Minhyeon might be more mature than himself, Yuwon thought as he quietly nodded. Then suddenly, one curiosity came to mind.
“But… aren’t you bothered by it?”
“By what?”
“You don’t seem very surprised even though I’m saying I’m dating a man.”
“That can happen. In today’s world, what’s the big deal about that?”
Though he said that, Minhyeon had actually been quite shocked. The moment he saw the man getting out of the car, he had the illusion that his heart was falling to his toes.
But at the same time, a tight sense of relief washed over him. The seat next to Yuwon, which had felt so distant, now felt close enough to grasp, and hope sprang up that there was a chance for him too.
Of course, Yuwon’s current lover didn’t seem like an easy opponent. But with a fifteen-year age difference, there would inevitably be differences in the topics they could share and their thoughts. Wouldn’t he realize it as time went on? Time would solve everything in the end, and he would be the one to remain by Yuwon’s side until the last.
Leaving his hopeful imagination behind, Minhyeon smiled brightly and said.
“I’m rooting for you, hyung.”
“…”
“So tell me everything. Don’t hide things and then panic and get flustered like yesterday.”
“When did I get flustered…!”
“You were totally flustered. Like an idiot, just stammering around.”
“Hey, do you want to die?”
Despite Yuwon’s sharp rebuke, Minhyeon exaggeratedly opened his mouth and imitated his tense expression. Unable to help himself, laughter burst out at the ridiculous sight.
Once his mind was at ease, meaningless laughter kept leaking out. After giggling repeatedly, Yuwon finally took a big spoonful of rice and put it in his mouth. Now that the worries that had tormented him all night were completely resolved, even the rice tasted like honey. It felt like a stone that had been weighing down the center of his chest had finally lifted.
After swallowing what he had been chewing, Yuwon leaned back in his chair and said.
“Still, I feel so relieved telling you. Jaejoon and Seongcheol don’t know about this either.”
“You didn’t tell the hyungs either?”
“Yeah. I just couldn’t bring myself to say it.”
Hearing Jaejoon and Seongcheol’s names after a long time, Minhyeon smiled happily and asked.
“How are the hyungs? Are they doing well?”
“Yeah, well. Jaejoon is in college and Seongcheol is in the military right now.”
“Actually, I wanted to see the hyungs too. But the hyungs… wouldn’t, right?”
Since Jaejoon and Seongcheol were the only friends who knew about Yuwon’s situation, they also knew of Minhyeon’s existence. The two treated Minhyeon as if he were truly Yuwon’s real younger brother. When they occasionally played games together, they would include Minhyeon like a spare tire, and when Yuwon wasn’t around, they would act as older brothers in his place. So it was natural that Minhyeon would want to see them.
The problem was that they also knew how much Yuwon had struggled after Minhyeon’s adoption. From high school until now, Minhyeon’s name had been taboo among the three. If they accidentally brought up anything related to Minhyeon, the atmosphere would freeze immediately.
After thinking for a moment, Yuwon casually suggested to Minhyeon.
“Want to all meet up and have a drink?”
“Really? Is that okay?”
“What’s wrong with it? But you have to explain why we’re seeing each other again. I can’t say it.”
“Of course. I can explain everything.”
Looking at Minhyeon nodding with sparkling eyes, Yuwon felt belated regret. If he had known he would be this happy, he should have arranged a meeting sooner. He felt sorry for Minhyeon, who must have wanted to see them but held back his words while reading the mood.
“Then I’ll ask if the guys have time.”
“Please ask them, please.”
“Okay, okay.”
At the rather desperate urging, Yuwon answered while simultaneously taking out his phone. Strike while the iron is hot—he immediately left a message in the chat room with Jaejoon and Seongcheol. First, he asked about Seongcheol’s leave schedule since he was in the military.
“What do they say? Did they reply? Do they have time?”
“Hey, it hasn’t even been 10 seconds since I sent it. Wait a bit.”
Even while being scolded, seeing Minhyeon’s face full of anticipation made him chuckle. Yuwon put down his phone, which still had no reply, and said.
“Let’s eat first. It’s all getting cold.”
“Yeah. Hyung, eat quickly too.”
Just as they were about to start eating again, a person’s face suddenly flashed through Yuwon’s mind. It was Jeonghyeok, who had chased him to the meeting place and looked down at him terrifyingly, who had misunderstood strangely and gotten furiously angry.
“…”
Worry suddenly washed over him. Surely he wouldn’t have to get permission this time too? What if he was prevented from drinking even a drop of alcohol like last time?
Yuwon fidgeted with the spoon in his hand for no reason. Suddenly feeling stuffy inside, the rice strangely wouldn’t go down.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
