Click.
Despite my concerns, Baek Woojin went outside the car without a moment’s hesitation.
It was absurd. What was he trying to do alone…
Don’t tell me he thinks he can win? Even though this is inside a novel, surely they didn’t include such an absurd setting where someone fights 18-to-1 with a hammer like in movies and wins…
No, come to think of it, that’s also a problem. If that happens, wouldn’t the genre completely change? Or if it’s my sister’s makjang style, is that something I have to accept…?
Whiiiiing.
While I was worrying about this and that, Baek Woojin was crossing the vacant lot, stirring up sand and dust.
Maybe because he was tall, Baek Woojin’s retreating figure really looked cool, like a scene from a movie. Perhaps because of that, I even developed a baseless belief that maybe Baek Woojin could defeat enemies in one blow like in movies or dramas.
“Ah, but still. Two is better than one…!”
Even though I’m an omega, I’m still a man too, so I couldn’t just stay and watch.
Click.
“Hyeol-ah, wait. Daddy will be right back.”
After muttering to Hyeol, I kicked open the car door and went out.
And sure enough… I could see those guys not far away. It was the hyung and the big guy. At least it was fortunate that there were only two of them.
“Hey, hyung-ssi. Showing off your strength? Coming out empty-handed?”
Crack crack, the big guy made threatening sounds as he cracked his knuckle bones one by one. The hyung next to him was the same. As if they had really come prepared, he was holding a long steel rod.
Dirty bastards… I looked around to see if there was anything that could serve as a weapon.
“No, I can’t fight.”
But Baek Woojin said something he didn’t need to say, boosting the enemies’ morale.
“Huh? That guy’s funny?”
“Hey, he might backstab us while acting like that, don’t let your guard down.”
The guys whispered quietly while being wary of Baek Woojin.
Vroooom…
That’s when it happened. The sedans that had been following were also entering the vacant lot.
This was really troublesome. Those two guys were already formidable opponents, and now more were coming… This was too disadvantageous a fight. I thought it might be better to call the police even now, so I took out the phone from my pants pocket.
But then…
“Wh-what the hell are these guys?!”
The big guy who had been gauging where to hit first raised his voice. At the same time, the dark-clothed men who had gotten out of the sedan that just arrived surrounded the two men in a circle. They were all dressed in sharp black suits and had intimidating builds with their large frames.
“What, what? Weren’t they… on our side?”
The panicked hyung looked around at them frantically while trembling with the hand holding the steel rod. Just from looking, the answer was clear. The situation was far too disadvantageous for them both numerically and in terms of strength.
“Sh-shit! Let’s… let’s go!”
“L-let’s go together!”
After shouting to the big guy, the hyung threw the steel rod he was holding onto the ground. The big guy also hurriedly started walking away. The two of them got in the car they came in and rushed out of the vacant lot.
After they disappeared, stirring up a lot of sand and dust, the men in black suits all turned toward Baek Woojin in unison. Then they bowed deeply at 90 degrees in greeting before returning to their cars.
“What… what was that…?”
Without exchanging a single word with Baek Woojin, they got in their cars and quickly disappeared like my mother-in-law’s subordinates.
“I told you to stay in the car.”
After confirming they had disappeared, Baek Woojin slowly walked toward me and spoke.
“……”
I couldn’t say anything. For some reason, Baek Woojin before my eyes looked different. Until now, I had thought he was a slightly peculiar and blunt but kind and angel-like in-law…
“Chae Seungyeon-ssi.”
Flinch.
When he called my name, I unconsciously shrank my shoulders.
“Are you frightened?”
“…What?!”
I was startled and stepped backward. Then I was surprised again. I had shown too much fear in front of someone.
“Haha… n-no, I’m not…”
I awkwardly laughed and approached Baek Woojin.
“But, Woojin-ssi… who were those people earlier…?”
“They’re my friends.”
“……”
I learned today that the word ‘friends’ seems to be a convenient excuse that can be attached to anything.
“Let’s really go home now. Before it gets darker.”
As Baek Woojin said, the sky was indeed rapidly getting dark. I got back into Baek Woojin’s car and safely left the vacant lot. There were no more cars chasing us, but I couldn’t let my guard down. Fortunately, we were able to return home without incident.
*
“I’ll carry Hyeol.”
Even after arriving at the underground parking garage, Hyeol wouldn’t wake up easily. Baek Woojin had no choice but to carry the sleeping Hyeol on his back as we took the elevator.
“Then by any chance… is Kkotsu home alone…?”
Only then did I think of Kkotsu who might be alone and asked Baek Woojin.
“There’s an ajumma who takes care of him. She’s probably preparing dinner right now, but I should be the one to feed him.”
He’s still such a caring dad. Even though there were some puzzling aspects to his outward expressions, cases where a father takes care of children while working like this are rare in reality.
Beep.
“Please go in first.”
Finally, the front door opened. As soon as I entered like it was my own home, I called out loudly.
“Kkotsu-ya!”
When I called out brightly, I saw a silhouette that went “swoosh!” and ran into a room somewhere. I had expected this. He was probably hiding because he was embarrassed.
“Kkotsu-ya?”
I called the shy one’s name once more. Then Kkotsu, who had been hiding behind the room door, peeked his head out.
“Kkotsu-ya, hello? Teacher came back.”
“…H-hello… D-daddy, w-welcome… h-home…”
Kkotsu greeted me shyly without even making eye contact, then also greeted Baek Woojin who was entering the house. Then, when Kkotsu saw Hyeol on Baek Woojin’s back, his black eyes shook wildly.
“Ah! Kkotsu-ya. This is my son Hyeol. Gwak Hyeol. He’s the same age as Kkotsu. Six years old.”
“……”
I introduced Hyeol, but Kkotsu didn’t say anything. But you could tell just by looking. Kkotsu was staring at Hyeol with curious eyes, unable to look away.
“I’ll lay him on the sofa for now.”
“Yes, thank you. Hyeol really keeps sleeping like Sleeping Beauty in the forest… No, a prince?”
Even while being carried all the way here, Hyeol showed no signs of waking up and just slept soundly.
“Here.”
Meanwhile, Baek Woojin brought a blanket. While I was covering Hyeol with the blanket, Kkotsu approached next to me. He seemed very curious about Hyeol, who was suddenly appeared peer.
“Why, w-won’t he… w-wake up…?”
“Ah… he couldn’t sleep at night… He’ll probably wake up soon.”
“Y-yes…”
Kkotsu nodded and stared intently at sleeping Hyeol’s face. His gaze was as if he was examining something fascinating. Just looking at the two children somehow made my tired heart feel warm.
Ah!
Come to think of it, isn’t this the first meeting between Hyeol and Kkotsu, the main characters of this novel? Since it’s a commemorative day, I thought it would be good to capture it in photos.
I quickly picked up my phone and focused on the two of them. Hyeol and Kkotsu reflected on the screen sparkled like protagonists from a fairy tale.
“Ah, so pretty… Kkotsu-ya, yes, just stay still like that.”
At this rate, when Hyeol opens his eyes, will he fall in love at first sight like Romeo and Juliet? It would be troublesome if that happens so early… If we’re going to become in-laws this quickly, there’s nothing I can do about it, but if the kids like each other…
“Mm…”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
