39
“What the fuck is all this swearing? I’m already in a bad mood.” Frowning deeply, I threw some curses back, and the little brat glared at me once before hurriedly disappearing up to the second floor.
Tired, I rubbed my face with my hand. The tissue wad that had been plugging my nose caught on my fingertips. When I pulled it out, the blood-soaked tissue had hardened and made a “pop” sound.
“Today was really chaotic,” I said in an exhausted voice to the Omega father who remained.
“You made too big a scene.”
“Is this how it’s been for twenty years?”
“…Yes.”
“What were you thinking?”
“Well…”
Sitting with his knees crossed, Father cast his gaze into empty space as if recalling a distant memory. It must not have been a pleasant one, as faint wrinkles appeared on his otherwise smooth forehead.
“At first… I was too shocked to think about anything, and later it became stubbornness. Since that man hated me and couldn’t stand the sight of me, I had to endure somehow to let him know I was still here. Something like that. Now it’s become routine—he insults me, and I leave him with the shame of my existence.”
To have endured such humiliation for twenty years out of stubbornness—in a way, he was the most resilient person. Yet I couldn’t help feeling sorry for the man before me.
“That’s not stubbornness. That’s submission.”
“Well, you might be right. Whatever my true feelings, I’m just enduring.”
“You’d need to do at least what I did today to call it stubbornness. When you get hit, you should at least throw a punch in the air—that’s stubbornness.”
“I was impressed, actually. Still, don’t get hit. It breaks my heart.”
“You didn’t even try to stop me.”
“You didn’t want me to, did you? …You were… always gentle and kind from birth. Even though your personality has changed a bit, you’re still the same. I never gave you anything, yet you always looked only at me, followed only me, cared only for me.”
Hmm, that wasn’t really my motivation for what I did. But I did want to comfort the man in front of me a little.
“I am worried though. Grandfather might put me in a mental institution, and Father might get angry and cut off my card.”
“That won’t happen.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Because I’ve observed for twenty years. He’s not someone who crosses the line too excessively. If I were to suggest we both go down together, he has plenty to lose too. Despite what your father said, nothing serious will happen. Don’t worry too much. If necessary, I’ll give you another card.”
It’s nice having wealthy parents so I don’t have to worry about money. No need to worry about mental institutions or having my card cut off—no more concerns. With a lighter heart, I stretched my arms wide and yawned.
“Next month when we go to Grandfather’s house, I’ll get a chair for you.”
“Thank you.”
Father responded nonchalantly, as if he had no worries to begin with. His “thank you” contained no actual gratitude, so I pouted my lips.
“And about my personality… I think I’ll keep being like this. What Father said about me being like a thunderbolt-naked worm was spot on. I didn’t know it myself, but there’s a crazy guy inside me. Don’t worry though, it’s not multiple personality disorder.”
“…It’s really not easy getting used to you.”
“Still, it’s more comfortable living this way than pretending to be quiet and docile. Father, you don’t express your emotions enough. That only hurts you. When you’re happy, laugh; when you’re sad, cry; when you’re in pain, irritated, or angry, express it all so people around you understand. Otherwise, they’ll take you for granted.”
At first, I wondered if he was really Cha Sukyung’s biological parent, if he hated Cha Sukyung, or if he was forced to give birth. Now I was simply worried about him as a person.
He was indifferent to everything, showed no emotion, and had no assertiveness. He looked like someone watching a quietly flowing river, waiting for the day he would grow old and die.
The only time he showed intense emotion was when we first met at the hospital—when I insisted I wasn’t Cha Sukyung and tried to pull down my pants to show him my missing testicles.
The memory suddenly made me laugh. It happened less than a month ago, but strangely, it felt like ancient history.
“Still, your current self isn’t bad. You express your voice, show your presence, state your opinions. It’s like a dying star finally beginning to shine again, which is reassuring.”
“Worry about yourself before me, Father. You look like you might die before Grandfather. How is that old man so strong? Does he eat something good for his health? He seems fit enough to be an active kickboxer at his age.”
It was a complaint, but Father let out a small laugh. I quietly stood up and approached him. His emotionless eyes calmly gazed at me.
“It’s okay. Everything will be fine.”
I knelt down, reached out, and hugged his waist. Surprised by the unexpected action, his stiff body gradually relaxed, and Father wrapped his arms around my head.
“Everything will be fine… Just be patient and wait a little longer. It will all be yours eventually.”
It was difficult to understand Father’s whispered words near the crown of my head. But I didn’t let go. I just wanted to hold this small man and comfort him, even if only for a moment.
“Father.”
“Yes?”
“Now that we’ve wrapped things up emotionally, can I stay out tonight?”
“…”
His silence answered for him. Maybe I trampled on the emotional moment too quickly. I slightly regretted not drawing it out longer.
“I don’t want to be at home.”
“As long as you’re not going out to die, it’s fine.”
“Why do you say such hurtful things? I’d survive even if everyone else in the world died.”
“Then go ahead.”
“Thank you.”
“Call the driver to accompany you.”
That’s not right. I was about to object, but the eyes looking down at me were uncompromising.
∞ ∞ ∞
The ringing continued for quite a while. Since he hadn’t answered my previous call and I had to hang up and redial, I was getting a bit anxious. Fortunately, the other person answered just before the call would have gone to voicemail.
“I thought you weren’t going to answer this time either.”
—I was in the shower.
“Are you at the hotel now?”
—Just got in. Why are you calling?
“If you’re done showering, come down to the first floor and pick me up. My driver dropped me off and absolutely refuses to leave.”
I said it loudly enough for Lee Gyeongjin to hear, but the back of his head remained as uncompromising as Father’s gaze earlier. He’s so stubborn at times like this. The man’s low laughter came through the phone in response to my disgruntled voice.
—If you don’t mind waiting a bit, I’ll just throw on some clothes and come down.
“I’d appreciate it if you hurried. He’s parked the car like he’s staging a protest.”
—Okay, I’ll be as quick as possible.
I ended the call lightly. Only then did Lee Gyeongjin turn around to look at me.
“Are you sure you don’t need to go to the hospital?”
“Why would I go to the hospital for something this minor? It’s just a little nosebleed. People don’t die from this.”
“The area around your nose is starting to swell.”
“…No. If my nose bone was broken, it would hurt terribly. It doesn’t hurt that much. Stop saying ominous things and just go.”
My nose bone is fine. I’m not going to the hospital. I didn’t want to go anywhere near hospitals—I had no good memories of them.
“I don’t understand how this happened when you just went out to eat.”
“I agree. I just went out for a casual meal and somehow ended up in this mess. I’m still in shock.”
Actually, I did what I did knowing I might get hit, but I kept that to myself. If I said that, Lee Gyeongjin’s currently sympathetic attitude might change.
He was shocked when he saw the state I was in coming out of Grandfather’s house, worried the entire time not knowing what to do, and even got angry at whoever did this to me.
When he learned it was my grandfather, he looked confused but still seemed upset. He even demonstrated remarkable deductive skills by asking if the Italian exfoliating towel he bought had caused problems. That part did make me feel a bit guilty.
“If you feel any pain, you must go to the hospital, even if it’s late. No, just call me, and I’ll come right away.”
“I’m really fine.”
“With a face that swollen, I find that hard to believe.”
Is it swollen that badly? I leaned forward to look at my face in the rearview mirror and was horrified to see that my nose bridge had swollen to twice the size it was when I left.
“What the hell? Why does my face look like this?”
“That’s why I’m worried.”
“I-I’m fine. It doesn’t hurt.”
Lee Gyeongjin gave me a skeptical look after my stammered response. Even I knew that looking at this face, no one would believe anything I said.
“…I’ll go to the hospital if it hurts.”
“You must call me if it does.”
I spoke in a half-resigned tone, and Lee Gyeongjin reiterated his request as if extracting a promise. I’m not a child—I can go to the hospital by myself.
I rubbed my cheek with my hand and accidentally brushed my nose, which hurt and made me groan “ungh.” Lee Gyeongjin gave me an “I told you so” look, but I pretended not to notice and turned my head, spotting Kwon Yikang coming out of the hotel entrance.
“I’m going now. I got permission to stay out, so this driver should go home too. I’ll call you when I’m ready to leave tomorrow, so get some rest until then.”
“Please call if anything happens.”
“Okay. I’m going.”
I got out of the car and skipped over to Kwon Yikang, who was looking around the area. He had been checking where the car was parked, and when he saw me approaching, he smiled before examining my face closely and frowning.
“Your face…”
“Stop. This isn’t something to discuss briefly out here. I’ll spill everything when we go up, even if you don’t ask. Let’s go up first. I’m really embarrassed right now.”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
