Tae-yi’s eyebrows twitched. It was because of what Haram had just said.
It was one thing for him to show up early in the morning saying he wanted to accompany him on his business trip—that part was fine. But what followed was less agreeable.
“You want to go to the countryside?”
“Yeah. I’m gonna take some photos and stop by the county office to get my passport.”
“You can get that done in Seoul too.”
“…I just want to see the country house. It’s been left empty for so long.”
Seeing the reluctance on Tae-yi’s face, Haram shrank back and answered in a small voice. Tae-yi, noticing how withdrawn Haram had become, quickly spoke up.
“I’ll come home by lunch. Let’s go together.”
Haram perked up, then immediately shook his head.
“You’re busy. If it’s weird for me to go alone, I’ll go with those big guys—uh, I mean… the men waiting outside.”
Just imagining it made cold sweat break out, but there was no way he could ask Tae-yi, who was up before sunrise and getting ready for work, to head to the countryside with him.
“I’m not busy. I’ll pick you up at lunch.”
After repeated persuasion, Haram finally gave a small nod. As Tae-yi ruffled his hair once and headed downstairs, Haram stood there blankly, watching his retreating figure with a soft sigh.
As if he’s not busy, heading out without even eating breakfast…
Feeling guilty for bothering someone clearly swamped with work, Haram lingered in place, unable to leave the room right away.
***
Inside the car on the way down to the countryside.
Whatever guilt he’d been feeling vanished like smoke. Just thinking about finally going home after such a long time had him humming a tune.
Humming quietly as he looked out the window, Haram turned awkwardly when he felt a persistent gaze from beside him.
“Are you that happy?”
“…Of course I’m happy. I’m going home.”
Embarrassed by the teasing tone, Haram answered with a touch of defiance.
“Why don’t we stop by a photo studio first, get the passport photo taken and apply, then head to the village?”
From the driver’s seat, Chief Yoon asked the question while glancing at the rearview mirror the moment they entered the town. Haram leaned forward and responded with a peeked head.
“Yes, there’s a photo studio I always go to. Just keep going straight and stop at the intersection.”
Excited to see the old photo studio owner again, Haram started humming once more. Watching him quietly, Tae-yi let out a soft chuckle and asked,
“No bowtie this time?”
Tae-yi couldn’t stop laughing at the memory of the photo in Haram’s house—Haram with plump cheeks, awkwardly smiling beside his grandmother, wearing a bowtie.
“Don’t tease me…”
Who wears a bowtie for a passport photo? He knew better than that. Haram, who always seemed to be the target of Tae-yi’s teasing, kept shooting him glares as he fidgeted in his seat. When the car entered the intersection, he unbuckled his seatbelt and got ready to get out.
“Here!”
The moment the car stopped, Haram darted outside and pointed across the street toward the photo studio as Tae-yi followed him out. His excitement was evident in how his flat tail swayed from side to side. Smiling faintly at the sight, Tae-yi trailed after him at a leisurely pace.
The shop sign barely still read “Photo Studio.” Tae-yi looked up at the faded lettering just as Haram dashed inside, his tail fluttering behind him. It was clearly a place filled with memories.
“Mister!”
“Isn’t that Haram?”
A middle-aged man with graying hair put down his newspaper and sprang to his feet.
“Have you been well? It’s been such a long time.”
Haram greeted him warmly, and the photographer smiled just as brightly in return as they exchanged pleasantries.
“What brings you to town? Selling peanuts yourself now?”
“Ah… not quite. I came to get my passport photo taken.”
The photographer’s jaw dropped in surprise, but his smile soon returned with a gentle warmth. He gave Tae-yi, who was standing quietly behind Haram, a subtle glance and asked,
“Planning a trip with that young man?”
“A… Ah, yeah.”
Haram figured “trip” sounded better than “business trip,” so he nodded along.
“Go ahead and have a seat.”
Just as Haram was about to sit where the photographer pointed, Tae-yi grabbed his wrist, making him lift his head in surprise.
“Your eyebrows need to show.”
With that, Tae-yi swept Haram’s silver bangs back in one motion, leaving his forehead completely exposed. Haram let out a sharp yelp and jumped back.
“I’m not a damn rooster—cut it out!”
He hastily pressed down the awkwardly poofed-up bangs and shot a sharp glare at Tae-yi, who was laughing under his breath.
“I’m telling you, your eyebrows need to show.”
“I—I’ll do it myself.”
Dodging Tae-yi’s hands, Haram darted around the cramped studio until the photographer called him over. He rushed to the chair and sat down, his face stiffening as he stared into the large camera lens.
Being in front of a camera always made him tense. The more the shutter clicked, the more the corner of his mouth twitched like it was about to cramp from the forced smile.
After two or three shots, Tae-yi moved closer to the photographer and started staring at Haram.
The moment their eyes met, Tae-yi pointed at his eyebrows and gave a mischievous grin. Haram leapt from his seat and stormed over.
“Get out—go wait outside!”
He shoved Tae-yi toward the entrance, then returned to the chair, huffing in frustration. After all the commotion, the photo was finally taken.
Dragging his feet with a weary look, Haram walked over to Tae-yi.
“Did you make sure they could see your eyebrows?”
Tae-yi reached out and gently smoothed down Haram’s slightly mussed hair. Haram looked up silently, and only then did Tae-yi pull his hand back.
“…Do you touch other people’s hair like this too?”
Haram frowned the second the words left his mouth. Be serious. The only time he ever touched someone else’s hair was either to yank it or to rip out a chunk.
Seeing Tae-yi’s expression, Haram seemed to take that as an answer and calmly continued,
“Then don’t do that to my hair either. We’re… just strangers.”
Tae-yi, stripped of his usual sly smile, simply nodded like he was entranced. Haram was like a hot-and-cold bath—snapping from sweet to stern in seconds.
He was the kind of squirrel who would go through the trouble of taking a passport photo just to accompany Tae-yi on a trip, but wouldn’t let him touch his hair. He’d feed him, but not sleep beside him.
Tae-yi didn’t understand Da Haram’s rules at all. But he also knew those rules weren’t his to define. All he could do was follow them quietly.
While Haram said his goodbyes to the photographer, Tae-yi stepped outside first. When he spotted Chief Yoon smoking in the alleyway, he gestured him over.
Chief Yoon quickly stubbed out his cigarette and approached, still reeking of smoke.
The moment he was close enough, Tae-yi raised a hand and began to firmly pet the top of Chief Yoon’s head.
“Wh-What are you doing?”
Chief Yoon wanted to flee from Tae-yi’s hand at once, but his body froze from the shock. Despite the terrified look on Chief Yoon’s face, Tae-yi continued to stroke his head like he was petting a loyal dog.
Sensing a gaze, Tae-yi turned his head.
“….”
Standing there with his mouth agape in horror, Haram flinched when their eyes met.
With a bright smile, Tae-yi finally stopped petting Chief Yoon and walked over to Haram, gently smoothing his silvery bangs again.
“See? I do it to other people too.”
“You—You’re seriously…”
Forget it. Not worth saying another word. There was no way a lunatic like Kang Tae-yi would understand.
Swallowing his words, Haram darted into the car. Tae-yi smiled faintly and took the seat beside him.
The only one left standing in the alleyway, still in shock, was Chief Yoon.
***
At the county office, Haram submitted his passport application and placed the extra photo prints into a small envelope, which he slipped into his pocket.
As the car reached the entrance to the village, Haram pressed his forehead to the window, scanning the fields.
“I want to tidy up the peanut field before we go. If you’re busy—”
“I told you, I’m not busy. Let’s clean it up together before we leave.”
“I can do it myself though…”
Despite Haram’s protests, Tae-yi got out and headed straight for the peanut field.
Following him in, Haram looked around in confusion—it was already somewhat cleaned up.
Maybe the elders helped out a bit.
Pulled-up peanut sprouts were stacked in one place. Gratitude welled up in his chest.
This year had been a disaster. He hadn’t been able to help anyone with their harvests, yet he’d received help from others. He hadn’t given anything back.
As Haram stood there looking glum, Tae-yi silently began pulling peanuts from the soil.
Maybe because they’d been shoved into the ground too forcefully, they came out easily. The stalks and leaves had wilted, and even to someone with no farming knowledge, the peanuts still clinging to the roots looked in poor shape.
Back then, it had seemed like the best option. Now, looking back, maybe Chief Yoon had been right—it was just a pointless act.
…
Watching Tae-yi quietly work, Haram suddenly remembered what he’d once said to him. He bit down hard on his lower lip.
“Back in the mountains, when I first met you… I should’ve just ignored you. Ever since that day, weird things keep happening.”
The memory he’d been trying to suppress suddenly came flooding back, drowning him in guilt.
Even though he now knew Tae-yi hadn’t been the one who ruined the field, back then, he hadn’t cared. He’d lashed out without a second thought.
He’d said horrible things when he, too, had things he needed to apologize for. Yet all this time, Tae-yi had been the only one apologizing.
