#209
Yoon Pa-ran unconsciously echoed Min-woong’s words as he asked the question.
Perhaps it was because Dan Joo-hyuk had been frequently coming in and out of the orphanage lately? Whenever he came to pick up Yoon Pa-ran and they met, Min-woong would always run to Dan Joo-hyuk and jump into his arms. Though Dan Joo-hyuk had initially seemed a bit bewildered, now he appeared to genuinely welcome it.
“Hmm…”
When Yoon Pa-ran pointed out the fact, Min-woong’s face became serious with contemplation. While looking at those solemn, chubby cheeks and waiting patiently, Min-woong soon spoke brightly, as if he’d had a brilliant idea.
“Then why don’t we live together?”
“Together?”
“Yeah. Our house is… big!”
From a child’s perspective, it was quite a reasonable suggestion. Yoon Pa-ran involuntarily looked around the orphanage before bursting into laughter.
The mere thought of asking Dan Joo-hyuk to live here with them was amusing. He would probably be unable to hide his incredulous expression.
“Ahem. That’s difficult.”
“Why?”
“Well, big brother has his own house too.”
“I see…”
Min-woong liked Dan Joo-hyuk unusually much compared to the other children. Unlike Ju-hee and the others who were initially somewhat intimidated by Dan Joo-hyuk’s large frame.
Min-woong looked slightly dejected upon hearing that Dan Joo-hyuk couldn’t live with them. However, he soon recovered and grinned, showing his missing front tooth.
“Then, let’s visit big brother’s house later.”
It was cute how he treated Dan Joo-hyuk so familiarly, like his own friend.
At the mention of visiting his house, Yoon Pa-ran suddenly remembered the pool at Dan Joo-hyuk’s home. He had invited them to come swimming in the summer.
However, Yoon Pa-ran secretly made a troubled expression, making sure Min-woong couldn’t see it. After all, it was currently a situation where it was difficult to casually approach Dan Joo-hyuk.
Fearing that his little brother might be disappointed later, Yoon Pa-ran spoke to Min-woong with feigned sternness:
“We need to get permission from big brother before visiting. But big brother is an extremely busy person, so it might be difficult.”
“But big brother comes to see you every single day.”
However, when Min-woong innocently refuted the excuse he had carefully crafted, Yoon Pa-ran suddenly found himself at a loss for words.
Dan Joo-hyuk had indeed been coming by frequently lately. Even considering how uncomfortable Yoon Pa-ran was with the security team, there was no need for an S-rank like him to volunteer as a chauffeur.
In any case, Yoon Pa-ran managed to concoct an explanation and naturally placated Min-woong.
“…The brothers go together for work. So they’re busy every day, right?”
“Hmm.”
Fortunately, Min-woong seemed to accept that explanation. While carefully observing his little brother’s expression, Yoon Pa-ran inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.
“…”
Do you like Dan Joo-hyuk that much?
When they went to the amusement park, he had certainly entertained the children well, even with them hanging on both his arms. Though sometimes, judging by his actions, he seemed awkward about playing with children.
In any case, Yoon Pa-ran was always grateful that he handled his siblings’ whims so well.
Certainly, Yoon Pa-ran also… enjoyed seeing that side of Dan Joo-hyuk.
‘Just make a contract with me, lend me some power, and get by with money. Is that so difficult?’
It seemed like just yesterday when he had half-threatened him to make a contract, but human affairs were truly unpredictable.
‘I like you, in the sense that I want to be your lover.’
…He said he likes me.
“…”
Yoon Pa-ran’s expression slackened as he recalled the confession from a few days ago. For no reason, he pulled Min-woong closer in his arms and hunched over.
It was a strangely surreal statement. His head became hazily clouded, making him feel restless.
Wanting to be his lover.
Naturally, Yoon Pa-ran had no dating experience. He had vaguely thought about forming a family someday, but even that thought had never persisted for long.
His primary goal had always been to survive and raise his siblings well.
So he had never considered wanting someone as a lover. He had especially thought that Dan Joo-hyuk was someone he shouldn’t think of in that way.
Now it’s not that anymore.
This random thought gave him a peculiar feeling, and Yoon Pa-ran fell into deep contemplation. For some reason, he kept remembering the sensation of Dan Joo-hyuk’s large hand gently rubbing his cheek, which was troubling.
In truth, this stifling feeling would end if he properly talked with Dan Joo-hyuk. Yet for some reason, he didn’t want to do that. It was due to a vague anxiety that some major change would occur.
Can’t we just continue as we are now? We’re already doing everything couples do anyway.
“Brother.”
“…”
Dan Joo-hyuk was certainly a good person. Lover… though he had never thought about it before, well… it probably wouldn’t be bad.
However, perhaps because a relationship beyond that was unfamiliar, a strange confusion kept shaking Yoon Pa-ran.
Dan Joo-hyuk likely had considerable dating experience. Though it was frustrating to admit, he was definitely more mature than Yoon Pa-ran, being composed in everything.
Come to think of it, while he’d heard many rumors about Dan Joo-hyuk, were there also rumors about him with men?
Well, from their first time together, he did seem quite familiar with relationships between men…
“Brother…!”
“Huh? Oh? Yes, what is it, Min-woong?”
Yoon Pa-ran hastily pushed aside his thoughts that had been flowing like water. These were all inappropriate thoughts to have while holding his little brother.
“Brother, can I go play with Sehee?”
“Hmm? Where are you going?”
Sehee was a friend Min-woong had been playing with frequently lately. Living nearby, he would probably enter the same elementary school as Min-woong next year.
“Mommy said I have to get permission from you.”
Hearing Min-woong’s words, Yoon Pa-ran secretly smiled to himself.
The director would usually pass the authority to grant permission to Yoon Pa-ran when the children were being too insistent. After all, the siblings generally listened to Yoon Pa-ran better.
Typically, matters that the director judged as dangerous or troublesome were passed on to him. This trip was probably the same.
“This is what Sehee gave me, and it’s a secret only Min-woong knows. Okay?”
Min-woong fidgeted with his hands and pulled out a crumpled piece of paper from his pocket.
Quickly taking it, Yoon Pa-ran saw it was a paper labeled “Invitation.”
“What’s this?”
Unlike what he expected, it wasn’t the kind of invitation written by a child’s hand. It seemed to be a white paper printed and distributed from somewhere.
Yoon Pa-ran’s brow furrowed slightly as he read the words written on it.
[We invite everyone to eternal happiness.]
The invitation was for a place in Gangwon Province, of all places. From the address, it was difficult to tell exactly where it was at a glance, but it seemed to be quite remote.
It was undeniably suspicious in many ways. When Min-woong first mentioned wanting to go play, Yoon Pa-ran had thought of a local playground at most.
Who would have thought he’d be asking for such a substantial trip?
“Did Sehee ask you to go together with this?”
“Yeah. With Sehee’s mom and me.”
It appeared that Sehee’s parents wanted to take Min-woong on a trip.
While that was very kind, the destination seemed a bit strange.
“If we go, there will be lots of delicious things, and the playground is amazing too.”
Min-woong seemed quite enticed. Whatever boasts he had heard from Sehee, his desire to visit was evident.
But naturally, Yoon Pa-ran couldn’t permit it. It was already risky to send a child alone on another family’s trip, let alone with such a suspicious invitation.
“Min-woong is still too young. Our mother can’t go either, right?”
“Hmm… Then you come with me, brother.”
Min-woong whined in a pleading tone. Truly disappointed, he even turned around and hugged Yoon Pa-ran’s neck.
Usually very gentle, Min-woong could be quite stubborn once he fixated on something. For example, his wish to go to the amusement park with Dan Joo-hyuk had been one such stubborn desire.
In any case, Yoon Pa-ran absolutely couldn’t agree to this. Instead of immediately refusing, however, he deliberately adopted a regretful tone.
“Instead of that, let’s go to the botanical garden together that day. I’ve been really wanting to visit the botanical garden with Min-woong.”
“Really?”
“Yes. A huge botanical garden opened in Seoul. Min-woong, you watched the news with me before, right?”
“I did!”
The news they had watched together recently proved quite helpful.
Min-woong jumped up with an easily swayed expression. With a flushed face, he seemed to have completely forgotten what he had been begging for moments ago.
“I, I’ll go tell noona!”
“Okay. Don’t run.”
“Mm!”
Min-woong’s retreating figure as he went to find Ju-hee looked energetic. Yoon Pa-ran was truly relieved that he could make time that day.
“…”
Having forgotten to take it back, the “invitation” remained in Yoon Pa-ran’s hand.
With a slightly hardened expression, Yoon Pa-ran discreetly pocketed it. Feeling uneasy, he thought he should look into it a bit more.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
