“I wasn’t seeing you for free all this time. I—I’ll spend money too and send you to a nice prison, Ahjussi.”
“What?”
“I heard important people get private cells. And they get snacks regularly…”
“……”
“I h-have a lot of money too. You gave me a lot, Ahjussi.”
He went on and on about how he’d already looked into prisons with good treatment, even listing prison meal plans these days. Unable to endure it any longer, Yi-beom pulled Eunho into his arms.
What am I supposed to do with this? Feeling his heart fill to the brim, Yi-beom burst into laughter.
“Guess it was a good thing I locked you up.”
“……”
“Let’s just live here together. Eunho-ya.”
Huh? This isn’t right. Eunho’s eyes wavered, unsure where to land.
No. If Ahjussi lets his guard down like this…
Glancing at the phone visible between Yi-beom’s trouser pocket, Eunho went over his plan again.
***
Contrary to expectation, Yi-beom didn’t ask why Eunho had lied. He simply ate as usual and served Eunho’s meal like always.
“Eat a lot.”
Accepting the carrot he handed over, Eunho chewed quietly.
It’s good that he’s not asking… but…
Then what was this uncomfortable feeling? Maybe because they were letting yesterday pass without explanation, a strange uneasiness kept nagging at him. When he glanced up, Yi-beom’s neat face came into view.
His expression was calm, just like any other day. With perfect posture and not a single deviation, Yi-beom moved his spoon. The way he closed his lips and chewed silently was flawless. At times like this, he didn’t look like a gangster at all—more like a well-educated rich family’s young master.
“What?”
Still chewing quietly, Yi-beom threw a glance at Eunho.
“Want another side dish?”
“No.”
Shaking his head lightly, Eunho sank back into thought.
Come to think of it, I’ve never seen Ahjussi’s family even once.
He had heard Yi-beom had two older brothers, but he had never actually seen their faces. As for his parents, all he knew was that they had been in this line of work for a long time; he had never heard what their personalities were like or what they enjoyed. It was the complete opposite of how Eunho endlessly rambled about Eunchan.
They say the firstborn often takes after the paternal side…
A fragment of something he’d once heard came to mind. Sometimes, instead of resembling the father, a child might look like the father’s siblings or even grandparents.
If it’s Ahjussi’s family… wouldn’t that be okay?
Looking down at his lower abdomen, Eunho sneaked another glance at Yi-beom. Sharp, masculine features, a sleek jawline, and a slightly cold impression. If someone had to be resembled, it would be better to look like Yi-beom than himself.
As Eunho studied his face piece by piece, Yi-beom spoke.
“If you’ve got something to say, say it. Baby.”
“What were you like when you were young, Ahjussi?”
As if he’d been waiting for it, Yi-beom asked back,
“Hm?”
“Were you this blunt even when you were little?”
“I’m not blunt.”
Without the slightest change in expression, Yi-beom added,
“I talk a lot to you, and I’m affectionate.”
Does an affectionate person lock someone up? Eunho pouted.
“…The secretary Ahjussi said so. He said your conscience has a hole in it…”
“I told you to swear at times like that. I did.”
“I-I think he’s right though… And I’m not swearing at the secretary Ahjussi. I’m talking about you, Ahjussi.”
“Then say it to me.”
“But then you’d swear back…”
Even while watching his mood carefully, Eunho said what he wanted to say. Yi-beom burst into laughter at the way Eunho’s cheeks fidgeted as he mumbled.
“So. Why are you suddenly curious about that?”
Setting his spoon down, he rested his chin on his hand. His hair fell messily over the back of his hand.
“What, did someone tell you to dig into your boyfriend’s past?”
“……I’m locked inside the house. Who would I even meet?”
Eunho avoided his gaze.
“It’s just… you never really talk about your family, Ahjussi… so I asked.”
In truth, he was wondering whether the baby might take after Yi-beom’s personality, but he couldn’t say that. If anything, it would be bad if it inherited his current temperament. Under the table, Eunho stroked his stomach.
Watching the slightly dejected-looking Eunho, Yi-beom let out a sigh.
“They’re different from me. Both my brothers are loud and dramatic people.”
“What about their faces? Do they look like you?”
“Similar.”
Then it’d be fine even if the baby resembled an uncle. Eunho smiled softly.
“Won’t you show me someday? Why have you never introduced me to your family, Ahjussi?”
“Because I want to keep you hidden away.”
Placing carrot salad neatly atop fried rice, Yi-beom held out a spoon to Eunho. His mouth opened automatically.
The way he accepted it like a baby bird was adorable. If only he could just keep him seated like this and feed him forever. Yi-beom’s face twisted slightly as he thought of his rough, bristly-haired brothers.
“There’s nothing good about getting tangled up with those bastards.”
“Mean…” Eunho mumbled, but Yi-beom ignored him easily.
“I don’t want to introduce you, and I don’t want them introduced to you.”
They probably already knew about Eunho’s existence, but that didn’t mean he wanted a formal introduction. It was the last bit of conscience Yi-beom had left.
The Kwon family had long been infamous in this line of work, their reputation spreading through entire neighborhoods. As the youngest born into that family, Yi-beom had no choice but to live far from anything ordinary.
Whether at school or private academies, even when making friends, the label of “that family’s kid” followed him everywhere. Rather than raging or rebelling against it, Yi-beom chose acceptance. It wasn’t a family tradition that rebellion could ever change anyway.
As he piled side dishes neatly onto the spoon, Yi-beom added,
“I’m tied to them by blood, so I can’t help it. But I don’t want you seeing that side of things.”
“Still, you’d have to invite them to the wedding.”
“Wedding?”
Yi-beom stopped his spoon.
“What wedding?”
“You and I have to get married, Ahjussi!”
Yi-beom’s expression colored with confusion. Uh. His lips opened and closed repeatedly.
Watching his face, Eunho’s expression also stiffened. No way… With one hand resting on his lower abdomen, he asked,
“You’re not going to marry me…?”
“Do we have to?”
His words caught in his throat. Th-then what about our baby!? Startled, Eunho’s eyes went wide.
“It’s not mandatory. There are a lot of complicated issues.”
The biggest problem was that people holding grudges would target Eunho. In many ways, it was better to live quietly, without officially registering names on paperwork.
“We can just live like this, the two of us.”
Seeing Yi-beom’s eyes curve gently, Eunho was left speechless. If he’d heard those words a few days ago, he probably would’ve nodded.
But now he couldn’t. With a complicated expression, Eunho accepted another bite from him. It wasn’t just the two of them anymore—it was three.
What am I supposed to do…
Until the end of the meal, Eunho kept turning Yi-beom’s words over in his mind.
***
Jung Eunho had no talent for lying. Everything he thought showed plainly on his forehead. During the meal it had practically read “I’m troubled,” and now who knew what had gotten into him—he kept sneaking glances at Yi-beom’s phone.
Looks like he’s planning to contact someone outside.
The white T-shirt, the way he held back his words—it was all to snatch the phone. Seriously. Yi-beom let out a quiet chuckle at the flimsy plan.
If you’re going to escape, at least think about cracking my skull or something.
After finishing the meal, Eunho hurriedly urged him to wash up, as if trying to push him away. It seemed he planned to use the phone while Yi-beom was showering.
“Y-You must be tired.”
Holding a towel and even a bathrobe, Eunho opened the bathroom door for him. The intention was so obvious that Yi-beom couldn’t stop smiling.
“Jung Eunho.”
“Ah!”
Just as Eunho tried to hurry out, Yi-beom grabbed his arm and pulled him back. Eunho spun once before landing right in his arms.
“Let’s shower together.”
“W-What?”
“I said let’s wash up together.”
While Eunho stammered, Yi-beom quickly pulled the white T-shirt up and off him. That shirt had been stirring his nerves the entire meal.
He wanted to tear it apart and devour him right then and there. He imagined lifting Eunho onto the dining table, kissing his startled eyes over and over, then raising his thighs. Because of that, Yi-beom couldn’t tell whether he’d been chewing carrots or Eunho’s thighs earlier.
“N-No, that’s not it!”
His plan falling apart, Eunho shouted. Covering his chest and lower body with both hands, he slipped out of the bathroom.
“I-I don’t want to wash right now!”
“You need to wash. You planning to sleep without showering?”
That’s not what I meant… Eunho’s gaze drifted toward the doorway—more precisely, toward Yi-beom’s phone lying on the bed.
Just three steps. If I could get there…
Dragged along by Yi-beom’s hand, Eunho let out a helpless groan. Once Yi-beom decided they were showering together, there was no way he’d let him go.
Sitting Eunho inside the bathtub, Yi-beom perched above him. His expression was surprisingly serious as he checked the water temperature with the showerhead.
“We should wash together whenever we can. Who knows when our Eunho might throw me into prison again.”
“I said I won’t.” Eunho pouted. “Then you shouldn’t have locked me up in the first place.”
“And you shouldn’t have lied in the first place.”
Mimicking Eunho’s tone, Yi-beom shot back. When the water felt almost too hot against his hand, he gently tilted Eunho’s head back.
Relaxing naturally, Eunho leaned against him. Warm water soaked through his hair.
“So why were you in that neighborhood?”
“……”
“You’re not going to tell me?”
