Chapter 33
Establishing their relationship had definitely been more meaningful than expected.
Since they had decided to become each other’s family, the subtle changes that occurred between the two were proof of this. Though it was hard to pinpoint exactly, they had become much closer and more intimate. Baseless laughter increased and their hearts softened at the comfort they sometimes felt. They say just looking at someone can be wonderful – those words were exactly right.
[Ajeossi I don’t want to make dinner ㅠㅠ]
Below the whining message, crying bear emoticons appeared one after another. Seeing Yuwon’s message, laughter gathered around Jeonghyeok’s eyes.
It wasn’t a frequent occurrence, but Yuwon sometimes hinted that he wanted to eat outside food like this. He could just honestly say what he wanted to eat, but he always acted cute like this. His aegyo was increasing day by day, which was a big problem. At this rate, he’d end up giving him his liver and gallbladder too.
[Tell me what you want to eat]
[Chicken?]
As soon as he sent the reply, a message flew back as if it had been waiting. He must have wanted chicken. Jeonghyeok swallowed the laugh that leaked out and moved his fingers.
He was typing a message asking which chicken he wanted and saying he’d buy it on the way home when:
[No, hamburger!]
A new message arrived from Yuwon, who had already changed his mind. Since both chicken and hamburgers could be bought in front of the house, Jeonghyeok continued writing the reply he was originally going to send.
Just as he was about to press the send button, one more message arrived.
[Chicken…?]
“Ha.”
Jeonghyeok, who finally burst into laughter, stood up from his seat. At the same time, he waved his hand to Taeju, who was wiggling his hips and trying to get up with him, meaning there was no need.
Leaving behind the puzzled Taeju, Jeonghyeok left the office and stood under the wall outside the building, calling Yuwon. While listening to the ring tone, he searched for cigarettes and a lighter with one hand.
But something was strange. Unlike the cigarettes that quickly came to hand, the lighter couldn’t be found. Thinking it might be in a different pocket than usual, he fumbled around everywhere but it was the same. Usually Taeju lit it for him so he didn’t notice, but the lighter had disappeared.
The tip of Jeonghyeok’s eyebrow rose crookedly. He couldn’t tell where it had fallen out. He had never even taken it out, so how could it disappear? Just as he was wondering about this, Yuwon answered the phone.
—Ajeossi?
“Yeah.”
At the cheerful voice, Jeonghyeok stopped the hand that was searching his pockets. He pushed the cigarette he was holding back in.
—Seeing that you called, you must not be very busy.
“I’m busy.”
—Really?
Thinking he had called him even while busy, Yuwon’s voice immediately rose. Since he didn’t think to hide his joy at all, Jeonghyeok could feel that mood directly.
Jeonghyeok pressed down his naturally rising lips and said:
“So do you want chicken or do you want hamburger?”
—Ah, wait a moment. I’m thinking about it right now.
Yuwon made a serious “hngh” sound. What kind of serious consideration was this?
“You can just eat both.”
—There’s too much, so no.
“Even if you leave some, I’ll eat it all anyway.”
—That’s forcing yourself to eat it, right? Because of ajeossi, I can’t leave anything.
Yuwon didn’t eat large portions. Thanks to that, all the leftover food became Jeonghyeok’s share, but no matter how much Yuwon told him not to, it was useless.
“I’ll figure out what to buy.”
—What are you going to buy?
“That’s a secret.”
—Don’t buy too much though. Got it?
Where he learned to nag, Yuwon had the talent of making even complaints sound cute.
Feeling like a henpecked husband who was still grinning despite being scolded by his wife, Jeonghyeok rubbed his forehead and answered:
“I got it.”
—I’ll be waiting, so come home quickly, ajeossi.
Yuwon spoke affectionately, drawing out his words.
Saying he was waiting so come home quickly was a greeting Yuwon often used. At the front door when going to work, often when ending short calls while apart.
It wasn’t aegyo or whining, and it certainly wasn’t seduction. It was just an expression of affection saying he missed him. Even knowing all this, his chest warmed every time he heard it.
“……Yeah.”
Jeonghyeok, who answered briefly, hung up.
The three characters “Kim Yuwon” appeared on the phone screen for a moment before disappearing. What was so special about that made him feel regretful? He wanted to return home as quickly as possible.
***
On the way home from work, Jeonghyeok ended up buying both chicken and hamburgers. Since he had planned to do so from the beginning, even with both hands full of food, his steps were very light.
When he handed the bags to Yuwon who greeted him at the front door, Yuwon grumbled with puffed cheeks as expected.
“Ah, what’s this? I told you to only buy a little.”
“Nagging is limited to one verse. I’m hungry.”
Jeonghyeok pretended not to know and went into the bathroom. He heard Yuwon add a few more words, but he closed the door firmly and quickly took off his clothes. Wetting his head with hot water, he quickly washed his body with his hands.
After roughly drying his hair and going outside, hamburgers and chicken were nicely set up on the living room table. Yuwon, sitting on the sofa, was holding the remote control. He glanced at Jeonghyeok coming out of the bathroom without malice, then soon turned his gaze to the TV.
“What are we watching?”
“A drama that’s really popular these days. I saved it without watching to watch it together with ajeossi.”
Jeonghyeok sat next to Yuwon and picked up a hamburger. The smell of the thick patty and savory sauce wafted up. After neatly arranging the half-unwrapped packaging, Jeonghyeok placed it in Yuwon’s hands.
“Here.”
Yuwon, distracted by playing the drama, roughly held the hamburger while earnestly fiddling with the remote control. Soon flashy opening footage filled the TV screen.
Unlike Yuwon whose eyes sparkled, Jeonghyeok watched TV with an indifferent expression. For him, looking at Kim Yuwon’s face was much more enjoyable than this kind of thing. He had endured the whole day waiting only for this time, but even after coming home, he had to watch something other than Yuwon. Jeonghyeok gulped down cola with a reluctant face.
The drama was a typical melodrama. The protagonist, raised by a single mother, worked hard to be filial, but unfortunately his mother got cancer. The mother, who suffered in silence without saying she was sick because she didn’t want to be a burden to her only child, eventually couldn’t hold on long and closed her eyes.
On his first payday, the protagonist who came home carrying samgyetang that she had so wanted to eat, held his collapsed mother and shed thick teardrops. As desperate music played and the protagonist’s face crying sorrowfully was shown in close-up, Yuwon said:
“I won’t have to go through that, right?”
“What?”
“I won’t have to be that sad when my mom dies. I don’t even know if she’s dead or alive in the first place.”
At the resigned tone, Jeonghyeok turned his head to look at Yuwon. Yuwon was wearing an ambiguous smile.
“Honestly, I am curious. Would I really be sad enough to wail like that? Would my heart hurt enough to be torn apart?”
I’ll probably never know that feeling my whole life. That’s what not having parents meant. Not only the natural security, but even the pain one should rightfully experience wasn’t allowed. It wasn’t surprising anymore, but sometimes his reality hit him heavily.
When he suddenly lowered his head at the bitter feeling, warm heat was transmitted to the back of his hand. Yuwon looked once at Jeonghyeok’s thick hand placed over his own, then raised his eyes to look at Jeonghyeok.
“A precious person leaving your side forever. It’s natural to be sad.”
Jeonghyeok, meeting his eyes directly, spoke quietly.
“I would cry too.”
“……”
“If you died.”
Those calm words sounded different to Yuwon’s ears. It seemed like he was saying how much he cherished him, how much he loved him.
It was like pouring boiling water into his frozen chest. His eyes immediately warmed and his nose stung. Feeling like tears would gush out, Yuwon quickly turned his head and said:
“I’m going to live much longer than ajeossi, you know? I’m several years younger……”
“There’s no order to leaving.”
“Really.”
They exchanged playful words and swallowed their tears. As he pretended not to know and fiddled with the remote control, barely calming down, Jeonghyeok’s low voice could be heard.
“Kim Yuwon.”
“……”
“Yuwon-ah.”
When it became difficult to keep pretending not to know and he slowly turned his head, Jeonghyeok came close. Yuwon, sensing that their lips would soon touch, slowly closed his eyes. Thump, thump, his heart raced. His chest tightened painfully, making the feeling of wanting to cry just moments ago seem insignificant.
But something was strange. No matter how long he waited, Jeonghyeok didn’t kiss him. At a distance where their breath could touch, he just held his position.
Yuwon, who had been waiting, opened just one eye sleepily. Then Jeonghyeok smiled slightly and whispered:
“When are you planning to return my lighter?”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
