Chapter 50
“Hyung! Look at this. I won an award!”
A child who had burst through the door came running to Yuwon. In the brightly smiling child’s hand was a certificate with the large characters “Grand Prize” written on it.
Yuwon put down the book he was reading and said, “Wow, grand prize? So you’re first place?”
“Of course, naturally first place. The Director said I did the best in the whole country. That’s why I’m getting the grand prize.”
The child lifted his chin proudly. His sparkling eyes were full of pride. And rightfully so. For a child living in a facility to win the grand prize in a national drawing competition was truly an amazing accomplishment.
He didn’t have money to buy new paints, so he collected leftover paints from here and there. Even his brushes were hand-me-downs from the older kids. Even when his peers were playing soccer and foot volleyball outside, the child sat quietly in his room drawing. Today’s joy was the result of such diligent effort.
Yuwon patted the child’s head several times with affection. The hair touching his palm was soft and smooth. The child pushed his head forward, coming closer to Yuwon. It was a posture that seemed to ask for continued head pats. That appearance was just like a puppy wanting to be loved by its owner, making Yuwon smile gently.
When they were younger, they used to fight over even a single mechanical pencil, but these days there was hardly any fighting. Maybe because they’d matured. All the children here matured faster than their peers, so in a way it was natural.
“Let’s ask the Director to make something delicious. To commemorate you winning an award.”
“I already mentioned it. She said she’d buy me something I want to eat.”
“Really?”
The child nodded and said, “I was thinking of getting pepperoni pizza that hyung likes. How about it?”
“I’d love that.”
At Yuwon’s answer, the child smiled innocently.
The image of the child who had only cried all night long on the day they first met felt distant now. The child no longer ate glumly, nor did he wake up calling for his mother in his sleep. Though it was probably closer to resignation than acceptance, the child had gradually adapted to this place, and to Yuwon.
As the child opened his heart, Yuwon also opened his heart to the child. Everyone considered them a set, and Yuwon was rather pleased with that treatment. You have me, and I have you. At least we two have each other, so it’s really fortunate.
Yuwon tried to get up. He wanted to go outside quickly to eat pizza and show off the certificate to the kids in other rooms.
But something was strange. His legs wouldn’t move. As if gravity was acting with a hundred times its normal force, his knees were stuck to the floor and he couldn’t budge at all.
“But hyung, you know.”
And the child spoke.
“Why don’t you answer my calls?”
“Huh?”
“I said I missed you. I said I missed you, hyung.”
“…”
“How could you do this to me?”
The expression of the child who had been smiling brightly just moments ago completely changed. The innocent face disappeared without a trace, and suddenly a grown young man was gripping Yuwon’s arm.
Yuwon quietly looked into that face. It wasn’t difficult to recognize who that young man was.
He was Minhyeon. Kim Minhyeon, who had been his family and brother.
“Huh? Say something, hyung.”
Resentful eyes poured out piercingly. Yuwon moved his frozen mouth. Not just his lips, but his entire body was frozen and he couldn’t move at all.
“Hyung. Yuwon hyung.”
Yuwon vaguely realized. This is a dream. I’m dreaming right now. Along with that realization came the feeling of the ground caving in. Soon it was complete darkness.
***
—With cloudy skies across the nation, spring rain is expected to fall in various places. Rain will start this afternoon in the eastern regions and expand nationwide by night. Rain is expected to continue until tomorrow morning, so it would be good to bring an umbrella on your way to work.
“Haa…”
Yuwon, sprawled on the sofa, let out a long breath. The sky he saw upside down by tilting his head back was gloomily overcast as the weather forecast predicted. It looked like rain could pour down at any moment.
After lying like that for a while, thinking this wouldn’t do, he grabbed the vacuum cleaner. When he turned on the power, with a whirring sound, the vacuum cleaner sucked up the dust from the floor. After thoroughly vacuuming and even finishing the mopping, the floor finally had a shiny gleam.
Though he hadn’t done particularly hard work, he felt drained of all energy. He still needed to sort the recycling and go to the mart to grocery shop. But he had no desire to move at all.
This was all because of the dream he had last night.
That dream, so vivid he couldn’t distinguish it from reality, was also something Yuwon had actually experienced. It was a perfect recreation of that very day when Minhyeon, who had swept awards at school and district competitions since elementary school, first won the grand prize at a national drawing competition as a middle schooler.
If it had just been that, it would have been fine.
‘Why don’t you answer my calls? I said I missed you. I said I missed you, hyung.’
Minhyeon’s sharp voice ignited the guilt buried in his heart. It seemed to point fingers at him for still not being able to escape from past wounds even after all these years. It felt like accusations that while everyone was walking forward, what was he doing there all alone.
Once his mood had sunk to rock bottom, it didn’t improve easily. Yuwon slumped onto the sofa and looked at his reflection in the turned-off TV. Sprawled listlessly, he looked just like a deflated balloon.
Just as he was closing his eyes, thinking he might as well take a nap, his phone on the table vibrated noisily. Yuwon’s eyes snapped open and he reached out to grab his phone. It was a call from the Director.
“Hello?”
—Yes, Yuwon. Can you talk for a moment?
“Yes, Director. It’s fine.”
Yuwon straightened his posture as he spoke. And for good reason—Misook rarely called first. Though they exchanged messages occasionally, it was always Yuwon who contacted first. The only day Misook contacted him could be said to be his birthday alone.
—It’s nothing major, but I was wondering if you could come tomorrow or the day after if you have time.
“Is something wrong?”
—No, nothing’s wrong… but I have something to ask you, Yuwon. I’d like to talk for just a moment in person. It won’t take long.
Not only had she contacted him first, but she had a favor to ask—though he didn’t know what it was, it seemed to be quite a difficult situation. It was none other than the Director asking. Yuwon answered without the slightest hesitation.
“I’ll come tomorrow. What time should I come?”
—You can come anytime during the day. Whenever it’s convenient for you, Yuwon.
“Then I’ll come by 2 o’clock.”
—Okay, then. See you tomorrow.
After hanging up, Yuwon tilted his head puzzledly as he put down his phone. Since leaving the orphanage, Misook had never contacted him like this before. Something had definitely happened, but Misook’s voice had been as calm as always.
What could it be? Even thinking about it, nothing came to mind.
“Ah, I don’t know.”
Yuwon flopped down on the sofa. His body sagged again. Since he had plans to go out tomorrow, he could probably skip going to the mart today.
Should I just make fried rice with all the vegetables left at home today? Cover it with a fluffy egg blanket and prettily drizzle ketchup on top to transform it into omelet rice. If I dig through the freezer well, there should be some frozen pork cutlet I can heat up and eat together.
Thinking about food made his mouth water naturally. It was natural since he hadn’t eaten anything since waking up. Once he became conscious of his hunger, his stomach also made a growling sound.
Taking sluggish steps, Yuwon went to the kitchen and took out a cup of instant ramen from the cupboard. There was nothing better when he was too lazy to prepare a proper meal. After removing the plastic and lifting the lid, then shaking in the powder soup, the spicy smell stung his nose.
Finally, as he placed the cup ramen under the water dispenser and was about to press the hot water button, he heard the monotonous mechanical sound of the door lock being disengaged from far away—beep beep beep beep.
“Huh?”
At the click of the door opening, Yuwon hurriedly headed to the entrance. Jeonghyeok, who had just entered, was taking off his shoes.
“Ajeossi? Are you already off work?”
He wondered if he’d dropped by briefly during work, but from the looks of it, that didn’t seem to be the case. Coming home in broad daylight—it was much earlier than usual.
Jeonghyeok, who had lightly nodded, strode toward Yuwon.
“What were you doing?”
“I was making cup ramen.”
As if displeased with Yuwon’s answer, Jeonghyeok slightly frowned and said, “What have you been doing without even eating lunch until now?”
“I just wasn’t hungry…”
Even knowing it wasn’t meant as a scolding, he felt exactly like he was being reprimanded.
Yuwon fidgeted with his hands clasped together. An awkward silence circled between the two. It was a suffocating stillness that took their breath away.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
