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Sweet Sugar Candyman – Side Story 38

#Side Story 2 – 11

It felt like I had just heard the news yesterday, but it had already been over three months since the baby was born, which gave me a fresh perspective. I knew they were planning to have a small 100-day celebration just with family, so I was planning to just send a congratulatory message.

The plan changed slightly due to Saheon hyung’s schedule. He had a flight that day and asked if it would be okay to visit separately later, but Chaehun hyung said he wanted to see me after a long time and told me to come along.

So, unexpectedly invited to Chaehun hyung’s house, I hurriedly bought a baby gift and headed to Chaehun hyung’s house with Saheon hyung.

It was my first time visiting Chaehun hyung’s newlywed home. I heard it was in Pangyo, but I was surprised to find it was closer to their family home in Yongin than I had thought.

As I looked around the neat new city, I soon arrived at my destination. After parking in the underground garage, I followed Saheon hyung, who had been here before, carrying the gift. I felt unnecessarily nervous.

I had never told hyung’s wife, but in the early days when I started living with Saheon hyung while secretly having a crush on him, I had mistaken her for Saheon hyung’s girlfriend and suffered emotionally because of it.

Later, I learned that it was all a misunderstanding, and in fact, hyung’s wife, who had been flying with Saheon hyung at the time, had fallen in love at first sight with Chaehun hyung when he came to the airport by chance, and had asked for an introduction. I still vividly remembered wanting to dig a hole and escape at that time.

In fact, I hadn’t met her that often, so I found myself unnecessarily awkward. As we got closer to our destination, I fidgeted with my hands and decided to stick close behind Saheon hyung, using him as a shield.

Finally, we arrived at the front door. I felt more nervous than ever, knowing hyung’s wife would be right in front of me. It would have been nice to wait a little before going in, but Saheon hyung pressed the doorbell without hesitation.

Hidden behind Saheon hyung, I maintained a vigilant stance and peeked over his shoulder. I heard someone approaching the door, and then it swung open. It was Chaehun hyung.

“Mungmung is here?”

Hearing the familiar voice, I emerged a bit more from behind hyung. Just from the door opening, the unique smell of a baby wafted out strongly. Making eye contact over hyung’s shoulder, I awkwardly greeted him.

“Hello…”

“It’s been a while. Have you been well? Come in, come in.”

“Can’t you see me?”

Saheon hyung grumbled quietly, but Chaehun hyung simply smacked his brother’s arm as a greeting. I followed Chaehun hyung, who opened the door wide for us to enter.

Hyung’s wife was waiting in the entryway, holding the baby. Feeling like I had suddenly encountered the final boss, I froze for a moment with a small “eep” before hastily bowing my head in greeting.

“Hello…”

“It’s been a long time! Thank you for coming all this way.”

“Yes…”

I mumbled as I took off my shoes, responding awkwardly to her warm greeting. Being somewhat shy around strangers, I decided once again to stick close to Saheon hyung.

The house was neat. It was just the right size for a family of three, decorated with the typical cozy interior of a newlywed home. Chaehun hyung, who had naturally taken the baby, now looked more like a parent than an older brother. Perhaps interpreting my newly appreciative gaze, Chaehun hyung spoke up.

“Want to say hello? His name is Siwoo.”

Chaehun hyung leaned back his shoulders to show the tiny baby’s face. I couldn’t help but gasp. The baby’s face, looking at me with wide, curious eyes, was identical to Chaehun hyung’s.

Saheon hyung had occasionally shown me baby photos, so I knew the name “Kwon Siwoo” and had seen his face, but seeing him in person was like looking at a copy-paste version. I marveled at the wonders of genetics, seeing no trace of hyung’s wife in the baby’s face.

“Did you give birth alone?”

Saheon hyung chimed in, apparently finding it fascinating too. As if agreeing, Chaehun hyung burst into laughter and whispered to me, pretending to be the baby.

“Say hello to uncle. Hello.”

“Hello, Siwoo…”

I found myself whispering a greeting without realizing it. The baby, who had been staring intently at my face, suddenly scrunched up his eyes and giggled. My heart instantly melted. I unconsciously covered my mouth.

“Why is he in such a good mood today? He’s usually shy around strangers.”

As hyung said, the baby seemed to be in a good mood, constantly making sounds like “kyaa kyaa, keu keu, ku ku” while wiggling. Having never met a newborn before, I stared at the child in a daze, almost drooling.

“Ah, Siwoo. This is a gift for Siwoo.”

My heart softened by the newborn’s cuteness, I suddenly remembered that I had brought a gift. I raised the wrapped present to chest height, then, realizing Chaehun hyung’s hands were full, handed it to hyung’s wife who was standing nearby.

“It’s a gift for Siwoo…”

“Oh my. Thank you. You didn’t have to.”

Hyung’s wife, who was a flight attendant, spoke to me warmly, just as she had before. Feeling awkward, I scratched my palm.

“Is it okay if I open the gift?”

“Yes. I bought an attachment doll and a teething ring.”

Having overcome some of my shyness, I quietly added another comment. Hyung’s wife’s reaction was overwhelmingly positive. She visibly rejoiced each time an item was revealed, making me smile shyly.

“Look at Siwoo. He keeps staring at Cheongmyeong.”

Chaehun hyung said with a laugh. I, who had just shared a heartwarming moment with hyung’s wife, turned my gaze towards the baby. As hyung said, the baby was staring intently at me.

The baby, making eye contact with me, giggled again. Even his little feet were wiggling, which was so cute. I couldn’t help but smile.

“Want to hold him?”

“…Me? I don’t know how to hold a baby…”

Maybe because Chaehun hyung was tall and well-built, the baby in his arms looked about the size of a small bread roll. I had never held a newborn before, and I wasn’t sure if it was okay to hold such a small child, but hyung’s wife encouraged me.

“Try holding him. Just be careful, it’ll be fine.”

“Okay, okay! I’ll go wash my hands first!”

“The bathroom is over there.”

I nodded and quickly went to the bathroom. Without even turning on the light, I thoroughly washed my hands with soap, shook off the excess water, and came back. Siwoo, who had been staring at me intently, giggled again. I had never seen a baby who smiled so much.

“Keep supporting his head. So it doesn’t fall back.”

“Like this?”

I took the baby from Chaehun hyung. I was worried about what if he got uncomfortable, what if he cried. But contrary to my anxiety, the baby nestled quietly in my arms.

He was warm and tiny, but surprisingly heavy. The wonder of life made me unconsciously part my lips. The baby quietly rested his face against me, babbling something incomprehensible.

“Ah, so cute…”

I let out an involuntary sigh. Muttering “cute, cute” and not knowing what to do with myself, I reflexively looked at Saheon hyung. The corners of his mouth were curved in a smile similar to Chaehun hyung’s.

Saheon hyung smiling like a father? Somehow, it felt strange and unfamiliar, this combination of words. I swayed my body gently like I’d seen on TV and patted the baby’s back, and he giggled again, seemingly enjoying it.

“It’s a baby looking at a baby. Cheongmyeong was once as small as Siwoo…”

Chaehun hyung also seemed emotional, perhaps with unique sentiments. Saheon hyung, who had been smiling contentedly, suddenly coughed loudly as if choking. With reddened cheeks, he muttered uncertainly.

“…Cheongmyeong isn’t a, well, he is a baby… but not exactly a young one?”

“Is that what you mean? I’ve seen him since he was a newborn. No matter how much he grows, he still looks like a baby to me. What else would he look like?”

The person who clearly saw things differently fixed his gaze somewhere unfocused. I had often seen that look when Saheon hyung was still a student, getting scolded and smacked by his aunt. While Saheon hyung fell silent, Chaehun hyung was still lost in memories.

“Time really flies. When did he grow up so much? It feels like just yesterday he was crawling and taking his first steps… Biting everything because his teeth were coming in… Right, Saheon? You were always holding his hand, helping him practice walking.”

“…Well. I don’t really remember…”

As Saheon hyung kept pretending not to hear and changing the subject, Chaehun hyung, who was kind to me but merciless to his own flesh and blood, spoke bluntly.

“Have you already got dementia?”

“Bullshit…”

“Such beautiful language in front of the baby.”

Hyacinthus B
Author: Hyacinthus B

Hyacinthus

Sweet Sugar Candyman

Sweet Sugar Candyman

스윗 슈가 캔디맨
Status: Completed Author: Released: 2023 Native Language: Korean

Since childhood, Cheongmyeong, who has a history of being rejected after confessing to the older neighbor who has lived next door, ends up cohabiting with him due to college. However, this time, the atmosphere feels a bit different…

“Good job. Now spread your legs.”

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