The food laid out on the small foldable table was simple, but well put together. Stir-fried rice mixed with all kinds of vegetables, doenjang soup with enoki mushrooms, cucumber kimchi, and seasoned seaweed. While Kang Tae-yi stared down at the meal, Da Haram, who was pouring barley tea into a cup, was asked,
“Where are we eating?”
“In the living room. I’ll take it over.”
As Haram bent down to lift the table, Tae-yi beat him to it.
“Tae-yi, your arm!”
Ignoring the worried voice without hesitation, Tae-yi carried the table into the center of the living room and called out to Da Haram, who was still standing in the kitchen. In the end, Haram followed him with small steps and sat across from him.
“Thanks for the food.”
“Huh? …Yeah. Eat up.”
Every time that pleasant, low voice expressed gratitude, Haram felt his heart soften. Ever since his grandmother passed away, he’d been living with daily help from the neighborhood elders, so perhaps it was this moment of being the one to help someone else that made his heart swell.
As Haram stole a glance at Kang Tae-yi scooping up a spoonful of rice, he noticed the man’s gaze fixed on his bowl. Following Tae-yi’s line of sight, Haram looked down at his own bowl, when Tae-yi spoke.
“You’re eating out of a soy sauce dish.”
To Kang Tae-yi, the bowl in front of Haram looked no bigger than one of those tiny dishes used for dipping sauces. He had scooped himself a heaping bowl of rice in a soup bowl, so he couldn’t help but wonder why the actual homeowner was eating from something so small. But instead of answering, Haram burst out laughing.
Not just because of how little he ate—but because Tae-yi even knew the term soy sauce dish. That alone was unexpectedly hilarious.
“Never heard anyone say that before.”
Tae-yi kept catching him off guard. He didn’t look the type, but apparently, he had a sense of humor too. At least, from Haram’s perspective.
With the buzz of cicadas from outside, the awkwardness started to ease a bit as the meal began. Despite his injured arm, Kang Tae-yi handled his chopsticks without much trouble. After taking a spoonful of the soup, Haram glanced at Tae-yi’s bandaged arm and asked,
“Shouldn’t you go to the hospital? I mean, I disinfected it, but… wouldn’t it be better to get it checked out?”
Kang Tae-yi offered a faint smile at Haram’s worried tone.
“It’s not serious enough for a hospital.”
“Then what about reporting it? I mean, even if he’s a debt collector, violence is still violence…”
Haram had dealt with debt collectors himself, but even though that pot-bellied man was a jerk, he’d never raised a knife or gotten violent. But it seemed Tae-yi’s situation was on a different level.
As Haram’s worried expression deepened, Tae-yi set down his spoon, took a sip of water, and replied,
“It’s fine. I didn’t die, did I?”
So as long as he doesn’t die, it’s fine…? Startled by the answer, Haram stared at him, only to be met with a faint smile as Tae-yi calmly picked up his spoon again. They resumed their meal, and when they were about halfway through, Haram couldn’t suppress his curiosity any longer. He glanced at Tae-yi and asked,
“Where are you originally from?”
Kang Tae-yi wasn’t a talkative type, but rather than finding Haram’s question annoying, he found it… pleasant. Especially those round eyes, full of curiosity, even as he tried to be cautious—they were endearing.
“Seoul. Have you lived here all your life?”
Haram nodded in response.
“I wasn’t born here, but I’ve lived here since I was five. After my parents died, I lived with my grandma.”
Haram answered without the slightest hint of discomfort. Tae-yi fell silent for a moment, then gave a small nod. Seeing Haram’s face still full of curiosity, he let out a soft chuckle.
“What else are you curious about?”
Haram had promised himself he’d ask the rest later in the evening, but he couldn’t hide his smile at the invitation.
“What do you do for a living?”
He wanted to know everything about this man—including his job, especially since he’d already shared his own story. Tae-yi paused for a moment before answering.
“I just work at a company.”
“That’s cool. Is that why you wore a suit?”
At the mention of working at a company, Haram’s eyes lit up. Tae-yi didn’t understand why that made him so happy, but he answered sincerely.
“Being a farmer is cooler. I don’t know any farmers.”
Everyone he knew—whether from his home or work—was just a bunch of thugs. Tae-yi held back the rest of his thoughts as he watched Haram, who now stared at him wide-eyed in surprise.
Haram, who had never once been called “cool” before, clutched his water cup and moved his lips before finally speaking.
“Give me your address. I’ll send you peanuts. We harvest them in the fall.”
Hearing that cheerful voice again made Tae-yi smile. Ever since getting hit in the head yesterday, it felt like something had gone loose—he’d been smiling more than usual. Even to himself, it felt strange.
“I’ll tell you when I leave.”
When he responded with a soft smile, Haram nodded eagerly, his silver hair swaying with the motion.
“Okay! You have to tell me.”
***
Haram’s field was surprisingly large. Despite Haram firmly insisting that he didn’t need help, Tae-yi followed him out early in the morning, surveying the vast land with a question.
“What did you plant over there?”
To Kang Tae-yi, it all just looked like weeds, but some spots had long stakes sticking out. As Haram followed his gaze and smiled brightly, he answered,
“Cherry tomatoes! I planted a bit of everything besides peanuts. Over there’s some watermelon, and over there, chili peppers…”
As Haram pointed here and there across the field and explained to Tae-yi, his excitement was obvious—like a child who loved giving presentations.
“You’re good at this.”
Tae-yi offered his impression once Haram had finished. Though he had a naïve side, Da Haram was clearly capable.
“Huh? No, it’s not… everyone does it like this…”
Unexpected praise made Haram squeeze his work gloves and mumble bashfully. Then, slipping them on, he stepped into the field and looked down at the weeds sprouting around the crops. He glanced up at Tae-yi and said,
“You should rest at home. I’ll finish up and come in later.”
“You do all this alone?”
Ignoring the question, Tae-yi casually stepped into the field and began pulling weeds alongside him.
“Yeah, but the village elders help out during harvest… T-Tae-yi?!”
Startled by the rustling beside him, Haram turned to see Tae-yi holding a bunch of weeds. He was getting used to being treated like an invalid, but still, Haram’s reaction caught his attention.
“Let’s do it together.”
Without hesitation, Tae-yi pulled out another long weed. Alarmed, Haram rushed over and grabbed his wrist with both hands. Feeling the soft pressure on his wrist, Tae-yi looked down to see Haram’s flustered expression.
“What? I’m fine.”
“Uhh… but… that’s not a weed…”
Tae-yi looked down at the green thing in his hand. No matter how he looked at it, it was a weed. His confused expression prompted Haram to mumble awkwardly.
“That’s a peanut plant…”
Frowning, Tae-yi examined the stalk more closely. There were no leaves on it, just fine roots tangled at the end, and a few small, round pods hanging there.
Looked like peanuts. No, it was peanuts.
“…Sorry.”
He had never in his life felt embarrassed before—but now, this unfamiliar emotion was throwing him completely off. No, not confused—humiliated.
“Pfft… hahaha!”
As Haram stared down at the poor peanut stalk, bent at a perfect ninety-degree angle thanks to Tae-yi’s unforgiving grip, he suddenly burst into bright laughter. That pure laugh was followed by a radiant smile that made it impossible to look away.
Tae-yi, dazed, found his gaze drawn from that smile to Haram’s silver hair fluttering in the breeze. Then to his small ears revealed with every swish of hair—and then back up to those naturally upturned lips.
“Are you trying to scream ‘city guy’ or something?”
Haram, now meeting Tae-yi’s gaze directly, spoke with a teasing tone. Tae-yi chuckled and brushed the dirt from his hands before replying playfully,
“What, can’t I just admit I’m a city bumpkin?”
He’d tried to soften the words, thinking they weren’t close enough for that kind of banter yet—but Tae-yi went straight to the point. After a short pause, Haram gave a bashful grin and replied,
“…City bumpkin.”
And just like that, another bright smile lit up that small face. Following Da Haram’s cheerful grin, Kang Tae-yi let out a soft, relaxed smile of his own.
***
Before dawn, with the sky still a hazy blue, Kang Tae-yi ruffled his hair and walked into the living room, disturbed by the loud noise coming from outside. Since Tae-yi had been given the biggest room, Da Haram had been sleeping on the sofa in his beastfolk form. Now, with a big yawn that showed his little pink tongue, Haram hopped down from the couch.
“Squeak… squeak…”
Go back to sleep…
Pointing to the room with his tiny front paw, Haram signaled Tae-yi. Not realizing Haram slept in his animal form, Tae-yi stared blankly down at the tiny sky squirrel and let out a small laugh.
When the loud banging on the front gate started again, Haram, still rubbing his eyes with his paws, sighed deeply. He clearly knew who it was.
“Someone you know?”
Tae-yi’s voice, already deep, was even huskier from sleep as it tickled Haram’s ears.
“Squea… squeeeak…”
Yeah… just go back to sleep…
Haram once again pointed to the room with his paw, his groggy voice sounding like muffled mumbling. Watching the small beastfolk shuffle toward the little room, Tae-yi rolled his neck and stretched.
Soon after, Haram returned in human form, pulling down his T-shirt as he stepped out. Seeing Tae-yi still standing in the living room, he said,
“Go back to bed.”
“Who is it?”
“…Debt collector.”
