Chapter 187
“Enjoy the curry! I made it less spicy by adding milk.”
-…Milk?
“Yes, you sauté the vegetables with butter instead of cooking oil, and use milk instead of water to boil it. That makes it less spicy. It’s something I used to make for you often, so you’ll like it.”
-……
Tae-geon fell silent. Puzzled by the sudden silence, Hyeon-woo checked his phone screen.
“What’s wrong? Hello?”
-…You… that…
Just as Tae-geon’s dazed voice came through the phone, a group of medical staff in white gowns entered the hospital room. Hyeon-woo hurriedly wrapped up the call.
“What, I thought we got disconnected. The rounds are starting. Please take care of Jerome. I’m hanging up.”
Beep- Beep-
Holding the phone that had gone silent, Tae-geon remained frozen for a while.
*
“How is it?”
“Mmm~ Delicious! It’s exactly like the milk curry Dad makes! Amazing.”
Tae-geon poured water into Jerome’s empty cup as the boy expressed his joy with his whole body.
“I’m the one who taught your dad how to make this curry.”
“Really?! This is my favorite curry!”
Curry made with butter and milk. It was a recipe Tae-geon had personally developed for Hyeon-woo, who couldn’t eat spicy food.
Tae-geon’s mind went blank at Hyeon-woo’s words, which he had uttered without even realizing. His heart tingled and his fingertips tingled at this trivial thing that was almost embarrassing to attach meaning to.
It was insignificant compared to the imprint Hyeon-woo had left on him, but Hyeon-woo had retained at least one thing. A trace that he had left behind.
And it was curry.
Tae-geon let out a small laugh, finding it absurd. Jerome stared with his mouth open at Tae-geon’s lips, which were subtly curving into a pleasant arc. Feeling that gaze, Tae-geon’s expression changed back to his usual cool demeanor.
“Finish it all, don’t leave any.”
“…Okay.”
Jerome’s face, which had been expecting to see his uncle’s smiling face, was tinged with disappointment. As Jerome was busily using his spoon, pushing aside his regret and nearly finishing his plate, he spoke up.
“Uncle, can you read me that book later?”
“Book?”
“Yes. The book you bought me.”
Tae-geon recalled the incident at the bookstore not long ago. Hyeon-woo had asked if the book Jerome had chosen wouldn’t be too difficult.
“Is it hard to read alone?”
“…Yes, a little.”
Tae-geon, who seemed troubled as he chose his words, shook his head.
“I’ll ask Grandfather Butler to read it to you.”
“Can’t you read it to me, Uncle…?”
Jerome’s pleading look, with his eyes sparkling, reminded Tae-geon of young Hyeon-woo. After hesitating, Tae-geon let out a small sigh and finally agreed.
“Alright. Let’s go to your room together after you finish this.”
“Okay!”
Even after that, Jerome’s lingering behavior suggested he had something more to say. As Tae-geon waited silently without rushing him, Jerome’s voice reached his ears again.
“Uncle, you know that cabin we went to before? Can you read it to me there? I want to go there again.”
Every time they traveled between the daycare and the mansion, the lush green coniferous forest unfolding beyond the car window captivated Jerome’s heart. A few days ago, Tae-geon had taken Jerome to a nearby mountain lodge located halfway up the mountain slope, not ignoring Jerome’s desire to walk through the forest.
The wooden lodge’s interior was just as captivating to Jerome as its impressive exterior. As if time had stopped somewhere in winter approaching Christmas, dusty trees and old Christmas decorations made the cozy yet mysterious atmosphere of the lodge even more enchanting.
That space, detached from reality, made one feel as if they had been sucked into a fairy tale. Even when lying down to sleep, the image of the cabin kept appearing before Jerome’s eyes. The scene of flames dancing and crackling in the fireplace with Christmas stockings hanging from it frequently floated through Jerome’s mind.
“Okay, let’s go together. After you finish that.”
At Tae-geon’s agreement, Jerome couldn’t hide his joy and hurriedly finished the remaining food. Then he urged Tae-geon and entered his room.
As Tae-geon watched from behind as Jerome stood in front of the bookshelf, neatly filled with newly bought books, pondering which one to choose, his eyes suddenly caught sight of a paper bag from the bookstore sitting in a corner.
“What’s that?”
“That’s not mine. It’s Dad’s.”
Tae-geon bent down and picked up the paper bag from the floor, removed the tape sealing the opening, and took out all the books inside.
A recipe book with a cover of hand-drawn desserts was placed on top. As Tae-geon flipped through the pages, the memory of Hyeon-woo’s clumsy mille-feuille came to mind. It seemed Hyeon-woo’s promise to make it again later, as he blocked Tae-geon holding a fork, wasn’t just empty words.
The next book also contained dessert recipes. Tae-geon’s eyes softened slightly, seemingly pleased, and he finally picked up the magazine that was at the bottom.
After much deliberation, Jerome took out the largest and thickest book from the bookshelf and turned around, exclaiming,
“Uncle, I’ve chosen!”
Jerome, hugging the book, called out “Uncle, Uncle!” repeatedly, but Tae-geon, staring intently at the magazine cover in his hand, remained motionless as if he couldn’t hear anything.
Jerome approached and tugged at Tae-geon’s clothes, shouting “Uncle!!” loudly again. Tae-geon’s gaze slowly turned towards Jerome. More precisely, towards Jerome’s deep blue eyes.
Jerome instinctively shrank back. The sharp, piercing gaze that seemed to bore into his eyes made his hair stand on end. Feeling a chill run down his neck, Jerome let go of Tae-geon’s clothes and unconsciously stepped back.
“…Un-cle…?”
At Jerome’s tearful voice, Tae-geon finally snapped back to his senses and ran his hand through his hair, looking flustered.
“Huh.”
After exhaling briefly, Tae-geon managed to compose himself and asked,
“…Have you chosen?”
But Jerome, frozen in place, couldn’t even nod.
“Uncle is sorry. I was just lost in thought for a moment.”
As Tae-geon put down what he was holding on the bedside table and took a step towards the frightened Jerome, Jerome flinched and unconsciously stepped back. Tae-geon froze in place. Jerome, huddled up and trembling, blurted out incoherently,
“…Th-that, Uncle, I-I need the bathroom.”
Then Jerome ran out of the room as if escaping. Tae-geon, who was about to turn quickly to chase after him, stopped in his tracks at the sound coming from the corridor.
“Grandfather…!”
Through the open door, Tae-geon could see Jerome clinging to the butler’s legs and bursting into tears. The butler patted Jerome’s back, gesturing to Tae-geon as if to say not to worry too much.
“Shall we go to Grandpa’s room?”
Tae-geon rubbed his forehead as he watched the butler’s back disappear, taking care of Jerome who was nodding vigorously.
Tae-geon’s gaze, which had been blankly staring into space as if lost in thought, slowly turned to the bedside table. There lay the magazine with a model who had the same eyes as Jerome adorning the cover.
*
“Dad!”
Hyeon-woo returned to the mansion the next evening. Jerome, who had been waiting at the entrance of the mansion for Hyeon-woo, who had returned in Driver Yoon’s car as scheduled, welcomed him enthusiastically.
When Hyeon-woo looked with surprise at the butler, who was holding hands amicably with Jerome, the butler cleared his throat awkwardly, seemingly embarrassed. Hyeon-woo smiled slightly and asked Jerome,
“Where’s Uncle?”
“…Don’t know.”
Hyeon-woo’s eyes widened at Jerome, who was avoiding his gaze. Did they have a fight?
“Did something happen while I was away?”
When Hyeon-woo asked the butler, he saw Jerome tightly grasping the butler’s hand. As if signaling him not to say anything.
The butler shook his head, feigning ignorance. Hyeon-woo looked back and forth between the butler and Jerome with suspicious eyes before taking Jerome into his room.
“Was everything okay at daycare?”
Jerome nodded as he sat on the bed.
“What about food? I heard you didn’t eat properly while I was gone.”
“…How did you know?”
“Dad knows everything. Did Uncle make you curry?”
“Yes.”
“How was it?”
“…It was delicious.”
However, Jerome’s expression was gloomy and dark, unlike someone talking about delicious food. As Hyeon-woo was changing into his uniform and didn’t notice this, Jerome’s voice floated in from behind him.
“Dad.”
“Yes?”
“If I misbehave and cause trouble here, do we have to live apart again?”
“…What?”
Hyeon-woo, who was just putting on his jacket, hurriedly turned to look at Jerome.
“Is Uncle Tae-geon the owner of this house? So if I listen to Uncle well, can I live with you without separating?”
“…What are you talking about, Jerome?”
“……”
Hyeon-woo approached Jerome, trying to hide his surprise. Meeting Jerome’s tightly closed lips with his eyes, he asked.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
