Chapter 189
…Why? Just because his eye color is the same as Jerome’s?
As Hyeon-woo was trying to deduce where Tae-geon’s absurd misunderstanding came from, he suddenly remembered the magazine he had bought at the bookstore a few days ago. He had completely forgotten about it due to the news of Mrs. Kyung-ae’s injury, but now it came back to him.
…He saw it. He must have seen it. Tae-geon must have seen the cover of the magazine he had bought.
Hyeon-woo was anxious, not knowing what kind of interview was in the magazine that had made Tae-geon like this. Just as he was about to open his mouth to correct Tae-geon’s misunderstanding-
“Actually-”
“You did well. Don’t mention or think about that dead bastard anymore. Just keep doing what you’ve been doing.”
Hyeon-woo’s face hardened at Tae-geon’s interrupting words.
…What does he mean, keep doing what I’ve been doing? While he’s having such an absurd misunderstanding…!
Hyeon-woo opened his mouth again, not backing down.
“That’s not it, I and that person-”
“Just shut that mouth, please!!”
Hyeon-woo’s whole body froze at Tae-geon’s explosive, authoritative shout.
“…Just keep your mouth shut, Hyeon-woo.”
Tae-geon’s eyes shook violently as he forcibly covered Hyeon-woo’s mouth. That threatening gaze seemed somehow desperate.
“Every time you open your mouth, it’s lies. What more do I need to hear? I don’t want to hear it, what you’re saying.”
“……”
“He died from a drug overdose, right? I said I’d believe you. So don’t say anything more.”
Tae-geon turned his gaze from the pale-faced Hyeon-woo to Jerome and added,
“Smile a bit. You’re making Jerome anxious.”
At that, Hyeon-woo’s head quickly turned to Jerome. Sensing the unusual atmosphere, Jerome was looking back and forth between him and Tae-geon with very anxious eyes.
“Even if you can’t, try.”
Then, as if demonstrating, Tae-geon smiled gently towards him. Hyeon-woo quickly turned his head sideways to avoid it. The chilling gap in his behavior made the back of Hyeon-woo’s neck tingle.
While Hyeon-woo’s mind went blank, Tae-geon finished getting the tickets. Then he approached Jerome, lowered himself, and held out a ticket with cartoon characters printed on it.
“Uncle is sorry about before.”
“……”
“So I just promised your dad that today, Uncle will do everything Jerome wants.”
Jerome glanced at Tae-geon with suspicious eyes. Tae-geon smiled charmingly at Jerome and said to Hyeon-woo with a friendly gesture,
“Right, Hyeon-woo?”
Jerome’s cheeks flushed as he saw Tae-geon’s smiling face up close for the first time. Watching the two, Hyeon-woo felt a dizzying sensation.
*
What Jerome asked for, when Tae-geon said he would grant any wish, was for all of them to go to an amusement park together.
Promising to leave right after the movie ended, the three entered the theater on time.
Although Tae-geon’s ulterior motive to win over Jerome was obvious and his kindness wasn’t welcome, Hyeon-woo felt sorry for Jerome again and couldn’t withdraw the request.
Come to think of it, Jerome had never asked to buy something or go somewhere first. When was the last time he went to an amusement park with Jerome? It would surely be exhausting in the packed crowd. That’s why he hadn’t taken him, but Hyeon-woo felt a bitter taste in his mouth at Jerome’s quick request to go to the amusement park without a moment’s hesitation.
While Jerome, hugging a large popcorn bucket, was focused on the movie, Tae-geon grabbed Hyeon-woo’s left hand resting on the armrest.
Hyeon-woo, not in the mood to hold hands amicably with Tae-geon, tried to shake off his hand ruthlessly, but the more he tried, the tighter Tae-geon gripped, eventually interlocking their fingers.
…What is he trying to do now?
It was ridiculous. Hyeon-woo shifted his gaze from the screen to glare at Tae-geon. Despite surely feeling Hyeon-woo’s gaze, Tae-geon just stared ahead without moving, his face expressionless.
Hyeon-woo couldn’t figure out what Tae-geon was thinking. One moment he was interrogating him like a cheating lover, the next he was forcibly silencing him, and now he was holding hands affectionately. Hyeon-woo gritted his teeth at Tae-geon’s fickle attitude, changing like flipping a hand.
‘Even if you can’t, try.’
Try what? Smiling in front of you? Keeping my mouth shut and not saying anything from now on?
He had misunderstood on his own and didn’t even give a chance to explain. The more Hyeon-woo thought about it, the worse he felt. Was this what he meant when he said he wouldn’t believe what Hyeon-woo said anymore?
‘I don’t want to hear it, what you’re saying.’
‘Every time you open your mouth, it’s lies.’
Hyeon-woo bit his lip nervously.
Fine, misunderstand all you want. I don’t want to try with someone who doesn’t want to hear me out.
He didn’t feel the need to try to correct the misunderstanding of someone who had no trust in him at all. Originally, it didn’t matter to him whether Tae-geon misunderstood or not. Yet, he still felt an unbearable surge of resentment.
Every time this happened, Hyeon-woo tried his best to pull his hand away from Tae-geon’s grip, but it was useless. His hand felt like it was going to cramp from Tae-geon not letting go until the movie ended.
Hyeon-woo had to keep massaging his left hand, which felt numb as if blood wasn’t circulating, until they arrived at the amusement park, struggling through the weekend traffic congestion.
As expected, the amusement park they entered was crowded with an enormous number of people. Even though they got the fastest boarding tickets, they could only ride three attractions due to the long waits. Nevertheless, Jerome seemed to enjoy even just watching people, constantly smiling and saying “Dad, Dad!” as he led Hyeon-woo around, which made Hyeon-woo’s heart ache.
He’s so happy with just this, I should have brought him earlier…
Hyeon-woo felt sorry for not understanding Jerome’s heart, who just wanted to spend time together in a fun place, even if they didn’t ride attractions.
It was when they sat on a bench to catch their breath while watching the brilliant parade at night.
Noticing Jerome’s gaze lingering on a child his age eating pink cotton candy, Tae-geon asked,
“Do you want to eat that?”
Jerome’s eyes sparkled as he nodded his head up and down repeatedly.
If he had come with just his dad, Jerome would have had to beg and plead to get cotton candy, but he felt good that his uncle asked first, as if he had read his mind. Jerome, whose emotional barrier towards Tae-geon had completely crumbled, smiled brightly, showing his teeth.
Just then, a cute cart selling cotton candy caught their eye not far away.
“Wait here for a moment.”
Ignoring Hyeon-woo’s nagging not to buy it, Jerome followed Tae-geon as he approached the cart laden with cotton candy. The child’s footsteps cheerfully echoed on the ground.
Just as Jerome was about to intertwine his hand with Tae-geon’s after catching up with him, Tae-geon quickly pulled his hand away as if touched by dirty filth and looked down at Jerome. Surprised, Jerome froze, his eyes wide open.
Just as Jerome’s instincts were about to sound an alarm at the cold and sharp gaze-
“…Oh, it’s Jerome. I was surprised.”
Tae-geon’s gaze towards Jerome softened instantly, as if lying. Although it didn’t become warm, just the removal of the coldness from his gaze was enough for Jerome to start breathing again.
Tae-geon must have noticed Jerome’s footsteps approaching him. However, unaware of this, Jerome couldn’t hide his apologetic expression, fidgeting at Tae-geon who said he was surprised because of him. Tae-geon smiled slightly at Jerome as if to say it was okay and said,
“Shall we go together?”
“Yes.”
The two walked side by side to where the cart was.
Until Jerome returned to the bench where Hyeon-woo was, holding cotton candy in one hand, Tae-geon never held Jerome’s empty hand.
*
Perhaps because he had been on edge all day between Tae-geon and Jerome, the next day, Hyeon-woo suffered from severe body aches. Fortunately, it was his day off, so he spent the day rolling around in bed with Jerome. Jerome must have been tired too, as he took two naps.
Only by nightfall did Hyeon-woo barely recover his energy and called Mrs. Kyung-ae to check on her. As expected, she was in the process of being discharged and said she would be leaving the hospital early tomorrow morning, expressing her gratitude for Hyeon-woo’s help during her stay.
Even after ending the call, Hyeon-woo felt uneasy as if he had forgotten something important. Jerome snuggled into Hyeon-woo’s arms.
“Jerome, how was yesterday? Was it fun?”
“Yes. It was so much fun.”
“How about Uncle Tae-geon now? You’ve been uncomfortable with him lately, right?”
At those words, Jerome fell silent for a moment as if in thought, then slowly opened his mouth.
“It’s okay now. I like Uncle Tae-geon!”
“……”
Hyeon-woo sighed softly, his mind troubled by Jerome’s words that he liked Tae-geon.
He wasn’t sure if it was right to pretend not to know and cover it up as Tae-geon wanted, even though he clearly knew Tae-geon had a strange misunderstanding about him. But he also didn’t trust Tae-geon enough to confess all of Jerome’s truth.
‘Smile a bit. You’re making Jerome anxious.’
Hyeon-woo felt resentful towards Tae-geon for trying to manipulate him by using Jerome.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
