Holding his phone, Yigyeom looked at the name ‘Chief’ in the recent call history. He raised his hand, but couldn’t bring himself to press the screen. He didn’t know how to convey the news, and the thought of Kwon Taejung’s reaction upon hearing it made it too terrifying to make the call easily.
“….”
If he expresses his difficulties… What should he do? If he disappointed him by behaving badly, and now he says he’s pregnant, he might burden Kwon Taejung with even heavier responsibilities he doesn’t want. With this thought, Yigyeom placed the phone down again.
“What should I do?”
Now, at twenty, and with no family left, it was too overwhelming for young Yigyeom to handle alone. The realization that there was a child inside him made him shiver uncontrollably. Yigyeom pulled the blanket tighter against the penetrating cold and buried his face into it.
‘I have someone I love having my child, and who could hate that?’’
Warmth from within the blanket, warmer than the spreading warmth, echoed Kwon Taejung’s voice in Yigyeom’s mind. Just thinking about what he said made Yigyeom’s eyelashes wet, and he buried his face into his knees. It was too scary to reveal the truth, but still, Yigyeom wanted to see Kwon Taejung. His only Kwon Taejung.
“….”
Looking at the test kit again placed on the table, Yigyeom covered the still-flat belly with his hand. It was too hard for him to believe there was a child inside when he couldn’t feel anything.
“….”
What should I do? How should I handle this? Yigyeom, who kept repeating the same thoughts, immersed himself too much in it, burying his head back onto his knees, causing his painful head to throb. The mixture of worries and fears felt like engulfing his entire body. The emotional roller coaster was making it hard for him to think rationally. Feeling the throbbing pain in his head, Yigyeom closed his eyes.
Even though he covered himself with the blanket, the chill seemed to shake Yigyeom’s shoulders incessantly. In that moment, Yigyeom thought of Kwon Taejung again. When his mind quickly shook with thoughts of wanting Kwon Taejung’s firm arms to embrace him, his consciousness blurred and drifted away.
***
Preparing to return to the company all day, Kwon Taejung, who left work with his father to go home, had dinner with his family. The anticipation of having Yigyeom sit next to him at this dining table was unbearable.
“Dad, Mom. I have something to tell you.”
Although he didn’t come with the intention to share the news today, it seemed right to talk about Yigyeom when they were all gathered. Smiling mischievously at his siblings, who looked surprised while eating dessert, Kwon Taejung exchanged glances with his parents, who were waiting for his next words.
“I’m seriously seeing someone.”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
“Vfglberis?”
“Tfr. P kjca ab ufa wjgglfv.”
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“He’s a good, beautiful, and upright person. But… a bit younger.”
At the mention of him being young, Kwon Yoojung and Kwon Kijung quickly exchanged glances, suppressing his laughter by clearing his throat. Seeing the unnatural actions of Kwon Yoojung and Kwon Kijung, their father, who had noticed, narrowed his eyes.
“Yoojung, Kijung, do you know who he is?”
“Oh, Dad, no one can match your quick perception. Yes. Noona and Hyung met a little while ago and had a meal together.”
“Didn’t you say anything to us even after that?”
“I wanted to tell you. It’s my business, after all. He’s the person I want to marry.”
“Well, fine… But, he’s young? How young?”
“…Twelve years younger.”
With those words slipped out, another moment of silence lingered. Kwon Taejung, seeing the momentarily stunned expressions, smiled widely and beautifully to ensure that his parents’ hearts would quickly loosen up.
“Taejung, so is the person you met now… twenty years old?”
“Yes, Mom. He’s young, but he’s deep and thoughtful. He has many qualities better than me. He’s a really good person.”
At the mention of meeting someone at the age of twelve, the parents’ eyes widened in disbelief. Trying not to make Kwon Taejung scold them, he smiled as beautifully as possible, hoping to melt his parents’ hearts.
With their father sneaking a glance and seeing that Kwon Yoojung and Kwon Kijung were sending signals, the two started praising Yigyeom enthusiastically.
“Dad, we met him first, right? He’s truly deep and pure… a good person. We were worried because he’s young, just like Taejung said. But it was really nice. Please meet him at least once. It’s the first time Taejung has wanted to introduce someone.”
“Yes, Dad. Please meet him. You’ll like him.”
Thanks to Kwon Yoojung and Kwon Kijung’s efforts, the atmosphere did not become too awkward. Kwon Taejung sighed in relief, thinking he had overcome a hurdle.
“First, bring him home. As soon as possible. He seems like quite a good friend, judging by the praise from Yoojung and Kijung. Let’s meet him and talk.”
“Sure, Taejung. Let me know two days before you come. That way, we can prepare the food. Mom is so curious and excited about who is making our youngest so happy.”
Seeing that Kwon Taejung was trying to comfort her mother, who continued to make jokes, he leaned his large body towards her, offering his face for her to pat and stroke. Taejung smiled as his face was gently touched by the comforting hand.
Watching Kwon Taejung like that, Kwon Yoojung and Kwon Kijung, who had never used aegyo on their parents even when they were young, couldn’t help but bow their heads, unable to stop themselves from grinning like mischievous children.
Having successfully informed his parents about Yigyeom’s existence, Kwon Taejung called Yigyeom before leaving the house. He had tried calling a couple of times before dinner, but since he didn’t answer, he refrained from calling again, thinking he might be resting.
“…Still asleep.”
Even now, two hours later, not receiving Yigyeom’s call heightened Kwon Taejung’s anxiety. With a worried heart, he hurriedly left for his home.
Even on the way, he continued to call, but Yigyeom didn’t answer. Kwon Taejung, unable to suppress his restless feelings, quickly parked his car in the parking lot, opened the door, and entered.
“……”
From the entrance, Kwon Taejung sensed that Yigyeom was not at home. Besides the absence of shoes, the air in the house felt different without Yigyeom. Instead of warmth, it gave a feeling of emptiness. Kwon Taejung tried to suppress his emotions as much as possible and searched every room, including the bedroom, bathroom, various rooms, and even the second floor, to confirm Yigyeom’s absence.
“Ha.”
Having confirmed her absence at home, it was time to find Yigyeom. Acting hysterical and expressing anxiety while jumping around at a time like this would be a waste of time.
Kwon Taejung walked around the living room without sitting down, and from there, he called Kang Jihoon’s number on Yigyeom’s old phone. Even though the phone rang several times, Yigyeom did not pick up. However, just as Kwon Taejung was about to hang up, vibrations signaled a call back. It was Secretary Baek. Kwon Taejung quickly answered the call.
“Yeah, Jiwoo.”
“Taejung, are you at the demolition village?”
“No, home.”
“Is Yigyeom alone?”
“Wait. Yigyeom? What’s that supposed to mean?”
“A guard from the village contacted me, saying that Yigyeom went into the house alone and hasn’t come out yet. Even though you’re together, they couldn’t see him. Aren’t you with him?”
Hurriedly descending the stairs, Kwon Taejung quickly got into the car he had parked recklessly before and left the parking lot. While the call was still ongoing, Kwon Taejung maintained a calm voice and inquired about the situation.
“I’m going there now, but it’ll take more than thirty minutes. Tell the guard to properly secure the surroundings so that no one can enter. And make sure they pass the message.”
“I already told them. But what’s going on? Didn’t you know that Yigyeom was there?”
“Yeah. I went to the office today. After visiting the house, having dinner, I couldn’t contact him, so I’ve been looking for him. Thanks for letting me know. If anything happens, call me immediately.”
Ending the call, Kwon Taejung increased his speed on the quiet road. It was fortunate that he wasn’t collapsed in a hospital emergency room, but the fact that he hadn’t come out and wasn’t answering the phone was worrying and made him feel anxious to the point of madness.
He had decided to go early the next day to pack up and move, but why did he go there alone without saying a word? If he had left a message, he would have gone there earlier to come home together. Kwon Taejung wanted to enter Yigyeom’s heart and understand everything. So, even without Yigyeom saying a word, he wanted to be the first to understand and embrace him, to make him feel secure.
“Ha….”
Hastening to go there and quickly fill my eyes with Yigyeom’s presence seemed like the only way to ease my mind. Kwon Taejung increased his speed a bit more, heading towards Yigyeom, who needed to be embraced, who needed to absorb all the sadness and anxiety, even though he didn’t voice them.
Erasing vague thoughts that it might become a very long night.
* * *
The streetlight at the corner of the alley, which hadn’t been visited for a long time, was completely out, losing its light. Kwon Taejung, who had been looking up, somewhat disappointed that the lamppost, which seemed to be about to go out, was illuminating his car but eventually went out, quickly entered the alley where Yigyeom’s house was. Then, he pushed the closed green gate.
“…The door isn’t locked again.”
Opening the unlocked door and stepping inside, Kwon Taejung knew that there was no one, but still, to make sure that no one could enter, to protect the time for him and Yigyeom, he locked the door. Then, he looked at the sports shoes placed in front of the door. Just by looking at them neatly arranged, it felt as if Yigyeom’s face was visible. Kwon Taejung cautiously opened the door.
