Love Born of Pity Chapter 112

Do Seungtae keenly observed the atmosphere between Kwon Jiho and Do Yeonjae. The ridiculously bright bouquet of flowers, and the sight of that punk, who hardly ever lowered himself to the floor, hugging those slender legs in such a state, was comical. He felt sorry for Kwon Jiho, who couldn’t bring himself to kick him.

“My boy, you haven’t forgiven him already, have you?”

“Excuse me?”

“Don’t make it easy for him. He knows you have a soft heart, so he’s acting like that to evoke your sympathy. The nasty punk.”

Do Seungtae, who had glared at Do Yeonjae as if he could eat him alive, turned on his heel. He wanted to meddle more, but since it seemed Kwon Jiho had already accepted him to some extent, he couldn’t say anything further. For the first time since coming here, he left without staying for even five minutes. Closing the door and retracing his steps, Do Seungtae let out a deep sigh.

“What am I to do with him, being so soft-hearted and kind. That punk Yeonjae must be thrilled, really.”

He shook his head, muttering that he didn’t know why Do Yeonjae was so detestable. Jiho won’t go straight to that punk Do Yeonjae’s house, will he? As his thoughts reached the worry of what to do if he said he would follow Do Yeonjae, Do Seungtae turned around again.

Thump, thump, thump. He headed for the annex with quick steps. He didn’t even knock this time and threw the door open. Do Yeonjae was still on the floor, and Kwon Jiho was on the sofa.

“You!”

“…”

“Don’t even think about taking Jiho. For the time being, he’ll stay here and recover a bit, and then if he says he wants to go, you can take him then. Find him a cozy house, not that goddamn wreck of a place. Until then, you too, Jiho, no. If you say you’re leaving right now… then this old man would be disappointed, but… still, think it over.”

Do Seungtae was genuinely worried that Kwon Jiho would say he was leaving right away. If he did, he planned to persuade him when they were alone, saying it would be better to go after his heart had healed and hardened. Unaware of Do Seungtae’s worries, Kwon Jiho’s mouth opened. Both Do Seungtae and Do Yeonjae tensed up.

“Ah… I wanted to tell you about that.”

Kwon Jiho swallowed dryly at the gazes focused on him. Do Seungtae and Do Yeonjae’s mouths opened at the same time.

“You can leave here today if you want. I’ll prepare a house quickly, so you don’t have to worry.”

“You’re leaving? To that punk’s house?”

Kwon Jiho unknowingly smiled faintly at Do Seungtae’s gaze as their eyes met in mid-air. It was the warmest concern he had ever received in his life.

“It’s shameless of me, but… if it’s okay with you, Grandfather, and the misters, I’d like to stay here longer.”

“Ah, of course it’s okay! What a disappointing thing to say. You can live here permanently. There’s no way the house that punk finds will be better than here, my boy.”

Do Seungtae lifted his chin and looked at Do Yeonjae, smiling as if to say, “dream on.” The handsome face, filled with a sense of defeat, hid its expression and buried itself in Kwon Jiho’s thigh again.

“Don’t give in to that punk just because he has a pretty face. It’ll spoil him.”

“Jiho doesn’t care about things like faces, so please leave now.”

Because he was speaking while buried in his thigh, his mumbled words came out in a garbled mutter. Do Seungtae didn’t particularly like the sight of that either. If it were him, he would have kicked him off, but why was he just letting him be? His disposition is so gentle and kind, he can’t be heartless.

He was more displeased with the act of not releasing his arms from around Kwon Jiho than with his grandson’s rude attitude toward him.

“What about your meal? You need to eat breakfast. So you can take your medicine.”

“…I don’t really want to eat anything yet…”

“And if that punk is making you uncomfortable, push him off. That one has no conscience, so I bet he’ll stay like that whether you’re uncomfortable or not.”

“Ah.”

Kwon Jiho’s face instantly turned red. His slender hand fumbled in the air before carefully coming to rest. Do Yeonjae sat up, as if resentful of the faint force pushing on his shoulder. Then, he glared at Do Seungtae and easily released the arms that had been holding him.

“…You should have your meal, Director.”

“I’ll be staying at the main house for a while, too.”

“What? Says who!”

“You’ve always said that this is my house, Grandfather.”

Do Seungtae was surprised, as if he had heard something for the first time. He was about to ask when he had ever said that, but then he remembered saying “this is your house” like a habit when Do Yeonjae was young. He thought, he remembers and brings up every little thing. He considered pretending not to remember, but that seemed too childish for an adult, so he turned around without a word.

“Talk to Jiho about that. If Jiho is okay with it, that’s one thing, but I can’t let you in if he says no, so keep that in mind.”

“Don’t worry.”

“And even if Jiho allows it, you can’t stay here together. You’re going to the main building, no exceptions.”

Do Seungtae, who had been about to leave, just turned his head and drew the line firmly. Do Yeonjae, who was about to argue, “where is there such a rule?”, shut his mouth. It was because Kwon Jiho nodded as if in agreement. Do Yeonjae changed his tune and nodded along.

“I was planning to do that even if you hadn’t mentioned it.”

“I’m sure you were.”

Do Seungtae sniped genteelly and turned around. Tsk, tsk, tsk, he exited the room noisily, clicking his tongue. The space left with just the two of them was filled with silence. The first to speak here was Kwon Jiho. He moved his body as if to put distance between himself and Do Yeonjae, moving far away.

“And this kind of thing…”

“Yes.”

“I’d appreciate it if you didn’t do it.”

Kwon Jiho gathered all the courage he had and said it. Had the message to not touch his body as he pleased been conveyed well? As he looked at Do Yeonjae with eyes full of worry, the man wore a rather serious expression.

“…Okay. I won’t.”

Do Yeonjae straightened his awkwardly bent back.

“What else would you prefer I not do? Tell me.”

“Right now, I don’t really know right now…”

“Then tell me whenever you think of something. I’ll fix… everything.”

Do Yeonjae’s attitude was a posture he had never seen since he had gotten to know him. Kwon Jiho nodded his head reluctantly, but didn’t let his guard down completely. Then, he let out a deep sigh without realizing it. This is confusing.

“I don’t know… what you want, Director.”

At those mumbled words, Do Yeonjae answered as if he had been waiting.

“I want to live with you.”

“…”

“Not like before, but legally bound. Meaning I want to live as your family. But saying this here and now is a bit… uncool. Plus, I don’t think you’d be up for it.”

A long finger scratched his cheek. At the expression and smile he made as if embarrassed, Kwon Jiho turned his head away.

“If you can’t forgive me… then accepting me as the baby’s father… would you hate that too?”

The dejected voice and shadowed expression naturally evoked sympathy. It didn’t seem like he was trying to gloss over it, but he felt that if he kept looking, he would be swayed.

Do Yeonjae looked at Kwon Jiho, who would no longer meet his gaze, a little longer before getting up from his spot. It was because he remembered that Kwon Jiho hadn’t had a single sip of water since waking up. He took a tea bag out of the shopping bag he had placed on the dining table, put it in a cup, and got hot water from the water dispenser.

As he was steeping the tea, he mulled over their conversation and sighed, leaning against the dining table. He was in a miserable state, remembering how he had been so busy making excuses without even properly bringing up the things he had thought about all night.

“…Hah.”

Looking at the water that was gradually steeping into a deeper brown, he remembered that he hadn’t said he was sorry. They say the one who’s been beaten before knows how to take a beating better; maybe the one who has apologized before is better at it, too. Do Yeonjae, who had applied nothing to his hair, which fell forward as he tilted his head, irritably swept it back, filled a glass bottle with water, and mixed in the steeped tea.

“…I’m sorry. Sorry. I was sorry. I’m sorry, Jiho-ya.”

Even as he poured the diluted tea into a mug, he kept repeating the same word in a mumble. He called Kwon Jiho’s name repeatedly too, thinking it might come out more easily if it got stuck to his tongue.

“Mr. Kwon Jiho. Kwon Jiho. Jiho-ya.”

It was then. Kwon Jiho, who was entering the kitchen, happened to hear his name being called and responded.

“…Yes?”

He looked at Do Yeonjae with wide, surprised eyes.

“Did you call me?”

“No… Wait just a moment.”

Kwon Jiho turned around and went back out as if he had forgotten why he had come in. He had definitely come in to get something, but the voice calling him had made it evaporate from his mind. He returned to where he had been sitting just a moment ago and hid his face.

It wasn’t the first time he’d heard his name from his lips, but he didn’t know why his heart was pounding so furiously.

He lowered his hands a little to rub his hot cheeks, and his gaze suddenly landed on the table. The flowers, with their pale colors and faint scent, kept catching Kwon Jiho’s eye. But he didn’t ask Do Yeonjae if he had brought them.

He didn’t want to expect they were his when he hadn’t said he was giving them to him. He thought they were pretty, but they just felt unfamiliar. His finger, which had been cautiously prodding a petal, quickly retracted at the sound of someone behind him.

Do Yeonjae came out holding a mug. He placed the cup on the table in front of the sofa and straightened Kwon Jiho’s slumped back.

“Why are you… you’re red. Are you sick? Did you catch a cold? Are you not feeling well?”

A large hand covered his forehead. The expression gauging his temperature was serious. Kwon Jiho pushed Do Yeonjae’s hand away, muttering that it wasn’t anything like that, and swallowed a sigh. His mood was all over the place. He felt dejected because he knew all too well what the reason was.