The House of Three Chapter 10.1

“Heeyoung Hyung told me. That I am adopted.”

The child’s innocent voice quelled his anger in an instant. Hearing Heeyoung’s name so unexpectedly, Gyojin was thrown into confusion.

“Lee Heeyoung……?”

When he furrowed his brow and asked again, the child added an explanation as if to say he had not misheard. His voice was bold and bright as he enunciated each and every syllable clearly.

“Yep. Someone called me an adopted child a while ago, and I thought it was a bad word. So I kept pestering Heeyoung Hyung, and he told me what adoption means!”

“…….”

“He said that becoming a family through adoption is a very special choice. So I am more special than other kids, and, uh, more loved.”

Someone had carelessly blurted out the word ‘adopted child’ to Cheonghyun. Seeing that the child had taken the meaning of adoption negatively, it surely was not said with good intentions.

If so, could it have been the work of the Ignis employees? It would only be right to immediately identify the culprit and stomp on his mouth, but Gyojin could not focus on the fact that someone had told his son he was adopted and looked down on him for it.

It was because Cheonghyun’s attitude was shockingly impressive.

Even though Cheonghyun had found out he was adopted, he showed no sign of being hurt. On the contrary, with his shoulders squared, he had an attitude of being proud of himself for being more loved than others.

He did not ask why he was not his dad’s biological son, nor did he cry. He did not even express a single speck of resentment. Cheonghyun had cleanly shattered all the dark and fearful scenarios that Gyojin had simulated.

He had tried his best to raise him with all his heart, but he had been so busy with work that he could not even properly handle his home education. It was a moment where he felt grateful to his son, who had grown into a bright and positive child without a single scratch.

That my son is a special and loved child. They were words that made his chest grow warm just by hearing them. His anger had already subsided long ago. To be precise, the reason for his anger had vanished.

How could Lee Heeyoung have said such beautiful words to his son?

As he stood there with a serious expression, Cheonghyun, who had been carefully observing his reaction, playfully tapped Gyojin’s leg and spoke.

“Eyyy, Daaad. Being adopted isn’t something to be ashamed of! He said it’s not something to hide either. It’s a proud transaction!”

What a praiseworthy little punk. The little guy, who was still the size of a bean, tugged firmly at his hand as if to soothe his father. Gyojin squatted down as the child pulled, meeting his gaze.

Within his slightly tanned face, his eyes, nose, and mouth were neatly arranged. Objectively, his appearance did not resemble his own, but the unique atmosphere that was present here and there was a spitting image.

The way his eyes were held open with confidence, as if he feared nothing in the world, the slyly crinkling corners of his eyes whenever he smiled, and the corners of his mouth that lifted in a wide, cool grin were particularly similar. No matter how you looked at him, he was his son.

Cheonghyun’s complexion was even brighter than usual. He grinned while saying with his own mouth that he was adopted. He said he was proud, that he was not ashamed, making his listening father’s heart well up.

Although he was flustered by the situation unfolding differently from his imagination, Gyojin was no longer afraid or dismal. It was…… overwhelming. Even though he knew the entire process of how Cheonghyun became his son, his heart pounded as if he were a person who had just now realized the fact of the adoption.

Had they been making eye contact for a long while, sparing their words? Cheonghyun, who had placed a hand on Gyojin’s shoulder, suddenly began to squirm and chatter.

“You know, Dad. The only person who can choose me is the person who loves me the moooost. He said that’s how we can become family.”

“…….”

“In that case, just how much do you love me, Dad? I was born from someone else’s tummy, but, uh, Dad, you wanted to meet me that much? Because you wanted to be a family with me?”

It was a voice that asked because it wanted to receive direct confirmation, even while already knowing the answer. It was a mature and lovely question.

And so, Gyojin could not hold back any longer and pulled Cheonghyun into a swift hug. He answered while generously wrapping his son in his wide embrace.

“Yeah. Because I wanted to be a family with you, because Dad loved you the most, that’s how we met.”

“……Actuaally, I love you the most too, Dad. I’m really happy that you’re my dad.”

At the affectionately whispered words, Gyojin shot up and turned his back. He placed his hands on his waist and hurriedly looked up at the ceiling. Hoo, he let out a long exhale, suppressing the emotions that were surging up.

Ah, shit, this little thing is already being a filial son, isn’t he, making his father cry, isn’t he. Even if I raised him like crap, how did he grow up so beautifully? Good-hearted little punk. Innocent little punk.

“Haa……”

Even when he was rolling around in the gutter during his childhood, he had not shed a single tear, yet his heart crumbled at his son’s pure expression of affection. Gyojin had to calm his heating eyes by calmly collecting his breath.

It was newly surprising that the fact of the adoption, which he had hidden for years, could be so easily explained to the child with just a few words. So it was possible to tell the truth without causing hurt. It was not something that had to be hidden.

If Heeyoung had not stepped in, he might have hidden it for his entire life. Perhaps, one day, Cheonghyun would have found out the truth and been hurt belatedly.

That was why Gyojin was sincerely grateful to Heeyoung. Because he never uttered a word carelessly and had truly thought of Cheonghyun and cared for him. The kindness Heeyoung bestowed was so deep and vast that he would not dare to put a price on it or measure its weight.

When in my life could I ever meet another person like this? Just like meeting Cheonghyun, meeting Lee Heeyoung also felt like a stroke of heavenly luck.

“Dad, Daaad. What are you doing with your back turned. Are you crying? Because you’re moved by me?”

He was only able to put his overwhelming emotions aside when Cheonghyun spoke to him again. After calming down and turning around, Gyojin swiftly lifted up his son, who was staring blankly at him.

The kid went to the trouble of saying such pretty words, so a father could not just stand there and listen, could he?

“Who’s crying. I love you too, son.”

“Uh, well, sure.”

“Little punk, you get shy after saying everything you want to say. But you, you better know this one thing. It wasn’t just me who chose you, you chose me too. Huh? We’re special to each other.”

As he deliberately jostled the child in his arms to emphasize his point, a burst of laughter erupted. Cheonghyun, who had mumbled his reply shyly at the words ‘I love you’, answered clearly this time.

“That’s right. Special to each other!”

He seemed to be engraving the words in his heart by repeating them exactly. Whose son was he? He was so adorable that he wanted to bite down and swallow him whole.

Gyojin adjusted Cheonghyun in his arms to face him directly and then touched their noses together. As he rubbed the child’s soft tip of the nose with his own sharply raised nose, the sound of laughter grew more intense.

Kheh-heh-heek. Cheonghyun even got a runny nose from laughing, but Gyojin did not find it the least bit dirty and continued to play with him.

After pouring out his affection and connecting with him for a good while, he whispered to the child just as the child had done to him.

“Cheonghyun. You’re the one who made me a father. You know? Thank you for giving me the chance to be a dad.”

It was to the point where he himself got goosebumps from his own nonchalant yet love-filled voice.

Ugh, Gyojin, who had said it himself and shivered, playfully kissed Cheonghyun all over his face. It started with a smack, smack, and later, he kissed him so passionately that it made a mwaah sound. Finally, when he bit his chubby cheek and made a poot sound with his lips, the child burst into peals of laughter.

“Euhaha! Ah, Daaad! Stop iiiit!”

“Don’t want to. I’m going to keep doing it. This praiseworthy little punk. The little punk I wouldn’t mind putting in my eye.”

“Heh-heet! It tickles, I said it tickles!”

Cheonghyun, who was struggling against the tickling, flailed his fists wildly. For a little squirt, he was quite strong. Gyojin did not stop biting his cheek even while getting hit on his shoulders and face.

Yeah, this is why you raise kids.

The corners of his mouth went up without him even trying to smile. The child was the same. His cheekbones had no intention of coming down as he beamed.

The two faces smiling at each other were identical. The smile he made with his eyes crinkled coolly. It was an expression that looked as if it had been stamped from a mold.

The world that started with you and me, and became ‘us’, expands once again like this. Happiness really was not a big deal.

That evening.

Heeyoung, who had gone straight to dreamland without even having a meal, only began to wake up when the sun had set.

Perhaps because he had taken a nap for the first time in a while, his mind was gradually clearing up, but his eyes would not open easily. Heeyoung could not remember when or where he had fallen asleep. He only guessed he must have come up to his room and fallen asleep, seeing as his surroundings were quiet.

For now, it was difficult to get up, still intoxicated by sleepiness, so he pulled the blanket up to cover himself. It was fluffy and warm, and he liked the feeling of the characteristic weight of a cotton blanket.

What time is it now? I should lie down just like this for 10 more minutes and then get up.

It was the moment he was about to drift back into languor with that thought.

The sound of footsteps dragging slippers grew closer and closer, then came to a dead stop right in front of his nose. Heeyoung, having missed the timing to open his eyes, ended up pretending to be asleep.

As he held his breath quietly, he felt a presence that was absolutely impossible to ignore. He felt like he knew who it was without even having to check.

The refreshing yet subtle scent of a bamboo forest…….

It was because there was only one person in this house who carried such a scent on his body.

By the way, why is he standing here in front of me? Every time he became conscious of his blatant gaze, his skin felt like it was tingling.

Heeyoung, who was unintentionally engaged in a test of patience, fidgeted with his fingers with the intention of raising a white flag. He was just about to push the blanket away and awkwardly raise his upper body.

“……!”

Something lukewarm and soft pressed down on his lips and then lifted away.

Heeyoung froze, clutching the blanket tightly. What just happened? He had almost snapped his eyes wide open.

In that time, the man, who had slowly distanced himself, turned to leave. Shhk, shhk. The sound of dragging slippers grew distant, and before long, the door to his room closed on the other side.

His body, which had been rigid as if dead, only began to react after the presence had completely disappeared. Heeyoung squeezed his closed eyes even tighter and pulled the blanket over his head.

When he cupped his cheeks with both hands, he could feel the heat. His face and the nape of his neck must have been flushed bright red by now.

Thinking he might suffocate like this, he poked only his face out from under the blanket. Even when he took a deep breath, phoo, to bring down the heat, his cheeks were still warm.

Heeyoung did not harbor the question, ‘Why is he suddenly acting like this?’ about his sudden action. He already knew the reason, having heard it so much it was stuck in his ears. And that made him even more embarrassed.

“……My goodness.”

When he cautiously opened his eyes, the scenery of the dark living room came into view.

Ah, I fell asleep on the sofa.

The cushions were so soft and wide that he thought it was a bed. Besides, he was also using a pillow under his neck, and a blanket, not a throw, was enveloping his entire body. It seemed that he did not want to wake him while he was sleeping soundly and just covered him with a blanket.

Of course, all of this…… the Boss must have brought it for him.

If you looked closely, he was a considerate and gentle person.

Heeyoung pointlessly stroked his own lips and turned over. At that, the small rustling sound of the blanket echoed in the spacious living room.

When he stopped moving, the entire house was filled with silence. Heeyoung rolled only his eyes to gaze toward the hallway.

Did they say that human intuition is sometimes sharper than an animal’s? The presence that had always made a corner of his heart uncomfortable had vanished as if by magic. A vague sense of tension did not even well up in the silence that filled the large mansion.

It is quiet and comfortable.

It seemed Gyojin, who had left in a clamor, had returned home alone. Alone……. A feeling of relief for some reason made his strength drain away. It felt as if his body was sinking deep down below. Heeyoung closed his eyes as if mesmerized.

It felt like he could sleep soundly until morning without even having a single dream. His heart was that peaceful.

🌿

The next day, as soon as the lunch hour passed, men dressed in suits rang the doorbell.

They stated their clear purpose, saying they had come under the instruction of Mr. Lee Seowon. It seemed they intended to pack the luggage they could not take out yesterday.

It was a mystery why Seowon himself did not come, but Gyojin opened the door easily, as if he had expected it.

Then, about five or six men who rushed in went into Mr. Lee Seowon’s room and opened up boxes and cases. One of them took out the valuables left in the dress room one by one and passed them over, and another person received them and carefully placed them inside the cases. The rest of the people packed the items stored on the desk and the artworks that Team Leader Jeong had set aside separately.

While they worked in silence, focusing only on moving the luggage, Gyojin took a spot in the middle of the room and started nagging.

“Take all the furniture too. Fucking hell, he bought all sorts of things.”

“Yes, sir, understood.”

“Hey, load this too. Don’t let your hands be idle, you punk.”

Even though they were personnel sent by Mr. Lee Seowon’s side, he issued orders as if he were their employer. Telling them to wipe everything clean without leaving a speck of dust, and to move quickly without letting their hands be idle. He even arbitrarily nicknamed the burliest man who seemed to be the youngest ‘Potato’ and kept tapping the back of his neck.

He also carelessly picked up an expensive artwork placed in a corner and threw it outside the front door. Thump! He threw it with such a loud noise and dragged it, to the point that the edge of the frame was already visibly worn.

No matter how much you dislike the person, is it okay to handle someone else’s belongings so carelessly?

In the end, Heeyoung, who was watching the scene from the hallway, rolled up his sleeves. He figured they would need more people to move the furniture, so he thought he, who had nothing to do, should lend a hand. He was also worried about the items getting damaged.

Just then, there was a man trying to carry out two boxes at a time, so Heeyoung quickly ran over to help.

“Sir, please give this to me. It must be heavy, let’s carry it together.”

But the moment he reached out his hand, his body was yanked back.

The man, who looked over at him with a brief moment of surprise, quickened his pace and left through the front door.

No, I was trying to help……. He ended up becoming a person who only makes grand-sounding offers but does not actually lift a finger. As he spun around in resentment, Gyojin shook his head from side to side and dusted Heeyoung’s hands, pat, pat. He was making a fuss even though he had not even touched the box.

“Tsk, dirty.”

“……It’s going to be tough to move all the furniture, so I should help.”

“They will take care of it all. You go over there and get some fruit to eat.”

While some were sweating profusely moving luggage, he was told to watch them and eat fruit. Heeyoung was not that kind of person. No, in the first place, was it even acceptable to sit in the dining room and slack off during work hours?

However, Heeyoung kept his mouth shut. If he brought something like that up, he would only spur Gyojin into action.

“Um, but, Boss. Then Mr. Lee Seowon…… what happened to him? I mean, he didn’t come to get his luggage himself. It’s just……”

Instead, he slyly asked about the behind-the-scenes story of theirs that he had been curious about all night. Seeing them take out the luggage, it seemed the two had completely sorted things out as Gyojin had said, but it was a mystery that Mr. Lee Seowon, who had struggled until the very end refusing to leave this house, had backed down so obediently.

Gyojin gave a confident smile towards Heeyoung, who was asking while cautiously observing his mood.

“He drew a firm line with me, so it would be strange for that prideful punk to try and come here again.”

“Ah……”

“Originally, in front of love, there should be no such thing as pride or whatever, you know? That Lee Seowon guy was just rotten to the core.”

So, you’re saying Mr. Lee Seowon put his pride before love? While he was mulling over the answer, Gyojin snapped his fingers right in front of Heeyoung’s blank face. Snap!

Startled by the sound, when he looked up, Gyojin, who had intentionally put on a greasy expression, winked one eye.

“But I can throw away all my pride when I think of you.”

“…….”

Now he was spouting such shameless remarks at all hours. It was truly marvelous. How could his expression not change one bit? The one who had to endure the shame and embarrassment was Heeyoung again today.

When he averted his gaze, at a loss for words, Gyojin began to act as if nothing had happened. After staring intently at Heeyoung for a moment to watch his reaction, he nudged a man carrying luggage with his foot and warned him.

“Hey, move it without scratching the floor. Don’t drag it. Your work sense is so fucking slow.”

Sigh. Heeyoung, who let out a small sigh, pulled Gyojin out of the room. Those people must be tired from all the physical labor, how unfair would it be to get cursed at?

Fortunately, when he grabbed his arm, he became cheerful and obediently stepped back.

Anyway…… so this is how the relationship with Mr. Lee Seowon ends.

The luggage held in the men’s hands disappeared one by one into the moving truck outside the main gate. It was a sight that made even his own heart feel bitter watching it.

The room, from which the desk, bookshelf, bed, and all the furniture had been removed, was empty and desolate. As if no one had ever lived there.

Finally, the engine of the moving truck, which was now locked, started, and the sedans lined up behind it left the alley one by one. Heeyoung stood in front of the entrance and watched the scenery of the cars disappearing one by one. And only when the truck had finally disappeared from view did he turn around.

Mr. Lee Seowon, had left just like that. Just like their first encounter, the end was also very cold.

“What are you doing there. Waiting for Cheonghyun? There he comes, my son.”

“Pardon?”

Before he had even closed the front door, Gyojin, who had naturally approached his side, pointed his finger. When he turned his head in the direction he was pointing, he saw a car just approaching. It was the vehicle Dongjae always used to drive Cheonghyun around.

He had not even seen the child’s face yet, but he did not know why he was so happy to see him. Forgetting that he had been looking wistfully at the alley, Heeyoung broke into a wide smile.

Soon, Cheonghyun, who got out of the car, spotted the open main gate and started running towards it at full speed.

“Hyeong! Daaad!”

“There he goes running again. Running again. He just won’t listen to a damn word.”

Gyojin clicked his tongue, but he was still getting ready to hold the child. As he bent his knees and opened his arms, the child, who had run up nimbly, leaped into his embrace.

Still, he’s a kindergartener now, so he must be heavy. He held his son, spun around lightly once, and then lifted him high up onto his shoulders.

Kkyareuk, Cheonghyun, who burst out laughing and hugged Gyojin’s head tightly, reached out his hand towards Heeyoung.

“I’m home. Hyung, I want a snack!”

“Let’s go inside quickly. Hyung washed some grapes for you earlier.”

It was a peacefully welcomed afternoon.

The grapes, which he had plucked one by one and washed with care, looked delicious. From them, Heeyoung picked out only the plumpest and most beautifully colored grapes and placed them on Cheonghyun’s plate.

“I listened really well in class today! Look at this, the instructor said I was the best listener and gave me a candy.”

The child, who had grabbed a handful of grapes and put them in his mouth, started chattering before he had even finished chewing and swallowing his food. He was so proud of being praised at school that he even took a candy out of his pocket to show him.

Heeyoung, who was great with reactions, immediately widened his eyes and clapped, while Gyojin, who was sitting next to Heeyoung peeling an apple, responded cynically.

“What class.”

It was blunt, but in his own way, he was asking because he was genuinely curious. As if he was used to this kind of reaction from his father, Cheonghyun was not discouraged by the indifferent question and answered energetically.

“Uhm, today we learned what adoption is. I think I got praised because Heeyoung Hyung told me about it yesterday. Hyung, right?”

It was indeed a bright and adorable answer, but this time, a good reaction did not come out. Startled by the child’s words, Heeyoung put down the grape he had just picked up.

Gyojin would not yet know that he had told Cheonghyun about the adoption. If he found out about this, he would be upset……. His eyes, which had lost their place out of nervousness, rolled here and there.

However, he did not get angry, asking what this was all about. He simply placed the beautifully peeled apple slices onto his son’s and Heeyoung’s plates, and then replied while biting into his own whole apple.

“So, what is this adoption that my son learned about today.”

As he crunched on the apple, he gestured with his chin as if to say, ‘go on and recite it.’ At that, Cheonghyun gulped and stood up, listing off the knowledge he had learned at school. Among them was the story that Heeyoung had told him directly.

The child, who had been passionately speaking for about 5 minutes, pointed to his own chest with his thumb and concluded his story.

“So I said I’m proud that I’m an adopted child!”

It seemed he had handled the situation well, just as he had told him yesterday. Heeyoung watched the child, who was extremely proud, and let out an awkward exclamation of admiration. ‘Waah……!’ He did not know how much he had watched Gyojin’s expression while praising him with a timid, barely audible voice.

As expected, Gyojin, realizing something was strange, propped up his chin and muttered.

“How strange. I’ve never told the kid anything like that. Why does he seem to know everything?”

Since the comment was meant for him to hear, Heeyoung lowered his head deeply. How was he supposed to explain this? A feeling of difficulty washed over him, and a cold sweat broke out. Gyojin’s expression was nothing but relaxed, yet Heeyoung alone was so anxious his mind was a mess.

Heeyoung, who had gone through countless worries in a short time, soon confessed what had happened yesterday truthfully.

“Um, Boss, I was the one who…… told Cheonghyun. I’m sorry for speaking out of turn. But, but I really don’t think it’s a story that should be hidden. So I tried my best to, to explaaain…… it to him well.”

Mumble, mumble. One of his strengths was his articulate speech. But as he tried to confess something like this, his decibels kept decreasing.

Heeyoung, who snuck a peek to the side, noticed that Gyojin was staring intently at him and his shoulders trembled.

Why is he staring at me like that? Did he not like my answer? It seemed this alone was not a sufficient answer. And so, Heeyoung quickly added more words.

“Perhaps because you dote on Cheonghyun so much, Boss, the kid accepted it without much difficulty. But, still, it was a story that you should have told him yourself, Boss, so I’m sorry for rashly stepping in…….”

Yes, thinking about it again, it was an act that crossed the line for him to step in and reveal the fact of the adoption instead of Gyojin, the father. He must have had a plan for when to tell the child, so how resentful must he be that someone else interfered and ruined things.

Heeyoung apologized with sincerity. With his head bowed politely, he just stared down at his palms until he opened his mouth to say something.

“Hey. You what, are you trying to seduce me for real?”

But what in the world…… was this out-of-the-blue answer.

Unlike his expectation of a stern scolding, an inscrutable sound of breathing came from in front of him. Gyojin was shaking his shoulders, holding back laughter. Then, the apple got stuck in his throat and he coughed, Keok! but even while his face turned beet red, he did not stop laughing.

He grabbed Heeyoung’s chin, lifted it to meet his gaze, and threw out a comment that was half-joking.

“You only pick and choose pretty words to say. You’re telling me to go buy a ring and offer it to you, is that it, right now?”

“What? That’s not, I didn’t mean it like that. I’m being serious.”

“I’m being serious too. What other reason would there be for you to teach my kid something like that yourself? I can only see one, Heeyoung. From now on, you’ll raise him as your own kid, isn’t that what you mean? Huh?”

No, how could he possibly interpret his words in that way. Heeyoung no longer felt sorry. He could only stare with his mouth agape, astonished at this situation where he was being robbed blind.

If he let his guard down for just a moment, Gyojin would step on the gas pedal like that. His own son was right in front of them, blankly eating grapes, yet there was nothing he would not say in front of the child.

“I’m telling you, you’ve already become my wife.”

“Hah……”

One moment he said he would wait, so take his time to think about it. He had never even answered that he wanted to be in that kind of relationship with the Boss, but it seemed Gyojin had already defined him as his wife. Heeyoung did not know how to respond to those words, so he decided to ignore them.

“Ah, anyway, I’m glad if you’re not upset by my actions, Boss.”

He tried his best to reply nonchalantly, but the embarrassment would not fade, so he did not know what kind of expression to make. So he just roughly picked up the fork in front of him, speared a piece of apple, and ate it. Even though the sweet and sour scent filled his mouth, he did not have the impression that it was sweet and delicious. His mind was elsewhere, and it was a time when he was fidgeting restlessly without even knowing how he was moving.

The child, who had been quietly listening to Gyojin and Heeyoung’s conversation while pretending not to, suddenly asked.

“Dad, do you like Heeyoung Hyung?”

Clang!

At the direct question, Heeyoung ended up dropping his fork. The person who received the question was Gyojin, but it was his own composure that had shattered.

The child’s eyes, which he managed to look at with difficulty, were clear and pure. There was not a single bean-sized intention to tease an adult. Heeyoung wished this was a joke instead. Then he would have somehow laughed it off. He could not help but blurt out an excuse.

“Cheonghyun, that’s not it……”

“Yeah, Dad’s looking for a wedding hall. Want me to give you an invitation too?”

However, before he could even get a word out, Gyojin’s playful voice cut in. He threw a joke as if it were nothing, even at the child’s pure question.

To say such a joke to a child who probably did not even know what a wedding hall was. He was about to hurry and correct Gyojin’s words, but the child, who was excited for no reason, began to nod his head vigorously.

“Yeah! Yeah! Give me one too! But what’s a weddin’ invitation?”

At the innocent question, Gyojin let out a small laugh, kook. Finding it so funny, he even threw his head back and laughed heartily before starting his mischief.

“A wedding invitation is—ˮ

It was annoying how he deliberately dragged out the end of his sentence. Heeyoung, who could not stand being teased anymore, was about to shoot up from his seat when he beat him to it and put an arm around his shoulders.

“……!”

No, that’s not right. It would be more accurate to say he unilaterally wrapped an arm around Heeyoung’s shoulders, leaned his upper body in close, and stuck to him like a leech. Having stopped his teasing, he picked up a grape and held it in front of Heeyoung’s mouth.

“Ah—”

His attitude suggested he would not withdraw his hand until he opened his mouth, so Heeyoung reluctantly accepted and ate it. When he tried to eat it whole with the skin, Gyojin made an old-man-like sound, ehei, and popped only the transparent flesh into his mouth.

Then, he waited for Heeyoung to chew with his mouth full before extending his palm flat under his chin.

“Spit the seed out. If you swallow it as is, a grapevine will grow in your stomach.”

It was absurd that he would tell him, an adult, a lie that would only work on children. More than that, he was telling him to spit the seed he was holding in his mouth into his own hand. Heeyoung shook his head, saying it was fine, and gulped down the seed as well.

Likewise, the child, who had been watching this scene intently, stopped munching on his grape and spat out the seed, toot. The grape seed, placed on his chubby palm, was soon handed over to Gyojin.

“Dad! Here! I swallowed one earlier, will a grapevine grow from just one seed?”

He was so cute asking with a worried expression that it made one want to bite him. Heeyoung collapsed on the spot and laughed, and Gyojin, who could not hide his bewilderment, also soon let out a few short bursts of laughter.

“Hey you, you swallowed a whole one? Cheonghyun is in big trouble now. Hey, say bye-bye to Dad.”

“Why? Ah, whyyy! It’s a lie, right? It’s a lie! How can a grapevine grow in a person’s body!”

“You don’t know the legend of the grapevine.”

“What’s the legend of the grapevine? Huh? Huh? Daaad! Am I going to die?”

“You’re not going to die. By tomorrow, a sprout will be growing on your belly. Lee Heeyoung, when grapes grow on his belly, let’s take them and sell them.”

“Huuuhhhh! What do I do, I don’t want grapes to grow on me! Huuuuhhh—”

Why did this ordinary conversation, just a part of daily life, feel so enjoyable? Heeyoung, who was clutching his stomach laughing, got up from his seat and approached Cheonghyun. As he gently wiped away the welling tears and hugged his head tightly, he could feel the child’s unique, warm body temperature.

Hic. Hic. The sound of his crying was quite sorrowful. Since his most reliable dad was taking the lead and saying he would sell the grapes, it seemed his world was collapsing.

“No. Cheonghyun, if you listen well to Dad and sleep well at night, a grapevine won’t grow.”

“Huuuhhh— I hate Dad. Dad, hic, I hate you.”

When the sulking child pouted with a hmph, Gyojin replied without batting an eye.

“Oh yeah, you hate Dad? But I like my son.”

“Hic, heuk…….”

“I can even pick and eat grapes for free.”

“Heek, huuuuhhhh—”

Ah, I cannot take it anymore. Heeyoung sat right down and sobbed with laughter. Heup, keuk-keuk. He had tried not to show it, in case Cheonghyun’s feelings were hurt.

“Hahaha, what do I do, Cheonghyun. It’s so funny, heuhp…….”

The child, with a yellow snot bubble hanging from his nostril from crying so sorrowfully. And Lee Heeyoung, smiling brightly with his mouth open in a circle.

Gyojin took in the sight of the two people, which made his heart feel all fluffy just by looking, and bit into his apple.

Crunch.

It was not even apple season yet. The flesh that burst forth every time he crushed it with his teeth was ridiculously sweet.

🌿

It was a morning where the scent of spring blowing in through the open window felt particularly cozy.

The scenery seen beyond the window was spring itself. The wide expanse of lawn in the front yard was greener than usual, and in the park visible in the distance, the cherry blossoms were in full bloom. Every scene that met the eye seemed to announce that winter was over.

Perhaps that was why, lately, Heeyoung’s heart felt like it was floating. The corners of his mouth would turn up at any given moment, and his footsteps were light when he helped with the housework. He was like those spring flowers, swaying gently with the breeze.

His heart, it just felt ticklish. Just like the feeling of starting a first love. Although he had not yet properly answered Gyojin’s confession, judging by the atmosphere, the two were practically a couple, just without having said the words.

Recently, Heeyoung’s daily routine started like this. He would wake up, wash up, wake Cheonghyun to get ready for school together, and finish breakfast with the father and son in the dining room. And then it would be this time. 8:10 in the morning. A time when everyone was busy.

“Cheonghyun, if you want to go in Dad’s car, move quickly.”

“Just a sec, let me put this in my bag!”

“Stop, stop. Sir, are you going to school to play? Aren’t you taking that slime out?”

“Aaaah! Don’t do iiiit!”

“On the days I take you, it feels like I’m going off to war. Huh? It’s harder than the military, you little punk.”

This house, with a first-grader, had mornings that were more chaotic and noisy than other houses. It was even more so on the days Gyojin took the child to school himself.

The child would always open his bag right before leaving the house, and at a time when every second counted. When you looked inside, there were more trivial toys than textbooks, yet he would insist on taking slime or a squishy and pack this and that.

Thanks to that, Gyojin, who had started going back to work again this week, was the only one going crazy. He repeatedly checked his wristwatch and sighed as if he were about to lose his mind. The sound of his sigh, hwaaah, was unfittingly funny for the situation.

Then, Heeyoung, who could not watch any longer, would step in and gently soothe the child. As he trotted over, zipped up the bag, and straightened Cheonghyun’s clothes, Gyojin’s expression, which had looked like it was about to explode, would soften.

“Now, Cheonghyun. You have to hurry if you want to go in Dad’s car. Let’s play with the slime and squishy after you come home from school. At school, you have to study hard.”

“Uh-huh. But Hyeong, I don’t like these shoes. I wanna wear different ones.”

“These? You want to wear these sneakers? Cheonghyun, go get them yourself.”

“These! I’m gonna do the velcro. Me!”

Once the bag was packed, now the shoes were the problem. Heeyoung waited for the child and gave Gyojin an awkward smile. It was a signal to be patient a little longer. At that, Gyojin, who was leaning against the doorframe and twirling his car keys, finally let out a harsh remark.

“What’s with trying to re-fasten all the velcro. You can just slip your feet in.”

“Euuuhng! Don’t! I’m gonna do it all again!”

“You know this is guardian abuse, right? You know what you’re doing every morning.”

“Euuuhng…… I’m dooone. Dad, but isn’t this outfit weird. Maybe I shouldn’t wear this? I want to change…….”

Grit. That was not the sound of teeth grinding. It was the sound of Gyojin’s patience running out.

“This punk, he’s doing this on purpose, isn’t he? Huh? This won’t do.”

“Aah! Don’t lift me, aaaaaah! I’m gonna waaaalk! Hyeong, Hyung, you come toooo!”

“Cheonghyun, look over there. A kindergartener is going to school more maturely than you. You’re an elementary school big brother, you punk, you should be ashamed.”

In the end, Gyojin, whose lid had blown, swiftly lifted his son and slung him over his shoulder. There were days when he walked out gallantly, and then there were days like today, when he was dragged away as if being kidnapped.

Heeyoung quickly slipped on his slippers and followed behind them. He watched as black dust marks were left on Gyojin’s suit jacket every time Cheonghyun struggled, demanding to be put down.

It was a good thing I brought a handkerchief in advance, knowing this would happen.

“Cheonghyun, stop kicking. You shouldn’t do that to an adult. You’re getting Dad’s clothes dirty.”

“Hee-ing……. But I want to change my clothes.”

“No, Cheonghyun, you look cool right now. So cool. Have a good day at school today, too. Listen to your teacher, okay?”

“Uh-huh. Hyung, let’s play with the squishies later. You be the cat squishy. I’m the quokka squishy.”

“Okay. Cheonghyun is the quokka squishy. Now, bye-bye.”

While dusting off the dirt from Gyojin’s broad back with a handkerchief, he gave the child a gentle goodbye. After confirming that Cheonghyun had climbed into the back seat of the car, he waved his hand, and the child, who had calmed down by then, waved back in the same way.

“Aren’t you two switched? Lee Heeyoung, you’re the quokka, and Cheonghyun is the cat.”

As he was doing that, Gyojin, who had overheard the conversation, giggled and added a word. Even though he was busy, he never missed out on conversations like this.

“Is that important, really. It’s 8:30 now, Boss. Please leave quickly.”

Knowing that the conversation would drag on if he engaged, Heeyoung cut him off firmly and announced the time. 8:30 was cutting it close.

Gyojin, who looked down at his wristwatch again, furrowed his brow with an, Aish, shit. And as he hurriedly flung open the driver’s side door, he suddenly kissed Heeyoung on the cheek as he stood there motionlessly. Even though it was just a light peck on the cheek, the way he tilted his head felt unnecessarily sensual.

No, more than that, it was absurd that he had become so unbothered by this kind of skinship.

While the flustered Heeyoung sucked in a breath, he climbed into the driver’s seat with a shameless face. Soon, the sound of the door closing was heard and the engine started.

Fortunately, it seemed Cheonghyun, sitting in the back seat, had not witnessed this scene. The child, who had rolled down the window all the way, showed his smiling face to Heeyoung.

“I’ll be back!”

“Uh, uh-huh. Have a good day. You too, Boss…… have a good day.”

As he greeted them while trying his best to hide his awkward expression, the driver’s side window subsequently rolled down, revealing Gyojin’s face.

“Shit, this makes me want to go to work.”

“Language!”

“Ah. Right, I’ll be back. And it’s fine if you call me by a different title other than Boss from now on.”

“……Go, quickly.”

Although he was usually careful with his words in front of the child, it seemed he could not control himself when he was in a good mood. Heeyoung, who did not hold back in pointing that out, waved his hand as if to say, ‘hurry up and go.’ His mind was a mess from the morning.

Soon, the car, which had started smoothly, began to slowly exit the alley. Heeyoung, who stood there blankly watching the back of the car, only turned to leave after the alley was empty.

He was just dusting off the dirty handkerchief and entering the front door.

“Mr. Heeyoung, good morning.”

“Ah, Team Leader Jeong. Hello.”

“Did you just see Cheonghyun off?”

“Yes. I just sent him off and was on my way back.”

Team Leader Jeong, who had come to work through the back door, greeted him cheerfully. As he bowed his head with a natural smile, he saw the corners of Team Leader Jeong’s mouth lift in a meaningful way.

“You’re looking well these days. Your complexion is bright.”

“Is, is that so?”

“Yes. I mean, you’ve had such a hard time since you came to this house, Mr. Heeyoung.”

“No, it’s just, haha…….”

Honestly, even he could see that his complexion had brightened. Every time he went in to wash up, the reflection in the mirror sometimes felt like a different person. How should I put it, it was not just that his expression had brightened, but that the gloominess that lingered on his face had completely lifted.

Did this change really happen because Mr. Lee Seowon left this house? Heeyoung could not agree with Team Leader Jeong’s words. It was because the idea of accepting another’s miserable end as his own happiness did not sit well with him.

“It’s a really good time for you.”

But at the words that followed, his face flushed.

Heeyoung felt so embarrassed that he could not even meet Team Leader Jeong’s eyes. He fidgeted with the back of his neck and denied it.

“No, it’s not like that……”

He shook his head, but he could not erase the smile that spread across his lips. It’s really not. It’s not……. The more he voiced the words, the more the end of his sentences trailed off.

Team Leader Jeong, watching Heeyoung, seemed like an adult. A good adult who just looked fondly at a child squirming with shyness.

“By the way, it’s warmer today than yesterday. I saw forsythias blooming here and there on my way here. It’s really spring now.”

Stretching his arms wide, he closed the front door and announced the arrival of spring. Heeyoung also agreed and took off his shoes. As he changed into slippers and headed to the living room, bright sunlight poured in through the huge picture window.

The light touching his skin was warm. A pleasant morning was passing by very peacefully.

At 3 in the afternoon, when the sun begins to set a little. At this time, Heeyoung becomes busy again. It is because he has to take care of Cheonghyun, who has returned from school.

When the child came, he would ask what he did at school, and first check the digital school notice and homework through the app. Since there was nothing special to take care of today, he immediately brought out a snack.

After making sure he ate a small piece of bread and yogurt, he had him do his worksheets at the dining table. He was a child who preferred to study at a dining table or a folding table like this rather than a desk.

“Now, is 3 bigger or smaller than 2?”

“Bigger!”

“That’s right, correct! Let’s circle it here.”

The child, who used to be confused about the concept of numbers, quickly improved his comprehension after doing the worksheets. When he graded them, the days of drawing cheerful circles were becoming more frequent than the days of drawing slashes.

“You can solve this problem easily now, can’t you? Then want to try this one too? What symbol should go between 6 and 4 to get 2?”

“Uuuuhm……”

“Look. Cheonghyun, you had six chocolates, but after Dad visited, you only have two left.”

“Did Dad take them?”

“That’s right. He took them. Then what symbol should go here?”

Still, when solving comprehensive problems, there were not a few times when he struggled. Especially this problem. It was a problem he still found difficult even though he had explained it well in the last unit.

Whenever that happened, Heeyoung would explain it at the child’s eye level, but that was no easy task.

“Why did Dad take my stuff?”

“Huh? No, no. We’re just imagining it like that. Think carefully, Cheonghyun. Dad didn’t give you more chocolates, he took them. Then what should come here?”

“Hyung, but where’s the chocolate?”

Haha. A hollow laugh escaped at the child’s innocent question. It seemed his concentration for the day had hit rock bottom here.

“The answer is minus. Since we subtracted 4 from 6, we have 2 left. Let’s work on this more with Hyung next time.”

“Okay! Hyung, let’s play with the squishies until Dad comes.”

Did he like squishies that much? As soon as he closed the worksheet, the child ran out as if he had been waiting and came back with a toy.

From now until 6 o’clock was free play time. Heeyoung thought about the dinner menu in his head and poked the squishy. At that, the cat-shaped squishy with soft fur jiggled strangely. It was not very fun, but Cheonghyun’s voice, playing a one-man show, was the most interesting thing in the world.

Soon, at 6:30 in the evening. Heeyoung prepared dinner with Team Leader Jeong in time for Gyojin to get off work.

Ah, in the past few days, a large number of employees had been let go. After that, all that was left was Team Leader Jeong and one other employee. On top of that, it seemed even their working hours had been reduced, as Team Leader Jeong came to work leisurely and left early.

Because of that, once the dinner table was set, the only ones left in the house were Heeyoung and Cheonghyun. The strange thing was that Gyojin would return home from work at that exact timing, as if by magic.