The House of Three Chapter 11.1

I feel tired. That was the thought that came to me as soon as I woke up in the morning.

Lately, why has it been so difficult to get out of bed? Heeyoung started the fresh spring morning with a sigh.

This was all because of the nightmares. As Heemin’s birthday grew closer, the quality of his sleep became a mess. The moment he closed his eyes, the nightmare of the accident day would repeat, and because of that, the number of nights he couldn’t fall asleep increased.

Due to not sleeping properly, his physical condition hit rock bottom. His appetite had also disappeared, and he had lost about 2 kilograms in a few days. He thought losing that much was no big deal, but it seemed the weight loss was noticeable to others.

Lately, whenever Team Leader Jeong saw Heeyoung, he would invariably ask, ‘Mr. Heeyoung, have you lost weight?’ He would also add that he should eat well and sleep well, as it seemed he needed to gain weight rather than diet.

Unable to eat well and sleep well, Heeyoung would always agree nonchalantly. ‘Yes, I should,’ he would reply. Unlike his answer, his lifestyle patterns became even more tangled up than before.

However, on the outside, Heeyoung’s day always flowed peacefully.

After breakfast, while frantically helping Cheonghyun get ready for school, it would suddenly be 8:15 AM. As always, Heeyoung came out to the front door to see the two of them off.

“Cheonghyun-ie, have a good day at school. You have a good day too, Boss-nim.”

“Hyung, I’m off!”

As he waved his hand flutteringly, Cheonghyun, who had greeted him energetically, darted out the door first. He was a child who usually hated going to school and would needlessly pull the velcro straps on his sneakers off and on, but for some reason, today he took the lead himself.

Days like this were rare, so one had to seize the opportunity and take him to school right away. A child’s mind is like a reed in the wind, and you never know when they might cry out ‘I don’t want to go to school!’ again.

But Gyojin, who was in charge of the school run today as well, was standing stock-still in the entryway with no intention of leaving.

Feeling puzzled, Heeyoung was just about to rush him, asking why he wasn’t leaving.

“You and I are going to an oriental medicine clinic soon.”

Suddenly grabbing Heeyoung’s chin, Gyojin spoke in a half-commanding tone. An oriental medicine clinic, all of a sudden? At the incomprehensible words, Heeyoung tilted his head in confusion.

“Why?”

When he asked innocently, Gyojin’s expression crumpled beautifully. Raising his eyebrows into the shape of mountains, he gently shook the chin he was holding and unleashed a tirade of nagging.

“Whyyyy? It’s obvious your qi is depleted, that’s what. Does it make sense to lose this much weight? You’re at a level right now where you might barely become human if I feed you some herbal medicine. No back talk, just follow me, okay?”

He didn’t know why the nagging had gotten so severe recently. The topic was always his weight, or his health. Which were the same thing. Over a mere 2-kilogram loss, Gyojin would treat him like a living corpse, saying things like he was nothing but bones.

By the way, getting herbal medicine would cost well over 500,000 won. Why would he want to spend money on something like that? Before Gyojin’s wallet could open, Heeyoung firmly shook his head.

“I haven’t lost that much weight. I’m okay.”

He deliberately spoke with force in his eyes, but Gyojin snorted as if to say it was no use. He didn’t say it out loud, but that was definitely a ‘what bullshit’ expression.

He breezily ignored the ‘I’m okay’ answer and flicked Heeyoung’s nose. The light flick of his finger sent a rather sharp sting of pain.

“What do you mean, okay. Don’t be ridiculous.”

“……”

“Ah, forget it. I’ll just get some on my way back. That should work.”

“No, wait, Boss-nim……!”

“I’m going to work. Don’t work, just rest. I’m going to check with Team Leader Jeong.”

Gyojin was being stubborn. From the start, he had no intention of even considering Heeyoung’s opinion. Having unilaterally concluded the conversation, he left for work before Heeyoung could say anything to stop him.

Thump.

The front door closed soon after, and silence fell. Heeyoung, who had been standing there blankly, turned around limply.

Who could break Gyojin’s stubbornness? He didn’t have the energy to chase after him and refuse, insisting that he really didn’t have to go that far, so he just thought that if he brought back the herbal medicine, he should take it diligently so the money wouldn’t be wasted.

After seeing them off like that, Heeyoung went into the bathroom to wash his hands and was startled. Standing in the mirror he had glanced at unthinkingly was a version of himself that was not just thin, but gaunt.

Could a person get this haggard from losing just a little weight? He looked a mess.

Dark circles had settled under his eyes, and his complexion was as dark as someone about to collapse. Even the healthy-looking cheek fat had sunk in, making his jawline sharper than before.

No wonder Gyojin brought up the oriental medicine clinic when he was walking around with a face like this. Even he had to admit his health was at a worrisome level.

Thinking this wouldn’t do, he pulled the corners of his mouth up to smile. It was just that he hadn’t slept well lately; he hadn’t been depressed. He didn’t like having a gloomy face that didn’t suit him just because his stamina was depleted.

Pat, pat. Heeyoung slapped his cheeks a couple of times with his palms and left the bathroom with a bright smile. He figured if he just stood around, his mood would droop again, so he was about to organize the refrigerator.

Was it right as he entered the kitchen? The cell phone in his pocket began to buzz. Heeyoung immediately took out his phone and checked the screen.

[010-231X-457X]

It was a number he had never seen before, an unknown number. Was it a call about signing up for insurance? He nonchalantly pressed reject, but a call came again from the same number.

Bzzzz. Bzzzz. The loud vibration made it impossible for him to press the reject button anymore.

Heeyoung checked the clock, realized it was about time for Team Leader Jeong to arrive at work, and headed for the terrace. He rushed outside in a hurry so the call wouldn’t disconnect, then made sure to close the thick glass door. It seemed like a call with some purpose, but he had a very bad feeling about it.

Worried that his voice might leak into the house, Heeyoung double-checked the lock before hastily pressing the answer button.

“Hello?”

As he carefully spoke, bringing the phone to his ear, a voice came from the other side as if it had been waiting.

ㅡOh, you answered. Are you Heeyoung? It’s me, your younger uncle.

“……Pardon?”

At the completely unexpected person, Heeyoung’s eyes widened.

He had only met his younger uncle when he was very young and hadn’t even been in contact since. Of course, he had lived almost estranged from his relatives, except for his elder uncle who had been favorable to his dad, but his younger uncle was the one with whom he had the least interaction among them all.

The reason was that his younger uncle’s family had immigrated to the United States a very long time ago. He only knew that he had met him as a child because his dad had told him; Heeyoung himself didn’t even remember.

In short, this was someone with whom he had no connection, so why would he suddenly call? His surprise was brief, and Heeyoung first offered his greetings.

“Ah, yes. How have you been, younger uncle.”

As he greeted him in a polite tone, a jeering voice came back.

ㅡI am not doing well. I’m not very happy to be talking to you like this, either! I mean, I just got back from America yesterday, and I’m just dumbfounded and flabbergasted!

How is it that bad premonitions never miss? Heeyoung, who had just been assuming that he had called after hearing about his situation from his elder uncle, realized he had been wrong and firmly shut his mouth.

The younger uncle was angry. So angry that he called him without a moment’s rest despite having just arrived in Korea yesterday. He didn’t know the reason, but seeing him let out harsh, short breaths while saying he was flabbergasted, it seemed this was no ordinary problem.

Having roughly grasped the situation, Heeyoung couldn’t give any reply and kept his words to himself, when a thunderous shout erupted from the other side.

ㅡYou punk, where did you bury your father and that rootless kid on someone else’s land?!

At those words, his heart sank. At the sudden mention of his dad and Heemin, his entire body began to stiffen like a stone.

What on earth was he talking about……. His mind grew complicated at a rapid pace, and a headache started. If only he could explain a little more… kindly. But his younger uncle seemed to have no intention of doing so and was busy yelling.

ㅡDo you even know what kind of land that is?! It’s land our brothers bought by pooling our money. Of course, your father didn’t contribute a single damn penny! It’s land I paid for with more than half of my money! And this bastard, he buries a piece of trash like that in the spot where we were going to lay our mother to rest later?! Whose permission did you get, huh?!

At the sudden news, his heart began to pound. Permission? The gravesite for his dad and Heemin had been arranged by his elder uncle. When Heeyoung was at the funeral home, unable to accept his younger brother’s death and lost in a daze, his elder uncle had come and said he would take care of everything and had proceeded with it.

At the time, Heeyoung, who was in deep shock and an empty shell of himself, had only done as his elder uncle told him. All Heeyoung had done was collapse on the grave and sob until he fainted.

He had even found out that his younger brother was laid to rest in Yesan-eup, South Chungcheong Province, a long time after the fact, so there was no way he could have known whose land it was. He hadn’t had the presence of mind for it, either.

Feeling a bit wronged, Heeyoung timidly stated his position.

“I, I, my elder uncle said he would take care of everything, so I didn’t know this would happen. I was out of my mind then, and my elder uncle told me to go to Yesan with him, that we should let my dad and Heemin rest there……”

As he tried to speak while still in shock, the end of his voice trembled unstably. He was about to suggest they talk with his elder uncle, thinking his younger uncle wouldn’t be convinced by his story alone.

The younger uncle, who had been grinding his teeth, cut Heeyoung off and roared.

ㅡEven so, you shameless bastard! Hey, you know what? I’m the person who detests your father the most in this world! He’s my family, but just thinking about that bastard makes my skin crawl!

Taking a deep breath as if the thought of it angered him all over again, he unleashed his fury once more.

ㅡAnd you dare bury a bastard like that on my land? And I heard you even buried a kid he made somewhere outside with him?! Are you in your right mind or not? I mean, if you’re over twenty, you should be able to distinguish right from wrong!

At the words that shot out like a machine gun, Heeyoung’s shoulders hunched and his head dropped on its own. His younger uncle wasn’t even in front of him, but his agitated voice alone made his body and mind shrink. He felt as if he had been driven to the edge of a cliff.

He couldn’t figure out what to say. It wasn’t a problem that would end with him just saying he was sorry, so he couldn’t open his mouth any further.

The hand holding the phone trembled as if in a seizure, and his breathing became ragged. It was a foolish thought, but he felt it would be better to be bullied by Lee Seowon than to be in this situation right now. At least that kind of bullying was something he could endure and bear on his own. But he just couldn’t be nonchalant about this current problem.

Heeyoung’s pathetic breathing must have been audible over the phone, but his younger uncle, as if feeling not an iota of sympathy, coldly snapped.

ㅡThere’s no need to talk further. You, dig up your father and that kid from my land right now. Ah, just take those filthy things and get lost! Burn them! Throw them in the sea!

His heart crumbled at the thoughtless, harsh words that were poured out without measure. Each sharply honed word felt like it was stabbing and slicing through his insides.

Heeyoung shed tears helplessly. He hadn’t intended to burst into tears, but they flowed against his will. When he hastily dabbed at his eyes, the lukewarm water kept seeping into his sleeve.

So suddenly, without any warning, he was told to take his younger brother out from where he was sleeping in the ground. To take his father, whom he never wanted to see again, and disappear immediately. As if he had illegally dumped trash……. He was being threatened to properly sort and dispose of his family’s remains.

After pouring out all sorts of painful words, threats followed.

ㅡIf you don’t return my land to its original state, I won’t let you off easy. Nephew or not, I have no intention of cutting you any slack. You’d better get moving before I come find you and completely shatter your life. Understand?!

The call ended with that sharp voice. All that could be heard was the sound of the wind, but Heeyoung couldn’t take the phone away from his ear for a while.

His throat tightened and his vision went dark; his mind was in a daze.

He felt hopeless. It was utterly bewildering. He was so upset that tears were streaming down, and he didn’t know what to do. Heeyoung, who was about to raise his hand to wipe his wet face, finally let out a pained breath and shook his head.

“Haa, ugh……”

Was I too ignorant about everything? Back then, my elder uncle was the only adult I could trust, and my heart was in so much pain, so I just did as he said. Was I really so stupid that I couldn’t distinguish right from wrong?

After crying for a long time, he picked up his phone and called his elder uncle.

The ringing tone didn’t last long before it was cut off, and Heeyoung immediately got straight to the point. He did it knowing it was rude.

“Uh, elder uncle, it’s about something else. Ugh, sob, my younger uncle just called me, and, the grave, he said to dig up my Heemin and my dad right now, he was just, saying that……”

Disjointed sentences tumbled out. The crying wouldn’t stop, so sobs kept escaping in between, and his pronunciation was so slurred that even he had a hard time understanding what he was saying.

However, his elder uncle seemed to have been expecting such a call. Despite Heeyoung’s hard-to-understand pronunciation, he didn’t once ask him to repeat himself and laid out an excuse-like answer.

ㅡHeeyoung-ah, about that…… I’m sorry. It was a matter I should have decided after asking for my younger brother’s opinion too, but your situation seemed so pitiful at the time. To be honest, I made the decision on my own to bury your father on that land.

His voice was filled with apology and embarrassment, but for Heeyoung, whose future felt bleak because of the immediate problem, it was neither a comfort nor a help. Heeyoung cried, gasping for breath like a child, and asked.

“Then what, what do I do? I really don’t know what to do, I feel so lost……”

ㅡI was going to call you last time to tell you in advance, but once I heard your voice, I couldn’t bring myself to say it. Heeyoung-ah, I tried talking to your younger uncle, saying that no matter how much we dislike our brother, isn’t it right to bury our own blood in the family mountain? But that guy started making a fuss, even mentioning legal issues. In the end, I failed to persuade him…… As your elder uncle, I’m ashamed.

“Huu, it’s just so sudden for me……”

ㅡYes, I know how you feel. I know. You must have been very surprised. I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you in advance. Hey, Heeyoung-ah, the internet is so good these days, I hear you can find out everything from grave relocation to ossuaries just by searching. I’ll look for other ways too, so why don’t you look into it in the meantime? Whatever happens, this elder uncle will help as much as possible with the relocation costs……

Perhaps feeling guilty for burdening his nephew with such an unpleasant matter, his elder uncle hesitated for a moment before offering his goodwill with the promise of help.

Listening carefully, it seemed his elder uncle hadn’t known things would turn out this way either. No, even if he had known, it was a fact that he had been a great help to him when he was struggling, so Heeyoung couldn’t cling to his savior-like elder uncle any further. If he relied on him any more, the bond between the two brothers would surely crack.

Not only that, but he shouldn’t hope for more financial help either. From what he had heard at the funeral, his elder uncle’s family was also struggling. It was too shameless to ask for a handout from the head of a household who was busy taking care of his own family.

Realizing the cold reality, Heeyoung stopped crying and replied.

“……No, it’s alright, elder uncle. You don’t have to cover the costs. First, I’ll look into it myself. You must have been surprised by my sudden call, I’m sorry.”

ㅡNo, don’t be sorry. I’m the one who’s sorry to you. I really…… have no excuse, Heeyoung-ah. Call me anytime you need help. I might not be able to contribute much, but I’ll definitely help, so don’t feel burdened.

“Yes, thank you……”

As soon as he hung up the phone, the strength left his legs. Heeyoung slumped helplessly onto the wooden floor.

As he sat there blankly, many thoughts passed through his mind. What rushed in after was the emotion of despair.

Everyone has ups and downs in their life, big or small, but why were his own slopes never gentle? Just when it seemed like he was becoming happy, something like this always happened.

When you thought about it, it might not be such a big deal, but having to face the pain he had barely managed to bury again was frightening and burdensome. He had endured well despite the hardships so far, but now negative thoughts were arising over something so trivial.

Why is my life like this?

As he harbored such thoughts, he felt himself becoming weak, just like in those days right after his younger brother’s accident, when he had shut himself in at home, unable to even drink a sip of water.

Deliberately hiding himself in a corner, Heeyoung sat with his knees drawn up and buried his face between them.

The warm and verdant spring scenery was nowhere to be found. The world Heeyoung was looking at now was pitch black.

The hopelessness was so great that no more tears would come out.

🌿

Don’t even think about holding out. Get the corpses out quickly.

My land smells rotten.

It was another nagging text message. Being harassed with threatening texts day and night, Heeyoung, who was already having trouble sleeping, became noticeably gaunt.

If before he couldn’t sleep because he was plagued by nightmares, these days he often stayed up all night searching for this and that, not knowing how to resolve the matter of his father’s and younger brother’s graves. The worries were truly immense.

Relocating the graves was not something he could resolve quickly, and it was also a very expensive task. He didn’t know exactly how much it would cost, but what was certain was that the amount in his bank account would be nowhere near enough.

He must have pulled an all-nighter the day before searching for companies, because he didn’t know how he got through the day. Heeyoung, who used to be sharp and precise with his work, had been so absent-minded lately that he often made mistakes or got hurt.

The day before yesterday, he broke a plate while cleaning up after a meal, and yesterday, he missed a step on the stairs and was about to fall when Gyojin caught him. If Gyojin hadn’t been at the bottom of the stairs, he might have broken his nose by now.

As these mistakes continued, even Cheonghyun started to worry about Heeyoung. Saying things like, ‘Hyung, is something wrong?’

To make even a child worry. He felt like the worst kind of adult. Heeyoung tried hard to maintain his usual level of energy, but it wasn’t easy. With his mind so preoccupied, he couldn’t feel at ease no matter what he did, and that uncomfortable feeling was blatantly revealed on his face.

It was the same now. After covering Cheonghyun with a blanket with a smileless expression, Heeyoung belatedly thought, oops, and forced a smile.

“Sleep well, Cheonghyun-ah.”

As he gently stroked his head and said goodbye, the child, who had been observing Heeyoung’s expression the whole time, sat up. Whining and reaching out his hands, Cheonghyun wrapped his arms tightly around Heeyoung’s waist and poured out his worries.

“Hyeong, don’t be siick……”

It seemed he had concluded that Heeyoung’s bad expression was due to a health problem. How grateful and sorry he felt that such a small child was sharing his warmth, telling his hyung not to be sick. His heart wrenched, and Heeyoung hugged Cheonghyun back, deliberately pretending to be strong.

“No. Hyung isn’t sick at all. Thank you for worrying, okay?”

“Really?”

“Yes, really. Now, let’s get Cheonghyun-ie to sleep. You have to sleep early to have lots of fun with Hyung again tomorrow.”

As he gently soothed the child’s hurt feelings and pulled away, Cheonghyun flashed a mischievous grin as if nothing had happened. He uttered the very childlike words that he wished tomorrow would come quickly, and then lay back down in bed.

“See you tomorrow. Sweet dreams.”

“Okay, you have sweet dreams too, Hyung.”

How happy he would be if he could have sweet dreams every day, just as the child said. Heeyoung left the room, thinking useless thoughts. And it was at that moment, when he pulled the doorknob with an uncharacteristically careless hand.

“Ah……!”

Suddenly, the tip of his finger was squeezed tightly, and he felt a heavy pain. He quickly pulled his hand back, and only then did he hear the sound of the door closing.

Another accident. Where was his mind? Sss, he sucked in a painful breath and was about to check his finger when someone snatched his wrist.

Startled, Heeyoung looked up and ahead. Gyojin, who had appeared dripping water as if he had just come out of the shower, was checking the state of his finger more swiftly than he could have.

No, he was nowhere to be seen just a moment ago. How did he know he got hurt and show up?

“You slammed it? There’s blood pooled. Look at it bruising already.”

“……Where did you appear from?”

“I ran. Come here, let’s put some medicine on it. What were you doing to slam your hand?”

As he stood there with his mouth agape in amazement, Gyojin shot him a look as if he were pathetic. It was an expression that seemed to scold him for not paying attention, but the hand that pulled Heeyoung to the sofa and sat him down was as gentle as could be.

He returned with a first-aid kit and treated Heeyoung’s injured finger. He pricked the pooled blood with a needle to release it, and after stopping the bleeding, he applied ointment.

During that time, the two of them exchanged no conversation. While Gyojin removed the bandage wrapper with his teeth clenched as if holding something back, Heeyoung quietly offered his finger and blankly watched the treatment process.

He was simply lost in other thoughts because the continuing silence wasn’t uncomfortable, but it seemed Gyojin felt differently. After glancing at Heeyoung with a somewhat displeased look, he stopped wrapping the bandage around the finger and asked.

“Is something wrong with you lately? Where do you leave your mind wandering? Yesterday you almost tumbled down the stairs. Are you not going to treat your body preciously?”

In truth, it was less a simple question and more of a nagging remark. Then again, when he recalled all the mistakes he had made, he was at a point where he had no excuse even if he got such a lecture.

Feeling somewhat embarrassed, Heeyoung let out an awkward laugh and made an excuse.

“Well, I was just thinking about something else for a moment and made a mistake.”

Of course, it was an excuse that didn’t even sound like one, and Gyojin also quickly realized it was a lame answer. After finishing applying the bandage and completing the treatment, he stared at Heeyoung’s face for a moment before scowling. An annoyed voice soon shot out of his mouth.

“What other thought. Thinking of me?”

At the question that came out of nowhere, Heeyoung shook his head from side to side. At that, he spat out a rough and clear answer.

“Then don’t fucking think.”

“……Pardon?”

“If you’re not thinking about me, then empty out everything in that head of yours.”

How could a person live without thinking? It was absurd, but it made him laugh. Gyojin’s attitude of insisting on something so nonsensical was just like a child’s, and for a moment, his dazed mind cleared up and a smile appeared.

Heh heh. Heeyoung, who was timidly laughing while checking Gyojin’s reaction, obediently nodded his head.

“I understand. I’ll do that.”

As he stood up after his reply, Gyojin, who had been maintaining a crooked expression, also organized the first-aid kit and got up.

The two of them naturally walked towards Heeyoung’s room. And at the moment he finally opened the door and stepped inside, Gyojin came up from behind and suddenly wrapped his arms around Heeyoung’s body.

Because Gyojin, who was taller and weighed much more than him, had pounced from behind, Heeyoung had to stumble for a moment to regain his balance. Then, with his arms wrapped around his waist, he held his body firmly as if telling him to stand up straight.

“Lee Heeyoung.”

As he called his name, a warm breath touched the side of his ear and the nape of his neck. At the ticklish yet goosebump-inducing sensation, Heeyoung shivered and hunched his shoulders. Gyojin let out another ticklish voice.

“If you have any worries, tell me. Huh? I’ll solve everything for you.”

The voice, which could melt a person’s heart, was so sweet. Heeyoung, who was almost completely won over and about to confess all his inner troubles, hurriedly grabbed hold of the reins of his reason.

If it had been a worry of the sort that Cheonghyun refuses to eat these days or hates doing his homework, he would have said it without any delay. But the worry he was currently harboring was an extremely personal problem, and it was full of content that would likely burden the other person.

How could he possibly talk about the worry that he had to relocate his dad’s and younger brother’s graves right away, but didn’t have the confidence to face the two of them again, nor the funds to handle such a task?

So, he naturally changed the subject and steered the conversation in a different direction.

“But don’t people usually say they’ll listen to your worries?”

When he asked playfully, Gyojin snorted with confidence.

“That’s what those sly bastards who only move their mouths to try and win someone’s heart do.”

“……”

“If all you’re going to do is listen, why even ask? The important thing is whether the worry gets resolved or not. Huh? Isn’t that right?”

There is a saying that just listening makes you feel like you’ve shared the burden of your heart, but Gyojin’s words weren’t wrong either. It was a refreshingly straightforward way of thinking, just like him, who always acted without hesitation no matter what he did.

Heeyoung readily sided with Gyojin.

“That’s true, too.”

As he calmly agreed, Gyojin, who had been speaking passionately, lifted the corners of his mouth into a grin. Soon, he poked his head out from beside Heeyoung’s neck and made eye contact.

“Right, I won’t just listen, I’ll solve it for you. No matter what kind of bullshit problem it is, I’ll resolve it all without any loose ends, so just tell me. Huh? You just have to move this mouth of yours.”

As he said that, he tapped Heeyoung’s lips with his long, thick index finger. Tap. As if he would really solve anything and everything if he just spoke up.

Even though they were just words, he was extremely grateful. Was that all? He even felt as if he was being comforted. That’s why Heeyoung decided to be even more sparing with his words. Because it felt like Gyojin would really do everything. Because it felt like he would put aside his own busy affairs and take care of him first.

At the very least, he didn’t want to place his own shabby burdens on him.

“Yes, I’ll definitely tell you. But I don’t have any right now. Just about what I should make for Cheonghyun-ie’s snack tomorrow, maybe……?”

As he shamelessly told a lie, Gyojin’s eyes narrowed. It was a look of complete disbelief, but he didn’t seem to have any intention of prying further. His expression quickly softened, and he played along, planting a kiss on Heeyoung’s cheek with a smack sound.

“You don’t need to pack a snack tomorrow. The kid said he wanted to go see a movie. The one with that goblin with the huge eyeballs.”

A movie with a goblin character? Heeyoung, who had been tilting his head, soon recalled the keychain hanging on Gyojin’s car key. Oh, he means that cute-looking character. It had been a while since it came out, but it was a cartoon that was still wildly popular among children.

No wonder Cheonghyun-ie had been singing about the movie version, the movie version, all afternoon. The movie must have been released. Heeyoung immediately nodded his head in agreement.

“Ah ah, the Kkaebi movie. Sounds good. Let’s take Cheonghyun-ie to see it together tomorrow.”

At the bright reply, Gyojin’s expression also lit up. Relieved, he let go of Heeyoung, whom he had been hugging the whole time, and said his goodnight.

“Alright, hurry up and sleep now. Want me to sleep with you?”

“No, it’s okay. I’m not a child.”

“Isn’t it because you’re not a child that I’m asking?”

“……Good night.”

His face turned red at the words, which were clearly mixed with impure intentions. As Heeyoung climbed into bed and pulled the blanket over his head, Gyojin, who had been smacking his lips as if disappointed, turned off the light for him.

He didn’t pester him any further and returned to his room. After tossing out an extremely uncle-like line—if you have a scary dream, come cling to me right away—he left.

After Gyojin left, a deep darkness and a heavy silence descended upon the room. How could it get this quiet just because one person left? He felt like he was left all alone in the vast universe.

Heeyoung, who was tossing and turning, unable to find a comfortable position, felt a little regret. I should have just pretended to be shameless and said yes, let’s sleep together.

Lately, the nights he spent alone felt particularly lonely. It had been a long time since he had felt this way, not since he was a child.

Since he was doomed to not fall asleep early today either, Heeyoung took out his phone and opened an internet app. As he was typing words like grave exhumation, relocation, and ossuary into the search bar, he suddenly thought of his mother.

Still, when mom passed away, dad, as her husband, at least managed to hold a proper funeral for her……. A sigh escaped him for no reason.

By the time he finished fiddling with his phone, huddled under the blanket, it was already dawn. If he wanted to go out tomorrow, his condition at least had to be good. As he tried to force himself to sleep, he felt a strange and unpleasant heat starting from the tips of his toes.

Why do troublesome problems always pile up when he has a lot on his mind?

Heeyoung, who had been trying to sleep, suddenly sat bolt upright. His body was hot, but when he kicked off the blanket, he felt cold. Seeing that he wasn’t coughing or having a runny nose, it seemed his heat cycle was about to start.

In any case, a recessive omega’s heat cycle was no more than a mild cold, so he could easily get through the crisis with a single suppressant pill. This meant he didn’t have to tremble and make a fuss over the words ‘heat cycle’ like a dominant omega.

Heeyoung thanked the fact that he was recessive and got out of bed.

When he rummaged through the nightstand drawer, there were two bottles of suppressants he had bought in advance. He took one out, chewed and swallowed it roughly, then threw his limp, staggering body onto the bed.

They said that when you take suppressants, drowsiness washes over you to the point where daily life becomes difficult. As if proving those words true, as soon as he took the medicine, his wide-awake mind began to relax into a languid state.

Heeyoung, who continued to search while holding onto his phone until he fell asleep, left an inquiry with a company he had chosen after careful consideration.

Hello. I’m looking to have a grave exhumed
and then cremated, about how much would
the cost be?

Since it was a matter that required a careful decision, he had looked into it meticulously, but in truth, he was afraid to ask about the cost. So, he left the inquiry only now that his judgment was clouded, but when he was about to press the submit button, his heart began to pound.

What if they quote a much higher amount than I thought.

He gnawed on his fingernails in anxiety for a moment. Heeyoung squeezed his eyes shut and pressed the submit button.

He didn’t check separately whether the inquiry had gone through properly. He had written his phone number correctly, so if it was registered normally, a reply would likely come via text message tomorrow.

Heeyoung immediately pressed the hold button, tossed his phone aside, and pulled the blanket up to his neck.

He was so exhausted right now. It felt like he would be able to sleep as if he had fainted for the first time in a long while.

🌿

Saturday afternoon, sunny weather, the heart of Seoul. In the large shopping mall where these three conditions were perfectly met, there were tons of people.

The movie theater on the very top floor was no exception. Perhaps because the movie version of a popular cartoon had just been released today, the nearby coffee shops and the areas in front of the movie ticket kiosks were teeming with families who had come out with their children.

Fortunately, Heeyoung’s party had succeeded in booking tickets for the golden hour and had just finished watching the movie.

After coming out of the theater and going on a shopping spree for the merchandise that Cheonghyun had been nagging him to buy, it was the perfect time for lunch.

The three of them decided to grab a bite at a restaurant inside the shopping mall. The place they entered was a shop that sold handmade hamburgers. Of course, the place was chosen in deference to Cheonghyun-ie’s opinion.

The child, who usually only ate healthy menus, began to eat frantically as soon as the hamburger arrived. With his tiny hands, he skillfully gripped the hamburger, which was bigger than his face, and pushed the thick bun and patty into his mouth until it was full.

What if he chokes like that. Heeyoung, who was squeezing ketchup on the side, hurriedly presented the lemonade in front of the child.

“Cheonghyun-ah, you have to chew slowly and carefully. You’ll choke if you do that. Drink some of your drink, too.”

“Uung! It’s yummy!”

“Heh heh, is it that good?”

“Yeah! It’s yummy!”

The way he ate with his cheeks puffed out was so cute you wanted to pinch them. The way he got sauce all over his mouth from eating so hard was also adorable. Watching the child, who was completely captivated by the hamburger, made him chuckle.

On the other hand, Gyojin was chewing on french fries while openly pitying his own son. The expression with which he looked at Cheonghyun was a sight to behold. It was the look one gives to something trivial and grubby. An eye that was half-pity and half-disdain.

“Son, have I ever starved you?”

Soon, he dropped the french fry he was holding onto the plate with a thud and asked in a flabbergasted voice. Heeyoung almost spat out the coke he was drinking.

“He’s no different from a beggar, no different from a beggar.”

“That’s because Boss-nim, you usually don’t let him eat things like this.”

“Why would I buy him something that’s not good for his body so often. Still, I buy him good meat every day and put it in his mouth. Beef, pork, chicken, lamb. I feed him a variety, so why is the kid acting like he’s possessed by a gluttonous ghost? Wow, fuck, I can’t understand it.”

Whether his dad was teasing him by calling him a beggar or not, Cheonghyun was serious about his battle with the hamburger. He must have liked it so much that he even diligently picked up the pieces of bacon that had fallen onto the plate.

It was a scene that whetted one’s appetite just by watching, so Heeyoung also quickly took a bite of the hamburger in front of him.

Mmm, after eating it, he thought he understood why the kid was going crazy over it. The beef patty was full of juice, and the taste of the sweet and stimulating sauce harmonizing with the stretchy cheese was truly fantastic.

Heeyoung binge-ate for the first time in a long while. As he diligently took bites of the hamburger and, in between, chewed on french fries dipped generously in ketchup, a straw was extended in front of his mouth. Gyojin was offering him the coke.

“What is wrong with these kids. Anyone who saw this would think I’m locking you up and starving you.”

Heeyoung took a slurp of the drink and then chewed and swallowed the remaining food in his mouth carefully. At that, he, who had been watching quietly, showed a bright smile that could be called a fatherly smile.

“Is it good?”

“Yes. This is really delicious. You should try it too, Boss-nim. Cheonghyun-ie isn’t lying.”

“Ooh, is that sho? Keep eating. I’m full just from watching you guys eat.”

It seemed he really was full just from watching. Gyojin looked at the hamburger he hadn’t even touched yet with eyes that looked fed up. When you looked closely, it seemed he took horrifyingly good care of his body.

He took a tissue and roughly wiped his son’s mouth, or occasionally let out a nagging remark to please chew and swallow completely. Then, when Heeyoung’s cheeks puffed up, he would thoughtfully go get more coke refills.

Thanks to him, Heeyoung, who had quickly polished off one hamburger, picked up a french fry and put it in Gyojin’s mouth.

“Have some. The patty is made only with beef, and the vegetables in it are very fresh too.”

“You’re taking such good care of your husband. Hey, Heeyoung-ah. The table next to us will get jealous if they see this.”

“……”

He had gone out of his way to take care of him, and he was joking around again. Gyojin, who had accepted the french fry with a grin, gestured to the next table with his chin, so Heeyoung unthinkingly turned his eyes and looked in that direction.

There, two men, one with a small build and the other with an excessively plump one, were sitting and eating. What kind of rudeness was this to people who were just eating their meal peacefully? Momentarily horrified, Heeyoung glared fiercely at Gyojin.

“Don’t say such strange things……”

When he warned him in a barely audible voice, he, who still hadn’t come to his senses, spouted nonsense.

“No need to stare over there. They’ve been glancing over here since a while ago anyway. Isn’t it because they’re jealous?”

“What do you mean, why would they be looking over here……”

“That’s what I’m saying. They came here to eat, so why do they keep eyeing what belongs to others?”

As soon as Gyojin’s words ended, the men sitting at the next table stood up. It was clear they were angry at the ceaseless stream of rudeness.

Heeyoung, who was about to apologize first in case things got bigger, just blinked his eyes. It was because the men who had stood up quietly left their seats without saying anything.

What is happening. In his bewilderment, he turned his head and just stared at the backs of the men leaving the shop. The men, who had been whispering something to each other and glancing this way, seemed to become conscious of Gyojin, who was sitting there looking like a gangster to anyone who saw him, and then vanished.

Only then did Gyojin begin his meal. He held the rather large handmade burger in one hand and polished it off in an instant, as if eating a single rice cake.

After he finished all the french fries, Cheonghyun, who had started eating first, announced, ‘I’m all done!’ and spread both his hands out.

So Boss-nim even considers the time it takes for Cheonghyun-ie to eat when he has his meal. He had been wondering why he kept not eating, and now he felt he knew the reason.

The three of them came out of the hamburger shop and looked around, then came down to the first floor. They had seen a movie, eaten, and looked around, so they were planning to look around the first floor one last time and then head home.

However, this perfect plan was shattered to pieces when Cheonghyun came face to face with the Kkaebi pop-up store.

“Dad, that! Buy me that! Huh?! Uh huh?”

“Hurry up and come.”

“Nooo, buy me thaaat. I want the Kkaebi pencil case!”

At first, he said he just wanted to look, so they let him browse inside, but after seeing everything and coming out, he said he wanted the merchandise. Why on earth did the shopping mall set up such a trap on the first floor, giving parents an unexpected ordeal?

Gyojin firmly detached Cheonghyun, who was clinging to his leg and whining.

“Son, what is this on your head? And what’s that you’re wearing on your feet? You’ve practically plastered your entire body with the goblin, and you still want that.”

He was someone who would always put whatever the child asked for in his hands, but this time he showed a rather stern side. It was because just a few hours ago, he had bought and handed him a ton of Kkaebi character merchandise.

Heeyoung shared the same thought as Gyojin, so he stayed quiet without helping Cheonghyun. At that, Cheonghyun, who sensed his defeat, began to whine obstinately.

“Aaaaaah, buy it fooor me, I said buy it fooor me!”

“Didn’t you say this was the last one when you bought the hat earlier? Did you promise or not?”

“You can just buy me this one toooo……”

Eventually, the child, who had been insisting unreasonably, squeezed out tears. It was an act he did knowing that if he did, his dad would do anything for him.

If it were the old Gyojin, he would have given up at this point and taken out his wallet, but not today. It was thanks to the education, or not quite education, he had been receiving from Heeyoung from time to time.

‘Boss-nim, it’s good to keep your promises with the child, but you absolutely cannot give in to everything just because he whines. His habits will get really bad then. Do you know what I mean?’

‘Cheonghyun-ie doesn’t know the concept of money. He took 50,000 won to buy a cup of corn-pop. He thinks 1,000 won is nothing, but it can’t be like this. Okay? Okay? Boss-nim, are you listening?’

‘Only give him a set amount of allowance. It’s the same when you buy him things. And, when he breaks a promise, scold him firmly. If you get soft-hearted and just give in to everything, he’ll think, ‘Ah, it’s okay not to keep promises’.’

He’d heard it until his ears bled; he wouldn’t be human if he didn’t put it into practice.

Gyojin took a step back from the child and, with his hands stuck in his pants pockets, looked down at his son sternly.

“Cha Cheonghyun.”

As he recited his full name as a warning, Cheonghyun, who had been pretending to cry, hesitantly stood up straight. He seemed quite flustered that his dad was showing a different reaction.

The child, who was swallowing his tears as if in sorrow, managed to shake off his lingering desire. Instead, he stretched out his finger and pointed somewhere.

“Then I’ll eat thaaat……”

What the child pointed at was none other than the donut shop in the building across the street. It wasn’t a particularly useless item, and it was food, so Gyojin immediately gave the okay sign.

What great growth this was. Heeyoung, who was watching the scene, smiled with satisfaction. He always acted like he was half-listening, but he was pleased that Gyojin remembered and followed his words.

There was a bit of a commotion for a moment, but the atmosphere was gently easing with a wise response.

Bzzz.

The cell phone in his pocket vibrated briefly. Heeyoung, who took out his phone without a second thought and checked the text message, had no choice but to wipe the smile from his face completely.

Hello, this is ‘Jeongseong’, specializing in
grave relocation. …

The moment he saw that text message, it felt as if the lump of worry he had forgotten was lodged right in the middle of his chest.

He was still with Boss-nim and Cheonghyun-ie…… he lost confidence that he could maintain a bright expression until he got home. He would be so preoccupied with the contents of the newly arrived text message that he wouldn’t even be able to hear what the two of them were talking about.

First, it seemed he had to check the contents of the message he received.

“Um, Boss-nim. You parked the car here anyway. I’ll go buy the donuts.”

“Let’s go together, why? It’s just one crosswalk away anyway.”

“It’s a hassle, there are so many people.”

As he tried to get away with a plausible excuse, Cheonghyun came to his aid at just the right time.

“Daaad, I need the bathroom.”

“It seems Cheonghyun-ie has to go urgently. Please take him to the bathroom. I’ll get the donuts to go and come back here.”

Heeyoung didn’t miss the opportunity and pushed ahead. The bathroom would be quite crowded too, so in the meantime, he would have enough time to check the text and reply.

Gyojin, who had been trying to hold Heeyoung back, insisting it wasn’t urgent, turned on his heel at the child’s words that he was about to wet himself. Only after sending the two of them to the bathroom was Heeyoung able to leave the shopping mall.

What happened after that goes without saying. As soon as he came out, he sprinted to the donut shop and immediately ordered a package consisting only of the most popular items. Since there were customers ahead of him, Heeyoung found a spot in a corner and stood there, taking out his phone.

Thump. Thump. His heart was pounding over something like this.

Before checking the text, he first opened his banking app and checked his balance. Even after combining the savings he had tied up by scraping together what little money he had, it was less than 4 million won. Looking at the number on the screen, a wave of anxiety suddenly crashed over him.

Soon after, Heeyoung opened the text message and froze stiffly.

…if you proceed, including the additional costs mentioned above, we can assist you for approximately 12,000,000 won. …

A total of 12 million won, including the fee for enshrinement in a private ossuary. It said additional costs were incurred because it was two bodies, which meant a lot of work. That was the amount even after they gave him a discount on the transportation fee for working on the same day.

Even though he had expected the cost to be substantial, facing a number he couldn’t afford made his vision go dark.

Where would I get that kind of money…….

Heeyoung was someone who had been dragged to Ignis before he could even find a proper job. His shabby one-room apartment was long gone, and more than half of the salary he received was all used to pay off debts. After handling expenses like his cell phone bill and other things that had to be paid from his meager salary, his bank account was always empty.

The 4 million won was what he had saved up by scraping and saving all this time, but now he was told that even if he emptied out his entire fortune, relocating the graves was impossible. It was an utterly despairing situation.

Bzzz.