Dirty Sweet Baby Chapter 8

“Contact.”

“……Alright. Got it.”

I should call my mother.

It has been a long time since I last held a cell phone. In the special residential district, communication is done through pagers and goggles, so the feeling was peculiar. It felt like I had gone back to the days when I was an ordinary person.

To the young and short Baek Heeheon, who had a lower perspective on the world.

“Going to wash up?”

“Yeah.”

“What about breakfast.”

“Huh?”

Cha Mugyeol walked past Heeheon and down the stairs with heavy steps. The presence of the large figure passing in front of him was significant.

“I’ll just make something simple?”

“Ah, uh, th, that’s… fine.”

What.

What is it……?

Since yesterday, why has Cha Mugyeol been cooking? Why?

‘Didn’t he absolutely not do things like cooking? I thought he only ate meals prepared by hired professionals for every meal.’

Could he have changed in the time I haven’t seen him? Did he pick up a hobby? I have no idea.

Cha Mugyeol is a problem when he’s the same as before, and a problem when he’s different.

‘I was so flustered I couldn’t even refuse. I should have said I wouldn’t eat.’

With a face as drained as a defeated soldier’s, Heeheon entered the bathroom. Even after locking the door, he could not calm down. He leaned against the door, just taking deep breaths for a long time, then slowly took off his sweat-soaked combat uniform and shoved it into the laundry hamper. The laundry that fell below would be automatically washed and dried by the house management system.

Under the cold water pouring from the shower, Heeheon counted numbers. ‘2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29, 31, 37, 41, 43, 47, 53, 59, 61, 67, 71…….’ Counting prime numbers in a steady rhythm helped to clear his mind a little. He scrubbed his shampooed hair vigorously and washed his body cleanly with body wash. As if performing some sort of ritual, spotlessly.

*

After showering and looking neat, he made a video call. No matter how much time had passed, he still remembered his mother’s number correctly. While the phone was ringing, his heart trembled with a mix of self-blame and regret.

After a wait, his mother’s face appeared on the square screen of his phone, and an affectionate voice burst out.

— Heeheon!

“I’m sorry, Mother. It’s been a while.”

— Oh, my son!

His mother was smiling brightly. They exchanged greetings, asking if he was well, if he was having a hard time, like a dam that had burst. Although he had never visited the general residential district, he had communicated with her with permission from the Center, so it was not that awkward.

— Heeheon, I don’t know how things ended up like this. Thanks to Gyeol, I can even contact you comfortably…….

“I’ll call you often from now on. I’m really sorry I couldn’t visit.”

— No, it’s understandable since the work at the Center is busy and urgent. It’s a matter of life and death……. Besides, the procedures to get permission from the higher-ups through the Center are originally so demanding and complicated. Your mom knows all about it.

“Still. I’ll be more considerate.”

— Okay. It’s so good to see my son’s face. I’m so grateful to Gyeol. I’m really grateful.

“Yes…….”

— Heeheon, please take good care of Gyeol. I know you were awkward with Gyeol, but he’s still your younger brother……. Where else in the world would you find a connection like this.

He listened to his mother’s words in silence.

Indeed, he did wonder where else in the world such a connection could exist.

A younger brother from a remarried family, both late-awakeners with a constitution so rare they were called mutants, and somehow, just like this…….

— Five years ago, after sending you off alone to such a faraway place, I was so worried……. A mother’s heart sending her young son alone to a strange place with nowhere to lean on was truly…… like that.

“Yes…….”

— So now, if Heeheon and Gyeol help and rely on each other, your mom would have no other wish. Affectionately and with good brotherly love, looking out for each other……. Can’t you try to live like that?

“Of course, we should……. I’m already receiving help.”

— Yes, yes. Gyeol must be having a hard time too, having manifested so suddenly. He must be confused as well. The idea of becoming an Esper and handling abilities is so unfamiliar and like a different world to ordinary people like us. But Heeheon is a sunbae who has been there for five years, and also his hyung…….

“Yes, I know what you mean. I’ll take care of him and look after various things. I’ll teach him too.”

— Yes, that’s a relief. Our Heeheon will even do guiding for Gyeol……. It’s so much more, so much more reassuring than leaving it in someone else’s hands. Yes……. It’s all worked out for the best.

“Right……. I guess so.”

His lower lip trembled slightly. Seeing his mother, who had endured the longing after sending away the son she had given birth to to a distant, uncertain place, made him feel affectionate and regretful. He had no intention of getting entangled with Cha Mugyeol, but he wanted to lighten his mother’s burden, even if just a little.

“We’ll get along fine. Mother, don’t you worry about a thing.”

He wanted his mother to smile without any worries or concerns.

He wanted to see her face smiling freely and at ease, not forcing a smile with teary eyes.

“I’ll also fulfill the role of a hyung that I haven’t been able to, so just know that and take care of your health. Is mister doing well?”

— Of course, he’s doing well. He seems to be busy with the group’s affairs, but still.

“I see…….”

— Actually, Gyeol’s absence seems to be quite significant. I don’t know anything about the group’s affairs, so I can only guess, but it seems that the work Gyeol was in charge of after becoming an executive at Musan Group was considerable. He had a lot of followers too.

“That’s amazing. At an even younger age than me.”

— I know, right. Gyeol is truly outstanding. But to your mom, Heeheon is the best. My most handsome son! Your mom is the best to you too, right?

“Haha, of course. You’re the best.”

Of course, she is.

Heeheon finished the long video call and looked up at the ceiling. What was this heavy feeling? It felt as if his chest had been bruised purple, like after being hit with a blunt weapon. It was complicated.

“Ha…….”

Heeheon, who had swept back his hair, slapped both his cheeks with his hands. What on earth was the problem? Whose fault was it? The more he thought about it, the more he only received confirmation that Baek Heeheon himself was the one who was wrong.

If Heeheon had been a proper hyung. If he had not lost his heart to Cha Mugyeol at first sight. If they could have had a good brotherly relationship, on good terms. If so, there would have been no need to worry his mother, and he could have had a desirable relationship with Cha Mugyeol. Why was it like this? Whose fault was it?

It was Baek Heeheon’s fault, after all.

‘This won’t do. Not at all.’

I have to get out of here quickly. Or shake it off…….

Heeheon, who had repeatedly slapped his cheeks, pressed down on his agitated chest. After making his resolution, he quietly went down the stairs to the first floor. An appetizing smell was already wafting from the kitchen.

When he entered the dining room, a freshly made omelet, toast, well-done bacon, a cobb salad with diced avocado, paprika, olives, kidney beans, tomatoes, and baby greens, and hot Americano made from freshly roasted and ground beans were spread out on the table.

Cha Mugyeol was already eating. The sight of him leisurely drinking coffee while reading the breaking news on his pad screen was like something out of a photoshoot. The colorful and splendid table was also beautiful like a prop, and even the plating looked like it had been done by a professional. He was just amazed at when Cha Mugyeol had learned to display such skills. Questions like, ‘Did you know how to cook?’ or, ‘When did you learn?’ almost came out reflexively.

Cha Mugyeol, who was concentrating on checking the news, spoke without even looking at Heeheon.

“Don’t leave any.”

“Am I a kid?”

A glimpse of the headline of the breaking news, displayed in large letters on the pad screen he was looking at, could be seen.

「Innovation! The Late-Manifesting Musan Family… Sons Protecting the Frontline」

「Chaebol Heir to Save the Country? The Emergence of a New-Age Hero」

「S-class Esper Cha Mugyeol, a Passionate Reunion with His Estranged Hyung」

……It’s already a mess.

Heeheon sat down silently at the table. Since it was a huge 12-person table, he wanted to sit at the end farthest from Cha Mugyeol. But, with the food and utensils already set, he could not just drag them and move them.

Heeheon, who had picked up a fork, cut the omelet in half. Moist egg and hot cheese flowed from inside. It was an admirable sight. He put a bite-sized piece of omelet in his mouth and chewed it thoroughly.

<So now, if Heeheon and Gyeol help and rely on each other, your mom would have no other wish.>

<Gyeol must be having a hard time too, having manifested so suddenly. He must be confused as well.>

<But Heeheon is a sunbae who has been there for five years, and also his hyung…….>

Heeheon, who had chewed the soft omelet for a long time and swallowed, mustered the courage to speak. Fortunately, he did not tremble.

“It’s delicious. I’ll enjoy the meal.”

His insides felt mushy.

“The porridge too…… thank you for taking care of me since yesterday.”

Cha Mugyeol was still focused on the pad screen. Baek Heeheon’s words of gratitude did not seem to be a big deal to him, as he did not even bat an eyebrow.

“Ah, yeah.”

It seemed he just let it out without any emotion.

But it did not matter. It was not like he would get hurt. Heeheon picked up his fork again. He put the cobb salad on his toast and took small, nibbling bites. The coffee was cooling, leaving a lingering aroma.