Struggle Chapter 125 - MODERN AU.

Taerok saw the figure running toward him through the side mirror. With his gaze fixed on the mirror, he exhaled a long stream of smoke and then put out his cigarette.

The figure, who had been running breathlessly, suddenly stopped in his tracks. Then he could be seen pulling his school uniform into place and smoothing down his hair. Was it a zipper necktie? He suddenly wondered. Wasn’t he too young to know how to tie a necktie?

It was obvious that he was trying to regulate his breathing as he walked over slowly, as if he had never run at all. Taerok slowly tapped the steering wheel in time with those steps. Then he turned his head away from the side mirror and stared straight ahead.

About thirty seconds later, a knock sounded on the passenger side. As if he had only just now spotted Nanyoung, Taerok looked that way and then opened the car door.

“Hello….”

Taerok did not answer.

Taerok’s older brother, Nanyoung’s father, had been appointed as the president of an overseas branch this time. It meant that while he was an executive, that was also where it ended. He had even heard that his brother, who had little ambition, was sufficiently satisfied with it and wanted to take the whole family to live out the rest of their lives there. Even though he had risen to an executive position at a young age and could return at any time, even for an overseas branch, he had no ambition whatsoever. He had even congratulated his younger brother for remaining at headquarters and gaining the upper hand in the succession race.

Taerok had accepted the congratulations, and at the last meal with his brother and sister-in-law before their departure, he had been asked to look after Nanyoung.

‘He said he doesn’t want to move because there’s only one semester left. He’s always been a child who does well on his own, but still, as parents, we feel terribly uneasy leaving him behind. He won’t be much trouble, Taerok. I’m sorry, but could you check in on him from time to time?’

Eating one slice, then another, of the beef that had been thinly cut and grilled so that only the outer skin was chewy, Taerok heard a bit about Nanyoung.

When had he last seen him? The first birthday celebration… He had definitely seen him then. The child who did nothing but cry without grabbing anything during the doljabi had suddenly grabbed his hand when they called him out to take a family photo, and he had been dumbfounded.

‘If it’s all right with you, I was thinking of moving him into the apartment below yours or the next building over.’

‘Won’t that be too big for him to live alone?’

‘Ha ha. You live alone too.’

Elementary school graduation…. As it happened, he had been the one to go to that. Nanyoung’s mother had gone to see Nanyoung’s older brother, who was graduating middle school on the same day, and his father had a board of directors meeting scheduled. The problem was that he had been stationed at overseas branches ever since Nanyoung’s first birthday, and had a brief moment of free time just before returning to Korea to settle in. As he was the only one who happened to not be busy then, he had to go to the graduation of a nephew he barely knew, childishly give him a bouquet, and take a photo together. Where was that photo now…?

He couldn’t quite remember that, but he clearly recalled that, just like back then, the nephew who said nothing after a shy greeting had suddenly grabbed his hand when they took the photo, startling him.

‘Shall I move him to the next building?’

‘Forget it.’

Perhaps because the feel of that hand from back then came to mind, Taerok’s palm felt itchy, and he gripped his chopsticks tightly before releasing them.

Right. The last time he had seen him after that would have been the day his high school entrance ceremony ended. It was a gathering arranged the previous year when his late father, that is, the nephew’s grandfather, had suggested the family share a meal. Those large eyes, wearing a school uniform slightly too big for his body, staring intently at him from behind his parents…. The number of meetings they’d had didn’t even amount to all five fingers.

‘Is there any need to be that inefficient?’

Those large eyes.

‘I’ll just take care of him myself.’

Having said that thoughtlessly, Taerok frowned and raised his head as if he hadn’t been the one to speak. His brother and sister-in-law were looking at him with eyes opened wide, whether from being moved or from surprise.

I was crazy then.

Taerok rubbed his lower lip and chin, ending his reminiscence.

Lee Taerok was a person for whom his territory was very important. His sense of territoriality was clear, and he was the type to immediately frown and tell anyone to get lost if they invaded without permission. Yet, as if possessed by something, he had suddenly declared he would take in and live with a nephew he had never even been close to. He had definitely been crazy.

Moreover, this nephew, Lee Nanyoung, whether he was originally this taciturn or simply shy around strangers, had not said a single word after his stiff greeting, just like at the elementary school graduation.

Taerok frowned and tapped the steering wheel at the sight of the traffic jam caused by the academy shuttle buses coming to pick up children.

Then, pushing his hair back, he asked.

“Aren’t you hungry?”

As if he had not expected Taerok, who seemed like an exceedingly difficult and distant adult, to break the silence first, Nanyoung whipped his head around. His eyes, wide with surprise, were the spitting image of his parents.

“Isn’t that an age when kids get hungry just from turning around?”

“I am….”

After hesitating a moment, Nanyoung seemed to think something over and nodded.

“Yes. I’m hungry.”

“You don’t go to private academies separately, right? Your father said you study well.”

“I do study well. My grades are good.”

“Then you must not be worried about the college entrance exam.”

“Can I be honest?”

“I’m not a test-taker or the parent of one. It’s not as if I’ll find you obnoxious for being honest. Speak.”

“I’m not worried. I’ll get into the place I want to go.”

Nanyoung turned his head toward the window.

There was no sign of shyness after speaking. He really was confident. It was neither bluster nor bragging.

There was a calmness about him unlike other kids his age. That was far better than being boisterous. But he didn’t seem to be the type who was so shy he could barely speak.

‘More than I thought….’

Taerok, murmuring to himself, chuckled.

∞ ∞ ∞

Nanyoung, who had said he was hungry, couldn’t eat as much as expected. There had been a reason why, when Taerok had suggested going to a restaurant, he had said it was fine and they could just buy hamburgers or something.

Taerok finished his own hamburger and slowly crumpled the paper. Nanyoung, as if conscious of being watched, had been nibbling and then opened his mouth wide, but Taerok stopped that hand.

“You’re not a freeloader. No need to be so conscious of me.”

“…”

“Are you intimidated by me?”

Even as he asked, Taerok thought it was a pointless question. Of course he was intimidated. He would be awkward, too.

“If you’re really uncomfortable, I’ll get you your own place. Speak comfortably.”

“No…! No… that’s not it.”

Flustered, Nanyoung answered haltingly. Then he asked in return.

“And you, Uncle, aren’t you uncomfortable?”

At the title “Uncle,” Taerok laughed.

“I am uncomfortable. With that title. I don’t even have children of my own, and to be called ‘Uncle’ rather than just ‘Samchon’.”

“But I can’t call you anything else…. Would you be more comfortable if I called you ‘Samchon’?”

“Is there really a need to call me ‘Uncle’ or ‘Samchon’?”

Taerok glanced around as if surveying the area.

“There’s no one here but you and me.”

“…”

“If you speak, it would be directed at me.”

Nanyoung was being swayed by those words.

“There’s no one. Just the two of us. Your parents and your older brother have left, haven’t they.”

This might have been something he didn’t need to say. The listener might feel abandoned.

But instead of hesitating, Nanyoung only murmured blankly, “The two of us….”

Just a little while ago, he had seemed more capable than he looked, but the kid had a spacey side somewhere, too.

Taerok pulled out a wet wipe and handed it over, asking.

“Which room do you want as yours.”

Yes. Today was the first meeting and first visit since Taerok had said he would take Nanyoung in.

In that desolate house, empty except for essential furniture, high-end speakers, and a huge floor lamp, what Nanyoung would bring with him suddenly made Taerok curious.

∞ ∞ ∞

A little over an hour later, Nanyoung’s luggage arrived. It consisted of one large trunk and one carry-on sized trunk. At that, the carry-on was packed full of nothing but books, including workbooks.

“Is this all?”

“Ah, I sorted through some things.”

Taerok was somewhat surprised, and Nanyoung’s reaction was nonchalant.

Taerok’s own belongings were on the fairly numerous side. He couldn’t be called extravagant, but he didn’t hold back on things he liked. His car was like that, and so were his clothes and shoes, including his handmade suits.

“Hmm….”

Plain t-shirts with no patterns, comfortable jeans, and training clothes and a shirt. Since it was winter, one padded jacket. As if knowing Taerok was taking note of his belongings, Nanyoung smiled and said, “I wear my school uniform anyway.”

“I didn’t say anything.”

“…Because you were looking at them that way.”

“No. You bought good things. Exactly what you need. That’s fine then.”

True to his words, Nanyoung’s clothes were of good quality and well cared for.

However, contrary to expectations, there were few items that might reveal Nanyoung’s tastes or personality. But from the bottom of the carrier, a white seal plush toy unexpectedly appeared.

Taerok picked up the thing that had suddenly popped out from Nanyoung’s luggage, which had no cute or dainty items whatsoever.

“A seal?”

Nanyoung, instead, stared fixedly at Taerok. His look seemed to ask if Taerok really didn’t know. Turning it over here and there, he saw a small tag attached to its side. It was a tag from a famous toy store in England.

“That… you bought it for me. Uncle… you did.”

“…”

Setting aside the awkward title that clearly didn’t roll off his own tongue, he had no memory of personally giving such a plush toy. However, it was clear he had been to England, and seeing this tag, he hazily recalled even impulsively stopping by.

“When I was in my second year of middle school….”

“Ah.”

“Yes. I heard from Dad that you gave it to him as a present for me.”

“Right. I did. I remember now.”

“You gave my brother a game console….”

“Did I?”

That, at least, he couldn’t recall at all.

He had truly bought it on impulse. He had remembered going to the elementary school graduation. At that time, he had bought it without any consideration for how much the child would have grown, remembering only the image of him in a white padded jacket with a deep blue scarf. Having bought it and then forgotten about it, he had delivered it when meeting his brother just before leaving the country again.

He had completely forgotten about it.

“You still have this? If it was a gift you didn’t like, you should have thrown it away. Want me to throw it away for you?”

“Ah, no! I like it!”

Nanyoung raised his voice loudly for the first time. As if lunging, he snatched the plush toy from Taerok’s hand. Then he hugged it tightly to his chest so it couldn’t be taken away. It didn’t seem like a conscious action, but just like that soft, fair white fur, his face, which still had some baby fuzz, matched it well.

About to become an adult, yet still having baby fuzz. For some reason, Taerok felt as if he had developed a peach allergy he never had before. It was ticklish.

“Alright… Next time, I’ll buy you something suited to your age.”

“…Thank you.”

“Unpack and make yourself comfortable. This is your room, after all. You can use the bathroom across the hall, too. The housekeeper comes every two days, so don’t worry about cleaning.”

Having given a rough tour, Taerok left the room. Just before closing the door, through the gap, his eyes met Nanyoung’s, who was staring at him wide-eyed with eyes exactly like the plastic eyes of the harp seal plush toy.

‘Will he still be like that even when he’s fully grown?’

Taerok laughed, “Huh….”