By Zephyria 
#Side Story 2-4
-Working through the night again today?
“Looks like it. You go ahead and sleep.”
-Should I come over?
“Don’t even think about coming near here.”
-You know I can’t sleep without you.
That was an excuse. Choi Won-joon’s condition had improved significantly compared to before. Whether it was because the symptoms disappeared after catching Park Eon-soo, or because he got better from being with Lee-eum every day, he couldn’t tell. Yet, he still used the excuse of insomnia and schemed in various ways to keep him by his side.
“Hold my pillow and sleep.”
-The pillow?
“Yeah. That helps a bit.”
A soft laugh came through the receiver.
-Did you do that when I wasn’t there? Did you sleep holding my pillow?
Lee-eum tightly shut his eyes. I shouldn’t have said that. He’s going to tease me about this for a while now. But it was undoubtedly a proven effective method. Rubbing his cheek against it had calmed his mind and body. Of course, Choi Won-joon would probably rub something other than his cheek against it…
Meanwhile, Jeong Nam-su was walking from afar, holding a convenience store bag.
“I have to go. I’ll call you later.”
-Okay. Take care of yourself.
“Yes.”
A few seconds after hanging up, Nam-su opened the car door and got into the passenger seat. What he bought were convenience store coffee and gum to fight off sleepiness. The two had been staking out this place for two days now; the suspect had injured someone by swinging a knife in a gambling den and fled. They had received a tip from an acquaintance that the suspect was heading to his family home, but when he would appear was unknown.
Lee-eum opened the coffee and drank it while keeping watch outside the window. Under the streetlight, he saw a young couple clinging to each other in an embrace. Seeing that, Nam-su remarked.
“Must be nice.”
“Yeah.”
Time passed, and after the couple left, an elderly person pulling a cart slowly passed by. A stray cat followed behind, moving along. It was an utterly tranquil scene. They sat like that for quite a while when Nam-su, perhaps bored, fidgeted.
“By the way, did you hear about Kim Ji-cheol?”
Lee-eum nodded. Even if he didn’t want to know, he ended up finding out anyway. Too many people were telling him. The prosecution had sought a life sentence for Kim Ji-cheol, and only the final sentencing hearing remained. Regardless of the outcome, Kim Ji-cheol would definitely appeal.
Or, there was also the possibility that after receiving a sentence, he would apply for a suspension of execution on health grounds. He had heard that with his severed finger, proper incarceration would be difficult, and recently, he was showing strange psychological symptoms. He reportedly claimed someone was coming to kill him, and during the last hearing, he wet himself and had a seizure before it even ended, causing trouble for his lawyer.
“At first, I thought he was putting on a show hoping for a reduced sentence, but it seems not. They say he’s really lost his mind.”
How many lives had he taken? He thought that to pay for his crimes, a proper sentence should be handed down, and he should never set foot in society again. On the other hand, he was worried about Choi Won-joon. He would want to eliminate Kim Ji-cheol by any means necessary. Since he had promised to live honestly from now on, he would try to believe him for now, but he couldn’t be completely at ease either.
Just then, Jeong Nam-su straightened up in his seat. Over there, right? Lee-eum’s gaze also shifted there. The late summer heat hadn’t subsided, but a person bundled up tightly in a long jacket was walking up the alley. Judging by how they were looking around, his hunch seemed right.
Both lowered their posture and followed the man with their eyes only. Sure enough, after being cautious in front of the family home, he quickly opened the door and went inside. Lee-eum checked the stab-proof vest he was wearing once more and then took his handgun. The two moved quietly near the house, keeping noise to a minimum.
He rang the doorbell, but it was quiet. Just as he was about to press it again, the gate slammed open and someone rushed out. Nam-su, who was right in front, stepped back in surprise. The man had a kitchen knife in one hand and a document envelope in the other. Seeing the knife covered in blood, Lee-eum’s expression hardened.
“Ah, fuck!”
The man fled in the opposite direction, and Nam-su sprang out like a spring. Lee-eum immediately rushed inside. The front door was open, and in the living room, an elderly person with graying hair was groaning, stabbed with a knife. Blood was gushing profusely from the abdomen. While applying pressure to stop the bleeding, he urgently requested an ambulance and backup, and tried to help the man stay conscious when Nam-su returned.
“Sunbae! Are you okay?”
He wasn’t sure who was asking whom if they were okay. Nam-su wiped the scratch on his cheek with the back of his hand and smiled awkwardly. I caught him and put him in the car. He let out a sigh of relief as sirens sounded in the distance. The old man gasped for breath and stretched out his hand.
My son isn’t like that…. My son isn’t like that….
Nam-su sighed with a complicated expression, and Lee-eum couldn’t say anything. All he could do was reassure the old man, telling him not to worry as they would take him to the hospital.
\*
Lee-eum opened his eyes and looked around with a dazed expression. After arresting the suspect, taking the old man to the hospital, returning to the police station to write the report, it was already lunchtime. He ate a bowl of soup with rice, finished work, came home, slept, and when he woke up, evening was approaching.
He got up with his sluggish body and went outside, where a delicious smell tickled his nose. Watching the man cooking in the kitchen wearing only pants, a smile naturally formed on his face. He always complains that the oil splatters are painful, but I just don’t understand why he has to take his shirt off like that.
Lee-eum went behind Choi Won-joon and gently rested his forehead on his shoulder.
“When did you get here?”
Choi Won-joon turned his head and planted a kiss on the crown of Lee-eum’s head.
“An hour ago. Sleep more.”
“I slept a lot.”
Even as he spoke, a yawn came out, slurring his words. To wake himself up, he poured a glass of cold water and rolled up his sleeves. Feeling sorry, he tried to help with the cooking, but he was firmly pushed away and made to sit on a chair. He said if he was bored, he should just admire his back view. It was exasperating, but he somewhat understood why he said that.
The broad shoulders, thick chest, and the muscles connecting the shoulders and back that rippled every time his arms moved—the sight was quite impressive. In the past, he would have found it creepy and made a fuss telling him to put on clothes. Ah, I guess love is blind.
In truth, he probably became accurately aware of his own feelings for Choi Won-joon from the time of Kim Ji-cheol’s first trial, when he himself revealed his relationship with Choi Won-joon and lied for his sake. Even now, he couldn’t believe he could do such a thing, given his nature that couldn’t stand going against his conscience even if it killed him.
In the midst of this, Choi Won-joon turned around holding a spatula.
“Why are you staring so intensely? Should I take off my pants too?”
Just when things were going well, he had to ruin it. As he frowned, a low laugh was heard. He covered the lid of the braised ribs and came to sit at the dining table. He didn’t know why he sat right next to him, clinging close, instead of across. When he complained it was hot, he ignored it and rubbed his cheek against his shoulder.
“Did you catch the suspect?”
“Nam-su got slightly injured.”
“Oh dear.”
“We went after getting a tip that he was coming to his family home, but he stabbed his own father with a knife. He stole the property deed and ran away.”
“Gambling?”
He nodded. The old man underwent emergency surgery at the hospital, and according to the police guarding outside the room, as soon as he regained consciousness, he first asked about his son’s well-being. He said his son was the eldest grandson and shouldn’t go to prison. In the midst of that, he wondered if worrying about his son like that was paternal love or simply foolish attachment.
“Children seem really difficult. Even if I gave birth to one, I wouldn’t understand them, and they’re beings that don’t go according to my will.”
“Raise them with love. Like me.”
Lee-eum looked at Choi Won-joon with an expression of disbelief. It wasn’t a wrong statement. Although he became strange from receiving too much love. The kidnapping incident probably played a big part in him becoming strange. When he was young, his family unanimously said he was as pure as an angel. Looking at the actual photos, he did look smart and pretty.
“What are you thinking?”
“I was thinking… what if we had a child who looks like the President….”
Then, Choi Won-joon frowned.
“Don’t. That gives me the creeps.”
“Why?”
“What do you think?”
“…….”
“The saying ‘it’s a blessing to be childless’ is the truth.”
The same person who just said to raise them with love. His expression of utter disgust was 100% sincere, leaving him speechless. But at least he clearly knows what kind of person he is. Should I praise him for having a clear grasp of the subject? Or should I feel sorry for him?
Then, he rubbed his nose against Lee-eum’s shoulder and smelled his scent.
“I only need you. Before marriage and after.”
“Who said anything about getting married?”
“I know. I didn’t mean to pressure you. I meant that if the reason you’re hesitating about marrying me is because of children, there’s no need for that.”
“…But your parents might be disappointed. It’s different whether I’m a Beta or an Omega.”
When he hesitantly voiced his inner thoughts, Choi Won-joon rested his chin and touched Lee-eum’s hair.
“They already know.”
Lee-eum looked back with a surprised expression.
“They know…?”
“Both of them accepted from the beginning that you’re a Beta and don’t mind much. They said as long as the two of us are happy, it’s fine. Honestly, my parents should be grateful to you for life. If it weren’t for Kim Yi-eum, who would take me? Of course, that’s if you marry me.”
Even though he knew he was saying it to make him feel better, he felt somewhat relieved.
But Choi Won-joon inevitably poured cold water on it.
“But if you really want one, I’ll act like a child for you. I’ll act cute, suckle at your breast. Isn’t that okay?”
“…….”
“Should I try calling you Dad now? Dad?”
“…Please stop.”
When he put on a serious face, Choi Won-joon laughed, and Lee-eum also burst out laughing. Then, because he ended up calling him Dad again, he had no choice but to pick up a nearby cushion and throw it at him.