By Zephyria 
Winter days are short, so the view outside the window turned dark quickly. As the lights in the garden flickered on, Seo Yi-kyung pushed himself up. Having stayed in the painting studio all afternoon, he hadn’t actually painted; he had simply stared at the canvas as if admiring it. Perhaps because his mind was so cluttered, he couldn’t find the strength to paint.
Come to think of it, he felt as though there was no strength left in his body.
He hadn’t eaten the porridge Min Ra-hyeon brought in the morning. Seo Yi-kyung wasn’t oblivious enough to eat something like that. Since all he had consumed was the tea and refreshments Butler Do had brought, it was only natural that he felt weak.
As Seo Yi-kyung stepped out of the painting studio, Min Ra-hyeon was walking toward him from the opposite direction. For a moment, Yi-kyung wondered if he should have waited a bit longer before coming out, but he continued walking with a composed expression.
As the distance between them closed, a gentle smile played on Min Ra-hyeon’s lips.
“Yi-kyung.”
Despite all his efforts to keep his distance, it seemed it had all been in vain.
“Have you been painting in the studio until now?”
“…….”
“I heard you’re a great painter; I’d like to see your work too.”
“…….”
May I take a look around your studio, Yi-kyung?”
“No.”
After that long string of questions, Seo Yi-kyung’s answer was concise and dry. Min Ra-hyeon stared intently at Yi-kyung’s face before a deep smile spread across his lips.
“I see you’re still not over your anger toward me.”
Yi-kyung suspected that he might never be. Just as he was thinking this, Butler Do, who had come out of the dining room, spotted Seo Yi-kyung and approached.
“I was just about to come and ask. Dinner is ready.”
However, the answer came from Min Ra-hyeon.
Yi-kyung, let’s have dinner together.”
With a delighted look, Min Ra-hyeon turned around first. As Seo Yi-kyung stood still, Butler Do lowered his voice to a whisper that only Yi-kyung could hear.
“If it’s uncomfortable, shall I bring it to your room?”
Soon after, Min Ra-hyeon looked back. At that, Seo Yi-kyung took a step forward.
“…….”
As the two sat facing each other at the dining table, Butler Do busily moved the plates.
Seo Yi-kyung picked up the water glass in front of him and first moistened his dry lips. He was thirsty. He hadn’t intended to eat with him, but he felt too uneasy to simply turn around and take the elevator away.
And thinking of the child in his womb, he had come with the thought that it would be better to eat something. However, it didn’t take long for Seo Yi-kyung to realize that thought had been a mistake.
“Yi-kyung.”
Seo Yi-kyung started to move his chopsticks but stopped.
“I’m planning to visit Seung-jae’s mother tomorrow. Would you like to come along?”
The fingertips of the hand gripping the chopsticks curled. Suddenly, the face of Yeon So-jeong, who had visited this house not long ago, flickered before his eyes. He slowly recalled the image of her taking off the hat she had been wearing on the sofa. The face revealed as the veil was lifted was elegant and profoundly beautiful. In contrast, her eyes were filled with a void, as if they had been emptied out.
“…….”
When Seo Yi-kyung remained silent, Min Ra-hyeon continued to talk.
“I used to visit that house often with my father when I was young. Even back then, Seung-jae’s mother was a great beauty. Since you’ve seen her, you’ll know. Seung-jae doesn’t take after his mother at all.”
“…….”
“I spoke with her on the phone a moment ago, and she suggested we have lunch tomorrow. I told her that you would be coming along as well.”
If it had been anything else, he could have rejected it instantly. But with Han Seung-jae’s mother mentioned, Seo Yi-kyung couldn’t easily brush off the proposal.
He hadn’t contacted her separately since the time she visited the house. Perhaps it would be better to go and see her together.
Min Ra-hyeon smiled.
“Do you dislike that too?”
Seo Yi-kyung slowly opened his mouth.
“Alright. What time tomorrow—”
“It’s lunch, so 12 o’clock, I suppose.”
Seo Yi-kyung set down the chopsticks he had been gripping. His mouth tasted bitter. He felt as though he couldn’t swallow another bite. He stood up and spoke.
“I’ll be leaving first.”
“Goodness, is that all you’re eating?”
Seo Yi-kyung left the dining room as if he hadn’t heard a word.
* * *
After finishing his meal, Min Ra-hyeon strolled leisurely through the living room. He gripped the doorknob of his own room, then let go and changed his direction.
Click. Min Ra-hyeon entered the painting studio. The wide, quiet interior was filled with a variety of items, too many to take in at a single glance.
Min Ra-hyeon first approached a glittering display case and peered inside. A pocket watch necklace and a hat. Seeing them kept so carefully out of reach, they must be quite expensive. Moreover, it wasn’t hard to guess that Han Seung-jae had given them as gifts.
Min Ra-hyeon looked up and surveyed the surroundings. He saw colorful paints and art tools arranged orderly on the shelves, a sword, and baby supplies. He hasn’t even been born yet, and he’s already bought things like this.
Turning his head, Min Ra-hyeon approached the canvas in the center and stared intently at the painting. There were two canvases that seemed to depict the garden. He then looked at a landscape painting situated in one corner.
He had heard that Yi-kyung had been painting since he was young, but his skill was far superior to the rumors. He had thought it was merely a hobby to make himself a fitting match for Han Seung-jae.
“This one is old. Did he bring something he used to use?”
Min Ra-hyeon ran his hand over the work table. The tools that were particularly worn from use were all well-maintained. While fingering brushes of various sizes, Min Ra-hyeon opened a drawer.
He pulled out a pitch-black ultrasound photo and held it up.
* * *
Inside the fast-moving car, Secretary Park, sitting in the passenger seat, reviewed Han Seung-jae’s schedule, which had become tight as the end of the year approached. After checking a marked date, he spoke to Han Seung-jae.
“Will you be absent from this gathering as well?”
Sitting in the back seat, Han Seung-jae looked into his tablet PC. Until last year, he would go to the Ivory Pavilion to drink with them as a way to wrap up the year. However, since getting married, he seemed to have lost interest and had been absent from the gatherings time and again.
“They’ll just be drinking if I go. Is there any need to go?”
And yet, drinking was the very reason he used to go. However, Secretary Park did not say that and deleted the gathering from the schedule.
As the sedan slowed to a stop, Secretary Park stepped out of the passenger seat and opened the rear door. He took the tablet PC that Han Seung-jae handed over and got back into the car.
Step, step. Han Seung-jae walked through the garden and entered the house. As it was nearly midnight, the house was perfectly silent.
He entered the elevator and headed straight for the bedroom.
Han Seung-jae relaxed his grip and opened the door so quietly it barely made a sound.
The faint garden light filtering in from the terrace illuminated the thick bed. Han Seung-jae walked slowly and looked down at the sleeping Seo Yi-kyung. He slowly scanned him with his eyes—the slender eyebrows, the delicate features, and the neatly closed lips.
Unconsciously, he reached out his hand, but then curled it into a fist in mid-air and withdrew it. Suddenly, the words Secretary Park had reported scratched through his mind.
—And he said they also discussed a prenatal nickname.
—A prenatal nickname?
—Yes. He said he wants to call the baby ‘Yeoreum’ (Summer).
Han Seung-jae looked at Seo Yi-kyung’s stomach, covered by the blanket. Then, he turned and left the bedroom. He closed the door just as softly as he had opened it.
In the silent room, Seo Yi-kyung, who had been lying in bed, slowly lifted his eyelids. He carefully exhaled a breath he had been holding.
He hadn’t been asleep even before Han Seung-jae entered. Because Min Ra-hyeon’s words were swirling chaotically in his head, sleep had not come easily. On the other hand, his heart felt even heavier because he couldn’t know what Han Seung-jae was thinking.
“You already knew.”
Seo Yi-kyung chewed on the self-deprecating thought. There was nothing to be surprised by, and nothing to be heartbroken over.
Unlike himself, who struggled to keep his distance from Min Ra-hyeon, Han Seung-jae had accepted him into this house. He had given him a place to rest and allowed him to stay here indefinitely.
Wasn’t Han Seung-jae indifferent to others? Just the fact that he showed such an attitude made Seo Yi-kyung feel as though the place where he could stand was slowly disappearing.
Except, perhaps, for the way Han Seung-jae’s gaze had been so strange when he first met Min Ra-hyeon. But he might have misread it. After all, isn’t that why Han Seung-jae has remained so lenient toward Min Ra-hyeon?
Otherwise, nothing would be explained.
Seo Yi-kyung sat up in bed and reached his hand out from under the blanket. He then opened the nightstand drawer and touched a pair of baby shoes that were smaller than his own palm.
He had thought that he might be able to change the original story, even if only a little.
As expected, is this the one thing that cannot be changed?