By Zephyria 
“What the heck.”
It was a decision that completely ignored the twins’ opinions. The kids whined that it wasn’t the menu they chose, but Haon resolutely moved forward.
Just as they were about to leave the playground, someone approached from the opposite side. It was the kid who had been playing with the twins earlier.
“Are you leaving?”
It seemed he had come, disappointed to hear Yoon Seul and Yoon Byeol were going.
Haon stood still, so Yoon Byeol naturally detached himself and went over to the girl with her hair tied in two pigtails.
“Bye.”
“Can we meet again?”
The girl asked while looking at her mother. Her eyes were pleading with her mom to help so she could play with the twins again.
The child’s mother greeted Haon.
“Hello.”
She was a person with gentle eyes.
“Ah, yes. Hello.”
Haon slightly bowed his waist out of habit. The child’s mother looked back and forth at Yoon Seul and Yoon Byeol and smiled.
“They’re your younger brothers, right? I heard them calling you ‘hyung’ and ‘oppa’ while they were playing earlier.”
“Yes, yes. There’s a big age gap.”
As Haon was stating the fact, he made eye contact with Yoon Seul and Yoon Byeol and had a silent conversation. Then, they opened their mouths almost simultaneously.
“He’s our dad.”
“He’s our dad.”
Yoon Seul spoke first, and Yoon Byeol immediately followed.
Even their mouth shapes were identical.
Haon was momentarily speechless, then soon let out a sigh mixed with familiar resignation.
“Even so, no one believes it.”
He said it wasn’t true, but he didn’t try to explain so desperately as if his life depended on it. It wasn’t the first time something like this had happened, and most parents could figure out the situation anyway.
“We live just ahead. My child will come out to the playground to play anytime, so if your brothers come, bring them out.”
“Yes, see you next time then.”
Just as he was finishing the situation with a formal greeting and grabbing the twins one by each hand to turn around…
Someone’s shadow was cast long in front of him.
“……”
When he raised his gaze, Cha Jeong-won was standing there.
Both froze momentarily, to the point where it was impossible to tell who was more startled first.
Why hadn’t he considered that this was someone he could run into at any time, living in the same building?
“Sunbae.”
Haon spoke first.
His lips were slightly dry, and his throat made one big gulp.
Yoon Seul was still clinging to Haon.
“Hyung.”
Cha Seo-jun also called his cousin.
“Yeah.”
Cha Jeong-won answered briefly.
His voice was no different from usual, but his eyes were clearly different.
Only after looking over Yoon Seul and Yoon Byeol in turn did his gaze return to Haon’s face. His gaze moved slowly, as if searching for something.
Yoon Seul spoke first.
“Dad, when are we going home?”
“I’m hungry.”
Yoon Byeol added.
In times like this, a quick explanation is essential.
“Hey, I told you not to do that. People will misunderstand.”
He forced a smile and ruffled the kids’ heads.
Then, he hurriedly spoke towards Cha Jeong-won.
“They’re my youngest cousins. Twins.”
He tried not to raise the end of his sentence too hastily, worried it might sound like an excuse. Still, he felt somehow rushed.
Yoon Byeol tilted his head.
“But you are our dad.”
“Hey, Yoon Byeol.”
Unable to hide his frustration, Haon pressed down on Yoon Byeol’s head.
“If you keep calling me dad, people will think it’s true. Don’t do that.”
He couldn’t tell himself whether the words coming from between his lips were a mutter to himself, a scolding for the kids, or something meant for Cha Jeong-won to hear.
Still, he thought it was better than saying nothing.
He shouldn’t be misunderstood.
If only it could end right here…
“Hmm? Are you leaving now?”
The grandmother who had earlier called Cha Seo-jun, along with Haon, Yoon Seul, and Yoon Byeol, a family, appeared.
＊ ＊ ＊
Cha Jeong-won was silent.
Even though he had already seen them once, he kept shifting his gaze from the kids’ faces to Haon’s face, and back to the kids. This time, a silence that seemed to be calculating something flowed.
It hadn’t been long since his mother left.
Her words crept up from a corner of his mind.
―’I know you hated it every time I forced someone on you. So this time, I prepared someone you wouldn’t be able to refuse. Isn’t that enough?’
He wanted to believe Haon’s words, but he had been deceived too many times.
What if it was all a ploy, just to date for a week?
He couldn’t let all of this pass simply. Because he had been swayed by Yoon Haon.
If it weren’t for that, he wouldn’t be racking his brains over it.
“Your cousins.”
In the end, that was all he could utter. He had no right to interrogate Yoon Haon here and now.
“Yes.”
Haon answered quickly. His eyes held a mix of relief and lingering tension.
But the grandmother, who still hadn’t left, finally spoke up.
“Didn’t you say you were a family?”
Haon panicked and waved both hands.
“No, no. He and I aren’t a married couple.”
He pointed at Cha Seo-jun and himself, who had no intention of denying it, and actively denied it.
“You didn’t say anything earlier?”
So the grandmother muttered as if it was strange, and Cha Jeong-won…
“A married couple?”
His eyes flashed.
“No, no, no, no. Wait a minute.”
Haon was shocked and repeated himself.
Just as he was about to explain that it was absolutely not the case, Cha Seo-jun subtly leaned his body against Haon.
And whispered into Haon’s ear.
“You said if we meet the grandmother again, we can just say we’re a married couple, right?”
Is that something to say now…?
Haon poked Cha Seo-jun in the side.
“The grandmother isn’t the only one here! Sunbae will misunderstand!”
But Cha Seo-jun shrugged his shoulders.
“If anything, hyung is someone who doesn’t need to misunderstand, right?”
He said as if he knew better, but for some reason, he couldn’t hide his smile.
“Um… We have to go home. We’ll just say goodbye and go.”
Haon took Yoon Seul and Yoon Byeol’s hands in each of his.
The two kids said in unison, “Goodbye.”
They clearly tried to be polite.
“Then, take care on your way.”
Haon bowed towards Cha Jeong-won and left the spot.
‘Of all times…’
Even though he told himself he should act normal since they had just shared a somewhat intimate relationship, he had inwardly imagined an awkward meeting.
But not a meeting with a dad moment like this!
“Alright, alright.”
What’s done is done, and regretting it won’t make it unhappen.
Haon glanced back at Cha Jeong-won.
He didn’t seem to be moving, but there was nothing particular to go and say to him either.
“Are we really having fried tofu rice balls today?”
“Yeah, let’s buy some on the way.”
Just as Haon was about to leave, pushing aside his uneasy feelings in response to Yoon Byeol’s question…
“Ah… Hyung, I have to go now.”
Cha Seo-jun looked at his phone and showed a regretful expression.
“Yeah, yeah, go.”
Haon waved his hand for him to go quickly, and Yoon Seul and Yoon Byeol also said goodbye to Cha Seo-jun.
Cha Seo-jun hesitated with a face that really seemed like he didn’t want to go, then finally turned around.
“Is Jeong-won hyung not going?”
Then, noticing Cha Jeong-won still hadn’t moved, he asked, but Cha Jeong-won pointed with his chin in the direction Cha Seo-jun was going.
“Go.”
“It’s on the way home, right?”
“I said go.”
Cha Seo-jun looked at his phone a few more times, alternating his gaze between Cha Seo-jun and Haon. Then, with a reluctant face, he walked away.
Perhaps he had something urgent, as his steps gradually quickened. Even so, he looked back towards Haon’s direction several more times.
Only when he was out of sight did Haon start moving again with Yoon Seul and Yoon Byeol.
And as he walked towards the mart, the moment he casually turned his head, Cha Jeong-won was reflected in the store’s glass wall. He was walking leisurely, hands in his pockets.
Unable to bear it, Haon stopped. Cha Jeong-won moved so leisurely that even a turtle would probably be faster.
As he approached, Haon asked quickly.
“You go ahead.”
“Where are you going?”
Haon flinched at Cha Jeong-won’s question.
His low voice and dry tone were no different from usual.
That was the problem.
Clearly, even on the day they parted, he seemed very affectionate…
“I’m going to the mart, so that way.”
He answered, forcibly suppressing the thought that it was strange.
“Coincidentally, I’m going there too.”
Cha Jeong-won answered that he was also going to the mart, without a thought for Haon’s consideration.
Now, no matter what Haon answered, it would seem like he was avoiding him. In the end, they ended up walking together.
Upon entering the mart, the characteristic noisy atmosphere washed over them.
Haon picked up a basket instead of a cart and headed towards the aisle with the ingredients he needed, the kids sticking to his sides and following. Cha Jeong-won followed half a beat behind.
Even while Haon was putting the ingredients for fried tofu rice balls into the basket, Cha Jeong-won idly scanned the shelves here and there.
He suddenly picked up some pickled radish, then put it down. He also picked up some milk, then put it back.
He showed no intention of buying anything. He just stood there, maintaining distance beside Haon.
Yoon Byeol watched that for a long time, then subtly raised his hand.
“Hyung, why do you keep putting things down?”
56 – NOT 56