By Zephyria 
“He said I was disgusting.”
The damp, earthy smell unique to the dawn air brushed the tip of his nose. Ki Tae-ho stared straight ahead, a half-smoked cigarette in one hand. The other hand held a phone.
[Honey.]
A voice like a flower was heard over the phone.
“Of course. I would have said the same thing even if I were him.”
[Are you… okay?]
“I don’t know. I really don’t know.”
[……]
“No. No, it might be more shocking than I thought. It’s the first time Jae-eon has ever said something like that to him.”
[Jae-eon getting angry at us is unfamiliar, right?]
“It’s unfamiliar.”
Ki Tae-ho gave a lonely smile. A cold breath spread hazily in the dawn sky.
“I was stunned for a moment.”
A heavy voice mixed with guilt flowed over the phone.
[The fact that it’s unfamiliar means that the child has been holding back and living like that, right?]
At the returned answer, Ki Tae-ho’s eyes widened silently. Then, he slyly raised one corner of his mouth, creating a smile that seemed as if it would collapse at any moment. Instead of throwing away the already burnt-out cigarette butt, he held it in his hand and crushed it. A stinging pain was felt as the skin burned, but he didn’t care.
“You always make me realize things.”
Ki Tae-ho muttered after a long silence.
[You flatter me.]
“I mean it. They say that if you listen to your wife, you’ll get lucky even while you’re sleeping.”
[You’re even joking… Do you think you’ve calmed down?]
When he heard a faint laugh, Ki Tae-ho quietly raised one eyebrow, then shook his head as if he couldn’t win. She’s a woman who can’t hide anything. How can she see through everything like this?
“Yeah, you’re right.”
Ki Tae-ho answered, readjusting the phone.
“I should be grateful that he got angry.”
Only then did he realize.
How little they knew their son, how lonely they had made him.
He had no conscience to be shocked by this much rebellion.
[It’s not just you.]
“……”
[We’re the same in being bad.]
And also the fact that they shared the same regrets.
[But let’s save the frustration for later. Now is the time to try.]
“Yeah, that’s right. I have to.”
Ki Tae-ho took a breath as he looked at the sky.
The Head of the family and the Family that he had been so obsessed with were ultimately useless in front of his family.
Now, all that was left was to protect that precious family.
[Let’s do it together.]
At Ryu Seong-hee’s comfort, Ki Tae-ho muttered, “Thank you.”
He was no longer afraid because she was by his side.
‘Even if I have to prostrate myself before my son…’
Just as he was lost in deep thought. Honey-. A quiet call woke him up.
“I’m listening, Seong-hee.”
[I’m saying this out of concern. You… control your temper a little.]
Ki Tae-ho flinched at the gentle advice.
“……”
[It’s not just because of the Sacheon Seonji Gate, is it? I barely managed to stop Jae-ha from going to Seoul.]
I guess I can’t fool her after all.
“I just want to talk.”
[Honey.]
“He touched my son.”
But don’t worry. I don’t plan on becoming a murderer before completing the Sacheon Seonji Gate. Ki Tae-ho heard a faint sound of someone pinching their forehead on the other end of the receiver. You really are something… Ryu Seong-hee let out a short sigh.
Chirp, chirp-! The noisy chirping of sparrows mercilessly shattered his sweet slumber.
“Ugh……”
A complaint-filled groan escaped from the bed. What’s with all the noise? Ki Jae-eon slowly lifted his eyelids, his brow furrowed. At the same time, warm sunlight streamed into the room. He could see hazy dust floating in the air along the bright rays of light. It was a slow and peaceful moment. He stretched briefly, and the wrinkles on his forehead gradually smoothed out. At that moment, the cold and refreshing morning air permeated deep into his lungs. It was as refreshing as if it were washing away the inside of his body. Ah, feels good. Just as he was about to succumb to the drowsiness that followed.
“Are you awake?”
A refreshing voice was heard.
Huh? Ki Jae-eon’s surprised gaze rolled to the side.
There, Ahn Seo-myeong was perfectly dressed from the morning. Literally. He seemed to have put a lot of effort into his appearance as if he had an important appointment. Neat hair as if he had styled it, skin with a subtle glow from lotion, a leather watch from a familiar brand, and the small Rosary he always wore. In addition, a neatly ironed white T-shirt and black slacks created a clean harmony, highlighting his charm. He was truly a prime example of neat and tidy appearance, with nothing more or less to add.
‘Did he…… put on cologne?’
Instead of Ahn Seo-myeong’s unique fabric softener scent, a slightly androgynous but refreshing cologne scent tickled the tip of his nose. He looked like a man about to go on his first date.
Ki Jae-eon almost asked, ‘Where are you going?’
Fortunately, he didn’t actually ask.
‘Wherever he’s going…… it’s none of my business.’
He nodded, trying to act nonchalant, and received a glass of water with the reply, “That’s a relief.”
“Lukewarm water is good in the morning.”
“Ah……”
Seeing the water in the clear glass, he suddenly felt thirsty. Especially since his mouth felt parched, he reached out as if possessed. Ah, thank you. After offering a thank you that was almost a mumble, he took the cup. The fingertips of the two men paused, almost touching, at an ambiguous distance. What was this tension? Ki Jae-eon rolled his eyes and glanced at Ahn Seo-myeong. But that guy was strange too. The tips of his ears were red.
“The water’s getting cold.”
“Huh?”
“The water…… is getting cold.”
“Ah, y, you’re right……”
Ki Jae-eon hurriedly gathered his gaze and gulped down the water. The lukewarm water went down his throat. The taste of the water was strangely sweet.
“Would you like another glass?”
“That’s enough……”
“Yes, um.”
“……Um.”
Suffocating awkwardness.
A brief silence passed between them. Ahn Seo-myeong fiddled with the Rosary beads for no reason, stopping and starting again, and Ki Jae-eon glanced at his wrist before turning his gaze to the dust on the window frame.
It was an atmosphere where they both had something to say but couldn’t bring themselves to say it.
“Did you…… put on cologne?”
Ki Jae-eon was the first to break the silence. He asked, still fixing his gaze on the window frame, trying to sound as dry as possible.
“Ah, yes. I received it as a gift.”
“Ah…… What, from a woman?”
“It was Eun-ha Noona. I don’t have any female friends besides those at the main office. You can look at my contact list. There’s no password.”
“Wh, why would I? Why would I look at your contacts?”
“Yes? Ah, yes. That’s right.”
“……”
“……”
“……”
“Th, hyung……”
“Huh?”
“How do I look today?”
“To, today?”
“Yes, the clothes…… or my hair.”
“Ah, uh- just…… well, it suits you.”
“I’ve been preparing since five in the morning. I even styled my hair myself for the first time.”
“……”
“There’s someone I want to impress.”
Ahn Seo-myeong no longer fiddled with the Rosary beads. He didn’t avoid eye contact either. He simply conveyed his feelings calmly, with the tips of his ears even redder.
However, the tension flowing in the air was very clear.
“And yesterday-.”
He was just about to say the next word.
Knock, knock-! A cheerful knock and the loud shout of “Hey! Ahn Seo-myeong!” shattered the moment.
“They’re calling us for fooood!”
“……”
Ahn Seo-myeong’s face instantly darkened. He squeezed his eyes shut with a chilling expression, then tilted his head back to look at the ceiling. Ah-. It sounded like he faintly cursed. After taking a deep breath, he finally gritted his teeth. His jawline was visibly stiff, showing how hard he was biting. His tightly clenched fist even turned white and trembled.
“No answer? Hey-!”
“Hyung, please be patient for a moment.”
“Huh?”
“I’ll go take care of him.”
“……Huh?”
Ahn Seo-myeong tucked Ki Jae-eon snugly into the blanket and strode towards the door.
“Hey- Whoa! What the. You were here, why didn’t you answer…… Uh? Where are you gooooing!”
Thump, thump!
Ki Jae-eon had to huddle under the blanket, blinking, until the noisy scuffle ended.