Awakened from sleep, Captain Kim Ha-yoon realized Ire wasn’t beside him and checked under the bed. He wondered where he’d gone, only to find him curled up asleep on the carpet. He thought about waking him, but instead, he rested his chin on his hand and admired his sleeping face.
He’s cute when he’s wide awake and arguing, but he looks even more angelic when he’s asleep.
But even while sleeping, he seemed to dislike being watched, as he spitefully turned to the other side. Kim Ha-yoon went down, covered him with a blanket, and lightly touched his cheek. Ire briefly opened his eyes, but he seemed too tired to speak and closed them again.
Kim Ha-yoon gave up on teasing him and went outside, where a guest had already arrived. Kwon So-young, who was reading the morning newspaper, waved her hand lightly. Steam was rising from the teacup in front of her, so she must have arrived recently.
“Why are you coming out of there? That’s the guest room.”
Kim Ha-yoon ignored her and sat on the sofa opposite her.
“It’s rude to visit someone’s house at this hour. How old are you? Do I have to tell you?”
“You have him with you, don’t you?”
She was quick to catch on. When he didn’t deny it, her face lit up.
“How could you even think of bringing him into your house?”
“You seem excited.”
“Instead of that, try to persuade him. There’s no time to find another way.”
When there was no response, she put the tablet in her bag and picked up the teacup. After savoring the aroma, she took a sip and didn’t forget to admire it as a good tea.
“Did you hear the news? The committee is said to be reducing support for the research institute.”
Kim Ha-yoon didn’t react this time either. He felt like he knew why Kwon So-young had rushed over so early in the morning. The higher-ups were clamoring to shut down the research institute, which was losing money every year. With the Infected population significantly reduced, they considered research a pointless endeavor.
“You can’t persuade your father, can you?”
At Kwon So-young’s words, Kim Ha-yoon snorted. His father was the one leading the charge to close the research institute. His father thought Kim Ha-yoon was pointlessly obsessed with fulfilling his mother’s wishes. Of course, not all of it was wrong. But it wasn’t all right either.
“It would be faster to hope my father dies. And then I’ll purge all the old men on the committee. Like Emperor Nero.”
Kim Ha-yoon grinned, revealing his teeth, and Kwon So-young shuddered. She knew he was capable of it. Mentally, he was unstable, and his mother’s death must have been the trigger. He certainly wasn’t like this when he was younger…
Or was he? Well, he was still a brat back then.
“Even if you say that, I believe you’ll be a great leader.”
“Stop it. I’m too old to be brainwashed.”
“Should I open your head and fix your brain a little?”
“That’s a good idea. While you’re at it, why don’t you erase a few memories? It would be nice if you could get rid of yourself too.”
They exchanged pointless jokes when they heard a sound from inside. Soon after, Ire walked out. With a face still half-asleep, he swept his disheveled hair back, and the morning sunlight made him look quite impressive. Kwon So-young whistled, as if she wasn’t the only one who felt that way.
“Wow, is this what it feels like to have your eyes suddenly clear up? I thought a sculpture was walking out.”
Kim Ha-yoon, who was listening, scoffed at her.
“Even my father doesn’t say things like that.”
Kwon So-young glared at him and waved at Ire.
“Nice to meet you. We’ve met before, right?”
Ire hesitated and greeted her. He had woken up and heard voices, but he didn’t expect a guest to be here. He wondered if he should go back inside, but Kwon So-young grabbed her coat and stood up.
“If I knew you were together, I would have bought some dessert for Ire. What do you like?”
“No… I appreciate the thought…”
“Oh my. How can he speak so beautifully? I want to take him with me.”
She smiled brightly, grabbed her bag, and walked towards the entrance.
He was about to follow her to see her off in his sleepiness when Kim Ha-yoon grabbed the back of his neck.
“Let her go on her own.”
No, but a guest had come… Then, he belatedly felt a stinging pain in the back of his neck. He frowned and tried to touch it with his hand, but Kim Ha-yoon was one step ahead. He pulled down his shirt to check and made a sound with his mouth, “Hmm.”
“What’s there?”
“It’s slightly torn.”
“……”
“It’s a scratch from something sharp?”
In an instant, he remembered the monstrous beast he had encountered in the basement. He must have gotten hurt while fighting without realizing it.
“You’re so oblivious. It’s best to apply medicine to prevent it from festering.”
Ire broke free from his grasp and stood a little distance away.
“It’s okay. My wounds heal quickly.”
“It might leave a scar if you leave it alone.”
“It’s really okay.”
“I’m not okay with it.”
He insisted on taking him and took out the medicine box. He pulled up the T-shirt he was wearing, applied medicine, and even put on gauze. The meticulous touch made him think that he was more considerate than he looked.
“How was it? The guys you met in the sewer.”
Kim Ha-yoon asked about the beast, but Ire kept thinking about the unidentified people. Who were they? Where did they come from? The questions still lingered. Should he tell Kim Ha-yoon the truth? But hadn’t he promised? To keep his mouth shut.
“They were big. At first, I thought they were dogs… but they weren’t.”
“Weren’t you scared being alone?”
Ire nodded. It was a lie. He was a person too, so why wouldn’t he be scared? Besides, he wasn’t alone, there were two strangers with him. Feeling uneasy, he avoided his gaze, and Kim Ha-yoon smiled and stroked his head.
“Good job. See, my eyes weren’t wrong.”
The blatant praise made the tips of his ears turn red. He had never been praised so much in his life as he had been lately. Matteo always wanted him to stay out of sight. But being with Kim Ha-yoon made him feel like he was very useful.
But even though he was young, he knew that these feelings could be dangerous. Maybe Kim Ha-yoon next to him might use it.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“No, it’s nothing…”
When Ire arrived at the hospital, he heard that Matteo had gone out for a walk in the yard. When he came outside and looked for Matteo, he was sitting in a wheelchair under a tree. Seeing him smile brightly at Ire, he remembered his dream last night and felt a pang in his heart.
He sent the caregiver who had come out with him back first and wanted to go somewhere far away from people. As he pushed the wheelchair, his thin shoulders were exposed through his patient gown. And his hand was marred by burns… Rummaging through his childhood memories, he thought there was something there.
“Did you come alone?”
Lost in thought, Ire flinched and readjusted his grip on the wheelchair.
“No, Captain Kim Ha-yoon gave me a ride.”
He saw Matteo’s face darken, but he didn’t bother to acknowledge it. He pulled the wheelchair to a secluded spot and sat down. On the lawn, people in patient gowns, their guardians, and caregivers were basking in the warm sunlight and laughing.
“Those people are lucky. They can get good treatment just because they were born here.”
Me too. Matteo smiled bitterly, and Ire sighed, then squatted down in front of him and met his gaze.
“I know you’re disappointed in me. But… I couldn’t find a better way.”
Matteo remained silent and just stared at him. Looking at his face made him feel like he was being scolded. Ignoring the words to run away was wrong, but if he ran away from here, what would be next? Kim Ha-yoon was the kind of man who would take back the heart he had transplanted into Matteo. What about his siblings? They would be lucky if they didn’t starve to death.
“I went home. Everyone seemed happy.”
“Yeah…”
As he rambled on with excuses, Matteo reached out and stroked Ire’s head.
“It looks good on you. It suits you.”
Ire looked down at the T-shirt Kim Ha-yoon had bought him with an awkward expression.
“Don’t worry. The things you’re worried about won’t happen…”
“I won’t. You’re not a kid anymore either.”
He expected him to get angry or nag him, but he readily accepted Ire’s wishes. He always treated him like a child, but what was going on? Ire cautiously brought up the possibility of the children moving to District A. Matteo said he knew, but he didn’t add anything more.
Ire could tell that he was holding back. He was still wary of Kim Ha-yoon and thought that all of this conversation might be exposed. Knowing his heart, he also closed his mouth and brought his forehead to his knees.
“I’ll take responsibility now… I can do it. Believe me.”
Just then, he heard footsteps behind him.
“Am I interrupting?”
When he turned around, Kim Ha-yoon was looking down at him. He was smiling, but his expression was subtly annoyed. Had he made him wait too long? But he was the one who told him to talk as much as he wanted.
Kim Ha-yoon greeted Matteo lightly.
“That’s a relief. It seems like the heart is a good match.”
“Thank you… for saving me.”
“Don’t mention it. You gave me such a precious son, I have to repay you.”
Kim Ha-yoon’s hand came up to his shoulder. The atmosphere was cold. It was clear that the expression ‘gave me’ had made Matteo uncomfortable. But he soon hid his emotions and bowed politely.
“I look forward to working with you in the future… He’s very precious to me, so please don’t let him get hurt.”