By Zephyria 
“Father.”
Having heard that the old man had arrived, Father approached in a rush. Grandfather silently shifted his gaze and simply looked at Father.
“Let’s go inside and talk.”
“Yes.”
As the old man led Father into the family room, two attendants stood guard in front of it. It was as if they were advertising, “Secret conversation in progress.” I wondered if they would finally talk about why my second hyung died, or what they had done to cover up that death. The more I experience this family, the more curious I become.
Moving aimlessly like someone with nothing to do, I happened to spot Choi Jae-kyung standing alone and approached him. Seeing me, he bowed his head slightly in greeting.
“Did Father find the person he was looking for?”
“Not yet.”
“Who is he looking for?”
“The person who was at the villa.”
At the whispered words, I let out a small hum from my nose.
“He’s still not found even though Chief Bae is searching?”
“Yes.”
Didn’t Kwon Yi-kang say he’d handle that or something? Choi Jae-kyung must have heard. Under my steady gaze, he averted his eyes.
Ah, this man knows but is pretending not to.
I didn’t know why he was going this far, but I decided not to ask here.
“Since my second hyung died, what happens to Driver Choi? Do you go back to the secretary’s office?”
“I believe I will be sent elsewhere.”
“Elsewhere where?”
“I suppose I’ll have to find out in due time.”
The bitter smile on his face made it seem as though he had been prepared for this from the start. I realized belatedly that the “responsibility” he spoke of was this.
“When I committed suicide, my driver was changed too. To the current driver. When I asked why he was changed, I was told that someone had to take responsibility. It’s quite funny, isn’t it? The person who causes the trouble is one person, and the person who takes responsibility is another.”
“Since he failed to perform his duty, it is only natural that he resigns.”
“It’s not like it’s a matter of being responsible for someone’s life. Especially since my second hyung practically killed himself; what could he have done? Even Father couldn’t do anything.”
At my words, Choi Jae-kyung only smiled.
“Thank you.”
“…….”
“Not many people were particularly interested in where I was or what I did yesterday. But primarily, it’s because Driver Choi erased my traces that I wasn’t suspected in the first place. Thank you for looking out for me.”
Although the fathers were angry that I had been with Kwon Yi-kang, that was a scolding for rolling around with an Alpha rather than a question of where I was or what I did yesterday. To think they tremble so much fearing a flaw might appear on their “product.”
“I am glad.”
“Are they kicking you out once the situation is settled?”
I frowned at the smile that returned instead of an answer. I felt like I knew the answer even without hearing it.
“Anyway, they really do use people up for their own benefit and then throw them away until the very end.”
“Someone might hear you.”
“Let them. It’s not like I’m lying.”
I pouted and grumbled. The firmly closed door of the family room opened, and I saw Grandfather walking out with his hands behind his back. Saying “I’ll be going now,” I walked toward Grandfather and Father.
∞ ∞ ∞
This is my first time witnessing someone’s funeral.
Did I have a funeral when my parents passed away? Was I the chief mourner? I have no memories from when I was six.
The portrait led the way, followed by the casket. The path to the hearse was crowded with people whose faces I did not recognize. The atmosphere was solemn, but not a single person wept.
My mouth felt parched, as if I had come to a bone-dry desert. There were no damp tears, no wailing that echoed in the ears. It was simply dry.
The place we arrived at by car was said to be the ancestral burial ground. A pre-dug hole was Cha Dong-hu’s spot. I watched silently as the casket was lowered and the grave was covered.
The end of a human being is so vain and fleeting. In the end, all that remains is a single convex mound of earth.
The family members descending the mountain let out deep, quiet sighs. It’s finally over. Even without speaking, their inner thoughts were conveyed. What appeared on their faces was not the sorrow of losing a family member, but the exhaustion from the three-day funeral.
Did Cha Dong-hu know? That there was no one to grieve his death, no one to care, and no one to be shocked. That if there was one such person, it was me.
I thought we would go home now, but the cars carrying the family gathered at Grandfather’s house. With the old man getting out of the car as the center, the other family members followed behind him.
I want to decline today.
If a fight is picked, I’m prepared to face it regardless of the outcome, but just for today, I wanted to avoid any physical or emotional conflict.
As I stared blankly at the main gate through which Grandfather, the fathers, and my eldest hyung and his wife entered, Lee Kyung-jin, who had stepped out of the car, approached and gently gripped my shoulder.
“Young Master.”
“I just… don’t feel like going in today.”
“You have been very mature for the past three days. Please hang in there a little longer. If you can endure just a bit more, I will take you home.”
Lee Kyung-jin spoke encouragingly, applying a slight pressure to my shoulder before letting go. I forced a strained smile on my face and walked through the open gate.
The atmosphere wasn’t noisy. No one opened their mouth, and everyone was simply waiting for Grandfather’s words. There was no disapproval toward the Omega father sitting beside the Alpha father, and I, exhausted, also kept my mouth shut and held my place without saying anything.
Once the employee who brought out the warm tea left, Grandfather took a sip, set the cup down, and spoke.
“You’ve all worked hard.”
He wouldn’t have held onto exhausted people just to say those words. The other family members, realizing there was still business to attend to, did not rush to answer.
“Watch your mouths so that unnecessary rumors don’t spread. For the time being, don’t cause any problems and be careful with your behavior. Restrain yourselves from the usual mischief for a while. They say bad things tend to happen in clusters.”
“Yes, Father.”
“Yes, Grandfather.”
The Alpha father and the eldest hyung bowed their heads and answered like eunuchs receiving a royal decree. The Omega father and I watched that sight intently. At times like this, even though he isn’t my biological parent, I felt that the Omega father was more like a real father to me.
“Why aren’t you answering and just staring? You’re the biggest problem, you!”
I wish he would have just let it slide for one day, but Grandfather pointed his finger at me, who was caught in his line of sight, and clicked his tongue.
“Where is there someone as quiet as me to be a problem? When have I ever caused a problem?”
“If a lunatic isn’t a dangerous element, then who should we worry about? Put a watch on him before he starts making a fuss about wanting to die. If some strange rumor spreads and splashes filth on the hosan, you and your father will be kicked out with nothing but your bodies. Do you understand?”
The one who made a fuss about wanting to die was Cha Soo-kyung. Of course, I am Cha Soo-kyung now, but it’s a bit unfair to be labeled a dangerous element because of what the previous Cha Soo-kyung did. However, since I had no decent excuse, I just puffed out my cheeks.
“Did he really die of a heart attack?”
The room fell silent at my abrupt question.
“A family member died, yet there’s not a single person grieving, and we’re told to be careful not to let strange rumors spread. Is there something that could become a rumor? Usually, people don’t think that way when someone dies. Why is everyone trembling so much? It’s almost as if… my second hyung died for another reason, and you’re all hiding it.”
Either explain the situation and then tell us to watch our mouths, or if you have no intention of telling us, keep the secrets among yourselves and exclude us. Since I know the situation, I’m pretending not to, but isn’t the Omega father being left out on his own?
“Who is going to shut that mouth of his?”
“I will explain it to him properly when we get home.”
“Useless fellow. Because the children you sired are all like that, things like today happen. What a deficient brat.”
Looking at me with a face of utter disapproval, Grandfather scolded the Alpha father. The Alpha father bowed his head as if he had committed a great crime.
“Arrange a blind date and get rid of him next year. In my heart, I want to send him off this year, but it doesn’t look good to marry someone off in the year of a funeral, so keep a tight leash on him.”
That damn blind date, blind date, blind date. We just came back from a child’s funeral today, and he wants to openly talk about another child’s marriage. There is not a single corner of this household to attach one’s affection to.
“Yes, I plan to set a date soon.”
“I never answered—”
“Soo-kyung, be quiet. Do you interrupt when adults are speaking?”
The Alpha father glared at me while blocking my mouth.
I’m the one who has to go on the blind date, and I’m the one who has to get married, so I don’t know why I have to be quiet. Isn’t my will the most important thing? After all, I’m the one who has to go out there.
Do they think everything will be fine as long as they just send me out, without knowing what I might do? They should have experienced my personality enough by now. I don’t know where this faith in me comes from.
Since I’m the one who will eventually go to the blind date, I just shut my mouth. Arguing in this spot is too tiring. If I engage in a war of words with that old man, the time I get to go home will only be delayed.
They’ll regret it later once I go out and wreck the place. Isn’t that how humans are? They are the kind of species who won’t listen no matter how much you tell them until they actually experience it.
Swallowing a sneer, I kept my mouth tightly shut. Treating the now-quiet me as if I weren’t there, Grandfather and Father exchanged a few more words. To be precise, it was Father nodding along to whatever Grandfather said. I silently watched that fruitless and ridiculous sight.