KTS 203

69

When they met in the morning, Winston seemed to be in bad shape. With his light shirt and cotton pants, his neat appearance, and his hair perfectly in place, he was no different from usual as he lovingly drizzled maple syrup on Angela’s pancakes, but somehow Yu-jin felt that way.

“Did you not sleep well?”

He asked, seizing a slight opening, and Winston looked down at him. At the silent gaze, Yu-jin continued as if making excuses.

“It’s just, you seem to be in a bad mood… I was wondering if you were tired.”

“I don’t sleep anyway.”

The answer came back too quickly. Realizing that his tone was curt, he softened his tone this time and added.

“I’ve always had insomnia, and I’m not feeling particularly bad or anything. Don’t worry about it.”

He continued with a fairly long explanation in a much softer tone, but Yu-jin somehow felt it was an excuse. In addition, he felt guilty for sleeping soundly without even dreaming, but soon he realized that it had nothing to do with him.

“Okay then.”

Yu-jin said simply and stepped back. Winston wasn’t a child who needed help. He was an adult capable of handling any problems that arose. More than anything, what did it matter anyway, it was none of my business.

Thinking that, he got up from his seat, and Phoebe, who had just finished breakfast, spoke up.

“Dad, can I go snowboarding? Can I? Huh?”

At the impatient and repeated nagging, Grant glanced at Winston as if gauging his reaction. But Winston didn’t answer directly and, surprisingly, turned his gaze to Yu-jin.

“Yu-jin, what do you think? Should we let Phoebe and Angie go snowboarding?”

“Huh?”

Suddenly, all eyes were on Yu-jin. Yu-jin blinked, flustered by the situation. Why did the decision-making power come to me? As Yu-jin looked at Winston with a question in his eyes, he said nonchalantly.

“You have the authority, so you should decide.”

Me? Authority? Suddenly?

Why?

He was full of questions, but the four pairs of eyes looking at him were incredibly pressuring. Yu-jin just gaped, not knowing what to do, and nodded almost unconsciously. As soon as permission was granted, the children cheered, and Grant said thank you before hurrying Phoebe to her room. As their retreating figures disappeared from view, Yu-jin hurriedly asked Winston.

“What’s with this all of a sudden? This.”

“What?”

Winston, who had naturally picked up Angela, looked down at him.

“Grant and Phoebe are guests, and the only ones left are you, me, and Angela, so naturally, you should have the decision-making power.”

What was he talking about now? What was he saying out of the blue, had he lost his mind from not sleeping, what was he plotting with what ulterior motive, he had a lot to say, but somehow it didn’t come out of his mouth. It would be more accurate to say that all the sentences were lumped together and couldn’t form a proper sentence. To Yu-jin, who was just gaping, Winston continued nonchalantly.

“Well, since Daddy gave permission, let’s go get changed too. Jack will teach you how to snowboard.”

Saying the name of the bodyguard, Winston naturally picked up Angela and started walking, then turned to look at Yu-jin as if he had suddenly remembered something.

“If you open the closet, there will be a ski suit. Change and come out.”

Even me?

Only belatedly regaining his senses, Yu-jin hurriedly replied to Winston, who was going up the stairs.

“N-no, I’m okay.”

Skiing, he had never done it once in his life. And yet, suddenly, out of the blue?

And he even prepared my ski suit?

“Just change, you don’t have to ski.”

Winston said to Yu-jin, who was feeling dazed.

“It’ll be more comfortable to wear a ski suit if you’re going to be moving around outside.”

His tone was far from commanding. Yu-jin was surprised once again by the soft tone, as if he were making a suggestion.

Just what is that man doing?

Winston’s attitude had changed a bit, but he never thought he would become so soft. The most surprising thing was that the man who never seemed to relinquish authority from his hands, no matter how trivial, had so easily transferred the right to Yu-jin, even in front of others.I must have lost sleep and my head’s gone funny.

Yu-jin thought so and headed to his room, resigned. Inside the closet, just as Winston had said, skiwear was prepared. He must have been thinking about this from the start, right? He recalled as he changed.

Of course, he would be. Coming to a snowy field like this could also mean coming to enjoy winter sports.

After changing clothes with some reluctance, Yu-jin came out into the hallway, just as Winston was coming out of the room holding Angela. Yu-jin suddenly realized that he had naturally passed on the important task of dressing Angela to Winston.

You’re only realizing that now?

He was momentarily flustered, but what was more surprising was the sight of Winston holding the child. As if he had done it on purpose, no, he definitely did it on purpose. They were wearing ski suits that looked like a couple’s outfit. In contrast to Angela’s outfit, a bright pink ski suit with several thick white stripes as accents, Winston’s outfit was a white ski suit with several thick pink stripes.

Anyone could tell they were father and daughter.

The sight was so perfect that Yu-jin was momentarily lost in thought. He just blinked blankly, staring, when Angela spoke to him excitedly.

“Daddy, Daddy!”

“Uh, uh?”

Startled, he looked at her, and Angela smiled brightly and said.

“How is it? Pretty? Winnie and I are wearing similar clothes!”

Hearing those words, Yu-jin belatedly looked down at himself and then realized. He was also wearing the same ski suit as Winston.

“It suits you.”

Winston said with a smile. Yu-jin, who had been blinking blankly, belatedly felt his ears burning up.

“G, Grant must be waiting.”

He said hastily, and even as he went down the stairs, his cheeks wouldn’t cool down. What’s wrong with me? Why is my heart racing over something like this?

Yu-jin blamed himself diligently, but he couldn’t deny it. For a brief moment, Winston holding Angela in similar clothes and himself looked like such a harmonious family, and that fact made his heart flutter.

* * *

“Kya-ha-ha!”

Angela, who had gone down quite a ways on her board, laughed loudly. Seeing his daughter so excited, a smile naturally appeared on Yu-jin’s face. Phoebe, even though she was still a child herself, took care of Angela, acting quite grown-up as she taught her things and gave her warnings. Yu-jin found the children’s behavior both funny and cute, and he kept laughing.

As soon as they finished breakfast, the children changed into their ski suits and were immediately busy playing in the snow. Yu-jin also changed his clothes, because Winston had suggested that “he didn’t have to ski.” The ski suit, which he was wearing for the first time, was much warmer and more comfortable than he had expected. He thought he had done well to accept his suggestion when Winston suddenly approached Yu-jin, who was leaning against the low railing of the terrace.

“How are you feeling today? Are you okay?”

Yu-jin was getting tired of the same question that came back every day, every moment.

“Can’t you stop asking now? I’m fine, I’ve told you so many times.”

When he frowned and grumbled, Winston unexpectedly gave a bitter smile. Surprised by the unexpected reaction, Yu-jin looked at him, and he asked, puzzled.

“What’s wrong?”

“Oh, no…”

Yu-jin hesitated and answered honestly.

“It’s different from what I expected.”

“What did you expect me to react like?”

This time, Winston asked, looking surprised. Yu-jin paused, saying, “Well.”

“I don’t know, but I didn’t think you’d smile.”

Winston closed his mouth without saying anything, “I see.” This was also an unexpected reaction, but Yu-jin didn’t know what to say, so he decided to just remain silent. A strange silence flowed between them for a moment. Yu-jin glanced at Winston. His face, as he looked at the children, seemed to be lost in thought. What is he thinking about?

Just as he was wondering, Winston opened his mouth as if he had been waiting.

“Yu-jin.”

“Huh?”

He was momentarily flustered and answered almost shouting without realizing it. He was soon embarrassed, but Winston continued without paying attention.

“While we were, separated…”

As if it was difficult even to speak, he mumbled slowly and then closed his mouth. When Yu-jin looked at him, Winston stubbornly stared straight ahead and asked.

“Did you have someone you liked?”