By Zephyria Side Story Episode 1
The season that had safely passed through spring was already in full summer. The scorching sun was hot, and Kwon Hae-ah tried to flip over at every opportunity, finally succeeding. The child had gained another skill. Around that time, Seo Jeong-won had recovered quite a bit from the health issues caused by childbirth. And Kwon Tae-hee, as if he had been waiting, planned a vacation. (Kwon Hae-ah was not included in the vacation.)
When Kwon Tae-hee first decided on a vacation destination, he thought it absolutely had to be abroad. It was his first trip with Seo Jeong-won, and there was also the significant reason of celebrating the birth of their child. He also wanted to have a private wedding ceremony for just the two of them in a very secluded and quiet place.
After looking at everything from places known as the mecca of honeymoons to places solely aimed at relaxation, he brought it up to Seo Jeong-won, only to be coldly rejected.
The reasons were that it was too far and Kwon Hae-ah was too young. He also subtly expressed his reluctance to go, saying he was anxious about leaving the child behind.
“Okay. After listening to you, Jeong-won, I realize I was being too greedy. So, domestic is okay, right? Have you been to Namhae?”
“Then Hae-ah…”
Seo Jeong-won was about to suggest taking the baby with them, but he worried that the journey might be too long for Kwon Hae-ah in the car. Even though he had never been there, he knew where Namhae was located on the map of South Korea.
He and Kwon Tae-hee were adults, so it would be fine for them, but he thought it would be too much for the baby to travel such a long distance already. He became anxious, wondering if Kwon Tae-hee would get angry if he said it was too far and asked about other places.
“How about leaving him with my parents?”
“Wouldn’t that be too much for them? Hae-ah is still a baby…”
“I think they’d like it. Should we ask them first? If they can look after him. For about two weeks.”
“…Two weeks?”
Seo Jeong-won’s eyes widened as if he couldn’t believe they were going on vacation for two weeks. Kwon Tae-hee nodded, subtly hiding his desire to stay for more than a month if they had gone abroad.
“You need a good rest too, Jeong-won. You haven’t been able to rest properly. Because of Hae-ah.”
“That’s because I’m his dad…”
“I’m Hae-ah’s dad too.”
“Of course, Executive Director is Hae-ah’s dad. That’s not what I meant.”
Seo Jeong-won, with eyes like a rain-soaked cat, glanced up at Kwon Tae-hee’s handsome face, worried that he might have offended him.
“We’re a couple, and Hae-ah is our child, so of course… I meant that we should take care of him.”
“I know. I know that without you explaining it.”
“…I’ve never been to Namhae. It’s far, and I don’t know how to get there.”
Kwon Tae-hee knew that Seo Jeong-won was indirectly saying he didn’t want to go to Namhae because it was far, but he pretended not to notice. He had a bad feeling that if he gave in here, they would end up going to his parents’ house for the vacation.
“There’s an airport in Namhae. It’ll probably take about an hour by plane. Or should we go to Jeju Island?”
“…Jeju Island?”
“Have you ever been there?”
His school trip was to Jeju Island. But because of the cost, and because it was difficult to ask his aunt and uncle to send him, he made an excuse that he had circumstances and dropped out. His homeroom teacher told him to reconsider, saying that the government would provide support, making the cost less burdensome, but Seo Jeong-won refused.
“I haven’t been there.”
“I’ve only been to Jeju Island a few times for work.”
“They say there are palm trees. At the airport.”
“Really? I think I’ve seen them.”
Kwon Tae-hee smiled, satisfied that they would at least be taking a plane once. Then, suddenly remembering what his mother had told him about the villa, he continued.
“Ah, my mother’s family has a villa that they all use.”
“…Yes?”
“We can go there. My mother often said it’s secluded and the sea is beautiful. She said the sea is emerald-colored.”
At those words, Seo Jeong-won’s eyes widened. His dark, glossy pupils shone like jewels. He couldn’t hide his curiosity.
“Do you like swimming?”
“…I don’t know.”
“Do you know how to swim?”
“I’ve never tried, so I probably… can’t.”
Kwon Tae-hee reached out his hand, listening to the shy confession. There was something about Seo Jeong-won that made him want to touch him whenever he looked at him. That’s why Kwon Tae-hee couldn’t keep his hands still. He held onto everything, whether it was his soft cheeks, smooth hair, or small hands.
“I’ll teach you.”
“I think I’ll be scared.”
“You might be. But it’ll be fun.”
Kwon Tae-hee, who had been massaging his fingers, gently pulled Seo Jeong-won into an embrace.
“Don’t worry too much about Hae-ah.”
“Yes. …Executive Director too.”
“I will.”
To be honest, Kwon Hae-ah wasn’t particularly worried. He knew that if his parents looked after him, they would take care of him even more meticulously than he and Seo Jeong-won would. They would probably cherish him more than a glass bead. He didn’t even need to see it to know.
But he couldn’t just be happy because he had to show Seo Jeong-won, who was like a worry doll, that he felt the same way. So, Kwon Tae-hee decided not to get too excited in front of him. He firmly imprinted in his mind that he had to show Seo Jeong-won a mixture of longing and worry for Kwon Hae-ah, whom he had left behind, throughout the trip.
* * *
On the day of the trip, Kwon Tae-hee, who had thought that his parents would send someone to take the child, faced his father in front of the front door, who had visited early in the morning to take Kwon Hae-ah.
“You came yourself.”
“Of course. I have to come and escort my granddaughter myself when I’m taking her. She’s a precious guest.”
A gentle smile spread across his dignified face. He took off his shoes and, as if it were his own home, passed Kwon Tae-hee and went inside. He casually greeted those who were taking care of the house and strode into the living room, where he was immediately met with Kwon Hae-ah, who was lying on his stomach and sobbing.
Kwon Hyun-seok checked Kwon Hae-ah, who was looking up at him with teary, sparkling eyes, and moved quickly. He went into the guest bathroom to wash his hands thoroughly, then immediately picked up the child.
“Why was our Hae-ah crying?”
“Hng…”
The child, who was clenching his fist tightly and sucking on it, reached out his wet hand. Kwon Hyun-seok didn’t seem to mind the stickiness and just smiled, saying Kwon Hae-ah was cute.
In the meantime, Kwon Tae-hee gave the sitter simple instructions and hinted that she should use a separate car.
“I’ll arrange a car for you, so please go ahead. Hae-ah will ride in my parents’ car. If there’s anything uncomfortable, please tell Chief Jung. He’ll take care of it right away.”
“Thank you, CEO. Don’t worry about Hae-ah and have a good trip.”
“Please take good care of him.”
“Of course.”
The sitter watched the happy time between grandfather and granddaughter from one side of the living room before turning away. Kwon Tae-hee naturally went into the dining room and prepared a simple breakfast. Seo Jeong-won usually didn’t eat well in the morning, and even if he prepared his favorite foods, he would only eat a little.
After preparing both Korean and Western dishes, Seo Jeong-won preferred to eat bread in the morning. As he filled a tray with toast crisply baked in the toaster with butter, jam, oat milk, and some fruit, he asked Kwon Hyun-seok, who had brought Kwon Hae-ah in, if he wanted coffee.
“Yes, give me a cup. Light.”
He was clear about what he wanted. Kwon Tae-hee neatly put aside Seo Jeong-won’s meal and operated the machine.
“Would you like it iced?”
“Hot.”
“I’ll put it in a tumbler, so please leave now.”
“I’m worried Jeong-won will be upset if he wakes up and Hae-ah isn’t here.”
Kwon Tae-hee thought he was seriously worrying about nothing. Even if they were his parents, he didn’t welcome other people’s visits to the house where he lived with Seo Jeong-won.
“I explained it well, and it’s okay, so you can leave.”
“…”
“I’m worried he’ll worry for no reason. If Hae-ah cries… Jeong-won is so soft-hearted.”
Kwon Tae-hee was most worried that he would cancel the trip if Kwon Hae-ah cried, so he wanted his father to take the child to his parents’ house as soon as possible.
“So please leave. I’ll call you.”
“Okay, I didn’t think of that.”
Kwon Hyun-seok nodded as if he had realized something. Then he lifted Kwon Hae-ah up, made eye contact, and smiled.
“Daddy says we have to leave now. Princess, shall we go to Grandfather’s house?”
Kwon Hyun-seok, who had conveyed an eviction order that Kwon Hae-ah, who was giggling, couldn’t understand, waited for a moment before taking the tumbler that Kwon Tae-hee handed him and moving. He reluctantly passed through the front door and waved vaguely at his son, who had come out to the front gate, before hurrying away.
“I’ll call you.”
“Okay.”
Then he got into the car without looking back. He very familiarly put Kwon Hae-ah in the car seat, sat next to him, and repeatedly raised and lowered his large hand, making a fist. Judging from the shape of his mouth, it looked like he was diligently teaching him how to do the jam-jam.