“Boss! Why didn’t you leave right away?!”
Jung Hwanhui took the glasses from the messenger who had come looking for him and changed into the suit the man had brought. The messenger, tears streaming as he said how relieved he was that Jung Hwanhui was safe, hugged him tightly. Then, once he seemed to have calmed down a little, he cautiously asked why he wasn’t leaving immediately.
‘…Now that I can actually see properly, I finally feel like I can breathe.’
“There’s someone I need to take with me.”
“Someone you need to take?”
“Yes. My lifesaver.”
At that, the messenger clapped his hands in excitement.
“Ah, then you absolutely have to bring them with you! The grace of saving the boss’s life—he’s my benefactor too! What kind of person is he?”
“…I don’t know.”
“…What?”
“That’s why I’m planning to find out, little by little….”
Jung Hwanhui smiled faintly. Seeing that, the messenger let out a small hiccup.
“Y-you… j-just now, the boss s-smiled….”
As if he had never smiled at all, Jung Hwanhui returned to his usual cold expression. Then, suddenly, he looked at the messenger, who was still stammering. Over 190 centimeters tall, a vicious scar cutting across his face. A flower-patterned shirt that screamed I’m a gangster to anyone who saw it, topped with a black jacket.
‘He’d probably be scared….’
If he got scared and ran away, that would be a problem.
“…Scorpion.”
“Yes! Boss!”
At Scorpion’s bright reply, Jung Hwanhui issued a cold dismissal.
“Go out and wait.”
“…Pardon?”
“Get out.”
“But, Boss! I must always stay by your side!”
“We’ve been separated this whole time anyway, so what are you talking about. Get out. Now.”
At Jung Hwanhui’s merciless words, Scorpion’s broad shoulders visibly drooped.
“…Then I’ll wait outside.”
“Not right outside the door. Get another room and wait there. Don’t wander around and scare him for no reason.”
“What do you take me for! Understood!”
Grumbling, Scorpion left the room. Once the noisy man was gone, things finally grew quiet.
Before long, Kim Hanyul would come carrying a bundle of food. What would he bring today, I wonder? After eating the lunchbox he brought, I could explain everything and then take him with me.
He might be scared at first, but I was confident I could persuade him.
So Jung Hwanhui waited desperately for Kim Hanyul to arrive.
Time slowly passed.
‘Footsteps.’
Soon, he heard footsteps approaching in this direction.
It’s Kim Hanyul!
Jung Hwanhui looked at the door, a trace of tension on his face. Any moment now, there would be a knock, and he’d come inside.
I’ll finally get to see Kim Hanyul’s face. What does he look like?
Not being able to see his face all this time had been unbearably frustrating. At last, he would finally see the face of Kim Hanyul—the one he had only ever imagined.
His heart pounded like it might burst, for the first time in a long while.
Just five seconds more….
5.
6.
7.
2… 1!
‘He’s here!’
The long-awaited knock sounded.
“Please, come in.”
No sooner had the words left his mouth than the door opened.
“…What are you?”
At the sight of the person who entered, Jung Hwanhui’s face twisted in utter dismay.
“Ah, the man who always comes here asked me to pass this along.”
The person standing there was a motel clerk he’d seen around before, sitting at the front desk. In his hands was a familiar lunchbox.
An ominous feeling began to creep in.
“…Where is the man who gave you that?”
“He just left. Oh, right—he had something he wanted me to tell you. He said this was the last lunchbox and to take care. Uh—sir?”
Jung Hwanhui didn’t wait to hear the rest. He kicked the door open and ran outside.
“Kim Hanyul! Kim Hanyul, Kim Hanyul!”
His wounds, not yet fully healed, throbbed painfully, but now wasn’t the time to worry about that.
He had to find Kim Hanyul. Find him and bring him back here, right in front of him again. That thought filled his head completely.
“Boss! Boss! What’s going on?!”
Startled by the sudden commotion, Scorpion rushed out from the neighboring room.
“Search the area immediately and find a man around 170 to 175 centimeters tall. Be careful—don’t hurt him, and don’t scare him!”
“Yes! Understood!”
At Jung Hwanhui’s order, Scorpion hurried off. Jung Hwanhui clenched his teeth. He felt uneasy. A premonition told him that he might never see him again.
No. That couldn’t be true. There was no way he’d gotten far yet. It wasn’t too late. They’d find him soon.
Vowing to find Kim Hanyul no matter what, Jung Hwanhui quickened his pace.
* * *
“Holy shit, that was close.”
At that very moment, unable to go far just as Jung Hwanhui suspected, I was hiding in an empty motel room, holding my breath as I watched what was happening outside.
Seeing Jung Hwanhui run out while shouting my name—Kim Hanyul—over and over, with a gangster following behind him, my body trembled. If I’d been even a little later, or if I hadn’t noticed that gangster in the flower-patterned shirt smoking a cigarette, I’d probably have been caught by now.
‘No, but seriously—what did I even do wrong for him to hunt me down like I’m his mortal enemy? Did I screw something up without realizing it?’
No matter how much I thought about it, all I remembered was saving him, feeding him, and taking care of him. It felt unfair.
‘…Whatever. Today was supposed to be the last day anyway.’
I’d never meet Jung Hwanhui again as Kim Hanyul. It was time to go back to being a mere extra—the housekeeper. Holding my breath, I waited until things quieted down outside, then quickly returned home.
* * *
‘…Another day has begun.’
After safely making it back, a new day started again. With no need to take care of Jung Hwanhui anymore, I had plenty of time on my hands.
What should I cook today? I got up early as usual and rummaged through the refrigerator.
First, I made a small pot of pumpkin porridge for Jung Hwangyeong, then started preparing vegetable fried rice. Loaded with vegetables, it would be healthy and packed with nutrients.
Will Jung Hwangyeong eat it? Kids usually hate vegetables…. Still, you have to eat a balanced diet to grow tall. I’d just have to make him try.
I glanced at the time. It would soon be time for Jung Hwangyu to come downstairs. I picked up the pace and kept cooking.
“I’m hungry. What’s on the menu today, housekeeper?”
Right on cue, Jung Hwangyu came swaggering in.
“Vegetable fried rice.”
“Ugh, vegetables? I hate vegetables…. Why’d you make that instead of meat?!”
The real problem was elsewhere. He’s grown, yet he’s throwing a fit over picky eating.
I shot Jung Hwangyu a cold look and said,
“…You need to eat a balanced diet. That’s how you grow nice and tall.”
“I’m already done growing! Is there no meat side dish?”
With Jung Hwangyu whining beside me and chanting for meat, I hesitated for a moment before pulling out some beef and starting to make braised beef. The simple-minded Jung Hwangyu immediately broke into a wide grin and sat down.
I set out the finished dishes, then took Jung Hwangyeong’s food and headed to his room.
Knock, knock, knock.
As usual, I knocked and naturally went inside.
As always, Jung Hwangyeong was seated at the table right on time.
His face was expressionless, but his eyes were filled with curiosity about what today’s meal would be.
‘He really is cute.’
I wish I could hear his voice just once….
Unfortunately, I still hadn’t heard him speak even a single word. Still, I should be grateful that he ate well at least. Considering he hadn’t even touched the food at first, this was tremendous progress.
As I stood there watching him quietly, Jung Hwangyeong picked up his spoon, then tilted his head when he noticed I wasn’t leaving. It was a gesture telling me to go, so without saying anything, I stepped outside.
Now it was finally time for me to eat too.
“Man, this world is doomed. Totally doomed.”
When I went into the living room, Jung Hwangyu was eating while watching TV.
I sat down across from him.
“Hey, hey, look at that.”
“…At what?”
Wondering what had him so worked up, I looked at the TV. It was showing news about kidnappings targeting kindergarten children.
“No matter how crazy the world’s gotten, who’d want to do that to kindergarten kids? Kidnap them, harvest their organs—that’s nothing, they even sell them to other countries, they say.”
“…We should be careful with the young master too.”
“Careful, my ass. Who’d kidnap him…. You have any idea how nasty that little punk’s temper is? He’s calm now, but just a few months ago, he was running around like a total menace.”
I looked at Jung Hwangyu as if he were pathetic.
And whose fault is that….
It’s because none of you paid him any attention, so he acted out just to get noticed!
Of course, I knew that without a big safety net like a father and mother, everyone was busy just surviving, and there wasn’t really anyone free to take care of Jung Hwangyeong. Still, if they’d just gone to talk to him once in a while, or taken a little time to play with him now and then, he wouldn’t have closed off his heart to that extent.
It felt like Jung Hwangyu simply thought Jung Hwangyeong locking himself in his room and not talking was just another childish whim, and didn’t really care.
The one who seemed to look after Jung Hwangyeong the most was Jung Hwanhui….
But since Jung Hwanhui could hardly ever come home, in a way, it was only natural that the kid turned out twisted.
“W-what…? Why are you looking at me like that?”
“…You’re immature. You’re really immature. When are you going to grow up, Jung Hwangyu?”
“What the hell?! Who are you calling immature?!”
Ignoring Jung Hwangyu’s loud squawking, I turned my gaze back to the TV.
The news had already moved on to another topic.
‘Kidnapping….’
It should be fine for now, right?
The heroine hadn’t appeared yet, after all. Still, I couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling.
“Oh—young master!”
Just then, Jung Hwangyeong came out. It looked like it was time to go to kindergarten.
I hurriedly took Jung Hwangyeong and headed for the front door.
“Young master, was the food good today?”
It was a question I asked every single time before he left. I always got ignored, but—
Suddenly, Jung Hwangyeong, who had been putting on his shoes, hesitated and looked at me.
Our eyes met. His head dipped in the faintest nod.
I stared at him blankly as he went outside.
‘What was that…?’
Is this how a grandfather feels when raising a grandchild?
No, maybe in this case, it should be a father….
A warm feeling spread through my chest. No wonder the guys always told me to get married and have kids. Looking at Jung Hwangyu, then at Jung Hwangyeong, I felt myself being healed.
“Have a good day! Young master!”
I rushed after him and called out.
Jung Hwangyeong got into the car and left without a word, but the slight redness at his ears made it clear he’d heard me. Smiling brightly, I waved enthusiastically until his car disappeared from sight.