PCL Ch 43

Even in the alley where the luxury houses were linked, the house at the top had a distinct structure. The front, which connected to the main gate, was a Western-style structure, but as it went back, it took on the form of a complete hanok. It was correct to think that it was a combination of two buildings, a traditional hanok and a modern house. The small garden in the backyard, which was planted with bamboo, had an old-fashioned atmosphere.

Wild bugs crying loudly, the orange light that illuminates the garden.

This was Lim Dae-han’s home. On the outside, only the parts such as the floor and roof were equipped with traditional features, but the interior had a nuance similar to other luxury houses.

Except for the balcony, all doors were closed. The air conditioner’s outdoor unit was making a noise.

Lim Dae-han, who was barely solving the problem by spinning the mechanical pencil on the table spread out on the floor, set it down by giving it enough strength to make a ticking sound.

“Ah.”

He slowly turned his eyes as he tilted his head and pretended to focus on the words he couldn’t remember. After a long period of scanning his home, his gaze was drawn to the cell phone, which was quietly lying in the corner of the table.

He pouted his lower lip and looked at his phone, then hesitated for a moment as he tapped the top of the table. He was debating whether or not to contact Ki Young-hyun. He grabbed his phone and stood up without thinking about it any longer. He exited the room after wiping his dry lips once.

His deceased grandfather’s residence was linked to the lower building, a Western-style building, and an indoor staircase. His grandfather’s guests would occasionally come and stay, but now, with the exception of the manager, it was a place that few people visited. Lim Dae-han chose this location because he had a lot of affection for his grandfather, who adored him in particular.

He walked past the living room and sat on the floor that connected the backyard. He looked down at his cell phone as he gazed at the quiet backyard. He then dialed a number by searching for the name near the top of the recent call list.

A voice came over the phone after the connection tone was repeated three or four times.

– Hello?

His voice was charming. Ki Young-hyun’s voice was neither high nor low, but it had the power to make those who heard it feel self-conscious.

Lim Dae-han wrinkled his brows, unable to hide his expression. The voice on the other end of the phone was even calmer. He wrapped his open ear with his scratching hand, which had been scratching near the clavicle. Contrary to the confused mind due to the fever of first love, a blunt voice came out.

“…What are you doing?”

– I’m lying down after finishing my studies. How about you?

“Me too, I was memorizing English words.”

– Are you studying after work?

“Yeah.”

He was embarrassed despite the fact that they weren’t even looking at each other. Lim Dae-han raised and lowered his head repeatedly, even though no one was looking. He covered his forehead and eyes with his hands. He pressed his lips together as he watched the lights in the backyard turn orange.

There were still times when it felt like a dream. When he opened his eyes, everything appeared to be an illusion, much like a midsummer night’s dream. Ki Young-hyun was right by his side now. It was surprising to him that he could see him when he wanted to see him and meet him when he wanted to meet him. It was the same when he was listening to Ki Young-hyun’s calm voice on this night when all he could hear was the cries of wild insects. It was a moment he would not have easily thought if it had been him from last year.

Lim Dae-han flexed his chin. He wasn’t a talkative person, so he couldn’t say much, but he needed to say something. He bit his lower lip a few times. However, it was Ki Young-hyun who broke the silence, not him.

– I went to your house today. I went to fill the water and clean it… And the air conditioner had already been turned on.

Lim Dae-han couldn’t keep his lips still. He bit his lips and chewed on his tender flesh several times.  “Is that so?” he replied briefly and looked down at his hand.

Ah. Lim Dae-han was glad he called him.

It was also unusual to see him for a few days at school because he was the type to study almost every day. We kept in touch and even talked on the phone from time to time, but it wasn’t the same as seeing each other in person. He wanted to go home quickly. Lim Dae-han closed and then reopened his eyes.

“Ki Young-hyun.”

– Yes.

There was an echo in Ki Young-hyun’s voice. A gentle wave touched Lim Dae-han’s heart. Lim Dae-han took a deep breath in response to the brief reply.

“I miss you.”

In fact, it was enough distance to go. Lim Dae-han secretly took off his cell phone from his ears and checked the time. It was just past ten o’clock. He was well aware that having to assist his father was an excuse to make him come home, as he only came home a few times a year. That was why he went without saying anything.

Lim Dae-han does nothing but cleaned out the freezer, bring in the nice ones, and talk to his mother. They could do that even without him, he was just wasting time in a house that was perfectly functional. He could leave right now and return at dawn, but Ki Young-hyun couldn’t come out.

Ki Young-hyun did not respond when Lim Dae-han said he missed him. The silence grew longer. Lim Dae-han lowered his head. Being honest was scary. It was out of the blue. Saying he misses him all of a sudden. He should not have said such a thing. Ki Young-hyun, who had been chatting with excitement up until this point, whispered in a small, light voice, unlike before.

– Yeah, you’ll be back the day after tomorrow anyway… I need to prepare for the school opening… Yeah.

A smile appeared on his lips as he listened to Ki Young-hyun’s stuttered voice. Lim Dae-han chuckled briefly. Ki Young-hyun concluded his speech as he chuckled. He should not have chuckled. Lim Dae-han tilted his head and touched the nape of his neck. Then he focused his attention on the figure on the door at the far end of the room.

“…”

“…” 

When their gazes met, the youngest, 5-year-old Lim Dae-ryong, sneaked behind a pillar. Dae-ryong sneaked out, holding a pillow the size of him in his arms. Dae-ryong was timid and gentle, in contrast to his older brothers and sisters, including himself, who have generally had a comprehensive personality. It was to the point that he was shy even from his family.

Lim Dae-han changed the hand holding the cell phone and motioned for Dae-ryong to come over with the other hand. Dae-ryong, who showed his figure by dragging his legs, crossed the floor and approached Lim Dae-han. He slumped down next to him and turned to Lim Dae-han’s side. He looked up at Lim Dae-han with clear eyes.

“The youngest is here.”

– Youngest?

“Yeah.”

Lim Dae-han swept his index and middle fingers across Dae-ryong’s soft cheeks. Despite the fact that Dae-ryong was aware that Lim Dae-han was on the phone, Dae-ryong spoke as if it were written in the script as if someone had ordered him to do so.

“Brother, Mommy told me to sleep with you today…”

Lim Dae-han, who spread his two fingers like tongs, pinched Dae-ryong’s cheek and released it.

“Okay. You go in first.”

Dae-ryong then jumped up, took a short stride, and ran inside. Meanwhile, the pillow he brought in was placed quietly next to Lim Dae-han. He had forgotten he was carrying it. Lim Dae-han patted the pillow like a child’s stomach. Ki Young-hyun spoke through the phone.

– I heard the baby’s voice.

“Yeah. I think he wants to sleep with me tonight.”

– Wow…

Lim Dae-han’s brow furrowed slightly as he heard the strange exclamation. Even though Dae-ryong was his younger brother, Ki Young-hyun didn’t seem to realize that he was the one who wanted to hug and sleep with him right now.

– I’m also the youngest among my relatives. I only have older brothers and sisters. I wish I had a younger brother too.

“You can meet Yong-i later.”

– Yong-i? Is his name Yong-i?

Lim Dae-han clenched his teeth. It was the name of his younger brother, but he refused to say it. His mother, who was dissatisfied with the name of Lim Dae-ryong, who was 5 this year, said she would change it before he started elementary school, but it was unclear whether this would be realistically possible. Lim Dae-han spoke after briefly moistening his dry lips with his tongue.

“…No, it’s Lim Dae-ryong.”

He must support his mother’s argument that she should change his younger brother’s name to avoid being teased. Lim Dae-han realized something about his younger brother’s name for the first time after telling his lover. Dae-ryong was apparently a very embarrassing name for a 5-year-old child.

– Dae-ryong-i…

Ki Young-hyun quietly recited Dae-ryong’s name to himself. Lim Dae-han expected him to burst out laughing right away, but he was calmer than he expected. Ki Young-hyun, who was easily exposing his emotions, was good at smiling, wrinkling his brow, and getting angry. Rather, Ki Young-hyun was more expressive than him, who had been deeply in love with him for a long time. As a result, even in the middle of summer, he had to wear a jersey when he went out.

– That’s…

It was just as Ki Young-hyun was about to say something. There was a commotion over the phone. Ki Young-hyun’s was answering a question about why he didn’t eat after ordering it in a calm voice. Lim Dae-han only listened to the conversation between the two. Ki Young-hyun said he was going to eat soon and would to get off the phone quickly. He was a little more childish than when he talked to him. The youngest was the youngest.

– I think I have to hang up now. I actually answered while eating something outside.

“You said you studied.”

– No, it’s too late. I’m a bit shy when I say I’m going to eat something…

Ki Young-hyun couldn’t think of anything to say anymore. He was so thin that he could eat anything he wanted. He didn’t eat much in the first place. Lim Dae-han remembered when Ki Young-hyun was eating something. His mouth wasn’t small, but the amount of food he ate was small. Ki Young-hyun ate his spoonful in three portions. He had the impression that he was trying to eat a lot, but he couldn’t.

He raised his pointed upper lip even more when he opened his mouth wide.  Ki Young-hyun, on the other hand, used to drink something with a straw, whereas he didn’t because it didn’t suit his temperament. It was dizzying to see him sucking with the straw. Lim Dae-han recalled the time with Ki Young-hyun and raised the leg he had put down under the floor.

“Go and eat more. I’m going to sleep with my brother too.”

And then he spoke to end the call. He really needs to take a cold shower. He cited the muggy summer night air as an excuse. He expected Ki Young-hyun to hang up right away, but instead he said, “Uh…”, “Well…”, and lengthened his speech.

“Do you want to say anything?”

Lim Dae-han had to ask in the end. Ki Young-hyun carefully let out the words.

– I miss you too.

“…”

– I was hugging your pillow today at your house.

Lim Dae-han thought of the orange teddy bear arm pillow on his bed. And with Ki Young-hyun, who would be holding it quietly. He shut my eyes tight.

“Ki Young-hyun.”

– …Yeah.

“I’ll go home tomorrow.”

– …

“So see you tomorrow.”

Ki Young-hyun didn’t respond for a while, then dragged the words out belatedly and replied, “Yeah.” Lim Dae-han eventually laughed at that response. Ki Young-hyun never told him, even as a courtesy, that he should help his parents and stay with his family for the time being. He was always behaving unexpectedly. He was the first to be terrified and unable to speak properly. He was a really interesting person.