OMS 81

Feeling bone-tired, Park Dong-sik lay on the sofa, repeatedly opening and closing his eyes. Kim Tae-han approached, felt his forehead, and tilted his head to one side quizzically. 

“I’m gonna check for a fever.” 

He then brought a thermometer, and only after confirming there was no fever did he sit down on the floor near the sofa.

“Aren’t you going home?”

“I’ll stay over tonight. Your brother isn’t here anyway.”

“Go. I’m fine being alone.”

Kim Tae-han ignored him and browsed through the books piled on the table.

“Want me to read you a storybook?”

“Books are Jun-han’s domain.”

Kim Tae-han smirked.

“So I’m in charge of sex?”

Park Dongsik was left at a loss for words. It seemed like a dream that just moments ago, the three of them had been rolling around on this sofa together. Should he be hopeful that things were improving since he lasted longer during penetration this time? Though seeing Kim Jun-han’s face whenever he showed resistance was quite torturous.

By the time he came out of the bathroom, the other man was already gone. Even that weighed heavily on his mind. As he sighed, Kim Tae-han casually picked up a book.

“I’ll read this one.”

He held “The Little Prince” book close to his belly.

“Tuntun, Suksuk, shall Daddy read you a story?”

Though he had been told they were Whitey and Blackey, Kim Tae-han arbitrarily changed their prenatal names to Tuntun and Suksuk. Since it was better than Yukgap-i and had the positive meaning of wishing the babies to grow strong and healthy.

“The Little Prince lived on a very small planet—”

Just then, there was movement in his belly. Park Dong-sik reached out in surprise. “Tae-han, give me your hand. Quick.” He pulled Kim Tae-han’s bewildered hand and placed it gently on his belly.

“Talk to them.”

Kim Tae-han whispered to the belly.

“Let’s meet when you’re born healthy. I’ll protect your mom.”

Amazingly, there was another movement. Kim Tae-han must have felt it too, as his eyes widened and he smiled brightly.

“They moved!”

“Yeah. They must like the book.”

“They must like me.”

Kim Tae-han continued reading while Park Dong-sik kept his hand on his belly, waiting for more movements from the babies. Usually, just looking at the text made him feel sleepy, but as Kim Tae-han changed his voice for each character, he found himself growing interested and listening intently.

“You’re good at acting.”

Kim Tae-han preened.

“I made an independent film once. I acted in it.”

“What role did you play?”

“A scumbag who steals someone else’s lover.”

“Wow, perfect casting!”

Kim Tae-han laughed out loud and turned to the next page.

[The hardest thing in the world is for one person to win others heart. Hearts as diverse as the faces they wear…]

[That’s why when someone you like likes you back, it’s a ‘miracle.’]

Kim Tae-han paused and read that line again silently, repeating the word ‘miracle’ like a mantra.

When someone you like likes you back, it is a miracle…

Park Dongsik’s gaze naturally fell on Kim Tae-han before his thoughts drifted to Kim Jun-han.

Which one of them do I like? Do I even like either of them?

He had accidentally entered Lee Hee-soo’s body, had sex with two guys who perfectly matched his taste, and even got pregnant, yet it was surprising that he couldn’t clearly tell who he liked.

On the other hand, he wasn’t sure what it meant to like someone.

Because no one had taught him, and he had never experienced it.

“Tae-han.”

“Yeah?”

“Why do you keep talking informally?”

“You’re not my sister-in-law anymore since the divorce.”

Though Lee Hee-soo might be a year younger than Kim Tae-han, Park Dong-sik was older. But what was the point of arguing? Kim Tae-han wouldn’t understand anyway, and he wasn’t Park Dong-sik anymore.

“Why do you like me?”

“Because you’re pretty.”

Park Dong-sik laughed dejectedly at the answer that came without any hesitation.

“So in the end, you like me for my face?”

“You like Jun-han for his face too.”

“…”

True. I got turned on because his face looked good in suits. Even his normally icy personality has become quite affectionate lately. At this point, he was curious. What aspects of Hee-soo did Tae-han like so much? What does it feel like to fall in love?

“Is there nothing else besides being pretty?”

“I told you before.”

“I don’t remember.”

“Hmm…” Kim Tae-han closed the book and stared into space. His face was serious, as if recalling old memories.

“When I first met you in college, I only saw you among all those people. That day is still vivid in my mind, like a photograph. When I couldn’t take my eyes off you, your ears turned red on both sides. So I smiled. Because you were so pretty.”

“Don’t make things up.”

“I thought you had feelings for me. We went out to eat together, watched movies, and went to karaoke where I sang for you. Don’t you remember?”

Park Dong-sik remembered what Kim Yoon-ah had once said:

[I heard you guys met while were in college. You didn’t date officially but were close. Later, when he found out the marriage prospect was his brother, he caused a scene at the meeting. Because of that, all the family members knew about it.]

“Did you…sleep together?”

Kim Tae-han, who had been staring straight ahead, turned to look at him. His expression suggested he had a lot to say.

“Did you?”

When asked again, the other man finally answered.

“No. You said you were in pain, so I stopped.”

“Ah…”

“Shit, should have gone through with it,” he muttered, then caught himself and tapped his mouth, whispering to Park Dong-sik’s belly. “Tuntun, Suksuk, sorry. Forget about Daddy’s curse.” 

It was hard to believe. The great Kim Tae-han gave up because someone said they were in pain? He seemed like the type who would force himself on someone regardless.

“Then one day, you suddenly started avoiding me. A month later, I found out why. You showed up at my brother’s marriage arrangement meeting. As his future sister-in-law.”

Kim Tae-han laughed self-deprecatingly. His eyes held a deep sadness and numbness. So you can make such a face too…

“You must have been hurt.”

It was meant as consolation, but Kim Tae-han laughed with an expression of disbelief written all over his face, making a “huh” sound. Are you talking about someone else? Ah right, I’m Hee-soo. Though taken aback, Park Dong-sik was still suspicious.

“You’re not lying, right? You shouldn’t make things up just because I can’t remember.”

“I’m not a con artist.”

“But you have a record.”

“…”

“And I know everything. How promiscuously you lived.”

Kim Tae-han calmly admitted it.

“I won’t deny it. After that, I lived quite colorfully.”

“So did you sleep with my brother too?”

“What?”

“Lee Seon-jae.”

Kim Tae-han stood there with his mouth open, looking like he’d just been slapped. Park Dong-sik raised one eyebrow. Oh ho, look at this guy. Earlier, when Lee Seon-jae had asked if Kim Tae-han was his lover while squinting his eyes suspiciously, it had bothered him, so he decided to throw out the question right then and there.

“You did, didn’t you?”

Unlike his usual self, Kim Tae-han’s ears turned red and he just opened and closed his mouth.

“Wow, even Mr. Kim Tae-han can get flustered. I thought you were completely shameless.”

When saying “completely,” Park Dong-sik covered his belly with his palm. It wasn’t like the twins had ears there. Kim Tae-han roughly pushed back his bangs, closed the book, and turned around. His face was full of embarrassment.

“I did it out of anger. After your marriage, a few times—”

Wow, even stumbling over words?

“So you were actually quite pure-hearted. Still though. How could you think of going back and forth between brothers? Have you no conscience?”

Seeming wronged by those words, he narrowed his eyes. His expression seemed to ask, “Who are you to talk?” Feeling preemptively guilty, Park Dongsik lay back down on the sofa, rubbing his belly and closing his eyes.

He thought Kim Tae-han would continue reading the book, but it was quiet. When he secretly opened his eyes, Kim Tae-han was staring right at him. Damn, scared me just now.

“What? What? Feel wronged? Want to argue?”

“I’m sorry.”

“Huh?”

“Sorry for living like a slut.”

“…”

“Sorry for deceiving you. I was wrong.”

“…”

Kim Tae-han was a born boxer. He knew exactly when to hit and when to retreat. Well, I openly said I wanted to live with both of them, so who am I to blame anyone? When Park Dong-sik gestured for him to keep reading, he continued with the latter part of the book.

However, the content no longer seemed to register. Park Dong-sik quietly observed Kim Tae-han’s profile. His long eyelashes fluttered occasionally as he read. His high nose bridge, appropriately angular jaw, full lips, and prominently protruding Adam’s apple all resembled someone else’s.

What would you feel if you knew I wasn’t Hee-soo? Predictably, Kim Tae-han would never believe it. Didn’t he dismiss it when it was first brought up? He would only think I’m trying to deceive him.

Ah…Why does his voice sound so sweet though…

His eyelids fell helplessly, and he dozed off using Kim Tae-han’s voice as a sort of lullaby. In his drowsy state, he knew Kim Tae-han was carrying him, but his eyes wouldn’t open easily. Soon after, he lay him on the bed, covered him with a blanket, and stroked his hair.

The touch was dripping with tenderness. His hand soon moved down to his cheek.

Just as he was considering whether to force his eyes open and say goodbye—

“Hee-soo…”

He was different from usual.

“I wish I could have a miracle too.”

At his gloomy and damp voice, Park Dong-sik couldn’t bring himself to open his eyes and face Kim Tae-han directly.