* * *
“That guy, seriously…”
Eunsoo’s face scrunched up in irritation.
That expression hadn’t changed a bit over the years, and I almost burst out laughing at how familiar it was.
“Eunsoo, you’ll wake Heesoo. Calm down already.”
“Okay, I’m going.”
But why was he rolling up his sleeves like that?
Even the way he stomped toward the entrance—it looked like every muscle in his body was tense.
Was it just my imagination?
“Argh!”
Sure enough, not long after Eunsoo went out, Rex’s scream echoed through the house.
‘He’ll… be fine, right?’
They seemed close enough, despite everything.
It had to be one of those pranks you only pull with someone you’re comfortable with.
Besides, Eunsoo mentioned “we” had arrived, so Elliot or Cha Junseong were probably nearby too.
It should be fine. Probably.
Ignoring the commotion outside as much as possible, I carefully cradled Heesoo in my arms and carried him to the room upstairs.
It had been a while since I held him, and he felt heavy.
The difference was incomparable to when I first held him after his discharge from the hospital.
As much as Eunsoo’s growth was surprising, nothing showed the passage of time like a child’s body.
He had been so tiny—an infant who spent nearly a whole year unable to grow, trapped inside a hospital incubator.
And now, he had grown so big I couldn’t hold him for long.
I felt a surge of pride for how well he had endured and grown.
I even wanted to kiss him, but it’d be weird to do that while he was sleeping, especially for someone he’d just met.
Restraining myself, I stood up, but the door opened quietly.
“Heewoon.”
A soft whisper. It was Elliot.
He must have come straight to see Heesoo after arriving.
He checked on Heesoo, who was sound asleep, and his face relaxed with relief.
Now that I looked closely, Heesoo and Elliot had the same hairstyle.
Imagining the two of them braiding each other’s hair in the morning was so adorable that I couldn’t help but smile.
“He’s sleeping well. The kid’s usually shy around people, but he seems to like you, Heewoon.”
“He’s pretty sociable, though.”
“Not at all. He’s only nice to people he likes. Especially if they’re good-looking… oh, you wouldn’t believe how much he’s into looks.”
Elliot let out a sigh.
I didn’t know the full story, but it seemed to be a serious concern for him.
‘But from Heesoo’s perspective, his dad is Elliot, his uncle is Rex, and there’s also Eunsoo and Cha Junseong…’
This wasn’t Heesoo’s fault.
It was just his environment.
“Heewoon.”
I was thinking of siding with Heesoo when Elliot suddenly grabbed my hand.
“I still wish you’d become more than just Heesoo’s uncle. I didn’t work as hard as Rex or Eunsoo to find you, so it’s embarrassing, but…”
At the mention of “Eunsoo,” my body stiffened involuntarily.
Elliot’s reaction was the same.
The composed smile he had been wearing faltered, and his expression slowly hardened.
“…”
“…Oh.”
I didn’t need to say anything. Just from my expression, Elliot had already figured it out—how I felt about Eunsoo.
He hadn’t even let go of my hand, but it seemed like he already knew everything.
“I…”
“It’s okay. To be honest, I’ve suspected it for a very long time.”
Elliot, who had been looking down, suddenly spread his arms and pulled me into a hug.
He patted my back as if to encourage me, then smiled faintly.
“Let’s go downstairs.”
Late-night appetites of Espers returning from work were incredible.
Despite preparing what seemed like an excessive amount of food, it vanished the moment they sat down.
Especially the meat dishes tailored to Rex’s tastes—they disappeared like magic.
Because of that, there wasn’t much room to enjoy the barbecue leisurely.
Thankfully, I had pre-cooked some of the food while feeding Heesoo earlier.
Otherwise, I might’ve had to witness Rex gnawing on raw meat.
“I told you, even this much wouldn’t be enough.”
“It’s amazing…”
“The first time I saw him eat like that, I seriously thought he hadn’t eaten in ten days. He eats more than I weigh—where does it all go?”
Eunsoo laughed as he flipped the meat, his affection for Rex obvious.
Watching him from the side made my chest feel warm.
“How did you two get close?”
“Well, after you… ended up like that, and I became pretty listless, he would visit sometimes and feed me.”
“…”
“And he’s the one who told me there might be a way to find you. In that sense, he’s a lifesaver. I couldn’t do anything after losing you, but he found a way.”
“That’s so like Rex.”
“We also worked out together, with Junseong too. So, knowing he’s healthy both physically and mentally… I guess…”
Eunsoo hesitated.
I waited silently for him to continue.
Only after flipping all the meat did he speak again.
“Knowing that, I figured it wouldn’t be surprising if you found them attractive. That’s why I prepared it. You know, just in case something unexpected happens and you’re not prepared…”
“You think I’d use what you gave me?”
“…”
Eunsoo, who had been speaking so smoothly, suddenly clamped his mouth shut.
His gaze wavered as he looked at me.
He stayed like that, unable to move.
His eyes dropped, then met mine again.
His lips moved as if to speak but no sound came out.
I watched him quietly before shifting my gaze to the meat he had forgotten about.
“Eunsoo, I think the meat’s done.”
“Oh, um, I’ll… I’ll take some to Rex. You should check on Junseong. If no one keeps an eye on him, he won’t get anything.”
“Okay.”
He quickly split the portions into a 2:1 ratio, handing me the smaller plate before hurrying off.
I found Junseong standing alone near the pond, dressed in an outfit that still felt unfamiliar, his chest exposed.
“Why are you out here?”
“Oh. Yang Heewoon.”
“Here, take this. You didn’t get much because of Rex, right?”
“…Thanks.”
“Eunsoo prepared it.”
“Of course. Yeonsu.”
Junseong’s faint smile reminded me of Eunsoo’s earlier expression when he spoke about Rex.
Thinking about the years they had spent together, I realized:
‘Five years… longer than Eunsoo and I have been together.’
I had thought of Eunsoo as my kid, but… just six months of playing guardian couldn’t compare.
“Thank you for helping take care of the house.”
“It was nothing. I heard about your work yesterday, though.”
“Oh, I just lowered the barrier. Eunsoo handled the rest quickly, so there weren’t any issues.”
“Evacuation accidents can cause as much damage as monsters. Don’t underestimate your contribution. Even the safety officers were grateful to you.”
“…Thank you for saying that.”
Junseong’s praise always felt genuine. Knowing that made me smile without realizing it.
“They said the child you saved during ‘Miracle of Early Summer’ is doing well too.”
“Ah, is that so? That’s a relief.”
I had come across the news about the child being alive while searching for articles about Eunsoo.
But just surviving doesn’t always mean a happy ending.
Being captured and dragged around by a monster must have been a traumatic experience for a young child.
It wouldn’t have been surprising if they had lingering trauma, but thankfully, they seemed to be doing well.
“The last time we met, they said they wanted to grow up to be like you. They mentioned they would study hard.”
“…”
What should I do?
It’s one heartwarming piece of news after another.
The happiness is almost overwhelming, spilling over into every part of me.
I feel so good, it’s almost embarrassing.
‘I wasn’t even that diligent about studying…’
I tried to suppress my emotions with such trivial thoughts, but I couldn’t stop the foolish grin that spread across my face.
Cha Junseong seemed amused by my expression and let out a brief laugh.
Then, as if it were second nature, he placed his hand on my head.
“Yang Heewoon, I still like you.”
“…”
“I’ve hated Eunsoo over the past five years as much as I loved you. He saved your life but never told us you were alive. Because of that, you truly ‘died’ to us. But… Eunsoo was also the one who suffered the most from your death. He was the one who searched for you the most desperately.”
“I… see.”
“Now, there’s only one thing I wish for. Yang Heewoon, I hope you, who sacrificed yourself for us and saved so many lives, find happiness. Live boldly. Chase your ambitions, whether in work or love. I know you’ll do fine on your own, but if you ever need help, just say the word. I’ll be there for you.”
Had Junseong figured out how I felt?
He hadn’t had any direct encounters like Elliot did.
Maybe he just knew from watching me interact with Eunsoo.
He was always quick to pick up on things.
I felt both flustered and happy.
Is this what it feels like to have family?
Someone who promises to support you no matter what you do.
“…Yes. Thank you. Um, in that case, could I perhaps…”
Cautiously, I brought up the topic of reinstatement.
Junseong listened intently and then introduced me to several positions he thought would suit me.
He also promised to let me stay at his place if Eunsoo ever drove me out.
…Knowing there’s someone willing to reach out and take my hand when I’m at my lowest is incredibly reassuring.
Some people take it for granted, but for me, it was something I only came to appreciate late.
That realization was both sad and comforting.
Feeling like I had nothing else to offer someone so special, I gave Junseong the brightest smile I could muster.
He responded by gently patting my head once again.
* * *
