* * *
“Jeongseo!”
The weasel’s head and forepaws disappeared entirely into the dog’s mouth, leaving its hindquarters dangling limply outside.
Swinging like a pendulum, the weasel hung from the dog’s mouth, its body swaying with every shake of the dog’s head.
Seo Kanghyun rushed forward and pried open Seobok’s jaws, forcing the dog to release the weasel.
With a dull thud, the weasel dropped to the ground.
Covered in slobber, it shook itself vigorously to rid its upper body of the sticky mess.
“Jeongseo, are you okay?”
Kanghyun approached, picked up the weasel, and moved away from Seobok.
The dog tilted its head quizzically, wagging its tail as if nothing had happened.
But Kanghyun had seen it all—the dog mercilessly biting his sibling just moments ago.
“Baby, I think that dog might be dangerous.”
Kanghyun eyed Seobok warily as he carried the weasel back toward his room, unsure when the dog might suddenly lash out again.
But before he could get far, the small weasel squirmed out of his arms and dashed toward Seobok, who was still sitting idly nearby.
“Wait, don’t go!” Kanghyun chased after it, but Jeongseo reached Seobok first.
The weasel let out a soft cry.
Seobok responded with an energetic bark, lowering its chest to the ground, raising its hindquarters, and bounding playfully around.
Its wagging tail and exuberance were unmistakable.
Kanghyun stopped in his tracks, watching the bizarre scene unfold.
…Is this how animals normally play?
Kanghyun stood dumbfounded as the tiny weasel darted away, with Seobok hot on its heels.
The sight was eerily reminiscent of a predator chasing prey, and it made Kanghyun’s heart sink.
But to his relief, Seobok didn’t bite Jeongseo again.
Instead, the two animals dashed around the house, the sounds of their playful chaos filling the air.
Kanghyun, now turned to a mere bystander, sat on the sofa watching them.
He couldn’t help but think how fortunate it was that they lived in a standalone house.
Time in Seoul passed quickly, and before long, it was the day before they would return to Dangang.
Kanghyun and his mother were often too busy with work to even share meals together.
Yet Jeongseo, understanding their efforts to care for him whenever they had a moment, didn’t feel lonely.
Lying face-down on the sofa, Jeongseo idly fiddled with the edge of the rug spread across the floor.
Will everyone be late again today?
He glanced at the clock on the wall—it was just past 4 p.m.
‘ I hope we can have dinner together tonight. Should I call them?’
He was deep in thought when the sound of the door unlocking snapped him out of it.
“Baby, we’re home!”
The voices belonged to none other than Kanghyun and their mom.
Jeongseo wondered if he had misread the time, but the clock still read 4:16 p.m.
“Why are you both home so early?”
Excited, Jeongseo jumped up and ran to the entrance, only to freeze in his tracks.
A scent, both unfamiliar and familiar, wafted in.
The last person to step through the door made his eyes widen in shock.
“Jeongseo!”
The gruff voice and broad figure belonged to none other than his father, So Taebaek.
Completely unprepared to see him, Jeongseo stood frozen.
Taebaek grinned at his son and, with one massive hand, scooped him up.
“D-Dad?”
“You’ve grown so much taller! But why are you all skin and bones?”
The last time Jeongseo had seen his father was two summers ago, almost two years back.
With his father often overseas for work, their meetings had always been sparse.
The unexpected reunion left Jeongseo feeling oddly awkward.
While Taebaek joyfully spun his son around, Jeongseo smiled bashfully, his tail swaying gently in the air.
“Have you been well, Dad?”
“I’ve been lonely and miserable! I thought I’d die! I’ve missed home so much. Didn’t you miss me? Why do you look so indifferent?”
Taebaek hugged his son tightly, nuzzling his large face into Jeongseo’s head.
Watching from the side, Kanghyun let out a chuckle and gently pulled Jeongseo away.
“Dad, Jeongseo’s uncomfortable. Do you still think he’s a kid?”
“He’ll always be a kid to me! Don’t even think of saying otherwise until at least thirty more years have passed.”
Taebaek’s hearty laughter was infectious, and soon Kanghyun joined in.
Jeongseo glanced at his father hesitantly before slowly stepping closer and wrapping his arms around him. In a small voice, he murmured, “I missed you too, Dad…”
Taebaek’s towering frame made Jeongseo seem even smaller.
His flushed cheeks pressed against his father’s chest, and Taebaek stifled a laugh while Kanghyun clutched his chest dramatically.
“C-cute…”
Thus, their last day in Seoul ended with the entire family happily gathered together.
On the first day of August, Jeongseo stood at the bus stop, both nervous and excited.
Checking his phone, the time read 12:30 p.m.
There were still 15 minutes until the bus arrived.
Too excited, he had left the house far too early.
Today was the day Pyo Yoontae was coming over.
The house had been thoroughly cleaned yesterday, and Seobok had even been given a bath.
While the thought of Pyo Yoontae’s visit thrilled him, Jeongseo was also nervous—he had never invited anyone to his house before.
His heart raced wildly in anticipation.
To top it off, tomorrow was Pyo Yoontae’s birthday.
Jeongseo had secretly bought a cake and tucked it away in the fridge.
Though he’d considered baking one himself, the lack of an oven and his inexperience made him decide to save the idea for another time.
As Jeongseo fidgeted around the bus stop, too restless to stay in one spot under the summer sun, his phone buzzed.
[Pyo Yoontae: Almost there.] 12:43 PM
Has it been that long already?
Jeongseo peeked down the road just as the bus approached.
The vehicle stopped, the doors opened, and Pyo Yoontae stepped out.
“Yoontae!”
Jeongseo rushed forward to greet him.
Dressed in a short-sleeved t-shirt, knee-length shorts, and a baseball cap, Pyo Yoontae waved, a warm smile on his face.
“How long have you been waiting?”
Pyo Yoontae reached out and lightly tapped Jeongseo’s cheek.
The warmth from the sun had left them slightly flushed.
Startled by the touch, Jeongseo flinched but quickly broke into a smile.
“The trip must’ve been long. Are you okay? Did the rough roads make you feel sick?”
“It was long, yeah. But I don’t really get motion sickness, so I’m fine.”
“Thank goodness! My house is just a 20-minute walk from here!”
…Another 20 minutes?
Pyo Yoontae raised a brow, surprised at just how remote Jeongseo’s home was.
Now he understood why Jeongseo seemed to sleep so early.
Chatting to distract themselves from the heat, the two walked in the shade as much as possible.
Jeongseo animatedly recounted his time in Seoul, while Pyo Yoontae listened, occasionally chiming in with brief responses.
“Ah, that green gate over there—that’s my house!”
Excitedly pointing to the green gate at the end of the path, Jeongseo led the way.
Contrary to Pyo Yoontae’s assumption that the house would be shaded by the mountain, the area was surprisingly bright, with nothing blocking the sunlight.
Stopping in front of the gate, Jeongseo paused.
“Seobok is well-trained, but he gets wary of strangers. He’s tied up, but the leash is long, so let me hold him first. Just a second.”
Jeongseo went in ahead, and moments later, his voice called out, inviting Pyo Yoontae inside.
As Pyo Yoontae stepped through the gate, he saw Jeongseo holding the leash of a large wolfdog in the middle of the yard.
Seobok’s sharp gaze immediately locked onto the newcomer.
“So that’s Seobok,” Pyo Yoontae murmured, taking a step closer.
But before he could say more, Seobok crouched low and quickly hid behind Jeongseo.
It was Seobok’s unexpected reaction that surprised Jeongseo the most.
“Seobok?”
Seobok, his face buried in Jeongseo’s calf, couldn’t lift his head despite Jeongseo calling his name.
He’d never been scared of anyone else before…!
It hit Jeongseo again—Pyo Yoontae was undoubtedly a predator.
Uncertain about what to do in moments like this, Jeongseo hesitated.
That’s when Pyo Yoontae crouched down on his knees.
“Come here.”
He gestured with his fingers, a motion so nonchalant it made him look like a delinquent about to shake someone down.
He was probably calling for Seobok, but the dog never listened to anyone other than Jeongseo.
Well, he sometimes heeded Jeongseo’s brother after seeing him a few times, but that was it.
And besides, Yoontae didn’t even use his name—there was no way Seobok would go!
Naturally, Jeongseo assumed Seobok wouldn’t respond to Yoontae.
“No way!”
But Seobok hesitated, then walked over to Yoontae, lying down flat in front of him with his tail wagging lightly against the ground. Yoontae’s lips curled into a grin as he watched.
“You’re right. He’s a smart dog.”
For some reason, Jeongseo felt an inexplicable sense of betrayal.
After finishing the lunch Jeongseo had made himself, Pyo Yoontae couldn’t sit still and wandered around to explore.
That was fine in itself, but… Jeongseo tilted his head.
Why is he rubbing against everything like that?
While looking around Jeongseo’s bedroom, Yoontae brushed his shoulder against the wall.
* * *
Not him marking the house 😆😆
not him leaving his scent everywhere
This is too soft 😭 !! I’m getting diabetes