OCMG chapter 24

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“Wow! I’ve never seen snacks like this before!”

“Junhee oppa, are these really snacks? I want the box more than the snacks.”

“Sure, Bora, you can have it. There’s plenty for everyone, so don’t fight and take one each, okay?”

“Yes!”

“Yep!”

The orphanage was small, housing only about ten kids.

They ranged from six-year-old Bodam, the youngest, to high schoolers.

“Hyung, where’s mine?”

“Of course, there’s one for you, Bodam.”

When Junhee handed him a box of snacks, Bodam clutched it to his chest and settled on Junhee’s lap.

“Look at Bodam, clinging to Junhee hyung again like a little leech.”

“Leave him be. He does this every time Junhee comes by.”

Comments like that from the other kids didn’t even faze Junhee anymore.

Bodam had come to the orphanage as an infant and had already undergone three eye surgeries.

Since Junhee had taken care of him since his baby days, they were especially close.

Even the name Bodam was one the director had chosen after asking Junhee’s opinion.

The room buzzed with noise as the kids gathered around, making the atmosphere lively.

“Hyung, who’s that man in black behind you? He looks like someone from TV.”

“Hey, why would a celebrity come here? He’s probably a model.”

“Idiot, not every tall person is a model. Look at his suit—he’s obviously a bodyguard.”

“Whoa, Junhee hyung has a bodyguard? That’s so cool!”

What on earth was he still doing here?

It was impossible to read Ki Taeryu’s intentions.

The kids’ curiosity and attention wouldn’t go away as long as he was around, so Junhee finally intervened.

“Kids, don’t fight. This man is…”

Glancing over at Ki Taeryu, Junhee continued.

“He’s the boss.”

“Whoa! He’s the boss…!”

“So, is he the head of Junhee hyung’s company? Why would the boss come here?”

“Our Junhee oppa must be doing really well at the company. Apparently, the bosses always keep a loyal subordinate by their side.”

Although he had suddenly become a loyal subordinate, it was somewhat accurate.

Bodam, who had been quietly sitting on Junhee’s lap and nibbling on a snack, suddenly jumped up.

“Bodam?”

It happened so quickly that by the time Junhee called out to Bodam, she was already standing in front of Ki Taeryu.

“Junhee oppa, the boss.”

Bodam, standing in front of Ki Taeryu, seemed as tiny as a doll.

A mix of worries crossed Junhee’s mind: wondering if that crazy guy would say something to the child, and knowing that he was exactly the type to do that.

Just as he was about to go and grab Bodam back, he heard:

“Our oppa is good at buttering people up.”

In Bodam’s small hand was a long butter cookie. Ki Taeryu stared intently at the bribe held in her tiny hand.

“Bodam, come here.”

Ignoring Junhee’s call, Bodam extended her hand higher.

It still didn’t reach Ki Taeryu’s waist.

Ki Taeryu’s hand, which had been in his pocket, slowly moved towards the cookie.

Junhee was relieved, thinking he might at least pretend to accept it since it was a child.

Suddenly, the cookie snapped in half.

A piece of the broken cookie was stuck to Ki Taeryu’s finger. Junhee’s eyes widened in shock.

Ki Taeryu bent down, aligned his eyes with the stunned Bodam, and chewed the cookie deliberately before spitting it out.

“I should be the one making requests. Your brother’s life depends on me.”

Immediately, Junhee stood up and pulled Bodam away from Ki Taeryu, putting some distance between them.

He instinctively hugged Bodam protectively.

“Bodam, you shouldn’t talk to strangers. Didn’t your brother teach you that?”

“But…”

“Bodam. What did I say you should do if a strange person talks to you?”

“Don’t.”

“Again.”

“I don’t want to.”

“Again.”

“Go away!”

“Good job.”

Junhee hugged Bodam tightly and gently patted her head.

Ki Taeryu, now an odd person in the situation, seemed to be swallowing a bitter laugh, but Junhee had no time to worry about that.

He thought he shouldn’t stay any longer because of Ki Taeryu.

However, since he had come all this way, he wanted to make sure to say hello to his mother, so he glanced towards the consultation room.

It seemed like Siwon had been gone for a while, trying to get their mother, but there was still no news.

Reluctantly, while holding Bodam, he walked toward the consultation room.

Just then, the door burst open and Siwon appeared with a flustered expression.

Before Junhee could even glance inside, Siwon slammed the door shut.

“Hyung, don’t stay here. Go outside.”

“Why? I’m going to see Mom. Isn’t Mom inside?”

“No, it’s not that… Ah, Hyung. Just come quickly.”

Siwon’s behavior was obviously strange.

It seemed like their mother was inside, so why tell him to go outside?

Junhee shook off Siwon’s hand holding his arm and frowned.

“What’s going on?”

At that moment, the door burst open again, and two people came out simultaneously.

“Mom, just a moment! We still need to check on the child’s condition…”

“…Junhee? Junhee?”

Junhee looked at the two people with a frozen expression.

There were two mothers.

The headmistress mother and the mother who abandoned him.

A pale-faced woman approached Junhee, calling him desperately.

Junhee tried to walk past her towards the headmistress mother, who looked flustered.

“Junhee! It’s me, Mom, Mom.”

The woman grabbed Junhee’s wrist.

“Let go, Auntie.”

“Junhee, don’t you recognize Mom? Huh?”

“I said, let go.”

Junhee pushed her away with a cold tone and walked toward the headmistress mother.

“Junhee…”

“Mom, I’m sorry for coming without saying anything. But I need to leave soon. I’ll come back.”

Junhee handed over the child he was holding to the headmistress mother and turned around, walking away.

The woman followed closely behind.

“Junhee, Junhee! Can’t we just talk for a moment? Huh? Junhee…!”

Junhee’s lips trembled slightly as he clenched his fists.

Leaving behind the suffocating atmosphere, he stepped outside.

The woman’s voice caught the hem of his clothes as he crossed the open area.

Ignoring her, Junhee kept walking, but the woman’s voice held him back.

“Junhee, please… if you would just listen to me…”

Junhee turned around.

“Who exactly do you think is my mother?”

“Junhee…?”

“It seems like you’re confused. Our mother is inside there. Since I was seven and someone abandoned me, the only mother who’s taken care of me is the one in there. Who are you?”

Junhee’s eyes, visible through his disheveled brown hair, were red.

The woman’s hand, which had been clutching his clothes, fell to the ground.

Her slender shoulders shook, and between her covered lips, sobs escaped.

Junhee left the crying woman behind and walked out through the rusty gate without looking back.

In this remote place where taxis were scarce, he walked straight toward the village bus stop.

He had walked this downhill path countless times during his school days.

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At seven years old, the road felt endless, long, and steep, but by twenty-five, Junhee found it to be short. Such was the passage of time.

Having left his coat behind, a chilly breeze penetrated the thin fabric, making him shiver.

It was unclear whether the cold was the cause or if there was another reason.

As he approached the bus stop at the end of the street, a horn sounded from behind.

He stepped aside, but the honking didn’t stop. When he halted, the car pulled up right beside him.

The window of the driver’s seat rolled down, revealing a face Junhee did not want to see at that moment.

“Just go.”

“How can I leave a crying child behind? Do I look that heartless?”

“I’m not crying. I’ve never cried.”

As Junhee snapped back and started walking, the car’s wheels slowly turned in sync with his pace.

After taking about ten steps, Junhee angrily opened the car door and got in.

He chose the back seat instead of the passenger seat, his way of rebelling. Kithyu smirked silently.

The headlights illuminated the now dimly lit road.

The personal secretary was nowhere to be seen. Junhee had gotten into Kithyu’s car only to avoid the risk of being chased to the bus stop by that woman.

The dark eyes in the rearview mirror swept over Junhee’s face, and Kithyu murmured softly.

“You look like you’re craving a drink.”

“No, I’m not.”

“Is it that you’re not satisfied with the drinking partner?”

“I’ve quit drinking.”

“Drinking and sex are not things you quit; they’re things you endure for life.”

Junhee rolled his eyes and stared intently at Kithyu in the rearview mirror.

Despite the sharp look, Kithyu remained calm.

“Oh, you don’t know much about Betas, do you? If you were an Omega, you’d understand immediately.”

Not only did Junhee not want to understand, but he also lacked the energy to respond. He turned his gaze back out the window, propping up his chin.

The car continued to drive without stopping. The destination was unknown.

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At some point, he must have fallen asleep.

Waking up to the sound of rustling, he realized he was still in the car.

As he straightened his slouched posture, the heavy overcoat draped over him slipped away.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to…”

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