“It’s not about the restaurant.”
Eunyul bit her lip for a moment and then spoke as if she had no choice. If I tell you that I have an important schedule today, Kang Ha-jun won’t be able to stop me anymore.
“Today, kindergarten is going to the ecological park. “With parents.”
So, it meant that I had to hold Haneul’s hand and go.
* * *
Kang Hye-ju, who was eating breakfast, summarized the story she heard from her father.
“So, your brother’s fiancé has changed?”
Kang Ha-jun’s engagement ceremony took place yesterday. Kang Hye-joo wanted to go, but I couldn’t attend because I’m her half-brother.
In fact, when I first heard that there would be an engagement ceremony, I insisted that since he was my half-brother, I should attend and show that the family relationship was good. Even though her mother said that she just needed to show that she could get along well even though she was different, the whole situation ended when her father told her not to come out.
As I regretted, I saw my father in the morning and asked him about the day before, and I heard an unexpected story.
“You’re saying it’s not Jeha oppa?”
“The voice is loud. “Hyeju.”
Mother Min Seong-hye raised a glass of water and warned Kang Hye-ju. In reality, it didn’t matter how loud her voice was, it just meant that she shouldn’t make a fuss about Kang Ha-jun’s business.
As Kang Hye-joo was pouting, Kang Hye-seong gave her a pitiful look.
“Then Hajun oppa said that change… … “Are you marrying your fiancé?”
“That’s not it.”
In response to Kang Hye-joo’s question, Kang I-heum categorically denied it.
“He will be next to Kang Ha-jun for a very short time and then disappear. So, Hyeju, please take care of Jeha.”
“yes.”
Kang Hye-ju answered obediently, but inside she acted as if she did not understand.
It will disappear in just a moment, so why did we hold an engagement ceremony yesterday? If I had known this would happen, I would have watched it secretly yesterday.
“Everyone, if you get a call about this, please take it in stride.”
Kang Yi-heum finished speaking and picked up his spoon. Kang Hye-joo saw his heavy expression as she scooped up the soup and watched him while biting down on her spoon. Other people act like they have no interest in Kang Ha-jun, but they know it’s all a lie.
‘Father, my desires are so obvious and obvious, I can see them all…’ … .’
The father plans to develop his own strength through Kang Ha-jun, but the mother and brother are wary that their father’s legacy may be passed on.
Kang Hye-joo, the only one in the group who likes Kang Ha-jun, stirred the soup to cool it down.
‘Who got engaged to my brother yesterday?’
My father said he was only passing by for a moment, but since he was someone other than Hyeon Je-ha, I wanted to see him in person.
‘I’ll try contacting Hajun oppa.’
If I don’t answer the phone, should I at least contact Hyeon Je-ha?
* * *
Eunyul, who said she had to go out, wondered why I was lying in bed. I woke up in the morning and felt heavy, so I forced myself to move and went out to the living room.
I said hello to Kang Ha-jun and Haneul and told them that the kindergarten would have to go to the ecological park with their parents today… … .
“Where are you going with this body?”
I was stopped by Kang Ha-jun and put back on the bed.
Eun-yul missed the moment to react to something that happened so suddenly, and Haneul followed along with a smile.
“that’s right. “Where are you going?”
Is that all? Although he had been laughing like that just a moment ago, he followed Kang Ha-jun’s lead and frowned, pretending to be serious.
“I should go to the park with you today.”
As he spoke while caressing Haneul’s cheek, Kang Ha-jun opened the drawer of the nightstand and took out something.
“Can we walk in the park?”
“That’s it… … .”
Normally I would like to walk, but not now.
Kang Ha-jun tore off the wrapping paper of what he had brought out and stuck it to Eun-yul’s forehead. He lifted his hand and felt what he was holding.
“I put this on when the sky opens up.”
It was a thermal cooling seat for infants. I used it very naturally when I saw it on the nightstand again. Eunyul awkwardly touched her and put her hand down, and Haneul came down from the bed at a kneeling pace.
“Then I’ll bring you water.”
The sound of Haneul’s footsteps as she went to the kitchen to find something to do on her own became distant.
Now that only the two of them were left, Eunyul felt even more awkward than before and looked around. I wondered if it would be this awkward if it were my usual self, but after going through a lot yesterday, being with Kang Ha-jun made me feel different than before.
“I’ll lie down for a moment and then get up.”
And she thought that if she hurried out instead of eating, she would be able to get to kindergarten on time, but at that moment, a large hand was thrust in front of Eunyul’s eyes.
As Eunyul looked at the hand in confusion, the hand immediately touched my face.
“You’re going to go even though you’re sick?”
Because I lifted my head to look at my hands, all I could hear was Kang Ha-jun’s voice. A somewhat crooked voice. So it wasn’t the kind voice that usually spoke softly to me.
While Eun-yul swallowed nervously, Kang Ha-jun turned her face to look at him.
“Take care of your body first.”
Kang Ha-jun’s eyebrows were pouting and one of his eyes was narrowed, making him look really upset. I knew why he was doing that, but Eunyul couldn’t help but just listen.
“Then who is Haneul going with?”
Eun-yul, who saw that, responded defiantly without realizing it, and Kang Ha-jun sighed.
“Have you forgotten who I am?”
“How do you forget who you are?”
Are you saying this because you don’t know it’s Kang Ha-jun?
“I will fill your empty spot.”
Looking at the conversation going on now, it seems like Kang Ha-jun will go instead… … .
Eunyul’s mind was spinning in confusion, but she soon came to a conclusion.
“No.”
“why.”
Kang Ha-jun’s voice lowered, probably because he didn’t like Eun-yul’s rejection.
“I haven’t been able to fully examine Haneul’s heart yet. and… … .”
Haneul still calls Kang Ha-jun uncle, so what will he do today?
However, Kang Ha-jun did not step down obediently.
“There was a time when Sky went to kindergarten to pick me up.”
“It’s different from the one that Haneul took with him when he was at the House of Representatives. Everyone would recognize Haneul as his father and start talking to him… … .”
“dad!”
It was when Eunyul shook her head and was about to get up. I was about to answer the child’s call because it was Heaven who interrupted me.
The direction Haneul was looking at was somehow wrong.
* * *
In front of the kindergarten bus, each child held the hand of their parents who came with them. Today I went to the ecological park with my parents. The children’s faces were brighter than usual, perhaps because they were holding their mother’s or father’s hands.
And although they were in charge of leading the children, the teachers were also excited to hold various events such as treasure hunts and shoe throwing.
The most striking thing among them was the sky. A glow came from her smiling face as she held her father’s hand. I didn’t realize that the more I did, the more the expressionless expression of the man the child was holding became more noticeable.
Haneul was cute, but with her dad there too, I couldn’t help but feel like she stood out among the crowd. Maybe it was because he was tall, or maybe it was his own aura, but in any case, the Joy class teacher nodded his head as he looked at the man who came with Haneul. That’s why my dad, who came to pick me up last time when the sky was empty, came with me today as well.
The teacher placed her hands on her knees to bring herself to eye level with Haneul.
“I came with a different dad today.”
“yes. Today, um… … .”
Haneul put his finger to his mouth and thought for a moment. She seemed to be wondering how to answer, but she seemed to have found the answer quickly and smiled brightly.
“I came with Dad Kang.”
“river… … dad?”
When the teacher raised his head and followed Haneul’s words, Kang Ha-jun bowed his head as if he had nothing else to say.
“yes.”
The teacher thought about Haneul’s bright answer for a moment and then said as if he understood.
“Because the sky is the sky, dad is the river.”
Kang Ha-jun’s brow furrowed at her excited words, as if he had guessed a riddle posed by Haneul. I thought he called me Kang Dad after my last name, but I wondered if there was another hidden meaning.
As the teacher and Kang Ha-jun waited for Haneul’s answer, the child raised his index finger to his plump lips again. At first glance, it seemed like she didn’t think about what the teacher said. However, Haneul’s eyes sparkled as if she was more excited than before, and she nodded her head loudly.
“yes. I am the sky and my father is the river. And the other dad sleeping at home is his last name.”
“wow. So good.”
The conversation between the teacher and Haneul gently enveloped Kang Ha-jun’s ears. Imagining a pretty castle under the sky and a river flowing leisurely in front of it felt like a painting.
“Then have fun with Dad Kang.”
When the teacher stroked Haneul’s head and left to talk to another child, Haneul came holding Kang Ha-jun’s hand.
It was a cautious reaction, as if he was observing Kang Ha-jun’s thoughts, despite the laughter he had just been laughing at.
“why?”
“Just because you’re dad… … .”
Haneul’s voice became full of excitement, as if asking when he had been so excited. Looking at her scared face, I felt sorry for her and felt like hugging her.
“Sky.”
Instead of lowering his body to Haneul’s eye level, Kang Ha-jun picked up the child.
Haneul’s eyes widened at the suddenly higher eye level.
“Thank you for calling me dad.”
Knowing that Eun-yul was trying to force herself to come out in the morning, Haneul chose Kang Ha-jun. She had the heart of a child trying to put her sick father to rest.
