JD 81

The two only pulled apart after quite some time exploring each other’s lips and mouths—when Hakyung’s stomach growled. Even at a time like this, the food-loving river dolphin stayed true to himself.

Muheon chuckled and rubbed Hakyung’s belly, which had made such an adorable sound, before rising to his feet. Wrapping an arm around Hakyung’s shoulders, he led him out.

“What do you want to eat?”

“You, I mean…Honey, what about you?”

Hakyung’s cheeks flushed pink, and his eyes darted around nervously. The new nickname still didn’t come naturally, but he wasn’t about to give up on their special couple language.

Muheon pressed his nose into Hakyung’s hair and took a deep breath. Just being like this was enough to fill him up.

But knowing how Hakyung would treat missing a meal like a catastrophe, Muheon relented. When Hakyung tried heading to the kitchen, Muheon gently steered him toward the front door instead. At the very least, he didn’t want his husband touching a drop of water when he could help it.

***

A few days later, on the weekend, Hakyung and Muheon took Grandma out to a nearby Korean restaurant. It was to tell her in person that they’d registered their marriage—and that they’d be having a wedding soon.

Of course, Hakyung had already explained most of it over the phone. But he felt it was only proper to say it face to face.

Grandma beamed as she looked around the elegant restaurant—she’d never been anywhere like it before. That joy quickly turned to shock when she saw the prices…

“So, Grandma, we’re going to have the wedding in Incheon. Nothing huge—just our close friends and family.”

“This the same thing you mentioned on the phone?”

“Yeah! A friend of the boss is helping us with everything!”

Still too shy to use yeobo in front of his family, Hakyung reverted to calling him boss.

At his words, Muheon nodded and added,

“An old friend of mine runs a small hotel in Incheon. It’s nothing too extravagant.”

“Oh really?”

“Yes. All we want is for you to come and bless our marriage.”

His gentle smile made Grandma swallow back the string of scolding words that had risen to her throat. She turned to Hakyung with a look that said, Is that really true?

Really true, Hakyung’s eyes replied, and he grinned. Only Hajo, seated beside Grandma, muttered under his breath, “Doesn’t look small to me though…”

After a hearty meal, they decided to take a walk in a nearby park.

It was that time of year when flowers bloomed in full, and vibrant blossoms surrounded them everywhere they went. Even the younger siblings and Grandma lit up like little kids, and watching them made Hakyung’s chest swell with pride—and ache with guilt.

He thought about how long Grandma had been stuck in a small neighborhood with nowhere nice to go. The thought brought heat to his eyes.

Despite how beautiful the scene was, a quiet sadness crept into him. Muheon, ever perceptive, gently squeezed his hand.

“Isn’t the park beautiful?”

“It is. So beautiful.”

“Then why the long face?”

Muheon’s fingers lightly tapped the corners of Hakyung’s reddened eyes. Hakyung flinched at the ticklish touch and managed a small smile.

But it was clearly a forced one. Seeing that, Muheon gently shook their joined hands. That simple act, that quiet comfort, made Hakyung let out a soft, blooming laugh.

“Grandma’s just… so happy. She never really got to go out like this, and it makes me feel bad. I’ve been such a thoughtless grandson.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah. I really was selfish and neglectful.”

Hakyung had spent years being dragged around by Kim Taeyoung, too distracted to care for his family the way he should have. And even now, though he’d broken free, living far away in Seoul meant he still wasn’t by their side.

The guilt snowballed, darkening his face once more.

But to Muheon, no one cared more about family than Kang Hakyung.

“Don’t say that. If you told Grandma that, she’d scold you.”

“Still…”

“You didn’t get to do much before, so now you just do more going forward. Look how happy she is. Now you know.”

“Yeah. I thought Grandma only liked going to the river… but she really loves flowers and trees and birds too.”

Hakyung began listing the things Grandma liked, counting them on his fingers—those small, adorable fingers Muheon couldn’t take his eyes off. He spoke gently.

“If you ever want her nearby, I can find her a place in Seoul.”

“What? No, no—it’s not that! Grandma would never leave her hometown.”

“Then just keep visiting her regularly.”

That simple conclusion melted the sadness in Hakyung’s chest like sugar in warm tea.

It was always like this. Everything that felt difficult, scary, or painful seemed easier when Muheon was by his side. Not because it became simple—but because Muheon was always willing to think of the best way forward.

Hakyung pressed soft kisses to the back of the hand holding his. As much as he wanted to shower Muheon with love, they were still in a public park full of families. He’d have to hold back—for now.

Muheon tilted his head, catching the sudden fire in Hakyung’s eyes, but ultimately let it go. After all, you could read ten fathoms into the sea… but not even one into a river dolphin’s mind.

While the two were enjoying their lovely date in the park, Hawon—who had been walking ahead—suddenly waved her arm.

“Oppa! Come here and let’s take a family picture! The boss too!”

“Okay!”

At his sister’s call, Hakyung quickly tugged Muheon along and stopped in front of a pretty statue. It looked like the park’s main landmark—there were already people gathered, waiting for their turn to take pictures.

With a bright expression, Hawon stood at the back of the line. Grandma and Hajo were just as excited—it had been a while since they’d taken a family photo.

“It’s our first picture with our new family member, so a little wait’s nothin’, right?”

“Of course.”

When Grandma asked, Muheon nodded without a moment’s hesitation. His firm answer made her smile widen.

After about five minutes, the river dolphin family and Muheon took their spot in front of the large floral sculpture. Handing a phone to someone behind them, they posed and took a photo. It really did feel like they had become one family.

Even though it was relatively nearby, the area was so rural that the return trip took a while. On the way home, Hajo and Hawon fell fast asleep. In the back seat with them, Hakyung’s small head swayed left and right with the movement of the car.

Muheon was just about to reach out, worried he’d bump into the window, when Grandma—who had been sitting quietly—started to speak.

“You two haven’t fought at all?”

“No, not once. Even though Hakyung is young, he’s thoughtful and mature. I feel like I’ve learned so much from him.”

The words flowed out of Muheon like a recording set to play. Watching the usually stoic man shower her grandson with praise, Grandma let out a chuckle. It seemed her grandson had found himself a good partner.

Despite the large age gap, there wasn’t even a hint of condescension from this man. And not just that—whether they were eating, out on a date, or even stopping at a rest area, he always looked after Hakyung first.

Seeing her grandson accept that care like it was natural gave Grandma a sense of peace. At least during this marriage, Hakyung would live feeling cherished and loved.

She tried hard to hide how her eyes kept stinging.

“Hakyung had it rough growing up. Still, he went out and earned those tough certifications on his own. Always had talent.”

“Absolutely.”

“Mm-hmm. That boy won’t ever make your life hard, sir. He knows how to take care of himself.”

Though Hakyung was still young and had nothing to his name, Grandma couldn’t help but worry—what if Muheon one day cast him aside?

No matter how well things were going, people’s hearts could flip like a switch in an instant. She couldn’t settle her nerves, not fully.

Muheon noticed the worry in her gaze and lifted the corners of his mouth into a smile.

“So what if he can’t take care of himself? I’m the one who wanted to be responsible for him, who begged him to marry me. If anything, I wish he’d lean on me more… but that’s not easy.”

He let out a small laugh. Hakyung was so self-reliant that Muheon could count on one hand the number of times he’d actually asked for help. Even now, nothing had changed. Sometimes it honestly left him feeling a little neglected.

Grandma nodded along in agreement. Though Hakyung was always affectionate and cheerful, he also kept a clear boundary—even with family. Knowing how independent he was, she had always just watched from afar.

But still, she hoped that with this boss—no, with her grandson’s husband—he would entrust everything and fully rely on him.

Her wrinkled hand gently patted the back of Muheon’s.

“Please take good care of our Hakyung.”

It was a world where chance didn’t easily become fate. Grandma simply wanted her grandson to live happily with the precious person he had found. It was her heartfelt wish.