RACA 96

Jaebeom turned around. Eunsol stood there with a cup in one hand and a stern expression. Jaebeom motioned for him to come closer.

Eunsol understood the gesture and walked toward him slowly. While approaching, he glanced at Kwak Sang. Anyone else would’ve felt awkward being caught talking behind someone’s back, but Kwak Sang looked completely unfazed.

‘Boss and subordinate really are the same.’

At home, the one always beside Jaebeom had been Bulgom. Because of that, Eunsol was more familiar and affectionate with him.

But in reality, the one who supported Jaebeom the closest was Kwak Sang. That was probably why Jaebeom trusted him with so many things.

“What were you talking about?”

Standing beside Jaebeom, Eunsol asked while looking at Kwak Sang. He clearly knew the question was directed at him, but Kwak Sang looked at Jaebeom first, waiting for permission.

“How much did you hear?”

“You took care of two people, and Lee Daebak’s debt collectors are looking for me.”

Jaebeom pulled Eunsol close and hugged him before answering with a “Hum.” That meant he’d heard all the important parts.

Jaebeom had sensed him approaching long before. He knew Eunsol was there. The reason he didn’t stop Kwak Sang from talking wasn’t because he thought Eunsol couldn’t hear it.

He wanted to see how Eunsol reacted, to decide what to do next.

Judging by his pheromones and even breathing, there didn’t seem to be any emotional change. That meant Lee Daebak’s existence meant that little to Eunsol.

So Jaebeom concluded that saying everything wouldn’t be a problem.

“Yeah. Looks like Lee Daebak got himself into another mountain of debt from illegal gambling.”

“I figured.”

Otherwise he wouldn’t suddenly show up after not contacting him for so long. His behavior and words had been suspicious too.

Even so, something bitter lingered on Eunsol’s tongue.

“Yeah, someone like him wouldn’t stop there. Stories always go like that in dramas, right? A background character you don’t see early on pops up later to cause trouble.”

“Yeah, exactly.”

“And honestly, I thought he’d screw up again. Easy money means he’d spend it even easier.”

“Aren’t you curious what I did with him?”

Jaebeom, who had been watching him calmly, was impressed by the way Eunsol laid everything out, he asked in a sly tone.

“No.”

“Yeah?”

Eunsol drew a line without hesitation. As if saying it wasn’t his concern.

“Right. He was basically a stranger from the start. He got himself in trouble, so I’m not going to worry about him.”

“Oh…”

Jaebeom was surprised. He’d thought Eunsol would only be soft and gentle, but seeing this decisive side was… impressive.

“As long as he won’t bother me anymore, that’s all that matters.”

He was even positive about it. Jaebeom chuckled. Come to think of it, this was exactly the kind of thing that had first drawn his attention to Eunsol.

Yes, he first noticed him because of that scent he’d mistaken for pheromones, but after that, the way Eunsol acted had been so memorable he couldn’t look away.

“But I don’t want debt collectors coming after me because of him. You’re going to block them, right?”

The confidence in his voice made Jaebeom fall for him all over again.

“Yeah. I was planning to. If you want anything else, tell me.”

“I’m hungry. Let’s eat.”

Just like that, he changed the subject as if that was all he needed. Jaebeom couldn’t help smiling again. Kwak Sang, who was watching the two of them, realized it was time for him to leave. He lowered his head in a polite bow and turned to go.

“Excuse me.”

Eunsol called out to him, and Kwak Sang stopped walking.

“Do you have a moment?”

“Yes, please speak.”

Kwak Sang wondered if it was about Lee Daebak and waited. But the next words were unexpected.

“I already talked with Bulgom, but I still need to confirm something with you.”

“What do you mean?”

Kwak Sang blinked and looked toward Jaebeom. But Jaebeom looked just as confused.

“Confirm what? What do you need to discuss with Kwak Sang?”

And what had he already settled with Bulgom?

“Yes. I do. It’s something very important to me.”

At that, both men grew curious. Eunsol looked at the clueless Kwak Sang and wondered if Bulgom had intentionally kept it from him.

“Please call me by my name, not ‘sister-in-law.’”

“Ah…”

Only then did Kwak Sang realize what Eunsol wanted, and he frowned in discomfort.

“How could I call you by name? You’re the boss’s spouse.”

“Bulgom does.”

Kwak Sang looked at Jaebeom again, asking silently whether that was true. When he was alone with Jaebeom, he had always referred to Eunsol as sister-in-law, so it was difficult for him to judge.

“Just do what Eunsol says.”

Since both men only stared at each other, Jaebeom stepped in. His hand brushed through Eunsol’s hair and rubbed his earlobe and the back of his neck, making him flinch from the ticklish touch.

Even so, Eunsol didn’t try to pull away. As if this touch felt dependable enough that he didn’t want to move. If it was something Jaebeom did for him, whatever it was, Eunsol knew he could trust him completely.

“Yes, understood. I’ll call you Eunsol from now on.”

Hearing the irritating title finally disappear, Eunsol nodded. After that, the two of them moved elsewhere to eat breakfast.

They invited Kwak Sang to join, but he used work as an excuse to decline. He wasn’t oblivious enough to intrude on a newly married couple, and Eunsol understood that.

After eating, they took a walk along the beach connected to the hotel, then circled through the nearby forest. In the afternoon, they lazed around on the bed eating snacks and chatting, and before sunset, they went back outside to watch the beautiful view over the ocean.

They spent several days like that, enjoying a nice dinner each night, feeling each other until late, then falling asleep held in each other’s arms. And before they knew it, it was time to return to their daily life.

“Let’s come again next time.”

As they boarded the plane, Eunsol looked genuinely happy. Jaebeom squinted like the brightness was too much and quietly nodded.

After that day, the shadow that had troubled Eunsol disappeared completely.

Jaebeom had no regrets about the method he chose. From now on, he only needed to protect Eunsol and the twins growing inside him. He had made that resolution barely two months ago.

“Huuhh… ugh… uuhh…”

While watching a drama, Eunsol suddenly burst into loud tears.

“Don’t cry, okay? Shh. Stop, you’ll get tired. Don’t cry.”

Watching beside him, Jaebeom hurried to hand him a lukewarm wet towel. Lately, this happened often, so whenever they were together, Jaebeom always made sure to keep a towel nearby.

Now that he was past seven months pregnant and his stomach had grown, Eunsol’s activity level had dropped, and his only hobby had become watching TV.

He already preferred staying home over going out, so Jaebeom actually liked their current life. The problem was the sudden crying fits.

The doctor had said it was because of hormonal mood swings.

“I don’t know. I’m just sad. Why am I like this…”

Eunsol sniffled as he wiped his eyes with the towel. Jaebeom barely managed to not laugh and looked at the screen.

The story wasn’t even dramatic. A child wandered off after chasing a balloon while the parents were distracted.

It was an amusement park episode where the two protagonists who had misunderstandings went searching for the child together and reconciled. It was meant to be heartwarming.

“Th-they found the kid… sniff… sniff… I’m glad they found him…”

He started crying again when the child threw his tiny hands around his parents.

“What if we lose Ssangssang and Ddungddung when we go to an amusement park?”

“…I’ll have people find them right away.”

The twins were still in his belly, and it would be years before they could even walk on their own. But Jaebeom chose comforting words instead of reality.

The first time this happened, he had no idea what to do. He clumsily patted his back, wiped his tears, and only managed to say “don’t cry.”

“Yeah… please do that.”

After more than a month of this, Jaebeom finally felt more relaxed. He pulled the red-nosed Eunsol into his arms and wiped the tear drops clinging to his lashes with his finger.

“All right, so stop crying now. If you keep doing this, the babies will worry about you.”

“Y-yeah. I’ll stop.”

At the mention of the twins, Eunsol wiped his lingering tears away and focused back on the drama.