It was only after Hakyung’s stomach growled that the two, who had been exploring each other’s lips and mouths for a long time, finally pulled apart.
Even in such moments, the river dolphin was truly serious about eating.
Muheon, caressing Hakyung’s belly which had made the cute sound, rose to his feet.
He put his arm around Hakyung’s shoulders and began to walk.
“What do you want to eat?”
“CEO. No, Yeobo?”
Muheon buried his nose in Hakyung’s hair and inhaled.
He didn’t feel hungry just being like this…
Still, he knew that the gluttonous Kang Hakyung thought it was a big deal to skip even one meal, so he had to accommodate him.
Muheon persuaded Hakyung, who was about to head to the kitchen, and they went out.
He wanted to ensure his husband didn’t have to lift a finger, at least in moments like these.
***
A few days later, on the weekend, Hakyung and Muheon took Grandma to a nearby Korean traditional restaurant.
This was to inform Grandma that they had registered their marriage and would soon be holding a wedding ceremony.
Of course, Hakyung had already explained everything over the phone, but he felt it was proper to tell her in person.
Grandma smiled broadly at the wonderful restaurant, which she had never been to before. Though she was soon surprised by the prices…
“So, Grandma, we’re going to have our wedding in Incheon. Not a big one, just inviting close friends and our family.”
“Oh, really. That’s what you talked about on the phone the other day, right?”
“Yeah! The CEO’s friend is preparing it for us!”
Hakyung, still too shy to call Muheon “yeobo” in front of his family, reverted to the title “CEO.”
Muheon nodded at his words and continued to explain.
“An old friend of mine runs a small hotel in Incheon. It’s certainly not too much of a burden.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Grandma, just come and celebrate our wedding.”
Muheon spoke with a picture-perfect smile, causing Grandma’s nagging, which had been rising to her throat, to subside.
She asked Hakyung with her eyes if it was truly so.
“Truly, truly!”
Hakyung, answering with his eyes, also grinned.
Only Hajo, sitting next to Grandma, muttered, “It wasn’t a small hotel at all…”
Everyone finished their meal, feeling full, and decided to go for a walk in a nearby park since they were already out.
It was the season when flowers bloomed beautifully, so there were vibrant flowers everywhere.
Seeing his younger siblings and even Grandma enjoying themselves like young girls filled Hakyung’s heart with warmth and a touch of melancholy.
Thinking about how stifling it must have been for Grandma, who had spent her entire life in their small village, inexplicably brought tears to his eyes.
Hakyung felt a little down, despite witnessing a beautiful and happy scene.
Muheon, who sensed his mood perfectly, firmly squeezed Hakyung’s hand.
“Isn’t the park pretty?”
“No, it’s very pretty.”
“Then why do you look so sad?”
Muheon’s fingers gently tapped around Hakyung’s reddened eyes.
Hakyung, shrugging as if tickled, managed to pull up the corners of his lips.
Seeing the obvious forced smile, Muheon gently shook the hand he held.
At his comforting, yet not quite comforting, gesture, a small laugh bloomed from Hakyung’s lips.
“Because Grandma likes it so much. I feel so bad that she never really got to come to places like this before.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, I was a really thoughtless and bad grandson.”
He was upset by the fact that he had been so swayed by Kim Taeyoung’s words all this time that he hadn’t been able to properly look after his family.
Even now that he was free from Kim Taeyoung, he felt sorry that he couldn’t care for them from nearby while being in Seoul.
Hakyung’s expression darkened again due to the cascade of negative thoughts.
In Muheon’s eyes, however, there was no one who cared for and looked after their family as much as Kang Hakyung did.
“What kind of talk is that? If you tell Grandma that, she’ll scold you.”
“Still…”
“It’s not about what you couldn’t do until now, but about taking better care of them from now on. You’ve seen how much they like this, too.”
“Yeah. I thought Grandma only liked going to the river, but she really loves flowers, trees, and birds too.”
Hakyung enumerated the things Grandma liked, one by one.
Muheon, watching those small, cute fingers, cautiously began to speak.
“If you wish to have Grandma live nearby, I can arrange a residence for her in Seoul.”
“What? Oh, no! That’s not it! Grandma would never agree to leave her hometown!”
“Then we can just visit her regularly.”
His simple conclusion melted Hakyung’s utterly gloomy heart.
It was always like this.
All the situations that were difficult, frightening, and hard for him became lighter in front of Muheon.
It wasn’t that his worries were easy for Muheon, but that Muheon willingly thought of the best solutions.
Hakyung kissed the back of Muheon’s hand, which was holding his tightly.
Since they couldn’t engage in passionate displays of affection in a park frequented by families… he had to be satisfied with this much, regrettable as it was.
Muheon tilted his head, seeing Hakyung’s eyes suddenly light up, but he decided to just accept it, understanding that while one might know the depths of the ocean, one cannot know the mind of a river dolphin.
As the two were enjoying their pleasant park date, Hawaon, who was walking ahead, waved his arm.
“Oppa! Come here and let’s take a family photo! CEO too!”
“Uh-huh, okay!”
Hakyung quickly moved at his brother’s words, leading Muheon and stopping in front of a beautiful sculpture.
It seemed to be the park’s main monument, as people wanting to take pictures were gathering and waiting for their turn.
Hawaon stood at the very back of the line with an excited face.
Grandma and Hajo also looked thrilled, saying it was their first family photo in a long time.
“Since it’s the first photo with our new family, it’s okay to wait a bit, right?”
“Of course.”
***
When Grandma asked, Muheon nodded without the slightest hesitation.
His unreserved answer made Grandma’s eyes crinkle even more with a smile.
After waiting for about 5 minutes, the river dolphin family and Muheon took their places in front of a large floral sculpture.
After handing their phone to someone standing behind them to take a picture, it truly felt like they had become one family.
Even though it was considered nearby, being in the countryside meant a considerable travel distance.
On the way back, Hajo and Hawaon fell asleep. Hakyung’s small head, sitting behind them, also swayed from side to side with the car’s movement.
Just as Muheon was worrying Hakyung might hit his head hard on the window, Grandma, who had been sitting quietly, began to speak.
“You two haven’t fought, have you?”
“No, we haven’t. Hakyung is very thoughtful despite his young age, so I actually learn a lot from him.”
An unreserved answer came from Muheon’s lips, as if he were a doll with a recorded message that would flow out if you just poked him.
Grandma chuckled, “Heh-heh,” watching Muheon, who with his seemingly stoic face, was busy praising her grandson.
She felt that Hakyung had truly met the right partner.
Despite the significant age difference, this man showed no hint of subtly looking down on Hakyung.
Not only that, but whether they went out to eat, to play, or even just stopped at a rest area, he always took care of Hakyung first.
Seeing her grandson take it for granted, she thought that Hakyung would be respected and loved throughout his marriage.
Why did she feel tears welling up at the sight of her grandson and his husband getting along so well?
Grandma tried hard to act as if nothing was wrong.
“Even though Hakyung suffered a lot when he was young, he got that difficult certification on his own and has many talents.”
“Of course.”
“Mmm, Hakyung won’t cause the CEO any trouble. He’ll take care of himself just fine.”
Grandma worried that Hakyung, still young and possessing nothing, might somehow, just in case, be cast aside by Muheon.
No matter how well people got along, a person’s heart could change in an instant, like flipping a palm, couldn’t it?
Her heart fluttered between feeling relieved and worried.
Muheon, noticing Grandma’s concern, curved his lips into a smile.
“What do you mean, ‘can’t take care of himself’? I was the one who desperately begged him to marry me because I wanted to take responsibility for him and be with him. I actually wish Hakyung would rely on me more… but it’s not easy.”
Muheon chuckled softly.
Hakyung was so capable that the times he asked for Muheon’s help could be counted on one hand.
It was genuinely disappointing that it remained that way even after so much time.
Grandma agreed with his words.
Hakyung was usually very charming and smiled easily, but he always drew a line and didn’t cross it, even with family.
Knowing her grandson was so independent, she had just quietly watched him all this time.
However, she wished Hakyung would entrust everything to and rely on the CEO by his side.
Her wrinkled hand patted the back of Muheon’s hand.
“Please truly cherish our Hakyung.”
It was a world where a brief encounter rarely blossomed into destiny.
Grandma only wished for her grandson to live happily with the precious connection he had found, even when she was no longer there.
It was Grandma’s last wish.