The chill between them vanished as quickly as it appeared, replaced by an intensely warm, almost scorching, atmosphere.
Hakyung clung to Muheon’s arm, exploring the hotel bakery.
“Wow, this looks delicious. I should buy some for the hyungs!”
“Shall we?”
“Yes, yes!”
He also planned to soon treat his grandmother and younger siblings in the countryside to delicious food and announce that Kang Hakyung was now a married man.
Married man – what a beautiful phrase! Hakyung’s face flushed red as he hummed the “married man” song to himself.
A gentle smile never left Muheon’s lips as he watched the Gangdorae.
As Hakyung expected, the hyungs loved the bread he bought, breaking into wide smiles as soon as they received it.
“Thanks to our Hakyung dongsaeng (younger brother), we get to eat something like this?”
“Wow! I know this! It’s super hot on social media these days!”
The sea beastmen, gathered noisily, chatted excitedly, their mouths full of bread.
Yet, there was one thing they didn’t ask: how he managed to go so far to buy it.
They had already guessed what the Muheon couple had been up to from the bakery name, but they made an effort not to create an awkward situation.
As they amicably shared the bread, Park Geoung, who had joined the group a bit later, blinked his large eyes and offered his thanks.
“Hakyung bachelor, thank you.”
As he spoke, holding a canelé in one hand, Hakyung quickly shook his head.
“Uncle Geoung! I’m not a bachelor anymore!”
“Huh?”
“Ta-da! Can you see? The CEO and I are married now. So, from now on, please call me Hakyung-yubu (married man)!”
“Oh…?”
Hakyung smiled shyly, placing his ringed hand next to Muheon’s.
Muheon also nodded, agreeing with Hakyung.
The movements of the sea beastmen, who had been happily chewing on flour and cream, stopped simultaneously.
They knew through Gisang-oh that Muheon-nim would soon combine their family registers, but they didn’t expect it to happen so quickly.
Moreover, they were even wearing matching rings.
Everyone’s gaze fell on Hakyung’s and Muheon’s fourth fingers.
The neatly designed rings seemed to shine exceptionally.
“Oh my goodness, Muheon-nim! Congratulations!”
“Congratulations!”
“To live to see Muheon-nim’s marriage… sobs…!”
The sea beastmen, who had been frozen like ice, each offered their congratulations.
Among them, some were sobbing uncontrollably, overcome with emotion.
Hakyung was, on the contrary, bewildered by the hyungs’ intense reactions and congratulations.
Of course, he and the CEO had intended to announce and show off that they were now officially married men, but he hadn’t expected such a huge reaction.
He realized once again that the CEO was a beloved and respected figure in the West Sea.
Watching the rugged-looking hyungs cry like children, Hakyung also felt his eyes welling up.
“I will do my best to ensure not a single tear falls from the CEO’s eyes!”
Hakyung, carried away by the atmosphere, shouted loudly like a presidential candidate. Everyone cheered loudly in support, “Eusha-eusha!”
It was quite a sight.
Only the perfectly composed Muheon merely rubbed his throbbing temples.
***
On the day Hajo was supposed to arrive, Muheon stood before Hakyung with an apologetic expression.
He had wanted to go to his brother’s academy with him, but a sudden urgent matter forced him to be absent.
Because Muheon was so apologetic, Hakyung couldn’t show any sign of disappointment and had to let him go.
While it would have been more reassuring to have the CEO by his side during the consultation, Hakyung was also an adult.
He didn’t want to make the CEO worry by showing any anxiety.
“Don’t worry. I’ve already researched everything online, so there’s nothing difficult. I’ll make sure to contact you regularly so you don’t worry, CEO.”
“Alright. Still, be careful. Be careful of people, be careful of beastmen. You know, right?”
“Of course! CEO, you also be careful of men, women, beastmen, and humans. Especially those who smile at you… no…!”
Even though there was no one in front of him trying to entice the CEO, Hakyung, furious just by talking about it, almost cursed before stopping himself.
What’s the point of getting angry at himself for something he’s just saying?
Hakyung’s sudden outburst was absurd, yet his baseless jealousy made Muheon smile.
Muheon grinned and kissed Hakyung’s cheek.
Hakyung also kissed the back of Muheon’s hand.
In the scene of their kiss-filled farewell, only Gisang-oh, standing there to assist Muheon, seemed to have his energy drained.
Hakyung, filled with regret, sent Muheon off and quickly went out to the front of the building.
The message from Hajo saying he was almost there was half-true.
How long had he been standing in front of the building?
In less than five minutes, a familiar car appeared at the edge of his vision.
Hakyung’s lips were already curling upwards.
This was the first time he was introducing his family to where he lived.
There were so many places he wanted to show them: the whale room, which was now empty because he shared a room with the CEO; the kitchen where they ate breakfast and dinner together every day; the pond where the carp had grown to be as big as his forearm…
As he restlessly waited for his brother to get out, the back door finally opened, and Hajo’s round face appeared.
“Hyung (older brother)!”
“Hajo-ya!”
The Gangdorae brothers held hands and spun around in place.
Park Geoung, who had gotten out of the driver’s seat,’s lips softened at their cute, joyous dance.
Hakyung, who had been embracing his brother for a while, also expressed his gratitude to Geoung.
“Thanks, Uncle Geoung.”
“This is nothing. Your younger brother’s matter, Hakyung, no, married Hakyung, is my matter.”
Hakyung smiled at Geoung’s slow and gentle reply.
The CEO’s judgment that Uncle Geoung was the most trustworthy was spot on.
Watching his older brother, Hajo also bowed his head, thanking Geoung.
Geoung, once again, chuckled and waved his hand, saying it was fine.
“But are you really sure I don’t need to drive you to the academy?”
“It’s okay! Uncle Geoung needs to get to his work quickly!”
“Hmm. That’s true, but…”
“It’s really okay!”
Geoung, who had been slowly expressing his worries until the very end, finally left only after checking the time, which had been delayed more than he expected.
Seeing his car slowly pull out of the alley, Hajo nudged his brother’s side.
“Hyung, that person drives super safely, right? I saw it on the way here! I’ve never seen the speedometer go over 80!”
“The CEO said so, and it seems it’s true.”
“Yeah! Even the village elder’s 20-year-old truck doesn’t go that slow.”
Hajo nodded several times, seemingly impressed by Uncle Geoung’s thorough commitment to safe driving.
He added that he would definitely drive safely if he ever got his license.
That was a relief.
At that speed, one might normally complain about it being too slow, but it seemed to be just right for Hajo.
“We have some time until the academy consultation, so I’ll show you where Hyung lives.”
“Yes! Sounds good!”
Hajo, wearing a backpack as round as himself, his eyes sparkling.
He was so excited to finally see the dormitory that his brother had bragged about every time they talked on the phone.
The similarly-sized brothers held hands tightly and climbed the stairs.
The stairs, which Hakyung meticulously cleaned whenever he had time, welcomed Hajo without a speck of dust.
After climbing over five floors of stairs, they finally reached the rooftop Hakyung had mentioned.
Hajo unconsciously let out an exclamation of awe at the magnificent garden and tiled house unfolded before his eyes.
“It’s really cool! Much cooler than the photos Hyung sent! Does Hyung take pictures with his feet or something?”
“No, I don’t! It looks exactly like the pictures I sent!”
Hakyung flinched at Hajo’s innocent criticism, which held no malice.
Regardless, Hajo was busy running around the spacious garden.
He looked more like a puppy than a Gang dolphin.
Hakyung, who had completely forgotten that he was just like Hajo a few months ago, shook his head in amusement.
After running around as much as he wanted, Hajo returned to Hakyung, panting.
Even that looked like a dog after a walk, so Hakyung laughed heartily.
Seeing his brother laugh, Hajo also joined in.
A sudden worry arose: could such a gentle kid really get proper lessons in the same academy as the ‘Seoul Kkakjaeng-i’ (a slang term for stingy, shrewd, or city-slicker types from Seoul)?
“Show me Hyung’s room too!”
“Alright. This way.”
“It’s even bigger and cooler up close! Hyung’s lover must be really rich!”
Hajo’s mouth hung open as he entered the tiled house.
Standing next to him, Hakyung felt his shoulders puff up, even though it wasn’t his own house.
Come to think of it, he hadn’t yet told his family that he had married the CEO.
Hakyung cleared his throat, feeling a little shy, and poked Hajo’s back.
“Hajo-ya, actually, Hyung registered his marriage with the CEO a few days ago.”
“Uh… huh?”
“Hyung’s a married man now, okay?”
Hakyung showed his left hand.
Hajo’s eyes filled with shock as he followed Hakyung’s hand and witnessed the ring on his finger.