Bye-Bye

Sometimes I imagine the future in which my brother, mother, and father disappeared.

I was thinking about how would it feel if the person you took for granted suddenly disappeared.

If I couldn’t see my mom and dad’s cheesy flirting when I came home.

If I didn’t have an older brother who scolded me, no matter how many times I missed my own classes.

In fact, no matter how hard I tried, nothing came to mind. But there was one thing that was certain.

It would be sad. It would be very hard. The feeling of loss and emptiness, the longing…

Ah, shit.

To be honest, I didn’t even know what to think. Because it was so unrealistic. I could never imagine it.

I wiped my face with a towel after washing it with cold water.

I used toners and lotions generously on the vanity in front of the bathroom for my flawless skin. Dad used very expensive things. An LED mask was also placed next to it. It had only been two weeks, yet there had already been a lot of changes.

I was wondering what it was because there was only Jae-hoon in the living room, then I noticed Seo-yu hyung talking on the phone outside the balcony when he was half asleep. He was having a conversation with someone while rubbing his closed eyelids. He said something and soon smiled brightly.

It was my older brother.

Seo-yu’s hyung caller was either my older brother or Jang Won-jo, but no one else could make Seo-yu hyung smile like that except for my older brother.

Breakfast was served while I sat on the sofa with Jae-hoon waiting. I called my mom and dad in the garden first and then Seo-yu hyung. Seo-yu hyung hung up the phone with a  regretful expression on his face.

The aroma of freshly cooked rice whetted my appetite as soon as I walked into the dining room. Water parsley, bean sprouts, garlic seeds, lotus root pancake, black rice with soybean paste stew, grilled flounder, vegetable bulgogi, soy sauce crab, water parsley, bean sprouts, garlic… I was continually spooning over a magnificent lunch shared on the table.

“Dad, this is delicious. Try it!”

Jae-hoon was never one of those kids who refused to eat breakfast. Rather, he was encouraging his father, who was having trouble getting out of bed in the morning, to eat a scoop of rice with a baby spoon (rice was all over the place) and top it with flounder meat. Children were meant to be reflections of their parents, but it was clear who in the house was doing so. Seo-yu hyung ate it with a comforting smile.

The father and son duo was adorable.

Seo-yu hyung moved the spoon diligently so as not to show it, but he ate slowly. It was 7 in the morning now, and hyung usually gets up about 11 a.m… Furthermore, eating breakfast while half-awake was always a slow process. Maybe he’ll have indigestion.

“You are leaving too fast. Stay a little longer.”

“I’m sorry. Next time, I will definitely come with Sung-hoon.”

“You don’t have to come with him…”

My mother without her realizing was making the heavy table heavier for Seo-yu hyung. Still, Seo-yu hyung was able to finish the rice bowl that was given to him. I was sure he would get digestion. I was going to message the driver to buy digestive medicine when he came, but I stopped. I was sure it would reach Seo-yu hyung ear, therefore I’ll have to purchase it myself.

The parting scene at the front door could not be more dramatic.

“My Jae-hoon-i, eat well at home, remember to call your grandpa via video call, okay? You know how much grandpa loves you right?”

“Ung, Grandpa also eat well. Jae-hoon-i loves you too.”

“Jae-hoon-a!”

“Grandpa!”

I thought as I watched the grandfather and grandchildren pair hugging each other tightly. I should buy two digestive medicine.

My father, who was whining with a shorter pronunciation than Jae-hoon, insisted on me coming more often. At this rate, he whined that he would forget my face if things continued like this, convincing Seo-yu hyung that I was a bad son.

My mom packed me some side dishes from home. Seo-yu hyung has a housekeeper, so I got everything she gave me because I didn’t have any other housekeepers. I hugged Yachae and Chaeso once more before getting inside the car. Seo-yu hyung and Jae-hoon sat in the back seat.

Seo-yu hyung seemed very nervous, so as soon as he left his house in Bucheon, he even breathed a small sigh of relief. Well, it was unusual to spend the night at the spouse’s parents’ house without a spouse.

I felt bad for some reason, so I drove on the road as slowly as possible..

* * *

I took Seo-yu hyung and Jae-hoon to my house first. When I woke Seo-yu hyung, who was sleeping with Jae-hoon as a pillow, got up while rubbing his eyes, and looked around.

“Where are we?”

“My house. Let’s stop by before we meet Won-jo hyung. I have to put the side dishes inside.”

“You just have to take me to Guro.”

“I’m coming with you. It’s been a long time since I met Won-jo hyung.”

Actually, I didn’t want to see him even after he woke up from death, but I couldn’t leave Seo-yu hyung alone. Jang Won-jo will surely be late, and Seo-yu hyung will be alone until then. My brother trusted me and withdrew all the guards, so I have to do my part.

“Then… I… Shall I call someone?”

Seo-yu hyung got out of the car, handed me the side dish box, and glanced at Jae-hoon. It was quite refreshing to see Jae-hoon, who was very clever, not mentioning his name because he thought his dad was talking about himself. Seo-yu hyung, who used to make a lot of mistakes, has changed now.

“Dad, are you meeting friends?”

But again, Jae-hoon quickly noticed.

“Yeah, I’m going to see him now.”

“What about Jae-hoon-i?”

“Jae-hoon-i will play with Sung-hyun hyung at home.”

“Jae-hoon wants to play with you as well.”

Jae-hoon-a, you just pronounced your name too directly. Seo-yu hyung pretended not to know about his son’s mistake.

Seo-yu hyung said while tilting his head as if he was feeling sorry.

“You can’t go because I’m going to drink alcohol.”

Growth was bullshit…

“But dad, I need to pee.”

“What? Now?”

“Yes, right now.”

“Pee in my house. I’ll bring Jae-hoon as well as the side dishes, so wait here.”

Jae-hoon jumped into my arms as soon as I opened my arms. I hastily picked the side dishes and went upstairs before Seoyu-hyung could say anything.

Jae-hoon hugged me and smiled like an angel in the elevator.

“It’s my first time going to Sung-hyun’s hyung house. Yuu’s dad might want to see it too.”

“Seo-yu hyung have been here before. He also bought me a TV. Something really expensive.”

“When? What was Jae-hoon-i doing then?”

“You must have gone on a picnic in the Sunshine class.”

“Hyung, it’s Descartes. Kant, Descartes, and Nietzschean class.”

His class name was damn awesome.

Jae-hoon goes to a kindergarten that was very sophisticated. It wasn’t like a gifted kindergarten, but rather a highly expensive kindergarten that gathers the children of domestic political figures like Jae-hoon, who would grow up to be S&S’s successor. I urged that Jae-hoon attend a gifted kindergarten, but even Seo-yu hyung, whom I trusted, only brought him to such a kindergarten. I was really dissatisfied.

“Jae-hoon-ah, what about 8×6?”

“48. Next time, be sure to bring Jae-hoon-i as well.”

“Okay, okay. What about 9×7?”

“63. Be sure to take me with you when you meet Won-jo uncle today.”

“Yes.”

You were only four years old, and you could memorize multiplication tables up to 9.

I didn’t know what to call this if it wasn’t genius…

The elevator arrived, and I assured Jae-hoon that he could come with his father next time.  I pressed the number key to open the door.

“Ah… Shi-.”

I put up with the swearing since Jae-hoon was in front of me.

It was not because the house was dirty. Unlike in the morning, it was cleaned, but not completely.

“Oh, it’s Choi Sung-hyun!”

“Sung-hyun-a, you’re here?”

“What the heck. You guys haven’t left yet? Get out of here.”

My followers and friends had gathered in the living room and were about to begin a drinking party. The managing director’s and vice president’s sons ran up to me without even taking off their shoes.

“It’s too much. We just got here.”

“Is this a gang room? Huh? Why are you meeting at my house?”

“You were out yesterday. What are you doing without contact?”

The son of the managing director opened his eyes wide while talking as if he was disappointed. It was because the world’s cutest young boy grabbed my leg and showed the world’s most beautiful face.

“Hello, I’m Jae-hoon-i. I’m four years old.”

“Wow… Hi… Jae-hoon? Choi Jae-hoon…?”

“Yes!”

My friends and followers all know the name of Choi Sung-hoon’s angel-like child. Everyone paused, praising Jae-hoon with phrases like “cute,” “exactly like rumored,” and “like a baby angel.” Jae-hoon gave a big smile and did some fan service. Thanks for the short tongue, everyone was taken aback by his voice.

“Brothers and sisters, Jae-hoon-i will be back later.”

Jae-hoon kept his baby angel-like expression until the end and went into the bedroom bathroom. He was the perfect celebrity. Wow… What the hell did Seo-yu hyung give birth to?

“Sung-hyun-ah, what are these?”

It was only after Jae-hoon disappeared that the followers paid attention to the luggage I was carrying.

“Home side dish.”

“Oh, you just came home. Then that person cooks…!”

“Of course, my aunt did it. Here you go.”

I passed the side dishes to the vice president’s son and the managing director’s son. The two received them in a hurry and opened their eyes wide.

“Put them neatly in the refrigerator. I’ll come tonight, so make sure you clean up before I arrive.”

“Are you giving it to us?”

“Oh, where are you going again?”

“Well, Seo-yu hyung is waiting downstairs.”

“Ohhh.”

After returning from school yesterday, there was a fire in the group message window. They asked me who he was, if he had a lover, and when he was going to break up. In the end, I replied that he was my older brother’s spouse, and the chat window became quiet in an instant.

It was a natural reaction. How dare they lightly comment on Choi Sung-hoon’s Omega. Then came the messages apologizing for the careless one-on-one talk. All I answered with [Yes].

“Oh, I’m sorry about yesterday. I didn’t know it was him… I’ve only seen him once at a wedding.”

“Me too. I’m so sorry, can I apologize to him now?”

“Are you kidding? No way.”

Heh, I could see the intention of trying to form a connection with Seo-yu hyung even once with the excuse of an apology.

“Put the side dishes quickly. If you slacking off, you’ll all die.”

“Hey, can we take a bite?”

“Don’t touch anything, and order food quietly for yourself.”

“That’s too much. I also want to eat homemade food.”

“Ask your kitchen lady to do it for you.”

The door to the bedroom opened when I was making an iron wall defense against those who kept nagging me. Jae-hoon rushed in after opening the door with both hands.

“Don’t run. You’re going to fall. Did you wash your hands?”

“I washed it clean.”

“Well done.”

Oh, that was really cute. Jae-hoon smiled and hugged me when I opened my arms. I blinked at my followers to pick up Jae-hoon’s shoes as I kissed his gentle cheeks. The son of the managing director and the son of the vice president quickly picked up the shoes.

“Clean up and get out.”

“Yes!”

“Trust us!”

I couldn’t trust you at all… They were eager to attract my attention, so they would clean up.

I held a small shoe in my hand and hugged Jae-hoon. As I passed the hallway and got into the elevator, Jae-hoon raised his head and asked.

“Hyung, are you all friends?”

“Some are friends, and there are people I just know. Why?”

“Among them, the hyung who only dyed his bangs is a bit strange…”

“Why?”

“He didn’t say that Jae-hoon-i was cute…”

Jae-hoon blinked his big eyes and added,

“All of the other hyungs and noonas reacted normally, but only that hyung didn’t… How can he not call Jae-hoon-i cute? He is a strange person…”

“Yeah, he’s really weird. I will take note.”

It was not normal not to say that Jae-hoon was cute.  Among them, the person who only dyed his bangs was the vice president’s son. I bid you farewell, bastard.

When we arrived at the lobby on the first floor, Seo-yu hyung was wandering in front of the front gate. I thought he would stay in the car.

“Hyung, what are you doing?”

Seo-yu hyung looked around in surprise when I spoke from behind.

“Hey! What if you park in front of the main gate and stay for a long time? What if the landlord gets angry?”

It seemed he didn’t know that I was the owner of the building… My older brother gave it to me as a gift.

Originally, the person who planned the wedding would have a suit tailored to them, but my elder brother had a building tailored to him. I didn’t think that was something we discussed with Seo-yu hyung. I have to be careful what I say since Seo-yu hyung may know that he merely bought me clothes as a gift.

“The landlord never gets angry, so get in the car.”

To be honest, I wasn’t really gone for a long time, but it appeared like it to Seo-yu hyung. I understand. Because he was alone. Moreover, it was parked illegally.

Seo-yu hyung went to the back seat and put on Jae-hoon’s shoes. Jae-hoon casually mentioned that he had met my friends as well as older brothers and sisters who were not friends. Seo-yu hyung nags at me while he was listening.

“If you own a new building like this in front of of the university, regardless of the contract period, you can send it out instantly if you don’t like it. Be mindful of your actions. Do not park in illegal areas.”

“Okay. Fasten your seat belt.”

“I’m not sure because I’ve never lived alone, but there was a disagreement between the renter and the landlord on TV every day. Be careful.”

At that moment, I stopped wearing the seat belt because I didn’t know how to react.

Hyung, you’ve been living alone for ten years.

I sighed and closed my mouth just as I was about to say anything. I would have told him right away in the past, but now that I was old enough, I was afraid to say anything in this kind of situation.

“All right, fasten your seatbelt so I can get out of this illegal parking lot.”

I started the car after double-checking that Seo-yu hyung and Jae-hoon were wearing their seat belts. And on the way to the destination, I asked slowly.

“Hyung, what do you mean by never living alone? You’ve been living alone for almost ten years.”

Well, that was a very thoughtful question.

“Ah, I mean, I have never rented a house on my own other than the one I lived before. The grandfather, who was the owner of the house, was a really nice person. He didn’t even raise my rent.”

“The grandfather who came to the wedding. Then you didn’t pay any utility bills?”

“Of course, I paid for it.”

“You were in high school at the time. With what money did you pay it?”

“Ah… Well, I work part-time as well, and my uncle has been quite helpful.”

Seo-yu hyung responded in a gloomy tone.

That was a lie. Not only me but my whole family know how trashy Seo-yu hyung’s uncle was. But Seo-yu hyung never swears at him in front of me, mom or dad. Rather, he was busy making stories as if they had been doing well. Like how he took great care of his Omega nephew, who lost his family in an instant.

He would honestly curse them in front of my older brother or Jang Won-jo.

I hope that someday he would be honest with me as well.

“Come to think of it, I haven’t heard from my uncle’s family since he went abroad. I wonder how they are doing.”

“Cough, cough, cough.”

“Why are you coughing all of sudden? Did you get a cold night’s sleep yesterday?”

“No, I choked.”

Seo-yu hyung was saying it casually, yet it caught me off guard.

Really, Sung-hoon hyung… What would you do if Seo-yu hyung found that trash?  wasn’t sure how he was going to tell Seo-yu hyung that he would never see his uncle again.

Although Seo-yu hyung didn’t want to see him again… If there was any doubt that there was no contact… Oh, whatever. Shit. I don’t care. My older brother was perfect, so he would be thoroughly prepared for any situation.

“If they live so happily there, they wouldn’t bother to contact you. If you bother them, I think they will dislike it.”

“Yeah…”

“Sung-hyun-ah, you enjoy living overseas as well?”

“I don’t know, it was when I was young, so I don’t really remember… ”

“Dad, Jae-hoon-i is hungry. When are we going to eat?”

While I was contemplating whether I should say I liked it or I didn’t like it, Jae-hoon intervened.

Finally, I chose to accompany Jae-hoon to the appointment with Won-jo hyung. Seo-yu hyung sought to entrust Jae-hoon to the babysitter, but I insisted on spending more time with Jae-hoon. Finally, we were able to get the babysitter to leave work, and we were able to carry out our plan.

“Hold on. Let’s eat delicious meat.”

“Yes!”

The topic of Seo-yu hyung’s trashy relative was able to pass thanks to Jae-hoon. Seo-yu hyung took a picture of Jae-hoon, who was smiling cutely and then typed on his phone. And he was sending it to his spouse.

It had already been two hours since I had breakfast in Bucheon, so I was getting hungry as well. I would speed up if I were the only one on board, but because the baby was on board as well, I drove at a safe speed.

A nursery rhyme, which was popular among young children these days, could be heard from the back seat. Seo-yu hyung also added exclamation to the beat.

My older brother must have seen and heard it every day.

It would be very difficult to leave these lovely people at home and went to work. As expected, I’d stay a wealthy jobless man and hand over the company to Jae-hoon. It was a story of when you found someone you loved.