Chapter 152: TRUE FEELINGS
"DADDY!"
Song Sihyuk smiled when Gunwoo ran towards him as soon as the kid arrived at his penthouse.
He bent down and picked up his son.
And then he looked at Mija, who just remained standing near the door with Sheena— his Omega father’s trusted right-hand woman.
So, Appa didn’t come with them.
Of course, his Omega father-in-law should stay in the hospital with Lim Garam.
"What are you standing there for, Mija?" Song Sihyuk asked. "Come in."
"I’m not staying, Ahjussi. I just came to drop Gunwoo here," Mija said while shaking her head. "I’m going back to our apartment tonight."
"You mean Shin Geon and Shin Junho’s apartment?"
"Yes, Ahjussi. My stuff is there, so I can’t really stay elsewhere for long."
The shaman kid must be talking about the things related to, well, her being a shaman.
"I’ll be back and pick up Gunwoo tomorrow, Ahjussi."
"No need," Song Sihyuk said while shaking his head. "Gunwoo and I will visit Lim Garam tomorrow. You can just go straight to the hospital tomorrow if you want to."
Mija nodded. "Got it, Ahjussi."
Song Sihyuk just nodded.
"Good night, Ahjussi," Mija said, then she looked at Gunwoo and waved. "Good night, Gunwoo-ya. See you tomorrow."
"Good night, Noona," Gunwoo said while waving back at Mija. "Bye-bye."
Mija just nodded.
Sheena bowed politely to Song Sihyuk before leaving with the kid shaman.
And, now, Song Sihyuk was alone in his penthouse with his son.
"Gunwoo-ya, are you hungry?"
"No, Daddy," Gunwoo said while shaking his head. "I’m sleepy."
Pfft.
Cute.
"I brought my pajama and toothbrush," Gunwoo said while pointing at the backpack on his back. "Can you help me take a shower, Daddy?"
To be honest, that would be a first for Song Sihyuk.
But he didn’t mind doing it for his son, of course.
"I may not be good at it, but I’ll try," Song Sihyuk said, being honest with Gunwoo. "Let’s go."
***
"IS EVERYTHING alright, Garam-ah? That little girl who picked up your son seems to be in a hurry."
To be honest, Garam didn’t know the situation yet.
But he decided to trust Mija.
I know that she won’t do my son any harm.
"Don’t worry, Hyung," Garam assured Gong Hanseo. "Gunwoo just needs to go home because it’s already his bedtime."
He couldn’t tell Gong Hanseo everything, so he just said that.
It’s not that I don’t trust Hanseo Hyung— it’s just that it’s hard to explain about the shaman stuff.
"Are you sure, Garam-ah?"
"Yes, Hyung," Garam said, and then he quickly changed the topic. "How have you been, Hyung? What did you record while you were in L.A?"
As expected, Gong Hanseo’s face beamed instantly. "This is crazy, but I made a song for an international pop star. I can’t share the details yet, but this is a huge project, Garam-ah. I still can’t believe that a famous global artist that huge included my song in their album."
Aww.
Garam couldn’t help but smile while looking at how excited Gong Hanseo was.
I’m happy for Hyung.
"Oh, I’m sorry for getting excited on my own, Garam-ah."
"Why do you need to feel sorry for it, Hyung?"
Gong Hanseo lowered his head. "I know we’ve been producing songs for the last few years. But I don’t really know how you feel about... you know, about all of this..."
It seemed like their group’s oldest hyung had a time finding the right words to say.
Which was ironic since Gong Hanseo was a producer and a lyricist, at that.
But I know why Hanseo Hyung is acting like this— he’s afraid of hurting my feelings.
"Hyung, are you worried that I might be feeling inferior?"
Gong Hanseo lifted his head and opened his mouth, but no words came out.
Ah, I’m right.
Hmm.
I should be honest, then.
"Hyung, I’d lie if I say I don’t feel a bit jealous every time I see you and the kids on the news because of your achievements. But only a tiny bit, okay?" Garam said, smiling. And he wasn’t forcing himself— he was genuinely happy for his former group members. "But, to be honest with you, I feel more relieved than jealous. After all, I was the one who ruined the group’s career. So, I’m really glad that all of you have bounced back and become successful as solo artists."
"Garam-ah, we never blamed our disbandment on you."
"I know that, Hyung. Even so, I still feel bad."
"The kids will get hurt if they know you’ve been thinking like that all this time."
Garam smiled while shaking his head. "All of you are a softie for me. It’s all your fault that I’ve become spoiled."
"You deserve to be spoiled, brat," Gong Hanseo said, matching Garam’s tone. And then he turned serious. "Are you really okay, Garam-ah?"
"I am, Hyung. You saw how happy I am as Gunwoo’s dad, didn’t you?"
"I’m not asking how are you as a father— I’m asking how you are as Lim Garam."
Oh.
That actually made Garam stop and think about himself.
After giving birth to Gunwoo, his life changed.
And then he dedicated himself to being the child’s father.
In fact, he had gotten used to being called ’Gunwoo’s Dad.’
That’s how the other parents from the daycare call me.
Hence, Garam’s life revolved around being Gunwoo’s father.
It wasn’t bad.
In fact, he loved being Gunwoo’s dad.
But after hearing Gong Hanseo’s question...
Am I really fine?
"Garam-ah, I know that you’re doing a good job as Gunwoo’s father. And I’m proud of that. My dongsaeng has become a wonderful dad," Gong Hanseo said, putting his hand on top of Garam’s hand. "But I want to know how you truly feel."
Haaah.
Garam wanted to assure Gong Hanseo that he was fine.
After all, he didn’t want to worry his hyung.
However...
"I’m not doing well, Hanseo Hyung," Garam admitted in a cracked voice, his tears rolling down his cheeks. "I’m scared of losing everything— especially my freedom— now that Sihyuk Hyung has found me again."
Gong Hanseo got up, and then he wrapped his arms around Garam. "Thank you for being honest, Garam-ah," he whispered softly. "Just let it all out."
***
GIVING HIS son a bath for the first time was a success.
To be fair, Song Sihyuk didn’t have a hard time because Gunwoo already knew what to do from taking a shower to brushing his teeth.
He was only there to supervise his son.
Lim Garam raised our baby well, huh?
Song Sihyuk felt even more proud of Gunwoo after his son had successfully buttoned his pajama top on his own.
He almost clapped out of joy.
My son is a genius.
"Daddy, I’m done," Gunwoo said after tucking himself into bed. "Can you read me a story now?"
Pfft.
Actually, Gunwoo’s backpack didn’t only have a set of pajamas and a toothbrush.
Lim Garam also packed shampoo, baby bath, and our son’s toothpaste for children.
The backpack also contained a complete set of outfits for tomorrow, a computer tablet, and a few children’s books.
Lim Garam really raised our son with love, huh?
Song Sihyuk couldn’t help but smile while watching Gunwoo look up at him with round, boba eyes. "Alright, Daddy will read you a story."
***
"YOU’RE ONLY eating bananas for breakfast, Gunwoo-ya?"
"Yes, Daddy," Gunwoo answered sleepily, holding one banana in each hand. "I only want bananas."
Aigooya.
Are children really this random with what they want for breakfast?
Song Sihyuk knew how to cook, so he was ready to take any request from Gunwoo.
He thought his son would ask for pancakes and fried chicken again, so he was surprised when the child said he only wanted bananas.
Fortunately, he had fresh fruits at home.
Well, at least, my son is having fruits for breakfast.
"Tell me if you want something else, Gunwoo-ya."
"Do you have orange juice, Daddy?"
"Yes," Song Sihyuk said, getting up from his seat. "Wait a moment."
He actually didn’t have ready-made orange juice.
I only have water and alcoholic beverages here.
But Song Sihyuk had oranges (among other fruits) and a citrus juicer.
Let’s prepare fresh orange juice for my son.
And while he was doing that...
"Gunwoo-ya, did your dad have a visitor last night?"
"Uncle Hanseo gave me gifts, Daddy," Gunwoo answered, his voice more energetic now. "The books you read me last night were from Uncle Hanseo."
"Ah, is that so?"
Time to burn those books, then.
"Uncle Hanseo gave Dad a gift, too."
Aha.
Song Sihyuk almost made Gunwoo’s fresh orange juice using his bare hands.
That bastard brought a gift to my wife, huh?
Fucking hell.
"Daddy, you stink!"
Oh.
My pheromones must have leaked out since I’m pissed.
Song Sihyuk took a deep breath to calm himself down, toning down his stinky pheromones in the process. "Sorry, son."
"It’s okay, Daddy," Gunwoo said. "You don’t stink anymore!"
We should get my son his nasal spray soon.
***
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