Kwon Taek Joo stopped by the headquarters and left work early. He still had nothing to do and only visited the National Cemetery before the holiday .
As soon as he left the office, he ran into Yoon Jong Woo in the hallway . He's on his way to find Kwon Taek Joo.
"Where are you going, senior?"
"Ah, home."
"Which house?"
"A house is a house, but what is a house?"
It's almost the holidays, Yoon Jong Woo said.
(Confused with this conversation but just ignore it)
"Ah, we have to visit the grave, right? I'm so lucky that I can spend this holiday season in Korea."
"I know. This time I won't eat songpyeon in the desert again."
"Songpyeon in the desert?"
"Uhm that's how it is. I'm going."
"Ah, wait..."
Kwon Taek Joo was about to say goodbye and leave but Yoon Jong Woo grabbed him. It seemed like something was up, thinking about it, he was holding something in his hand.
"What's up?"
"Hey, didn't you see Yevgeny-sshi today?"
"Why did you meet him?"
"Because you two are close friends."
"Who said they were best friends?"
"He seems to meet the senior's mother often and seems much closer than I thought."
It had to be quite obvious for slow Yoon Jong Woo to notice. Maybe he also heard something the day you sent Zhenya to him. Unlike Kwon Taek Joo, Zhenya didn't try to hide their relationship, but Yoon Jong Woo probably couldn't think the two were lovers. Kwon Taek Joo stood with his arms crossed.
"So what."
"Tell Yevgeny-sshi 'Please... If he meets Olga, give it to her directly .'"
Yoon Jong Woo held out what he was holding in his hand, which seemed to be a cookie. Certainly , without exchanging phone numbers with Olga, there seems to be no way for Yoon Jong Woo to send this directly .
"Nothing special, Olga was curious about Korean desserts so I quickly bought some popular snacks."
"I tried. Trying."
"I say this because it's between us, but doesn't Olga look like an incarnation of an elf?"
Are there any goblins with guns on their legs? Kwon Taek Joo was stunned.
"You really are too. Don't pay too much attention to someone who only comes to visit for a while."
"I don't."
"It's obvious that everyone sees it all, so why are you still pretending?"
"No, it is not. I just want to let everyone know about Korea."
"What a great patriot. Why doesn't anyone reward a civil servant like this?"
Kwon Taek Joo snatched the bag from Yoon Jong Woo's hand with a sarcastic expression.
"I will eat all of this," he said.
"Senior doesn't eat snacks?"
"Listen to my advice. Except for the face, there is no place for cousins."
"So senior also met Yevgeny-ssi?"
"...."
Suddenly he had nothing to say, it wasn't completely wrong but Kwon Taek Joo couldn't
confirm that either.
"You're too much in the way. Let's get out of the way."
He pushed Yoon Jong Woo aside and left. Yoon Jong Woo watched for a while then asked again. Kwon Taek Joo stopped listening and went to the parking lot. He climbed into the car and placed the snack package in the passenger seat. Kwon Taek Joo stopped by the house first because he had to pick up his mother . The elevator went down just as he parked the car and stepped out. As soon as the door opened, Kwon Taek Joo bumped into someone coming down. He was startled and cried
out because that person was none other than Zhenya.
[Where did you come from?]
[I just arrived.]
[But you aren't gone yet?]
[The assistant is making a fuss that I have to go to work today. He said you had to be there because of the upcoming holidays.]
Not to pretend, but Zhenya is really busy because there are many official events at the embassy during the holiday season. No matter how much fun an ambassador has, he must at least attend an event to strengthen the peaceful cooperation between the two countries. Unless you really want to look bad and be forced to return home. Kwon Taek Joo was about to enter the elevator but Zhenya blocked the front, grabbed the safety bar of the door that was about to close and opened it. Zhenya placed one hand on Kwon Taek Joo's waist.
[Should I not go anymore?]
[What are you talking about? Go quickly and come back.]
[You're making that sad, regretful face again.]
[I don't have it.]
Zhenya removed his hands from his waist, rubbing his nose against Kwon Taek Joo's ear and cheek.
[Taek Joo. That new smell has gone away.]
[Because I took a shower . Go quickly .]
He pushed Zhenya's back and took him out. The moment the door was about to close, Zhenya did not hesitate to put both hands inside and grabbed Kwon Taek Joo's face. He was startled and was about to press the button to open the door, but before that, his face intervened and kissed him.
[Ya... hey, my hand...]
Kwon Taek Joo stuck his head out to stop him, but Zhenya still calmly licked his lips and sucked his tongue. He helplessly pressed the open button to keep the door from closing and let Zhenya kiss to his heart's content. He kissed for a while then pulled away, then went in to kiss again.
[Are you hurt, kid?]
[What injury? Just because of this? You seem so worried about me.]
Arrogant and arrogant. No matter how worried he is, that's all. "Go away," Kwon Taek Joo pushed Zhenya away and pressed the close button. He didn't leave until both doors were completely closed. Even a 5 year old child being taken somewhere alone would not show such an expression. Who is more affectionate with whom? Kwon Taek Joo raised his hand to scratch his chest, where his heart suddenly tingled for no reason. He adjusted his untidy clothes while going upstairs and wiped his wet lips with the back
of his hand.
"Mom, I'm home."
Kwon Taek Joo entered the house and raised his voice. He heard his mother's voice from the kitchen. Are you on the phone? Without a doubt, he went inside and saw a head behind him that he didn't expect at all.
[Taek Joo, you're home so early?]
Olga took the cup of tea and turned to look. Both Zhenya and her went to other people's houses as a matter of course.
[After all, they are siblings, right?]
[Huh? What do you mean? Are you talking about me and that person? Please!]
[No, you two are actually very similar.]
Olga was upset to hear Kwon Taek Joo's conclusion, as if she had suffered a great insult. For some reason, Kwon Taek Joo had the feeling that Zhenya would react the same way. Even that point is the same. But the outfit that caught Olga's eye was unusual. She always favored flashy outfits like
the eight-colored bird, but today she wore a black dress and a black netted hat.
[Why are you dressed like that?]
[What else? When visiting a grave, you must have a dress code. I bought it in a hurry, is it okay?]
Kwon Taek Joo looked at his mother with questioning eyes. His mother smiled contentedly .
"She said she wanted to say hello to your dad and brother . The young girl is as emotional as the ambassador .]
No way. It's more like she wants to wear mourning clothes to act in a sad movie. Kwon Taek Joo threw a dissatisfied look and then ignored it as if nothing happened.
[Let's prepare quickly . I heard you shouldn't get there too late.]
The host and guest have completely reversed positions. Kwon Taek Joo started to feel a
headache.
——
[Korea has many delicious cakes, right? I didn't expect much because this is a country where rice is the main food.]
Olga kept tasting the cake, occasionally turning to offer it to Kwon Taek Joo's mother , even putting a few pieces of cake into her mouth. The two sat next to each other in the backseat and continued a meaningless conversation. They were so friendly that Kwon Taek Joo didn't have time to intervene, his job today was just to drive.
Kwon Taek Joo quietly opened the window to eliminate the typical smell of candy. Olga complained,
"The wind blows my hair,"
and closed the window . That must be a big problem for the nobles.
[So has anything happened during the past year? I've been following foreign news in case something happens.]
Olga asked as she opened the last cookie. They are a family that doesn't feel anything unusual about having to find out what their immediate relatives are doing from foreign news.
[Uhm. He hasn't harmed anyone since coming to Korea and sometimes acts like a crazy person but is also quite obedient.]
[...Is it time for that person to die?]
Olga muttered in a normal tone. When she gave the newly opened cookies to Kwon Taek Joo's mother , she smiled as innocently as possible. He wondered if that was a trait of the Bogdanov bloodline.
[Otherwise, he would have met an excellent trainer, right?]
Olga smiled sinisterly as she looked in the rearview mirror.
[What do children know...]
[Do you know that person who went out without saying a word last night until dawn? Strangely , there is a scent coming from him and his bedroom.]
She tilted her head forward and sniffled. Soon, as if there was a sound of wind blowing in Kwon Taek Joo's ears, Olga's face showed a mischievous smile.
[This smell.]
[...Does a good nose also run in families?]
[I'm sensitive to smells. When we met at Ajinoki, Taek Joo smelled exactly like that man so I knew you two were together for a long time.]
[Stick together ...]
[But if you can't leave each other even for just one night with such a suspicious scent, why don't you two live together?]
There's nothing she can't say in front of Kwon Taek Joo's mother . I don't know if in Russia there is no concept of politeness or decency , or if only the Bogdanov brothers are like that. Just in time to reach the parking lot, Kwon Taek Joo quickly parked the car.
[We're almost there, get off the bus.]
[Oh my God! Are you embarrassed, that's surprising.]
Olga burst out laughing. His mother also laughed without knowing why. Even though she wasn't on his side, Kwon Taek Joo sighed. After parking the car, he carried a basket of flowers and wine and went to the cemetery . Olga slowly followed and looked at the surroundings.
[Is this a cemetery?]
[Same thing. This is where those who died are buried.]
[Ah. Taek Joo's father is a soldier , right? Brother too? Surely an honorable death.]
[There is no such thing as an honorable death.]
Kwon Taek Joo interrupted with a serious face. Olga tilted her head and said
[Is that so?]
[I thought Taek Joo also did that job to live with honor and die with honor?]
[I'm just doing what I have to do. It naturally turned out like that. Now I don't know what else to do besides it.]
[Um. Do you mean vacation? Like fate, sometimes it's impossible to escape.]
That is it. Even when people asked him why he did such a dangerous job, Kwon Taek Joo couldn't answer , because he never really thought about the reasons. He took it for granted and now it's become a habit like eating and sleeping. Just like he cannot live without eating and sleeping, it seems that Kwon Taek Joo also will not be able to live if
he stops working.
While talking, he came to his father's grave. Kwon Taek Joo poured a glass of wine in front of the tombstone and put down the flower basket. His mother talked to his father while continuously scrubbing the tombstone clean. Olga watched for a moment then opened her mouth.
[Even though Taek Joo's parents were very close when they were alive, right?]
[Let's see, probably .]
[Even though you're dead, is it normal to still remember this? I thought it only appeared in novels. This is something that never happens in my family.]
Olga nodded and told an unexpected story.
[The last time that person returned to Russia, it was the anniversary of his mother's death.]
[Really ... Huh?]
That was the first time Kwon Taek Joo knew this. Zhenya said he returned to Russia because he had work to do, but he didn't say anything about the anniversary of his mother's death. Even after he came back, Zhenya only talked about the engagement.
[Don't you know? That's right. That person is the type who doesn't talk about himself often.]
[When did his mother die?]
[His mother?]
Olga was confused as if she had just received a strange question. Then, looking back at the conversation, she let out a sigh.
[Ah, so Taek Joo doesn't know anything? My brothers and I have different mothers. His mother passed away before I was born and then my father remarried. That's why you and I have such a big gap]
[So his mother died when he was young?]
[That's right]
[So...]
Kwon Taek Joo wonders if that lack makes Zhenya become "Psych".
[What do you mean?]
[When we are young, everyone longs for a mother and hates being separated.]
[Uhm... is that so? Among them, none of them felt their mother's hand. Your mother is also not a person with strong maternal love. As Taek Joo also knows, our family has had arranged marriages for generations. So is your mother . Because she is an
independent person, she is not bound to a loveless marriage or a family built without affection. So she's not always at home. She seems to prefer being alone rather than spending time with her family. It is said that if she gives birth to three sons with her
father, her marital obligations will be completed. She died not long after he was born while on a cruise. The body was also not recovered, so a separate grave could not be made. Not long after, my father remarried my mother . There are a lot of rumors going around, that my father killed your mother to marry my mother , because he had acquired a huge amount of wealth and power through another arranged marriage. ]
She shrugged her shoulders as if such rumors were unreliable. Both Zhenya and Olga were very indifferent when telling their stories, as if they were someone else's story.
[Although it's nothing to be proud of, my father is quite decent when it comes to women. However , he was very strict in matters of parentage, so every time we were born, we had to have a paternity test. Besides his two official wives, he never had children with any other woman. So I don't have any illegitimate siblings.]
The more Kwon Taek Joo listened, the more surprised he became. Is that why Zhenya grew up not attached to his family, had a promiscuous sex life and liked to be alone? Not all brothers are like that so his personality is to some extent innate, but if he grew up in a family that was even a little bit normal, maybe he wouldn't be called "Psych".
Kwon Taek Joo remembered Zhenya teasing him as Mamaboy . He was surprised at Kwon Taek Joo's responsibility , obligation and guilt towards his mother and he found it strange that his mother only lived for Kwon Taek Joo. Just like Zhenya's family life is still strange to Kwon Taek Joo.
[I didn't know, he didn't say anything.]
[What, that's not a good thing. My father also doesn't care about the anniversary of his mother's death. I don't know about the other guys, but every year around that time, that person puts aside work and goes to Ajinoki Island. I don't know if it's because he's remembering his dead mother in his own way or because he's not happy anymore.]
Even Kwon Taek Joo couldn't guess Zhenya's thoughts, but the chaos he encountered on each anniversary of his mother's death and not being able to even name that emotion was pitiful.
[I think my father sees us as racehorses. On this death anniversary , he knew that person would return to Russia, so he held an engagement ceremony . He hasn't talked about that yet?]
[I heard it briefly.]
Olga tilted her head to explain.
[Teak Joo knows that person is notorious. What sane person would want him as a son-in-law? Therefore, the story of engagement or marriage did not appear at all for a long time. But this time it seems he has found a suitable marriage partner . Because it's just us together , I say that, but the family over there is not the average type. The person mentioned as the engaged person is also quite a scary person.]
How scary is that, what kind of person is he? If it's an engagement, it must be a woman. Is she the same age as Zhenya? Kwon Taek Joo had many questions but didn't ask a word, he didn't want to show interest. No, he didn't even want to admit it to himself.
[Aren't you curious what that person did and how he reacted?]
[What...]
[Hmm. That person never believed his father, no matter what he said, he never followed through. So everyone thought he would naturally object, but they didn't expect him to say he understood! How could that person humbly accept the family's wishes? No way. He has it all planned out.]
[Plan? What...]
[My father hurriedly prepared the engagement ceremony in case that person changed his mind. But on the day of the engagement ceremony , the two parties did not appear . Finally, while preparing to go to the party, it suddenly became noisy outside. When I went out, two people had arrived but they looked like they were fighting hand to hand. Both of their cars were so distorted that it was unclear how they rolled, but even the traffic police followed each other in pursuit. Then I checked the CCTV on the street and saw them playing the electric car crash game. Actually , the two of them have known each other since they were very young because their families are familiar and their personalities are completely similar, so they don't get along very well, to the point of
almost being enemies.]
Kwon Taek Joo is even more curious about the other engagement person. A Zhenya woman? Just imagining it was enough to make his head hurt.
[It's not over yet. That crazy guy also brought explosives and said shouldn't fireworks be
set off on a nice day. The adults in the house were very surprised. It's a pity that I can't show it to you.]
Olga looked very sorry. She did not hesitate to call Zhenya a crazy person and seemed to enjoy his actions.
[That person said he would set off fireworks the next time my father tried to do what he wanted. That person will just do what he wants, he probably has a missile prepared somewhere. Hmm... That's how the engagement story was forgotten.]
Kwon Taek Joo listened silently and covered his eyes with his hands. There is no evidence that Zhenya caused the commotion because of Kwon Taek Joo. That was just one example of how his family tried to force marriage while ignoring the opinions of someone like him who hated being tied down.
That must have been it, but Kwon Taek Joo's ears suddenly felt hot. He didn't know that and thought a lot. Kwon Taek Joo just thought that the reason he was sad was because Zhenya was superficial when it came to the engagement and didn't contact him even when he came back late.
[Where are you, who are you meeting, what are you doing? If you're obsessed and want to tie me down, then go ahead.]
[Engagement or marriage is not important to me. If you don't like it, why don't you say it directly , at least I'll find you cute.]
The face of the silently happy boy appeared in Kwon Taek Joo's mind, he suddenly felt embarrassed and ashamed.
[Taek Joo. Since we've come this far, take a picture for me.]
Olga held out her phone. Before he knew it, Kwon Taek Joo was holding a lace umbrella in his hand.
[Do you want to take a photo in front of the grave?]
[I am a patient after all. I don't know what will happen tomorrow so I have to capture every moment.]
Suddenly feeling a strange sense of guilt, with no other choice, Kwon Taek Joo pressed the shutter button a few times and threw the phone back. The photo was not shaky and his face was normal, but Olga scolded him for not taking the photo seriously .
In the end, Kwon Taek Joo took dozens of photos in just one location.
"I tried my best but I couldn't save it,"
he said. If she weren't a woman, he would have punched her.
[Anyway , you've worked hard so I'll give you this.]
In return, Olga took something out of her purse and gave it to him. It's a photo of a boy. Kwon Taek Joo glanced at it and softly exclaimed.
[Ah? This kid...]
The child in the photo looked like the child he often dreamed about. Kwon Taek Joo vaguely thought it was Zhenya, but he had never seen a picture of him as a child so he wasn't sure.
[Is it Zhenya?]
[Yes. Have you seen it before?]
[...Not yet.]
[Beautiful, right?]
[What?....]
[I have never seen such a beautiful child in my life. That's why I carry it with me, it doesn't have any special meaning.]
Olga draws the line by saying "Don't think strangely ." then arbitrarily stuffed the photo into Kwon Taek Joo's jacket pocket.
[This is my only precious photo but please keep it.]
[Alright]
[Let's see, take when given. If that person makes you angry, look at this and calm down, it's quite effective.]
Surely it's guaranteed to be effective, Kwon Taek Joo was speechless and burst out laughing. Olga quickly looked back at the tombstones lined up close together .
[I don't live longer than Taek Joo but I know because I'm always close to death. People always want to be happy and only hope for good things to happen, but in reality, life is just like that, so what's interesting? Sometimes you have to go through sadness, depression, illness or pain to know how precious the normal luck that comes afterward is.]
It's pitiful that way, she continued.
[That person is a person lacking emotions. In this world there are only things that that person cares about and trivial things, but there is no happiness, joy, sadness, or pain. To be honest, this was the first time he had paid attention to another person in such a long time. I thought that person would live like that and then die. Now maybe it could be
different.]
[What's so grand?]
[What a surprising turn of events. The hero went to save the beauty captured by Koshiche. But I like this ending. I know it's too much to ask for help, but please keep an eye on that person, Taek Joo should also sympathize with that monster .]
After completing the request, Olga followed Kwon Taek Joo's mother to his brother's grave. He stood alone and took the photo out of his jacket. Zhenya's face was expressionless even as a child, it resembled the child he had seen in his dream. Kwon Taek Joo patted his cheek that looked stubborn in the photo. Even when he doesn't want to, Kwon Taek Joo is filled with unbelievable sadness. Is there one more thing to worry about and regret? Even he couldn't understand himself.
Suddenly he thought of Zhenya. Kwon Taek Joo took out his phone and tried to call him. At that moment a vibrating sound rang out.
It's Zhenya.