Parents' Day (2)
It wasn't unusual for his brother to call around this time every year.
Whenever holidays or their parents' birthdays rolled around, it was always his brother who reached out first.
Normally, he would've skipped it, claiming work was too busy.
...How long has it been since I last came?
But this time, he'd given a different answer.
Not just because of his promise with Byul-i, but because he wanted to hear the truth about that day too.
"Yep~ We've arrived, sir."
"Thank you."
May 8th, noon today.
He arrived at the family home with a heavy heart.
Five minutes after getting out of the taxi.
His hand still hovered, unable to ring the doorbell, just like back then.
"Huh? It's Little Uncle!"
"Wittle Unca! Wittle Uncaaa!"
The kids inside the iron gate spotted him and tiptoed, struggling with the handle. Someone came out right after and hit the entry button.
Ding-
The gate unlocked.
A man reached out from inside and clapped him on the shoulder.
A feeling that was still unfamiliar yet oddly warm.
"Min-hyeok. Long time no see."
"...You too, bro."
His brother smiled brightly and nudged the two kids hanging off his legs forward.
"Seong-jun, I-jun—say hi to your little uncle properly."
"Hi, Little Uncle."
"Hi Wittle Unca! Wuv you!"
"...?"
While Seong-jun mumbled shyly, I-jun suddenly rummaged in his pocket and pulled out something crumpled and folded, handing it over.
"Wittle Unca! Present!"
"Oh, I—I made one too."
"...?"
I-jun's gift was some colorful thing made of paper, and Seong-jun's—a slightly more advanced colorful thing, befitting an elementary schooler.
...Carnations?
His head spun at the abstract modern-art vibe, but context made it obvious: carnations.
He was utterly flustered, not sure how to react to getting carnations when he wasn't even married yet.
"They prepared these knowing you'd come, Seong-jun and I-jun. Thanks for coming, Min-hyeok."
"...?"
His brother's whisper made it even more bewildering.
He hadn't seen the kids since second-born I-jun's first birthday party.
Even if his brother had told them to make the carnations, this was their first time meeting since they'd gained some sense—and there wasn't a trace of resentment in their eyes toward him.
As if they truly saw him as...
Family.
Whoosh-
"Whoa! Thank you!"
"Tank youuu!"
"Hey, no need to give the kids such big bills."
"It's fine. We don't see them often."
He slipped a 50,000-won bill into each nephew's hand and stepped toward the courtyard, which felt even more alien now.
"Come on in. Everyone's waiting inside."
His brother walked beside him, continuing.
"Auntie's here too?"
"Auntie's off today. Ji-yeon told her to rest and came instead."
He'd thought having his aunt there would make it easier, but his sister-in-law was filling in.
Lunch was going to be anything but easy.
"You're here. Sit."
"Yes."
His prediction was spot on.
His father and mother, unchanged in looks and gaze, exuded that suffocating, colorless dryness from years ago at I-jun's doljanchi party.
"Eat."
"Yes."
In the living room, at the table—Father offered only curt words, while Mother just stared with her large eyes so like his brother's, saying nothing.
Without the kids' cheerful chatter, the meal would've been too barren to swallow.
"Honey, why don't you take the kids to the café and grab some coffee?"
"Coffee? Oh, right! Seong-jun, I-jun—let's go to the café with Mommy."
"Yay, café!"
"Tch, what a hassle."
After the stifling meal ended.
His sister-in-law exchanged a subtle glance with his brother and led the kids out.
Probably to give him and their parents some alone time, since he was home after so long.
...Perfect. Wasn't sure how to bring it up in front of the kids and her anyway.
"Dad, Mom. Min-hyeok's home after ages—let's chat a bit, catch up. You've been so curious, right? Always calling me to ask instead of..."
"Quiet. He's a grown adult; he'll manage fine."
Father cut his brother off, staring blankly at him. Mother mirrored the expression, silent.
"Haha. Dad, Mom—you know, when he comes like this, you should talk a little. Every Sunday morning, you turn on the TV and..."
"I came today... because there's something I want to ask."
His brother's attempts at warmth were about to crumble.
He planned to get straight to the point before his sister-in-law and nephews returned.
"About me being adopted."
The family's faces hardened.
"I've never asked once until now, but today I want a clear answer. Why did you adopt me?"
"Hey, Min-hyeok. What're you saying out of nowhere on a rare visit? That's not..."
"Adoptions are rare unless it's infants or babies, right?"
His brother Hyeok laughed awkwardly, trying to steer away, but he had to ask.
To confirm the facts he remembered, and to keep his promise to Byul-i.
"So why adopt me at 10... when I'm just three years younger than Hyeok? Honestly, Dad, Mom—you know you didn't show me much affection after."
"Kang Min-hyeok! What the hell..."
His brother's raised voice was halted by Father's slight hand gesture.
"If that's how it felt, can't be helped. We thought we'd supported you fully, but affection can't be one-sided."
"Sounds like you're saying our relationship issues are my fault?"
He barely stifled a hollow laugh.
Or thought he did—maybe a mocking smirk had already crept onto his lips.
Funnier still: Father's face right now mirrored his own.
"I've hardly ever scolded or blamed you. The one time was when you stubbornly insisted on vet school."
Father continued in a tone that found the whole talk absurd.
"Fine, since it's out—I'll ask instead. We never skimped on support, so what dissatisfaction made you clam up like that? Never once reaching out first? We raised you and your brother equally, no discrimination in education or anything!"
"...Guess talking it out works. Our questions seem to overlap."
"What? What're you..."
The family looked baffled, but the floodgates were open.
He pressed on.
"Going to vet school instead of med, moving out right after turning adult... Honestly, it was fear."
"...Fear? What do you mean?"
Mother, who'd been silent, finally spoke.
No need for details.
Just confirming if his suspicions were true would suffice.
...Whew.
He steadied his breath with a quiet sigh, lifting his lowered head.
"...Is my adoption connected to Hyeok's treatment?"
The question he'd bottled up tight.
Forcibly peeling lips stuck like magnets.
"......"
Mother. Father.
No one answered.
Byul-i was right. Like brother said—my only family... is you.
With the misunderstanding confirmed, his tangled heart untied, lightened.
"Thank you. I heard what I wanted. I never asked despite wondering... because I was scared. Ignorance is bliss sometimes. Even if it's too late now."
He forced the bitter smile from his lips and stood.
"No reports or mentions—don't worry. I'm just settling into life; don't want to live as the tragic adopted kid who saved the golden child."
"No... What? Mom, Dad—no way, right?"
His parents froze like broken machines. His brother shot them a strange look, as if he'd heard what he shouldn't.
Yeah.
Honestly, his brother was uninvolved.
Just a kid desperate for treatment, unaware a brother was adopted for his sake. But.
"No point acting shocked after hearing it all, bro. Now you know why I was adopted—don't contact me like this anymore."
No saintly forgiveness like 'You're innocent, so it's fine.'
Seeing his brother—his body—still sent chills, like his organs might get sucked away somewhere.
Whatever. No need to drag it out. ...Time to go.
He stood, leaving the stunned family behind.
"I'll head out. Won't come to gatherings like this anymore. But I'll repay the cost of raising me someday."
A relationship too vague for family. Forced for over 20 years. Ended in one day.
* * *
Monday evening after Parents' Day.
He took a coffee up to the rooftop.
—Daddy! Ready?
"Of course. But no super rare ones—something common. Got it?"
Days after the family home visit, flashes of that day still unsettled him.
Ssal-i, sharp as ever, sensed it and begged for flights over walks. They'd gone "sky walking" almost daily.
—Hehe. Got it. Transformation staaart!
Warm light poured from Ssal-i's paws, flowing into him.
—Ta-daa! Today's transformation complete! Look quick, Daddy!
—Lemme see. What'd I turn into?
Ssal-i could only shift into animals he'd touched.
Hence the thrill of wondering what bird today.
So far: seven kinds, including great horned owl for Sesko training, heron, pigeon, sparrow.
—Ooh... This one?
Peeking at his "fingers"—now unfamiliar feathers.
—Hehe. Whaddya think, Daddy? First time for this bird, right? Know what it is?
Mostly brown body, grayish feathers.
Brown cheek spots, mottled belly.
No one knew its exact look, but the name was as common as pigeon or sparrow—a familiar city bird.
—Yeah, I know it well. This bird is...
The one they always ran into making new bird folders.