Han Ma-hyeon.
Han Ma-hyeon.
We played a lot more games after that, and Jong-hyeon kept busy photographing everyone who cursed at me.
For a better, much healthier chat culture in the Republic of Korea...
Yua, who had been watching all this, could only sigh.
You might be curious what ended up happening to them later, but one misplaced finger didn't cause a catastrophe.
I just reported them as malicious comments. That's about it.
As long as nobody crossed the line. I didn't do anything that senseless either.
"Your father is looking for you."
Dad must have called Jong-hyeon and told him to bring us back.
"Shall we go, then?"
Jong-hyeon and I got up naturally, but Yua, who'd spent the whole gaming session sitting tensely between us, looked completely exhausted.
We all watched a movie together and then went out shopping.
We hadn't even been shopping for an hour... and Dad already looked worn out.
I gave Dad a disappointed look.
"Dad... are you tired...?"
"No! Dad is perfectly fine!"
"Oh... really...? Then I guess we can walk around for about four more hours."
"...Sorry."
We wandered all over the place, and since Yua liked raw fish, we headed to a sashimi restaurant.
"Ji-eun."
"Yeah?"
"Was your date with Dad fun?"
"Pfft! Cough... Th-that! That's not what it was!"
Ji-eun's face went red, but Dad didn't look bothered at all.
He really was just treating her like a colleague of the opposite sex.
"Kim Si-yoon, don't tease Ji-eun."
"Got it~"
I looked at Ji-eun and said,
"I tried seducing him all kinds of ways too, and Dad didn't bite. Might be faster to look for someone else~"
"Hey! Kim Si-yoon!"
I ran around dodging Ji-eun, who was furious.
Ji-eun didn't exercise much and had a soft belly you could grab a handful of, so her catching me would have been harder than plucking a star from the sky.
Jong-hyeon had been waiting in the car and loaded up Dad, Ji-eun, and Yua after they'd been drinking.
Fortunately, as I grew up, I developed a tiny tolerance for alcohol.
Not enough that I could handle a single shot of soju or anything.
But I no longer got drunk just from smelling alcohol from more than 30 centimeters away.
It might have sounded ridiculous, but even that was major progress.
Jong-hyeon dropped everyone off at their respective homes as Dad instructed, then headed toward our place.
I could see our house from a distance, and I wanted to walk with Dad, so I got out of the car.
Another Team 7 bodyguard who had followed in a car got out, relieved Kang Jong-hyeon, then took Dad's car and disappeared.
Kang Jong-hyeon slowly followed behind Dad and me.
The night sky over Seoul showed almost no stars besides the moon, but as if standing in for those stars, bright light spilled from the buildings all around.
"Si-yoon, it's been a while—want Dad to give you a piggyback ride?"
If I said no to this question, Dad would just sulk by himself later...
"Why? Trying to cop a feel of your daughter's butt?"
"...Are you insane?"
Dad's face went twisted like he'd bitten into something nasty, and he started straightening up from his piggyback stance, so I sprinted over first, jumped, and latched on.
"Oof... wow... our daughter really has gotten so big..."
"Yeah? Am I heavy?"
"No~ absolutely not~"
Before I knew it, eighteen years had passed since the house visible in the distance was built.
Now, compared to the other Tower Palace buildings, our place only ranks number one for the view.
Still, it was recognized as one of the top Tower Palace residences in Korea.
Looking at the home I'd grown completely attached to reminded me of the first time I'd seen it.
My first thought was, if a 21st-century emperor had a residence, would it look like this?
Three buildings soaring endlessly high into the sky, with thick bridges connecting them to each other.
And the enormous welfare facilities combined across floors one through four.
Riding on Dad's back late at night and admiring the house from far away felt strangely new.
At one time, lots of people came by to take photos because a 21st-century star architect had designed it.
Now, only a few who looked like college students were taking pictures, probably for a site survey.
"Si-yoon."
"Yeah?"
"I'm so grateful you've grown up so well~"
"Why, is it time to throw me out now?"
"You! Haah... why would Dad ever throw out our daughter."
"When someone says something obvious all serious like that, I start wondering if something happened."
"When you say something obvious all serious like that, it means it feels that new."
By now, Dad and I had started talking exactly alike.
Even the way we argued was the same.
I decided to mess with Dad, who'd been a little inattentive to me lately, and I squeezed him tight from behind, pressing my chest against him.
"Dad, this is rough~"
"Have I gotten big?"
"Of course~"
Grinning, I whispered sweetly into Dad's ear.
"So, how's the pressure of your daughter's ample bosom..."
Dad abruptly dropped me.
I landed light and nimble on my feet.
Dad, still drunk, started scrunching up his face hard.
"You..."
"What! Giving a high schooler a piggyback ride is weird in the first place, you know?"
"I...suppose?"
"I was joking, so hurry up and give me another ride."
Even among kids my own age, I was on the slightly shorter side, but Dad's back still felt broad.
Riding on Dad's familiar and comfortable back, I enjoyed the peaceful street.
And leaning against Dad's back, I gazed out at the Han River until I fell asleep.
Kim Ji-ho smiled at me, with Si-yoon asleep on his back.
"I'm always grateful. For cherishing Si-yoon so much."
"Not at all. I'm the one who's grateful. Because of Si-yoon, I am who I am today..."
In the past, I lost my wife and young daughter, and I lived only for revenge.
But once the revenge was finally done, satisfaction and emptiness hit me at the same time.
When the gloomy days dragged on and I was planning suicide,
On a subordinate's phone, a child named Si-yoon was talking to me on Next-Door Hyungnim.
Back then I just thought, what a pretty kid.
But as I looked up her movies and dramas, before I knew it, it started to feel like I was watching my own daughter.
And it wasn't just me—most men thought the same.
But for me, who had lost a daughter, Si-yoon reached me even more specially.
Seeing Si-yoon, who became my reason for living, made me smile, and I wanted to be of help to that child.
"Truly, all I can say is thank you... what if I arranged some kind of bonus..."
The way he talked was exactly like Si-yoon.
For a moment I wondered if he might fight just as well too, but it didn't seem likely.
Of course, I couldn't say for sure until I saw it with my own two eyes.
Kang Jong-hyeon answered with a smile.
"It's really all right. You sound just like Si-yoon."
"Really? Did Si-yoon say she'd give a bonus?"
"Yes, she said she's grateful to us and wants to find a way to repay us."
"Wow... Si-yoon must really like Team 7. That kid even fusses over ten thousand won leaving her bank account."
"Is that so?"
"She really got on my case, said I spend money too carelessly. Ha-ha."
Kim Ji-ho glanced at Si-yoon, asleep against his back, and smiled.
"I can't stop money Si-yoon wants to spend because she likes you. But I'll have to help her do it personally. Haha."
Watching Kim Ji-ho smile like a dad, I couldn't have been more envious.
At the same time, I wanted to help make sure that smile never disappeared.
And so Kim Ji-ho went inside the house.
He turned on the light in Si-yoon's room and laid Si-yoon down on the bed.
"Si-yoon put on makeup again..."
I took out a cleansing wipe and cleaned off the makeup.
Si-yoon didn't usually wear makeup, so Yua had probably done it for her...
Si-yoon scrunched up her face when the cold wipe touched her—pretty adorable.
I took off the school uniform and socks Si-yoon was wearing, then covered her with the blanket.
Her hair had grown quite a lot, and Si-yoon had started finding it annoying.
She'd probably say she wanted to cut it short soon.
I played with Si-yoon's arm for a moment while she was deep asleep, then picked up Alpha and Beta and stepped outside.
"My daughter~ sleep well~"
I washed up quickly and went into the studio.
I needed to become more famous.
And I needed to earn more money.
For Si-yoon...
And... fortunately, I had the ability to do that, and people who'd help.
When I woke up in the morning, I opened the door and walked out to find Dad asleep on the sofa.
"Yaaawn... what time is it...?"
I checked the clock on the living room wall... we had one hour until school.
"Dad!!!"
Dad jolted awake, checked the time, and looked horrified.
I hurried to the bathroom to wash my hair fast, and Dad rushed to boil some ramyeon.
And of all times, my hair had grown like crazy without me noticing, so it took forever to sort out.
"When Da-yeon gets here, tell her to go ahead!"
"Got it."
But Da-yeon ended up coming inside anyway and helped me get ready.
I slurped down the mild steamed ramyeon Dad made, brushed my teeth roughly, and at the same time Da-yeon blow-dried my hair from behind.
Then I immediately put on the clothes she'd laid out.
Dad had meanwhile thrown on some sweatpants and a hoodie, abducted Kim Tae-oh who'd been waiting on the first floor, and started driving.
"Gasp!"
"What?"
"I'm not wearing a bra."
"What?!"
Dad slammed the brakes, and Kim Tae-oh looked horrified too,
but only Da-yeon, who knew the truth, was watching my reaction.
I smirked and met Dad's eyes in the rearview mirror.
"Kidding."
"Hey! Dad was seriously panicked! We almost got in an accident!"
Only after we heard a horn blaring long and hard from behind did Dad start driving again.
Self-study period continued at school, and naturally I read a novel.
My seatmate, Han Seok-hyeon, was pretending nothing was wrong while sneaking glances at me.
I watched him do that for a bit, then opened my sketchbook and wrote.
- So your brother goes to this school too, I hear.
Han Seok-hyeon flinched at my writing.
- So... is your brother Han Ma-hyeon?
Seok-hyeon nodded slowly. When I unfolded a sheet of paper, Han Seok-hyeon's pupils shook.
- This is Han Ma-hyeon. If you don't know who I am, ask my little brother Seok-hyeon in your class. Anyway, I like you. Meet me. Come to Year 3 Class 2 during lunch today.
This kind of ridiculous letter had been in my desk drawer.
Along with a fucking creepily placed chocolate.
I ate the chocolate while writing more in the notebook.
- What should we do...?
Han Seok-hyeon seemed about to write in my notebook, so I slid it over to him.
- I'll... try to handle it myself.
- How?
Han Seok-hyeon started agonizing without a word...
- If nothing comes to mind, I'll handle it my way and...
Maybe my smile gave him the creeps. Seok-hyeon shivered slightly and wrote back.
- I'll tell him I'm the one who likes you.
- Hmm... will that work though? Honestly, I think calling in a 'mysterious thug' would be faster.
Seok-hyeon went rigid and wrote with trembling hands.
- He'd be tired too. I can handle it. I'll try, and I won't let this blow back on you.
Looking at Seok-hyeon, who seemed desperate, I smirked and nodded.
Of course, the thug I had in mind was Park Ji-hoon.
They were little punks who'd quiet right down if Ji-hoon gave each of them one good thump on the head, but if Han Seok-hyeon wanted to make a mess of it himself, I had no intention of stopping him.
Lunchtime approached, and I went looking for the class my brother was in.
My brother, who'd decided to join our father's organization as an enforcer the moment he graduated...
Unlike me, who took after our mother, my brother inherited our father's physique and had been a figure as terrifying to me as our father ever since we were kids.
Year 3 Class 2... the moment I opened the door, my brother checked which direction I was in and his face immediately crumpled.
"Seok-hyeon, what brings you here...?"
"I've got something to tell you."
"...What."
There were too many people here, so it was hard to talk.
So I called my brother out to the recycling area behind the school.
This was the brother who'd been absolutely furious on my behalf when he heard I'd been attacked by a thug the other time.
That brother of mine looked at me, smirked, and said,
"What, wanna go a round with your big brother?"
"No! You think I'd do that...?"
"Then what's the matter."
"Si-yoon..."
The moment the name Kim Si-yoon came out, my brother, who'd been smiling, scrunched up his face and stared at me.
My brother was scary, but I absolutely had to save him from that even crazier bitch, Kim Si-yoon.
"So... I really like Si-yoon."
"...Haah... Seok-hyeon."
"What..."
"I don't want to lecture you over a girl. Just give up."
My brother had never even cared about Kim Si-yoon whenever she appeared on TV, and I couldn't understand why he was suddenly acting like this.
"Sorry... that..."
When I showed I meant to refuse, my brother's expression crumpled even more severely.
If this kept up, he was going to backhand me across the face.
"You serious?"
"...Yeah."
But my brother just swept both hands through his hair and then turned away.
"Haah... yeah, it's probably not gonna work. Even so, I don't want to hit you when you're all grown up. Let's just agree not to get in each other's way."
Fuck.
My brother had no intention of losing interest in Kim Si-yoon.
But... at this rate, my brother was going to die.
"Hey!"
"Haah... what."
"Fuck! She's mine, so keep your fucking hands off her!"
I finally did it.
My brother charged at me like a bison, body-first.
The instant we collided, my body went airborne.
"Ghk!"
While I was struggling to breathe, like I'd been hit by a car, my brother grabbed my head and lifted it.
"Have I been going too easy on you lately...?"
"Hhk..."
I couldn't breathe properly, but I had to stop this clueless, stupid brother of mine.
"B-Bro..."
He was merciless with everyone else, but my brother let go of my head.
"Haah... what the hell is this mess..."
"Don't mess with Kim Si-yoon. She's mine."
"Ha... fuck... Seok-hyeon... you're the one who should quit."
'You dumb motherfucker!!! I'm trying to save your life!!!' I wanted to scream, but I couldn't.
My brother saw my expression, and his face soured even more rapidly...
Still, compared to that old monster's expression, it was laughable.
"Let's leave it at this for today. But if this happens again, I'm not going to cut you any slack just because you're my brother. Seok-hyeon..."
With that, my brother left me and went back to his classroom.
More than my brother...
Now I had no idea how to even look at that crazy bitch...
Lunchtime arrived, and the kids in my class disappeared, rushing off to eat fast.
And Han Seok-hyeon, who'd been sneaking glances at me, left his seat too.
I stretched, about to head to Da-yeon's class, but Da-yeon came to find me first.
"Si-yoon~"
"Hey, you're here? Wait a sec~ I was just coming to you~"
"I got here first, ha~"
"Hahaha."
Da-yeon sat down in Han Seok-hyeon's seat like it was natural.
"You must've been bored all by yourself... I know you hate self-study anyway."
"Nah~ it was more fun than I expected~"
"Really? Why, what happened~?"
"Oh, my seatmate's a guy, and he's pretty entertaining."
"Yeah? I wanna see his face too!"
I stroked Da-yeon's hair and laughed.
"I'll introduce you sometime when I get the chance~"
"Okay!"
Right after that, Kim Tae-oh and Park Ji-hoon walked into the classroom.
"Cafeteria run today? Lunch is absolutely vile."
Kim Tae-oh looked at Park Ji-hoon and sighed.
"Probably is for you. The rest of us actually like fried fish."
"Ugh, I said I hate fish! Absolutely vile!"
I looked at Park Ji-hoon and sighed.
Park Ji-hoon, despite what he said, actually liked fish.
He only claimed to hate it because picking out the bones was a pain.
He wanted to shovel food straight into his mouth, and fish made that impossible.
"Don't pretend you hate something when you'll scarf down anything."
"Whoa, you know me that well?"
"You think I wouldn't?"
"...Guess you're right. Ah, acknowledged~"
That dumb bastard, seriously... the years piled on and he stayed the same dumb bastard.
If he acted even half as well as he looked, he'd have had half the battle won. Ugh, idiot.