episode_0072

The lively chatter echoed throughout the living room. While the kids had finished their meal and even cleared the fruit plate, leaving only the remnants of our family’s meal on the dining table, Jinwoo and Jinseo, still full of energy, were running around the spacious living room, more spacious than their own home. Mom and Dad watched them with delight, laughing and clapping their hands. It was still a month away from the holiday season, but the festive atmosphere seemed to be already in the air.

“Haha, look at Jinwoo dancing.”

Dad, in particular, couldn’t help but enjoy watching the kids goofing around, while Mom had already sidled up to Dayoung, asking her about this and that.

“In the end, you did eat a bit.”

Sangki suddenly said to me.

“Yeah, but how can I resist when everyone is enjoying the food so much in front of me?”

Despite my determination to only eat salad and chicken breast, I found myself indulging in a piece of braised short ribs. Before I knew it, I had eaten three ribs, a third of a bowl of rice, and even some cockle salad. It wasn’t until then that I could regain my composure.

“Even the personal trainer acknowledged my meal by sending a picture of the table.”

“Well, your mother’s cooking skills are no joke.”

Well, I also receive a lot of compliments for my cooking skills, but where do you think I learned them from? Ultimately, it’s from Mom.

“That’s right. Home-cooked meals are the best.”

For Dayoung and Davin, the meals cooked by their ex-wife or me might be considered home-cooked, but for me, the meal I had today was home-cooked. Everyone has a sense of nostalgia for home-cooked meals, right?

So, what I consumed today wasn’t just calories, but nostalgia. Yes, that’s how I decided to think about it.

“But you don’t feel guilty at all?”

As an experienced person, Sangki seemed to understand my mood well. He suddenly pointed at Davin with his finger.

“Davin looks bored. Why don’t you take him for a walk or something?”

While Dayoung kept talking to Mom, Davin was sitting alone, fiddling with his phone, clearly showing signs of boredom.

“Right. Thanks for letting me know, Park.”

“Haha, no problem.”

I got up from my seat and sat next to Davin, who was sitting in the corner of the sofa.

Davin looked surprised when I sat down next to him.

“Are you bored?”

I whispered to Davin, and he awkwardly smiled and shook his head.

“No, watching Jinwoo and Jinseo play is fun.”

“But are you just going to keep looking at your phone? Come on, let’s go for a walk together.”

“Huh?”

“Mom ate too much off her diet today, so she needs to burn some calories. Let’s go together.”

Knowing Davin’s personality, he would need a reason to leave such a situation, so I provided him with one. Actually, Sangki threw it out first.

“Um, should we?”

“Yes.”

As I led Davin towards the front door, everyone turned to look at us.

“Dohyun, where are you going?”

“Oh, I’m on a diet right now. I feel like I ate too much, so I’m taking Davin for a walk around the neighborhood.”

Mom nodded, and Dad widened his eyes, saying, “Oh, then can you buy some beer on your way back? I’m planning to have a drink with Park later.”

“Sure, Dad.”

Then I glanced back at Sangki.

-Snickers

Ah, I fell for it.

It was clear that Sangki suggested the walk knowing this would happen. Seeing Sangki smiling and waving goodbye to me, irritation welled up inside me.

“Mom, let’s go quickly.”

However, just to calm down the irritation, I left the house with Da Bin. After all, Da Bin’s complaint about being bored was not a lie.

“Phew, feels like I’m alive.”

Da Bin stretched with a bright expression, whether it was because she was getting out of the stuffy atmosphere or because moving after a meal was refreshing.

“If you feel suffocated, you should speak up.”

“Ugh, it’s suffocating, and my stomach is too full.”

It’s the same thing grandchildren go through when they visit their grandmother’s house. A full stomach.

Even my mom, now a grandmother, kept urging us to eat this and that, and we obediently ate everything she served, which was quite amazing.

“Since we have to buy beer anyway, let’s also get some digestive medicine on the way to the convenience store.”

Da Bin was Da Bin, but Da Young seemed even more embarrassed, as her mom was right beside her, putting side dishes on her spoon.

“Oh, Mom. You didn’t bring the car, how are you going to the alumni meeting?”

Since this place was a bit remote, we had to drive to the city to get there. Moreover, the pub where the alumni meeting was held was a 20-minute drive even by car, so we decided to take a taxi.

Oh, of course, I won’t drink. Yeah, I definitely won’t drink, but you never know. Anyway, it’s a drinking party.

“We should take a taxi. On the way back, if we can’t catch a taxi, we can just ask anyone there to give us a ride.”

Since they were all old friends, if we asked one of them to give us a ride home, they wouldn’t refuse.

I walked with Da Bin along a quiet country road, as if taking a leisurely stroll.

“Oh, Mom. Can I ask you something?”

After about five minutes, Da Bin suddenly asked me.

“What is it?”

“Um, why did you ask our homeroom teacher if something was wrong?”

Ah, it seemed like she was worried about what happened the day before.

“No, nothing’s wrong. Um.”

There’s a thought that adults have their own reasons, and children don’t need to know, but the situation was already complicated, and if Da Bin got involved, it would only get more complicated, so I decided to keep quiet.

“Is it because of that…?”

What is that? I didn’t have to think about it to realize that she was clueless.

“Is it because you think your son might have a strange relationship with the homeroom teacher? Besides, Mom still likes women.”

To be honest, that’s true. For now, men still feel like the same gender to me. Well, whether it will stay that way as time goes on, or if it will change, I don’t know.

“Ah…. Haha, no. That’s impossible. I’m sorry.”

“Oh, no. I just asked because I was worried.”

Well, she must have been anxious about the idea of her mom having such a relationship with the teacher, especially since her mom, who used to be her dad, found it very strange and awkward.

“Okay, I understand. Anyway, until you guys become adults and get jobs, I have no intention of dating or anything. For convenience, and also for social norms, I chose to be your mom, but in terms of gender identity, I still seem to be a man.”

If the kids feel the need for a dad, well, I’ll consider it a hundred times, but the thought of dating a man, having physical contact, or… that kind of relationship makes me break out in hives just thinking about it. It’s absolutely impossible!

“But, if Mom is okay with it, I’m fine too. Yes. Please be comfortable, Mom. Even if Mom were to get married and bring a woman home…! Yes! I can understand!”

Perhaps it was because of the recent apology that I suddenly burst out like that, but I couldn’t really picture myself dating a girl.

My sexual identity may not have changed yet, but I have already adapted to my current appearance. Whether I link arms with another girl or kiss her… it would just be seen as a same-sex relationship.

“Hey, stop being so rough. Don’t worry, buddy!”

I wrapped my arm around Davin’s head and put him in a headlock.

“Ow, mom, it hurts!”

“I’m supposed to make it hurt!”

Eventually, I punched Davin’s head with my other hand and shook it from side to side.

“Ahh!”

With my height advantage and recent exercise, Davin couldn’t easily escape from me.

“Students should worry about student-like things. Oh, by the way, do you have a girlfriend?”

“Well, um…”

“Why can’t a guy like you get a girlfriend? Don’t you have girls who like you? Be honest. Are there many?”

I heard from Seungyoon, so he wouldn’t lie about this.

“No, there aren’t…”

“Come on, don’t lie. Seungyoon said you’re popular in your class. No, you’re popular in school, right?”

“That Seungyoon… ”

“So, do you have one or not?”

Under my persistent questioning, Davin sighed deeply and answered.

“I actually get confessed to quite often.”

“As expected.”

Well, he’s quite the catch, so it would be strange if he didn’t.

“But I don’t really have anyone I like…”

“Why? What kind of person is your type?”

“Well, that’s…”

“Tell me quickly, I’m curious.”

Davin blushed as he glanced at me.

Is it embarrassing to say it like that? I’m willing to accept almost anything. What kind of taste could it be…?

Oh!

“You don’t mean…?!”

As if realizing something, I widened my eyes and looked at Davin, whose face turned pale.

Could it be that our son’s preference is like that?