Separation Anxiety

7.

#An Age No Longer Cute

Tired of reporters coming to the school gates and classmates constantly asking if he was really the third generation of the Haedo Group, Dawoon decided to transfer schools on his own. He transferred to the private school Hayun had attended, and from then on, Hayun suggested that he commute by car. This time too, Dawoon refused, saying he wanted to live normally. However, Hayun didn’t back down. The distance was too far to walk, so Dawoon would have to use the bus or subway, but they couldn’t openly expose him, now known as the second son of the Haedo Group, to the public.

‘Don’t underestimate the world. Whether it’s people targeting money, company rivals, or those with personal grudges against our group, you’re an easy target for kidnapping to such people.’

Dawoon’s expression hardened, as if he had never thought of it that way. Hayun smiled gently and stroked his head.

‘Don’t worry too much. I can’t be by your side 24 hours a day, so I need at least some measures to put my mind at ease.’

After hearing that, Dawoon couldn’t refuse anymore.

“Are you going to be late again today?” Dawoon asked, watching Hayun sit down in the front seat.

“Well, I’ll have to see when I get there,” Hayun replied, picking up a spoon to taste the soup in front of him.

“Why? Feeling lonely without me?” he asked with a mischievous smile. Dawoon turned his head away, saying it was nonsense. He had certainly become less talkative since entering high school. He was never very chatty to begin with, but he used to readily tell Hayun about things that happened at school. As he got older, even that disappeared. Hayun found that regrettable.

“If you miss me, I could come home early.”

“Miss you? We live in the same house, what’s there to miss?”

The response was curt, contrary to what Hayun had hoped for.

“Not cute at all.”

“I’m not at an age to be cute anymore.”

Dawoon responded matter-of-factly to the casually thrown comment.

“You’re still plenty cute.”

“You just said I wasn’t cute.”

“That was just something I said.”

At this brazen response, Dawoon looked up at Hayun. His lips moved as if he was about to say something, but he shook his head as if deciding against it and went back to his meal. Watching this reaction, the smile disappeared from Hayun’s face.

Nothing in the world remains unchanged forever. Dawoon was no longer a little child seeking protection in Hayun’s arms.

“How have you been lately?” Hayun asked, suppressing the sullen feeling rising within him and smiling again.

“Nothing special. Every day is the same. That’s how it is for all high school students.”

“How about your relationships with friends?”

Dawoon paused his meal again and looked at Hayun. A strange emotion flashed across his face and disappeared. Hayun watched him closely, wondering what was wrong.

“Maybe it’s because you’re my brother,” Dawoon muttered, almost to himself.

“What is?”

“Don’t people usually ask about grades? I’ll be a senior in half a year. But in our house, no one asks me if I’m studying well.”

So that was the problem. Hayun couldn’t help but smile, thinking it was a cute complaint.

“It’s because you’re doing well on your own.”

In fact, Dawoon’s grades were excellent. He consistently maintained a high rank even in a private school filled with outstanding students from across the country.

“Did your grades drop? If there’s a subject you’re worried about, I can get you a tutor.”

Come to think of it, it was around the time when midterm grades would be out. Hayun had been too busy with work to pay attention. He asked, thinking Dawoon might be worried about his grades, but Dawoon shook his head.

“It’s not that. Just… Grandfather came by yesterday.”

Dawoon seemed to change the subject after a moment of silence. However, Hayun noticed that it wasn’t really changing the subject. Dawoon’s expression noticeably darkened at the mention of their grandfather.

That old man, he must have come and left without saying a word to him again.

Two years ago, Chairman Jeong Tae-seong seemed to accept Dawoon at Hayun’s suggestion, but afterwards, he thoroughly ignored Dawoon’s existence. On the rare occasions when he visited the mansion, he wouldn’t even acknowledge Dawoon’s greetings and treated him as if he didn’t exist even in front of Hayun and Haram. Hayun knew Dawoon was hurt every time this happened, but it was an issue he couldn’t do anything about. For Chairman Jeong Tae-seong, allowing Dawoon to stay in this house without chasing him out was already a big concession.

This time too, he must have come, not said a word to Dawoon, and left after seeing only Haram. So it seems Dawoon compared this to the reactions of other ordinary parents or family members with high school children.

“Should we eat out after a long time? Just the two of us, leaving Haram behind.”

Hayun guessed Dawoon’s feelings but instead of comforting him, he suggested another way to lift his spirits.

“Want to watch a movie too? What’s showing these days?”

It didn’t seem like a bad idea to have a proper date while they were at it. Dawoon, who had been staring blankly at Hayun as if it was an unexpected suggestion, let out a shallow breath.

“Are you going to rent out the entire theater again?”

Referring to last year’s incident, Hayun just grinned.

“It’s not like we’re renting out a regular theater, what’s the big deal?”

At the implication that they weren’t inconveniencing others, Dawoon took a deep breath, his chest visibly rising.

“I’m going to watch a movie with my friends on the weekend.”

“Friends?”

Hayun’s voice lowered a notch.

“Na-eun and Ui-hyeon.”

Hayun unconsciously frowned at the familiar names, but quickly returned to normal before Dawoon could notice.

“How’s Ui-hyeon doing?”

He was a friend Dawoon had become close to right after transferring to the private school. They had gone on to the same high school and now he was Dawoon’s best friend. Both his parents were teachers, and Lee Ui-hyeon himself was an exemplary student with excellent grades and good behavior. Hayun had thought he wasn’t a bad friend for Dawoon and had left it alone, but now he wondered if they had become too close.

“The same.”

Dawoon gave the same answer as before. It sounded like an emphasis on how unremarkable a high school student’s daily life is, which made Hayun laugh.

“Who’s Na-eun?”

It was a name he was hearing for the first time. Moreover, it sounded like a girl’s name.

“A friend from the broadcasting club.”

“Ah…”

Hayun nodded, responding casually.

“What’s Na-eun’s full name?”

He asked nonchalantly while eating.

“Kim Na-eun.”

After answering, Dawoon stared at Hayun as if something felt odd. Feeling the gaze, Hayun looked up and asked “What?” with his eyes.

“I find it interesting that you don’t ask about grades but you check my friend’s full name.”

At Dawoon’s response, Hayun smirked as if it was silly.

“Because your relationships with friends are more important than your grades.”

At this answer, which sounded like a model response from a parent, Dawoon shook his head and looked away.

It’s true. I can check your grades anytime by accessing NICE, but I can’t know who you’re meeting unless I put you under 24-hour surveillance.

Instead of saying what he absolutely couldn’t say, Hayun smiled even more deeply.

“I’ll send the driver at the time your school ends. Think about what you want to eat.”

At the suggestion to actually eat out for dinner, Dawoon nodded silently. Despite everything, he never refused when Hayun suggested something. Thinking that this aspect was the same as when he was young, a smile spread across Hayun’s face.

“Let’s go together. I think I have enough time today to drop you off before I go.”

As Hayun suggested this after checking his watch, Dawoon, who was about to leave with his bag, stopped. He didn’t say anything, but knowing Dawoon was waiting for him, Hayun put on the suit jacket that the housekeeper had brought in the meantime.

“You’re used to it now.”

Dawoon, who had been watching Hayun skillfully slip his arms into the jacket sleeves, said. Two years ago, on the day Hayun first wore a suit to work, Dawoon had sat on the sofa, staring for a long time before saying it looked awkward. He had said it felt distant because it was so different from how he usually saw Hayun.

“I have to be used to it.”

Hayun replied lightly and approached Dawoon.

“It’s like how the school uniform suits you well.”

Grinning, he properly straightened the collar of Dawoon’s school uniform shirt, which had been folded. Thinking he was still a child, Hayun tried to pat his head, but Dawoon slightly moved his body to avoid Hayun’s hand.

“Treating me like a kid again.”

Dawoon, who seemed displeased, opened the door and left first. Watching his back, Hayun chuckled and started walking.

Be grateful that I’m treating you like a child.

Hayun’s eyes quietly, deeply sank as he looked at Dawoon.

***

“Director Park.”

After dropping Dawoon off at school first, Hayun called out to Park Ju-jin, the director of the secretariat, who was sitting in the driver’s seat.

“Yes, sir. What can I do for you?”

Director Park responded politely.

“Could you look into a student named Kim Na-eun at Dawoon’s school? She’s in the same grade as Dawoon.”

Hayun said in an indifferent tone, his gaze fixed outside the window.

“…Understood.”

There was a slight pause before the answer. Hayun raised the corners of his mouth at that interval.

“You’re not asking why I want to know?”

“…”

“Don’t you think it’s strange, since it has nothing to do with company business?”

“Not at all.”

“Ah, I suppose it doesn’t matter whether it’s company business or not since you’re my personal secretary anyway, Director Park?”

Although the words sounded like a subtle provocation, Director Park showed no reaction, either because Hayun’s tone was quite polite or for some other reason.

“You can report this to the Chairman.”

Director Park’s eyebrows twitched ever so slightly at these words.

“I don’t mind. Go ahead and report it. He probably won’t be interested in such trivial matters anyway. Especially anything related to Dawoon.”

Hayun, who had been watching his face through the rearview mirror, answered with a smile.