“Jurim... did I do something wrong?”
On Ijo clung to Jurim like slime, shock on his face.
“...Feels like you did?”
Jurim was just as flustered.
He couldn’t say he hadn’t felt relieved to hear the word uncle. He even felt a little giddy.
But he was also honestly shocked.
Because it sounded like the child was refusing to acknowledge On Ijo as her biological father.
The brothers, rattled, shrank in front of Guru and stammered.
“Guru, it’s Dad. Dad.”
Ijo pointed to himself as he spoke.
“This is your biological dad. I told you before, remember?”
Jurim added, swept up in the moment.
With the brothers babbling, Guru pressed her lips together and rolled her eyes round and round.
On Ijo pointed to himself again, and Jurim emphasized by pointing at On Ijo with both hands.
They spoke at the same time.
“It’s Dad.”
“Dad.”
Guru lifted only her big eyes to look up at Ijo and gave a single nod, as if she understood.
“Yeees...”
At that thin reply, a hushed stillness fell over the hospital room.
The brothers traded glances, signaling each other to figure something out.
On Ijo whispered first, like a ventriloquist.
“W-what do we do? Did we scare her too much?”
“Who told you to come back alive?”
“Hey, isn’t that too much to say?!”
“You’re the one who crossed the line.”
While they flapped their mouths and bickered, Guru stared up at them, mouth hanging open.
Meeting Guru’s gaze made them roll their eyes this time.
After a brief silence, On Ijo scratched his brow in embarrassment.
“...Jurim, did you say something to Guru?”
At his question, Jurim furrowed his brows.
“You think I badmouthed you or something?”
“That’s not what I meant. I’m saying let’s retrace what happened.”
“Of course you would.”
“Jurim, we’re talking about something important. Are you going to keep being contrary?”
“Yeah? You really want to retrace it? Starting with what you did on your own?”
“Starting with what I chose?”
On Ijo gave a small laugh and continued.
“Don’t overstep, Jurim. That wasn’t for you to weigh in on.”
'Overstep? Weigh in?'
All at once, On Jurim felt rage surge to the roots of his hair.
“Overstep? Weren’t we more than comrades—we were brothers. And you’re really going to talk like that, for fuck’s sake?”
As their exchange picked up more and more emotion, Guru’s shoulders flinched and went stiff.
It was a third voice that put a stop to their crescendo.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing in front of a child!”
At On Suhyeong’s thunderous roar, both Ijo and Jurim jolted.
On Suhyeong lifted Guru into his arms.
“Father, when did you get here?”
“...Father, we—”
As On Ijo and On Jurim spoke one after the other, On Suhyeong opened his mouth, barely leashing his anger.
“I saw everything from the start. Don’t make excuses. Pathetic brats.”
In an instant, it was as if glue had sealed the brothers’ mouths.
“You two know your mistakes better than anyone.”
On Ijo let out a sigh and bowed his head, and Jurim raked a hand through his hair.
“I’ll take Guru out for a little walk. You two, cool your ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) heads.”
Bang!
The door slammed shut.
In the silence, Jurim moved first.
He sank onto the sofa, limp, overwhelmed.
He’d never imagined such old emotions would pop out like this without warning.
From their first meeting, he’d thought he’d handled his feelings well, simply by not beating On Ijo to a pulp.
On Jurim pressed his hands together like a tower and rested his face against them.
'Why did I bare my temper so plainly in front of the child. She must’ve been really scared, right?'
His insides ached with deep regret.
Then On Ijo, who had flopped into the seat opposite, spoke.
“Jurim.”
“...Yeah.”
“Do you hate me?”
“God, you’re so damn annoying when you talk.”
“Haha! So do you hate me?”
Jurim’s mouth twisted in displeasure.
Do I hate you? Could this be wrapped up with a cute word like hate?
He hated him.
More than that. He resented his brother.
But he also knew most of that feeling came from guilt.
“I don’t hate you.”
“Mm.”
“It’s just... every time I see you, I fucking see red.”
“Isn’t that the same thing?”
At On Ijo’s bewildered look, Jurim let out a short, incredulous laugh.
“Yeah. It’s the same thing, you idiot.”
They shared a brief, restrained laugh.
Presently, On Ijo broached what he really wanted to say.
“Do you think Guru might hate me too?”
That was a hard question.
After hesitating, Jurim answered.
“She’s just not used to you yet. Not just Guru—me too.”
“What? You’re not used to me either?”
As if finding that adorable, On Ijo cupped Jurim’s cheeks with both hands and squished them.
“Are you acting shy with me because it’s been so long?”
When Jurim tried to fend him off, face puffing up, On Ijo burst out laughing.
“Hahaha!”
As On Jurim—the one and only brother who had spent the longest time with him—
On Ijo was just so thoroughly On Ijo.
There wasn’t a single part of him that was different from the past.
Realizing this, the words slipped out.
“...Sorry. I overstepped.”
On Jurim apologized first? On Ijo’s eyes went wide.
“On Jurim, you’ve grown up?”
Jurim narrowed his eyes.
“And you’re still like this even when I bow my head first?”
“Listen to how cute you sound.”
On Ijo flashed a broad grin.
On Ijo was On Ijo.
Jurim stared at him, then dropped his head with a thud and spoke.
“I’m sorry about Chloe Han, too.”
They absolutely needed to talk about that as well.
“It’s not your fault. I was just too late.”
Before he knew it, On Ijo had moved to the seat beside him and was patting Jurim’s shoulder in an embrace.
“I’m sorry I came back so late.”
“...Yeah.”
After his hesitation, Jurim gave a short reply and drew in a deep breath, then let it out.
“Our Guru, you were really startled, huh?”
Sitting in the hospital’s rooftop garden, Guru took the orange juice On Suhyeong offered and shook her head.
“Now Gwuu ish o-tay.”
She had been a little scared.
Guru pushed out her lower lip.
On Suhyeong sat beside her and gave her small body a gentle pat.
“Confusing, isn’t it?”
“It’s okay. It’s only natural. It happens.”
“Gwuu cawwed him Uncwu... sho dey got mad becawse of dat?”
“Of course not. They just met again after a long time. They were upset about something that has nothing to do with you. So don’t think that way, okay?”
Nod, nod.
“That’s why I gave them some space. It’s something the two of them need to work out.”
“Yeees...”
“Our Guru has something she wants to say to Grandpa, doesn’t she?”
After a bit of hesitation, Guru carefully asked the patiently waiting On Suhyeong:
“Daddychann and Gwuu... how awe we supposhed to be?”
“You mean Jurim?”
“Yeees...”
Guru rubbed her hands together, fidgeting.
“Becawse... Daddychann might not be Daddychann anymo’...”
If Dad became an uncle...
All of a sudden, with the relationships redefined, she had the sudden fear that all the affection they’d built might fly away.
So even though she knew it put On Ijo in a bind, the word Dad didn’t come easily.
“That won’t happen. Do you know how much Jurim loves you? He’ll always be your dad.”
“Even dough my weal dad showed up?”
“Jurim Dad and Ijo Dad will both be good dads to you. So you don’t have to choose.”
“If Gwuu cawws Daddychann ‘Uncwu,’ ish he shtill Daddychann?”
“You can call him however you like. It won’t change that you’re all family.”
Guru, lost in thought, nodded.
“Shall we finish our drinks and head back?”
“Yeeeng.”
“How did such a beautiful child become my granddaughter. I must be a very blessed man.”
He gave a kiss to Guru’s shy cheek, then, after a short while, returned to the hospital room.

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