Sunshine Shower

When he followed her into the kitchen, a table full of food greeted him, along with a warm atmosphere. She had told him to come an hour later, even though he initially said he’d arrive at 11, likely timing it perfectly for lunch.

“Do you still like braised short ribs? I asked them to prepare your favorite dish.”

“Oh, yes. I do like them. Thank you. I was going to come early to help out…”

“What help?”

Woo Yeonjae cut him off as he lazily approached.

“Dad would probably find it more bothersome to have someone hovering around. He’s been like that since we were kids.”

His gesture toward the dining table, suggesting they sit, was entirely natural.

“That might be true… But, by the way, I guess Uncle isn’t here today?”

It wasn’t proper manners to sit before the adults, so instead of following Woo Yeonjae to the table, Moon Seoyoon looked at Seo Yeonhee, as if searching for a vaguely remembered face.

“He left for a trip starting today. He was disappointed he couldn’t see you.”

“Oh… I’m sorry to miss him too.”

“So, you should visit more often. And bring Yeonjae along when you come. Ever since he moved out, he hardly ever visits the family home.”

“Sure, I’ll drop by occasionally.”

As he replied, watching Seo Yeonhee head toward the other side of the table, he felt a gaze on him. When he lowered his head slightly, his eyes met Woo Yeonjae’s, who was resting his chin on his hand, looking up at him.

“Will you come even if I don’t drag you here?”

It would be strange to backtrack after promising the adults he’d visit often. Moon Seoyoon waited until both had seated themselves before sitting down and lightly tapping Woo Yeonjae’s thigh.

“I said I would.”

“Good thing I brought you here then.”

Woo Yeonjae mumbled something unclear, his lips twitching into a slight smile.

“Seoyoon, try this.”

Before he could dwell on it, Seo Yeonhee’s voice, as she placed some side dishes on his warm rice, stole his attention away from Woo Yeonjae. Moon Seoyoon turned to her and thanked her.

“Thank you for the meal.”

The meal began naturally. He couldn’t shake the feeling that the side dishes were gradually piling up in front of him. There’s no need to go this far. Moon Seoyoon responded to Seo Yeonhee and Chairman Woo’s encouragement to eat well as he put the braised short ribs into his mouth. It tasted familiar, just as it had two years ago, with a moist and sweet flavor that tantalized his taste buds.

“By the way, thank you for the flowers. They’re so beautiful.”

“Do you like them? I know you’re fond of flowers, but I wasn’t sure if it was okay to give them as a gift.”

“You’re asking something so obvious. I’ll arrange them in a vase right away.”

As they enjoyed the delicious meal and lively conversation, Woo Yeonjae suddenly said, “For a moment, I thought Moon Seoyoon was coming to ask for permission to marry, holding that bouquet.”

As he was drinking his soup, Moon Seoyoon nearly choked but managed to stifle it just in time. He glared at Woo Yeonjae under the table while nudging him with his foot, but Woo Yeonjae only chuckled mischievously, his eyes narrowing.

“Oh, really? Seoyoon, would you like to marry into our family?”

“We should have had a daughter instead of a son.”

Rather than reacting with dismay to their son’s comment, both Seo Yeonhee and Chairman Woo responded playfully. Only Moon Seoyoon felt embarrassed, his cheeks turning red. He figured that the family’s easygoing nature contributed to Woo Yeonjae’s nonchalant use of terms like “meeting the parents” and “asking for marriage approval” when referring to his close friendship with Seoyoon.

“Then you should have had a daughter. That way, Mom and Dad’s wish would have come true, and Seoyoon would have become a part of our family.”

“It’s not like I had a choice in the matter. But why did you have to be born a boy?”

“Oh, so it’s Dad’s fault?”

Moon Seoyoon found himself smiling as the conversation flowed smoothly.

Unlike the awkwardness he felt when Woo Yeonjae had casually brought up marriage approval in front of his own father, he felt completely at ease now. While his father was as familiar with Woo Yeonjae’s random remarks as the couple across the table, their relationship was still somewhat strained, making Seoyoon more conscious of his behavior. Yet, for some reason, this meal didn’t feel uncomfortable at all.

Of course, it wasn’t that they believed there was something between Woo Yeonjae and him, nor did they have an open mind about same-sex relationships. They had likely viewed the playful promises made between the parents before they were born and the mock marriage games that began when they were six as nothing more than childish fun that had carried on until now.

Is that what they call prejudice? A mix of relief and bitterness washed over him. Surely, Woo Yeonjae’s words were just meaningless banter as well.

Amused by his own overthinking, Moon Seoyoon tried to clear his mind.

“Ha, so now you’re blaming me after being born so handsome?”

“Wasn’t it Mom who gave birth to me, not you?”

“Gosh, why are the men in this family so childish? Don’t mind them, Seoyoon, just eat as much as you want. Let me know if you want anything else.”

Seo Yeonhee, who had been watching their conversation, smiled brightly at him. Moon Seoyoon nodded and smiled back at her.

“Yes. I’ll eat a lot.”

A pang of regret hit him as he wondered if his mother would have joined in on the playful banter had she been here.

Let’s not dwell on it. As he took another bite, he scrunched his nose slightly, hoping no one would notice. Maybe it was because of the long-awaited home-cooked meal, the cheerful atmosphere, or perhaps the warm welcome from two people who still treated him like family, even after two years. Whatever the reason, he felt a lump in his throat and gripped his spoon a little tighter.

“So, Seoyoon, you’re a sophomore now, right?”

Chairman Woo asked, lifting his coffee cup. Moon Seoyoon set down his fork and nodded.

“Yes.”

“Have you decided on a career path?”

“I’m still not sure. I think I’ll start considering it next year.”

Unlike Woo Yeonjae, who had a clear career path, Moon Seoyoon felt slightly awkward since he had no specific direction in mind. However, he couldn’t just make up something on the spot about his post-graduation plans, so he answered honestly.

“Have you considered studying abroad?”

“Studying abroad?”

Seo Yeonhee casually joined the conversation while sipping her tea.

“It would be nice if you went to the U.S. with Yeonjae since he’ll be heading there soon. Or maybe even after you graduate.”

“Oh…”

Whether it was his father or his maternal relatives, they would likely support him if he decided to study abroad. And if it was a suggestion coming directly from Woo Yeonjae’s father, his father would almost certainly agree to it.

But Moon Seoyoon couldn’t immediately give a positive response. It wasn’t just because it was an unconsidered future path, but also because it involved Woo Yeonjae. If he went to America, Woo Yeonjae would be the only person he had. In such a situation, he wasn’t sure if he could endure the eventual absence of Yeonjae alone.

“Auntie thinks it would be great if you could go together, but there’s no pressure.”

“Right, even if you don’t join the company, it would be helpful to have studied abroad.”

Moon Seoyoon gave a vague smile and glanced at Woo Yeonjae to gauge his reaction. Yeonjae, who had been sipping from his mug, seemed to sense his gaze and looked up. Contrary to Seoyoon’s expectations, Yeonjae didn’t add anything to the conversation.

The discussion about studying abroad ended as quickly as it began. However, since he couldn’t outright reject the suggestion from the adults, Moon Seoyoon gave a neutral response.

“It’s not an easy decision, so I’ll think about it seriously and let you know.”

“Take your time, but be sure to tell us when you decide. Okay?”

“Yes.”

It seemed they weren’t intent on pushing him, as the conversation soon shifted to another topic.

Once again, Moon Seoyoon glanced at Woo Yeonjae. His downcast eyes made it difficult to read what he was thinking.

“It’s been so long since I’ve been here.”

“Two years, right? You should come more often.”

“Are you one to talk? Auntie said you don’t come home much either.”

Woo Yeonjae’s room was just as he remembered it. Since he wasn’t the type to accumulate things, it was more accurate to say that there wasn’t much that could have changed. The room, reflecting his tidy nature, was sparse, with only the necessary furniture.

“That’s because you don’t come around.”

That didn’t make much sense.

“This is your home, not mine. What are you even saying?”

“If I commuted from home, you wouldn’t visit as much. Even though you live near school, I practically have to beg you to come over.”

“Beg? What begging…?”

Moon Seoyoon trailed off, realizing that if Woo Yeonjae lived at home instead of in an officetel, they probably wouldn’t see each other much outside of school.

“What? You said you didn’t like spending weekends together.”

“It’s not that I didn’t like it… What’s that?”

Just in time, he noticed something to change the subject. Pointing at the square box in Woo Yeonjae’s hand, he asked. Woo Yeonjae furrowed his brow slightly before eventually smiling, as if letting the conversation slide for now.

“It’s an album. I remembered we talked about photos the other day.”

“Oh, right.”

“There might be pictures of your mom too.”

“Yeah, there probably are.”

Moon Seoyoon sat down beside Woo Yeonjae. He hadn’t realized it when Yeonjae was holding it, but the album was larger than expected—and heavier. He hadn’t anticipated it being so heavy, considering the way Yeonjae had casually held it like a book. With these idle thoughts, Seoyoon opened the first page of the album. Immediately, a photo from their childhood appeared.

“You really…”

He couldn’t help but chuckle as soon as he saw the picture.

“What?”

“Your expression was so indifferent when you were little. Were you mad at me?”

As he flipped through the album on his lap, Woo Yeonjae leaned over, resting his chin on Seoyoon’s shoulder to get a better view. Seoyoon barely managed to suppress his instinct to jump away. The soft, un-dyed hair brushing against his chin made his neck feel stiff.