March Novel (Completed) - Chapter 99

He had momentarily forgotten that Gi Taejeong was the kind of person who, if you came at him with a knife in your mouth, wanting him to hurt too, would just shove it further in, daring you to do more.

“…What did I… do wrong? Me?”

He was a madman who would smile slyly, letting you rage all you wanted, even if his own hands got cut from tearing the mouth of the opponent who dared to challenge him, and I, I…

“It’s your baby… it’s the Brigadier General’s child too, so why… why would you say something like that… to that extent…”

“What good is it if you’re not here?”

Listening to Gi Taejeong’s words, it almost sounded like a grand confession. It wasn’t a terrifying threat to tie his feet with the child so he couldn’t even die as he pleased, but rather, it was as if he was desperately pleading that he couldn’t possibly live without Sehwa.

“Only be mean to me, you crazy bastard! If you hate me so much!”

Sehwa struggled with all his might. The bandage he kicked off in his desperate thrashing rolled across the floor, and ointments and medicines flew everywhere.

“Why would you say such things to the baby! To other people too, why on earth! Why are you like this!”

“I’ve never hated you.”

“…”

“…It would have been easier if I had.”

Gi Taejeong said calmly, gesturing to Lieutenant Na for a new bandage.

“I told you earlier, didn’t I? From now on, I’ll call you ‘yeobo’ and ‘darling’.”

Gi Taejeong, who had been quietly gazing at the disheveled Sehwa with a momentarily lowered gaze, then continued to speak calmly, as if nothing had happened, with a smooth expression that made one’s blood boil.

“How could I even think of living together, skin to skin, with someone I dislike? And even registering our names on the resident registration.”

“…”

“Of course, you’ll sign the marriage registration form yourself, darling.”

Gi Taejeong kissed the back of Sehwa’s hand and his fingers several times, then smiled brightly. The talk of signing the marriage registration didn’t seem to be a joke at all.

“You might not want to live, but others won’t feel the same.”

Tears that hadn’t even formed yet dripped onto his clothes. Gi Taejeong watched for a moment as the dusty fabric soaked darkly, forming round patterns, then quietly called Lieutenant Park.

“Connect General Oh Seonran.”

Sehwa’s body, limp as laundry, was suddenly lifted. Gi Taejeong placed him on his lap and gestured to Lieutenant Na, as if telling him to finish the treatment.

Sehwa, having lost all will to resist, slowly blinked his eyes. Gi Taejeong’s hands, holding him tightly around the back and side as if comforting a child, were sadly just the same as before. His body temperature, his scent, the rough touch that seemed to reassure him… nothing had changed.

Gi Taejeong, seeing Sehwa shedding tears with an unusual expression, let out a small, imperceptible sigh. And then, he finally raised his hand. To stroke his cheek as before, to wipe away the tears around his eyes.

But at that small movement, Sehwa was greatly startled and curled up as much as possible. He wrapped his arms around his stomach, trembling with fear that Gi Taejeong might harm the baby.

Sehwa was so pale and trembling that it was difficult to say anything carelessly… Gi Taejeong couldn’t even make excuses that he hadn’t intended to threaten him, and just stared at the terrified Sehwa.

• Sehwa. Can you hear me?

Then, at the sudden, gentle voice of Oh Seonran, Sehwa finally couldn’t hold back and sobbed softly.

When Gi Taejeong had rescued him from Mr. Son, the owner, who was stubbornly demanding payment… Even then, Gi Taejeong had held him like this in his arms and comforted him, saying it must have been hard. Receiving his touch, Sehwa had cried like a child, whimpering about how sad he had been.

Now it was the opposite. Listening to Oh Seonran’s voice, Sehwa wept, tears streaming down his face. As if to say thank you for giving him a breath of fresh air from this man. As if to say, you are my comfort now.

Gi Taejeong held up his empty hand for a moment, then finally let it fall as if nothing had happened. Lee Sehwa is avoiding me? Refusing my hand? He bit his lip hard, a little flustered, and erased the bitter expression that had involuntarily appeared. Is ‘flustered’ the right word for this situation? Gi Taejeong himself couldn’t pinpoint the exact emotion, so he quickly pushed this small, fragile feeling away from his heart, as if it wasn’t his own.

• How’s your body? Are you in pain anywhere? Is everything alright?

General Oh Seonran didn’t question why Sehwa hadn’t shown up at the meeting place, why he had made such a reckless plan without discussing it, or how he ended up with Gi Taejeong. He just asked if he was in pain anywhere, saying that was enough.

• Sehwa?

“…Yes.”

It was a voice clearly soaked in tears. General Oh Seonran, who couldn’t have failed to notice this, was silent for a moment, then continued as if he didn’t know.

• Alright, then that’s good. If you’re not in pain and you’re safe… But Sehwa.

“…”

• As you know, I can’t force anything on you, unlike others. So I told you I’d give you time to slowly build trust in me, but… I’m sorry, something has come up that I need you to decide on rather quickly.

Sehwa lifted his heavy shoulders and wiped his tears with his forearm.

“Yes, please… tell me.”

• Lieutenant Kim’s side is trying to postpone the second trial. They seem to be planning to pin everything on you once you give birth, as your guardian will disappear then. Of course, they’re not unaware that you’re carrying Brigadier General Gi Taejeong’s child, but legally, the two of you aren’t anything to each other yet. They know that if they’re going to do something, that would be the opportune time.

Ah… Sehwa finally understood why Gi Taejeong kept mentioning the marriage registration. It was because the trial results might be ruined.

Indeed. He was the kind of person who would say, “If you die, that child will live the same fate as you.” If he had been even a little sincere with Sehwa, he couldn’t have thought such a thing, so Sehwa had naturally assumed it was a cheap joke.

But it wasn’t. He truly needed it, and he really intended to put his name on the resident registration. Only out of necessity…

• So, you may have a lot to think about, but I’d like you to hasten your adoption into my family… Is it still very uncomfortable for you?

“…”

• Ah. This is completely separate from you staying by Brigadier General Gi Taejeong’s side, so there won’t be any problem proceeding.

That last remark wasn’t directed at Sehwa. It was practically a notification to Gi Taejeong. Indeed, General Oh Seonran didn’t seem to believe that Sehwa was staying by the man’s side of his own free will.

• If necessary, I’ll meet Brigadier General Gi Taejeong and persuade him, so you don’t have to worry about anything.

And General Oh Seonran’s argument was impeccable. Sehwa becoming his adopted son would also be advantageous for Gi Taejeong. It would be much easier to defeat Lieutenant Kim’s faction. It wasn’t as if they were trying to pick a fight about the two of them being together, so it would be ridiculous to simply oppose it just because he felt bad.

“Let’s discuss this later. Sehwa seems very tired right now.”

Before Sehwa could respond, Gi Taejeong, who had been silently keeping his mouth shut beside him, suddenly cut in.

• …Then I’ll prepare and contact you.

General Oh Seonran, who seemed annoyed or unforgiving by Gi Taejeong’s sudden interruption, ground his teeth, then let out a long sigh, and called Sehwa’s name at length, as if trying to calm himself.

• Did I tell you your father’s name?

“I think I… heard it vaguely…”

• Right. I never properly told you, did I? It’s Lee Jinwoo. Jin, meaning ‘true’, and Woo, meaning ‘lotus root’. Those characters, Lee Jinwoo.

Oh Seonran told him that the lotus root is the root of the lotus flower, and that flower is so strong it can bloom alone even in mud. It’s a flower that blooms beautifully even in dirty places, to the extent that some religions use it as a symbol.

• You are the son of such a Jinwoo. Like Jinwoo’s son, you’ve endured well enough until now. You’ve done well.

“…”

• It must have been very hard, wasn’t it? But please, just hold on a little longer. Okay? We’re almost there.

“…”

• Don’t cry, Sehwa.

With that gentle comfort, General Oh Seonran’s voice abruptly cut off. Gi Taejeong’s hand twitched, so it seemed he had pressed a button or something to end the communication.

“Hmph, ugh… sob…”

Sehwa finally burst into loud sobs. He felt sorry for General Oh Seonran. He felt sorry for Aunt Song, and he felt sorry for Saessak… and he hated Gi Taejeong just as much.

Even people he hadn’t known for long were so ordinarily kind. They told him not to cry, and they cheered him on to be strong. Why did the person he wanted to be loved by the most always throw him into the mud?

He resented the man who had threatened him, saying he would make his child live like him, making it impossible for him to die as he pleased, and now was even talking about signing a marriage registration for his own purposes.

Yet, he had liked him with all his heart. That’s why he was having such a hard time now… and Gi Taejeong, knowing all this, still called him ‘darling’ and mocked him, adding that it wasn’t because he disliked him…

“…Let go.”

The man relentlessly tormented him, and kept reaching out to touch his face… Sehwa struggled with all his might again.

“Let go!”

Gi Taejeong hugged Sehwa’s waist tightly, as if to say no way. And then… he reached for his wet cheek. This time, no matter Sehwa’s reaction, he didn’t back down, stubbornly wiping away the moisture.

Even when Sehwa slapped the man’s hand away with his pathetic strength, and stubbornly twisted his head, Gi Taejeong acted as he pleased. It wasn’t pity, nor was it affection… he was just throwing around some unknown emotion as he pleased. He was selfish to the end.

A large palm gently covered Sehwa’s tear-stained eyes, which were only taking shallow breaths. The two of them remained silent for a long time.

Gi Taejeong gazed at the glass. The melting ice clinked as it collapsed inside the ice bucket. Just like Lee Sehwa, who had cried until all the moisture in his body had dried up a moment ago.

He had brought the unconscious Sehwa from the car, washed him, and laid him on the bed. Not in the guest room he used before, but in his own private bedroom, with only a massive bed.

He had attached a chain, made of the same platinum material as the one around Sehwa’s neck, elaborately inlaid with gold and diamonds, to a hook and firmly secured it to a stake driven into the bed frame. Though they weren’t attached now because they didn’t match, he planned to put shackles on Sehwa’s ankles once they healed.

…And yes, it was a childish and terrible act of retaliation.

Turning his back on him, telling him to just die, trying to escape by boarding a cargo ship. And even threatening him, pushing through his weak body… He would make sure Sehwa never even dreamed of such things again.

At first, he had intended to coax and appease him, only saying nice things. It wasn’t difficult. And he liked seeing Sehwa, who was moved by trivial things, willingly embrace him. But what was the result? Now, no matter what he said, Sehwa wouldn’t listen or believe him, and kept trying to fly away from his side, so there was no choice but to break his wings entirely.

“Shit…”

He emptied the glass in one gulp and slammed it down so hard it almost shattered.

Even pouring alcohol down his throat couldn’t calm his tangled insides. He had brought Sehwa back, even putting a leash on him as he had vowed, but seeing the tear stains that wouldn’t wash away, no matter how thoroughly he cleaned him… instead of feeling relieved, he just felt worse.

“…Ha.”

He didn’t know how to handle Sehwa.

Sehwa tried to act cruelly, but honestly, it didn’t hurt at all. Lee Sehwa clearly didn’t know how his face contorted when he said such things. The daggers he threw, hurting and upsetting himself more, didn’t even touch Gi Taejeong’s heart, let alone his toes. However…

Perhaps because he only held Sehwa’s body, he hated that Sehwa kept trying to harm himself. Sehwa would find it absurd to hear, but Gi Taejeong was also worried.

He was afraid that if he went easy on him, Sehwa would just plan another escape… so he suppressed him with his temper, as if to say no way. Even though he knew that pushing him like this was just a temporary solution.

Gi Taejeong pulled over the shopping bag he had casually tossed near the bar and had been gazing at as if it were a snack. He took out the box and removed the paper wrapping, revealing two identical pairs of shoes. It was a gift he had intended for Sehwa.

He had wanted to confess everything that had happened and apologize, but… now the person concerned wouldn’t be willing to listen. He just fiddled with the baby shoes, smaller than his finger.

He admitted that he had been particularly destructive and impulsive today. Especially saying he would do something to the baby… he knew it was too much. He was sure that those words, if nothing else, would leave a long-lasting bruise on Lee Sehwa’s heart.

“…”

Gi Taejeong, who had been rolling the small shoes in his hand for a long time, staggered to his feet. Now, even if he showed him this, Sehwa wouldn’t like it… Well, what was the point of worrying about it now? Sehwa would hate anything he gave him anyway.

So, from now on, he also intended to act as he pleased. He would keep Lee Sehwa safely within the fence built with money and power, and if he wanted to give him something, he would lavish it upon him as he pleased. If he held him tightly so he couldn’t even dream of escaping or harming himself, and if they spent a long time together like that… someday, the day would come when he could say the words he hadn’t been able to.

Gi Taejeong didn’t want to see Sehwa flinch again in his presence, so he moved quietly and carefully to the second floor. After all, Sehwa probably hadn’t regained consciousness yet… he should also loosen the restraints connected to the bed frame. For now, just having the collar around his neck would prevent him from doing anything reckless.

“…How is it?”

Gi Taejeong, who had stepped onto the hallway after the last stair, stopped dead, startled by the whispered words. What? It sounds like Lee Sehwa’s voice…

“Saessak.”

…Saessak?

Gi Taejeong blinked slowly, then let out a breath and walked towards the bedroom. He was clearly drunk. He must be hearing only what he wants to hear.

There was no way the captured Lee Sehwa would speak so gently. Moreover, if he had been conscious, he would have wailed or screamed at the sight of the leash connected to the bed, so…

“Don’t mind what those people said earlier. Daddy’s forgotten all about it too. Look, I’m not crying anymore…”

But the suffocatingly loving whisper, clearly directed at someone, continued. Gi Taejeong was rooted to the spot as if nailed down. It wasn’t a lie. It wasn’t an illusion. It really… was Sehwa’s voice.

A faint reading lamp glowed from the slightly open door. Sehwa was leaning against the headboard, bathed in that warm light. He kept stroking his still-flat stomach and muttering something.

So Saessak… was the name he had given the baby in his womb. Saessak. It was a word so small and cute that he wondered if he had ever pronounced it in his life, and it felt unfamiliar.

“It must have been very hard, wasn’t it? I’m sorry… But if you just hold on a little longer, it’ll all be over. Then Daddy and I can go far, far away again.”

Gi Taejeong pressed his back against the wall so Sehwa wouldn’t notice him, and quietly watched the warm, strange scene he hadn’t been invited to.

The soft voice, promising a happy future to the child with a smile, was filled with the same warmth as before. If he opened the door and went in like this… Sehwa would look at him and smile, calling him Brigadier General. He would pout, asking if he was late because he was drinking alone, and if Gi Taejeong opened his arms, he would just snuggle in and chatter for a long time. As if he didn’t know what to do with his affection… just like that time when he looked at him with eyes full of love.

Let’s pretend nothing happened between us.

Sehwa kept repeating similar words, as if he had run out of things to say but didn’t want to fall asleep. He also counted, one by one, the impossible dreams of what he wanted to do with the child in a place where no one else was, sailing the sea on a big ship.

“…But there are many kinds of whales, like dogs… Daddy wanted to see dolphins the most among them. A customer told me once that you can see dolphins if you take a cruise ship. Oh, what’s a cruise, you ask…”

Lee Sehwa and Saessak.

Sehwa and Saessak.

Sehwa and Sehwa’s child.

…My and Sehwa’s child.

Gi Taejeong leaned his head back and listened quietly to that voice, which sounded like sugar was pouring out of it. He hooked one baby shoe onto his index finger and the other onto his middle finger, until Sehwa drifted off to sleep again.