X
Join our Discord server and get release updates for every novel you follow.
Join the ServerA child who had been wobbling on a scooter that refused to stop suddenly flew into the air.
Before crashing into Haesoo, the child landed safely in the arms of the man standing beside him.
Held securely against the broad, sturdy chest, the little legs dangled helplessly.
“Did your scooter break?”
“It didn’t break.”
Haesoo stared blankly at the man standing beside the child.
Even after lifting the little boy so easily, the man showed no sign of strain.
Maybe he was simply that strong.
He gently stroked the frightened child’s forehead while using his other hand to stand the fallen scooter back up.
Haesoo had often imagined it before.
The man he knew would have no trouble carrying a child all day if he had to.
He liked children.
He was gentle.
And he had always longed for things he never got to have.
“You have to be careful.”
“You could’ve hurt someone.”
“I’m so high!”
“Higher!”
“Lift me higher!”
“…Our little friend is being scolded right now.”
Sometimes…
Whenever he saw children around that age, he found himself imagining the one they had lost.
Who would you have looked like?
The moment I saw you…
Would I have thought of Choi Haesoo?
Or Kwon Seha?
Or would you have looked like both of us equally…
With a face too lovable not to adore?
Someone he had never even met remained in his heart.
They had failed to realize that life had briefly existed before they ever had the chance to welcome it.
They hadn’t even been able to say goodbye.
Haesoo knew it wasn’t his fault.
For now…
He simply couldn’t stop watching the scene before him.
The one he had only ever imagined.
“We’re so sorry!”
“We’re really sorry!”
“No…”
“It’s alright.”
While the man gently lectured the child, the parents hurried over to apologize.
First…
To Haesoo, who had almost been hit.
“See?”
“When you do something wrong, your mom and dad have to apologize too.”
“So next time…”
“Should you ride straight toward people like that?”
“…No.”
Then…
They apologized again to the man who had stepped into Haesoo’s peaceful afternoon to help.
“And why would you crash into someone?”
“Look carefully.”
“I’m sorry…”
After apologizing over and over, the family noticed that Haesoo and the man seemed to know each other.
They wished them both a pleasant day before leaving.
The little boy puffed gentle breaths over Haesoo’s knees even though he hadn’t actually hit them.
Haesoo smiled kindly and assured him he was fine.
Only after making the child promise not to worry did the little boy run back to his parents.
Could we really have a pleasant time together…?
Everything had happened so suddenly that Haesoo still hadn’t caught up.
Meanwhile…
The man beside him seemed perfectly comfortable.
He casually sat down on the bench.
“We meet again.”
“Mr. Choi Haesoo.”
Haesoo blinked blankly at the greeting directed toward him.
At first…
He wondered whether he was hallucinating.
Then he realized…
If anyone looked out of place here…
It was himself.
This park was far from his home.
He knew that.
Seha was here.
Kwon Seha.
The man he had believed he would never meet again for a very long time…
Perhaps never again for the rest of his life.
And now…
He was sitting right beside him.
“I didn’t follow you here, Mr. Kwon.”
For only a brief moment, he had been happy to see him.
Then habit took over.
The excuse left his mouth automatically.
Seha answered with nothing more than a scoff.
“What are you even talking about?”
“You were here first.”
“…”
“If that little speed demon hadn’t nearly crashed into you…”
“I would’ve walked right past without saying hello.”
Seha laughed as though the idea were ridiculous.
That’s a relief.
At least Seha hadn’t misunderstood.
Only then did Haesoo realize just how tense his entire body had become the moment Seha appeared.
“Besides…”
“Did I rent out this whole park?”
“If I actually thought that way…”
“I’d have a serious case of main character syndrome.”
“This is just a walking trail people around here use.”
“I see.”
“Yeah.”
“I’m just someone who lives nearby and happened to be walking home after work.”
It had been Haesoo who rushed to explain himself first.
Yet somehow…
Seha ended up sounding like the one making excuses.
Even though neither of them held any resentment toward the other.
A walking trail near Seha’s home…
Haesoo had wandered here without thinking.
Realizing that made him oddly embarrassed.
So he still lives around here.
Not with Chairman Kwon anymore.
Who does he live with now?
By himself?
Or…
Maybe with Jiwoo.
He wanted to ask something simple instead.
Whether Seha had eaten.
Why he was already leaving work.
Whether he was feeling unwell.
The worries came naturally.
But…
He doubted Seha would answer anyway.
So he stayed silent.
One thing, however, was certain.
The tension that had filled Haesoo little by little began to fade.
“Mr. Choi Haesoo.”
“You do know it’s autumn now…”
“…Right?”
“…”
“And you do know this is the season when your breath turns white every time you exhale?”
The moment Haesoo noticed the expression on Seha’s face…
All the nervousness returned.
His body stiffened again.
Before Haesoo could ask what was wrong, Seha frowned deeply.
Turning his whole body toward him, he spent several long seconds looking openly dissatisfied.
Haesoo, who had been leaning comfortably against the bench, immediately sat up straight.
“I seriously can’t stand your sense of dressing for the weather.”
“The last time I saw you, you were wearing long sleeves in the middle of summer…”
“…”
“And what’s with your complexion?”
“Can’t you even take care of yourself?”
Before Haesoo could respond, Seha had already taken off his coat.
Without asking…
He draped the oversized jacket over Haesoo’s shoulders.
The familiar scent wrapped around him.
Haesoo’s eyes widened.
Warmth slowly spread through his body.
Whether it was because the wind had been blocked…
Or because Seha’s lingering warmth remained inside the coat…
He didn’t want to know.
“Anyone looking at you would think you’re seriously ill.”
“So why are you dragging yourself outside like this?”
“Ah…”
“Thank you.”
“But…”
“Just wear it.”
“And stop making people worry.”
Haesoo had no idea what expression he was supposed to make.
His eyes.
His lips.
Everything moved awkwardly.
Even when he tried smiling sheepishly, it quickly disappeared behind tightly pressed lips.
Simply trying to understand what was happening exhausted him.
“It’s warm…”
He tightly gripped the coat resting over his shoulders.
His hands trembled so much that he thought it might slip off.
Once he pulled it snugly around himself, Seha’s scent surrounded him completely.
The familiar fragrance of the cologne he always wore.
“I heard you met Jiwoo.”
For only a brief moment, Haesoo had allowed himself to become lost in that familiar scent.
Then one name shattered everything.
Whatever small hope remained inside him collapsed instantly.
“…Was it alright?”
Whenever Haesoo stood beside Seha…
He unconsciously took a deep breath.
Today was no different.
He understood exactly what Seha was asking.
Yesterday…
Meeting Jiwoo hadn’t been alright.
Haesoo couldn’t ignore someone who cried in front of him.
Someone who looked so broken.
He had agreed to everything Jiwoo said.
Explaining all of that still felt impossible.
So he answered with only the thoughts that came first.
“No.”
“…”
“He didn’t seem alright at all.”
“He must be hurting.”
“I would be too.”
The familiar thoughts repeated themselves.
Don’t get nervous.
Don’t say something stupid.
Don’t become the pathetic person grabbing Seha’s pant leg and begging him.
“But…”
“I didn’t do anything to Jiwoo.”
“And…”
“I just talked with him.”
“That’s all.”
“Mr. Choi Haesoo.”
“I think you’ve misunderstood my question.”
“What I meant was…”
“We only talked.”
“There’s nothing you need to worry about, Mr. Kwon.”
Seha slowly shook his head.
After remaining silent for a moment…
He clicked his tongue softly.
“I wasn’t asking because I wanted to blame you.”
Their conversation came to a halt.
After a long silence, Haesoo lowered his head.
It felt as though he had spoken over Seha the entire time without listening.
He simply hadn’t wanted to be treated unfairly.
He hadn’t wanted another misunderstanding.
He had no idea what Jiwoo might have told Seha about yesterday.
“I don’t know what kind of bastard you think I am…”
“But when I saw you today…”
“I didn’t misunderstand anything.”
“So…”
“I hope you won’t worry.”
Those few words settled the turmoil inside Haesoo almost instantly.
It felt absurd.
As though someone who had spent the entire morning vomiting from anxiety could suddenly convince himself everything was fine.
At least he knows he’s kind of a bastard…
The thought slipped into Haesoo’s mind.
Before he realized it…
He laughed.
“Haha…”
“Why are you laughing?”
“No…”
“I’m not laughing at you.”
“I swear.”
Only moments ago, he had felt completely miserable.
Now his mood had floated somewhere light again.
No matter how hard he tried…
He couldn’t stop smiling.
This is just like…
The first time we met.
Back when Seha laughed because he had fallen in love…
And I…
…ended up looking like a fool.
A memory from a very…
Very long time ago…
Had quietly found its way back to him.
Loving this chapter? You'll be hooked on Looking For My Child's Father! Click to explore more!
Read : Looking For My Child's Father
If You Notice any translation issues or inconsistency in names, genders, or POV etc? Let us know here in the comments or on our Discord server, and we’ll fix it in current and future chapters. Thanks for helping us to improve! 🙂