GB 19

Haero was surprised, having thought it wouldn’t show at all.

The child couldn’t lie at all. It’s hard to imagine how such a child managed to hide on that island. Perhaps they had cleverly interpreted the rule “personal spoils can be kept with the Captain’s permission” in their own way? No one would believe it if told that Haero had become a young pirate’s souvenir. 

Yoon Moo-hwa found it amusing and quite cute how Haero, who couldn’t even tell a small lie, had managed to protect him quite well.

“Your eyes are swollen. Seems like you cried a lot?”

In truth, he was testing the waters. Yoon Moo-hwa had learned interrogation techniques during his special training. He also knew methods to endure torture and how to torture. But with Haero, there was no need for such tactics; the child would readily speak the truth. It was as simple and harmless as syrupy medicine. For Yoon Moo-hwa, who had long been referred to as a human weapon, all of this felt ticklish and unfamiliar, making it quite interesting.

Is this why Yoon Sang-won secretly looks forward to grandchildren?

Yoon Moo-hwa, who noticed everything despite pretending not to, asked Haero again, “Did you cry a lot?”

“…”

“Because you miss the adults and want to go back to that island?”

He shouldn’t keep interrogating like this. Still, Yoon Moo-hwa was curious.

Today, Haero had heard so many stories.The child had heard why Yoon Moo-hwa didn’t want to leave Haero behind and at the same time, learned things about pirates that they didn’t know before. In fact, asking if Haero wanted to go back now was like deceiving the child that all doors were open while actually blocking all escape routes.

Moreover, even if Haero wanted to, there was no way to send the child back. Haero had nowhere to return to in the first place.

“More than going back… I’m scared. Scared that I might be a bad person.” Haero finally confessed after hesitating.

Yoon Moo-hwa sighed inaudibly. It was unconscious. His trapezius muscles, which had been raised with unnoticed tension, relaxed a bit.

“Haero, you’re not a bad person.” Yoon Moo-hwa reassured Haero with a brief statement. But he himself felt that Lieutenant Gu or Manager Seo would have comforted the child better than he did. “You saved me, didn’t you?”

“…”

“I survived thanks to you, Haero. The doctor said it would have been serious if you hadn’t wrapped banana leaves around me.”

“Really…?”

Finally, light returned to Haero’s eyes and color to his face.

It was fortunate that Haero had loose affectionate relationships with the adults who were too busy surviving to be warm. Thanks to that, even Yoon Moo-hwa’s clumsy approach greatly satisfied Haero.

Yoon Moo-hwa nodded and repeated what Haero wanted to hear, “Yes. I survived thanks to you, Haero. If you really can’t believe it, let’s ask the doctor again tomorrow.”

Haero beamed at hearing the words they wanted to hear, “No need. I believe you.”

Though nodding repeatedly saying he believed, Haero couldn’t resist the tickling urge and carefully asked, “But… I still want to hear that story from the doctor tomorrow.”

“Alright. Come with me when I go for my check-up.”

“…”

Haero smiled shyly, seemingly proud of himself.

“If we’re going to the hospital tomorrow, we should sleep now. Early to bed, early to rise.”

“I couldn’t greet that adult man this morning.” Haero said as he was lifted from the chair by Yoon Moo-hwa’s hands. His excited voice wouldn’t easily calm down. “Is that man Yoon Moo-hwa’s dad?”

“Yes. You said we look alike, didn’t you?”

“Yeah. You do look alike. I’ll greet him tomorrow morning. I was taught that’s what I should do.”

“That’s very thoughtful of you.” Yoon Moo-hwa whispered as he led Haero to his room in the corridor. In the sparsely furnished house provided as official residence, even small sounds echoed loudly.

Entering the room, Haero kept smiling, happy that Yoon Moo-hwa was tucking him into bed. As the large hands pulled the blanket up to his chin and tucked in the sides, Haero suddenly remembered throwing up on the blanket they were first given on the ship. Did they wash it well? He felt sorry about that.

“I’m sorry for throwing up on the blanket back then.” Haero, true to their childlike nature, spoke as soon as the thought occurred.

“It’s okay. Many people throw up.”

“On ships?”

“Yes, on ships. And because you’re small, Haero, the vomit stain was small too. Just this big.” Yoon Moo-hwa opened his palm and pointed to the center with his other hand. 

At his gesture meaning “this much,” Haero smiled shyly.

Yoon Moo-hwa decided to watch over Haero until he fell asleep. It was Yoon Moo-hwa way of apologizing for today’s events. He knelt on one knee beside the bed and waited for a while.

The medicine seemed to be taking effect. Haero’s eyelids were more than halfway closed. His speech was slowing down too, “Whose mother’s ship is that?”

“Huh?” Yoon Moo-hwa thought Haero was sleep-talking.

“I’m curious about Yoon Moo-hwa’s mother’s ship too. It must be very big and cool, right?”

What is this kid talking about?

Frowning as he tried to decipher these puzzling words, Yoon Moo-hwa soon recalled Haero whispering that children are born on ships. As if it were some deeply secret information.

Smiling awkwardly at Yoon Moo-hwa, Haero, just before falling completely asleep, yawned and managed to say, “Next time, show me Yoon Moo-hwa’s mother’s ship too.”

There’s no such thing.

Yoon Moo-hwa, suppressing a laugh, replied, “You should call me ‘hyung‘.” His voice sounded like a distant thud to Haero, who fell asleep with a small smile.

Haero was still scared. The bones stacked on his shoulder and the people he had considered family were now unfamiliar and confusing. But he pretended not to know and closed his eyes tightly to sleep.

In his dream, Haero was in a storm. When he cried, Haero thought that must be why adults said not to swim at night. Haero tried to shout for help, but only bubbles came out of his mouth.

When he woke up briefly at dawn, Haero saw Yoon Moo-hwa asleep while holding his hand and snuggled back under the blanket. Sighing with relief, Haero tried to go back to sleep, unaware that Yoon Moo-hwa had opened his eyes and was watching him.

Behind Haero’s closed eyes, there was no more storm.

* * *

With a character bandage on his arm, Haero sat bravely next to Yoon Moo-hwa while holding the candy he received as a reward for getting his shot well. Now it was Yoon Moo-hwa’s turn for the examination.

“Your recovery is very fast. The prognosis is good.”

“Is it because of the good initial treatment?”

Yoon Moo-hwa didn’t forget to ask. He could feel Haero puffing out his chest next to him as if to say, ‘That was me who did so well.’

The doctor, noticing this, smiled and nodded. “Yes. Whoever did it, they did well. Thanks to that, infection was avoided too. The basics of first aid are stopping bleeding, and then preventing infection. Well done.”

Even though there were words he didn’t understand, Haero smiled brightly, knowing he was being praised. “I chewed herbs myself and applied them.”

“Ah… chewed?” The doctor looked a bit surprised but then nodded. “Well done.”

“I’ll take her to the dentist,” Yoon Moo-hwa said, trying not to laugh. “When can I return to duty?”

“In three weeks.”

“That should be enough. I think I’ll return just in time.”

Haero was curious about what was enough and where Yoon Moo-hwa was ‘returning’ to, but he patiently refrained from interrupting the adults’ conversation.

“Then, when you leav-“

“Just a moment. Haero, go out for a bit. Wait at the café where we bought bread today, and I’ll come get you.”

The doctor’s words about precautions before returning to duty were abruptly cut off. Yoon Moo-hwa put his bracelet on Haero’s wrist. It was a base-use lifestyle bracelet that could be used for payments.

It was too big for Haero and had to be wrapped twice. Haero thought the bracelet was quite cool and felt excited that wearing it made him similar to the impressive Yoon Moo-hwa. He nodded and got down from the chair.

“Doctor, please don’t hurt Yoon Moo-hwa.” He left this quite adult-like request before leaving the examination room.

As he left, Haero thought he still could heard the doctor’s laughter.

* * *

The café where they had bought bread was located in the lobby. Haero lingered there. There were many strange and curious things, but he wasn’t sure what was delicious or what he was allowed to buy.

‘I don’t want to eat what Yoon Moo-hwa bought again.’

Although it was tasty, he wanted to try something new, and he wanted to show that he could successfully order on his own without Yoon Moo-hwa.

However, contrary to his wishes, as Haero was still unable to decide and just peering at the showcase, an employee approached and asked, “What are you looking for?”

Haero startled and clamped his mouth shut.

It was very difficult for Haero to talk to grown-ups who were neither navy personnel nor the adults he grew up with. Showing a wary look to the stranger, Haero hesitated and then turned around and left the café.

As he came out almost running away, he found himself in front of that beautiful screen again. Haero sat down dejectedly in front of it.

“I should have just waited for Yoon Moo-hwa.” As Haero dangled his legs and muttered glumly, someone crept up behind him. “But I want to buy something for Yoon Moo-hwa too, I…”

Although it was clearly Yoon Moo-hwa’s money, Haero, still lacking understanding of finances, felt like he wasn’t taking proper care of his possessions and became even more depressed. Because of this, he didn’t notice the footsteps approaching from behind.

No, he couldn’t have noticed. There were incomparably more people here than where he used to live. So many that it was hard to even hide.

The person who suddenly attacked the defenseless Haero from behind instantly covered Haero’s mouth and dragged him away, disappearing towards the less crowded bathroom area.