Chapter 26: ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM
WONYOUNG was kind of offended that An Baekya was looking at him as if he had gone crazy.
When the kid wasn’t acting, his face was pretty transparent.
Yep— my future son-in-law clearly thinks I’ve lost my mind.
"Yah. You’re a regressor, too," Wonyoung complained lightly. "Is it that hard to believe that I came from a different world other than this one?"
An Baekya quickly fixed his expression.
Now the child looked neutral.
Aigoo.
We really have a young acting genius here.
"Father-in-law, it’s easier to believe that someone has gone back from the future than to believe that someone came from another world. A world that doesn’t have Alphas and Omegas, at that," An Baekya explained defensively, and then he paused for a moment. "Damn, that place must be a paradise, sir. A world without Alphas sounds so fucking great."
Pfft.
"Don’t be naïve, kid," Wonyoung said, waving his hand. "With or without pheromones, the majority of men are still assholes."
"Oh. I can see that."
"Right? Ah, there’s one more thing. Same-sex relationships are widely frowned upon in many countries in that world, even in South Korea."
An Baekya knitted his eyebrows, obviously confused. "I don’t understand."
"Think of how Alpha and Alpha or Omega and Omega relationships— aka same Secondary Gender relationships— are frowned upon here. That’s almost the same."
An Baekya nodded as if he already understood. "Oh, I get it. So, that world isn’t a paradise."
"Far from it," Wonyoung said while nodding. "Do you believe me now?"
"Well, the fact that we both regressed makes me believe that anything is possible now, Father-in-law. I was just shocked at first because I never believed in parallel universes. But you’re here, and you have no reason to lie to me."
"Right?" Wonyoung paused for a moment when something ridiculous crossed his mind. "An Baekya, do you have a ’System?’"
The child tilted his head to one side, looking confused.
"I’m talking about a status window, like the ones you see in video games, that appears whenever you need to complete a mission or a side quest. It gives you rewards when you accomplish tasks," Wonyoung explained as best as he could. "In most regressor novels that I’ve read, main characters usually have a System to guide them."
"Then do you have a System, Father-in-law?"
"No, because I’m not the main character," Wonyoung said while shaking his head. "You know that this world is a world inside a novel where you’re the character, right?"
"Yes, but I don’t think this world is actually within a novel, Father-in-law. My theory is that something or someone had turned my life story into a book to immortalize my memories."
That actually made sense.
But it doesn’t matter anymore. Wherever this world is, it doesn’t change the fact that we’re living in here— and that we need to survive.
Wonyoung could tell that he was avoiding the ’elephant in the room’ again.
He didn’t know he had such an avoidant personality until now.
But I feel like I’m going to go crazy if I think too much.
"I don’t have the luxury to worry about where the book written about my life had come from, though. After all, I’m busy surviving," An Baekya. "As Father-in-law already knows, I have a tough childhood. I don’t care who or what gave me this golden second chance to change my life— but I’ll grab it and seize the opportunity."
Ah, we have the same mindset.
Now, Wonyoung felt bad for bringing up the nonsense about the System.
Admittedly, I lived as if I were just a book character ever since I returned here. As a result, I subconsciously dehumanized the people around me. Now I’m ashamed of myself.
After meeting An Baekya, he was forced to admit the thing he didn’t want to accept before.
This is reality— and I should live properly from now on.
"Father-in-law, what were you saying about the System again?" An Baekya asked curiously. "I’ll try to remember if I encountered something like that after I retrieved my memories."
"No, forget about that. I was just spouting nonsense," Wonyoung said while shaking his head. "Anyway, why do you keep calling me ’Father-in-law’ as if you were used to it? I don’t remember meeting you since I... uh, died early."
To be honest, he wasn’t sure about the real ending of Endless.
But the novel claimed that Wonyoung died.
And my memory is hazy.
"It’s true that you died when Yun Yuhyun was very young, Father-in-law."
Oh.
Wonyoung didn’t know how to feel now that his death had been confirmed.
So, I really died early.
"But Yun Dujun-nim, my Alpha father-in-law, introduced you to me through pictures and videos," An Baekya said. "According to Father-in-law, I should never forget who gave birth to Yun Yuhyun."
Ah.
Wonyoung suddenly felt a pang in his chest.
Did the Yun Dujun Sunbae-nim in that world care about me?
"Even though my Alpha father-in-law had a new husband back then, he still made sure that my other father-in-law was you and not his new partner."
"What?" Wonyoung asked, shocked. "Dujun Sunbae-nim remarried after I died...?"
"Yes, Father-in-law."
"Was it Lee Heeju?"
"How did you know?"
Oh.
Oh.
Wonyoung knew he shouldn’t have been surprised, but he still felt a pang in his chest.
Based on a few pieces of memory that I see from time to time, it seems like Lee Heeju worked hard to steal Dujun Sunbae-nim from me. So, I shouldn’t be surprised that he succeeded after I died.
What could he do anyway?
I died, so I shouldn’t be upset that Dujun Sunbae-nim remarried. Plus, we only had a contract marriage.
Wonyoung knew that.
And yet...
Why do I feel hurt?
Was it because Wonyoung finally accepted that his life may not be a novel, but a reality?
Did I have feelings for Dujun Sunbae-nim?
"Father-in-law, should I have just kept my mouth shut?" An Baekya asked awkwardly. It was obvious that the child felt guilty, probably because Wonyoung was visibly upset. "I’m sorry..."
"No, you don’t have to apologize to me. You just answered what I asked you anyway," Wonyoung said, and then he quickly changed the topic. He didn’t want to overthink his relationship with Yun Dujun, after all. "An Baekya, we should be careful from now on. Instead of calling me ’Father-in-law,’ just call me ’Ahjussi.’"
"Father-in-law, you’re too young to be addressed as such. Can’t I just call you ’hyung-nim?’"
Aigoo.
I’m liking this brat.
"I know 27 is still young, but you’re only five right now, An Baekya. There’s a 22-year gap between us."
"Then should I call you ’Uncle Wonyoungie?’ It sounds cuter, right?"
Pfft.
"You’re really a professional, An Baekya. You know how to weaponize your cuteness."
An Baekya just smiled smugly.
If the kid doesn’t open his filthy mouth, he looks like an innocent angel.
"Fine, you can call me that way," Wonyoung said, smiling. "Then should I call you in a friendlier way?"
"Of course, Uncle Wonyoungie."
Aigoo.
This kid is quick to adapt.
Anyway, it was time for some serious talk.
"Baekya, when I opened my eyes and realized that I went back in time, my first thought was to find you," Wonyoung said in a serious tone. "I don’t know why, but I feel compelled to take care of you. So, will you allow me to raise you this time?"
I’ll just think about ’how’ later.
"Uncle Wonyoungie—"
An Baekya wasn’t able to give Wonyoung a response because they heard a knock on the door.
Before any of them could speak, the door opened.
And someone walked in as if he owned the room.
Oh.
Wonyoung immediately recognized the man despite him wearing a cap and a face mask to cover his (ridiculously) handsome face.
I can’t mistake that build and those fragrant pheromones for someone else.
"Hoobae-nim, let’s talk."
Aigoo.
Wonyoung knitted his eyebrows, confused. "What are you doing here, Sunbae-nim?"
It wasn’t Yun Dujun who answered his question.
"He’s my savior, Uncle Wonyoungie," An Baekya said meekly, the kid already back to acting like an innocent child. "He’s the one who brought me here..."
What???
***
"KID, just call me if you need anything. If you’re hungry, I’ll buy you food and drinks. If you need to go to the bathroom, I’ll accompany you."
An Baekya smiled and nodded shyly, playing the role of a meek child.
"T-Thank you, Ahjussi..."
Han Myung, Yun Dujun’s trusted bodyguard, smiled and gently patted An Baekya’s head before leaving the playroom.
The pediatric department of the hospital had a playroom for kids.
And An Baekya had it all to himself at the moment.
But since the walls were made of glass, Han Myung could see him from the outside.
Hence, he pretended to check the low bookshelf in the corner of the playroom.
He also made sure to turn his back on Han Myung while pretending to read a storybook.
And then...
"Come out," An Baekya whispered. "System."
Yes, the System that Bae Wonyoung spoke about earlier— he had it all along.
But his System didn’t possess the form of a game status window.
His System came in the form of a book with brown, old pages— blank pages, at that.
The empty spot didn’t last long as the System began talking to him.
[You did well lying to Bae Wonyoung, child.]
Yes, An Baekya had lied a lot to Bae Wonyoung while acting clueless earlier.
He only confessed that he was a regressor to gain his Omega father-in-law’s trust.
Hence, Bae Wonyoung lowered his guard and believed everything that An Baekya said after that revelation. That was why he was confident that his Omega father-in-law wouldn’t notice when he started acting innocent.
[Two main characters can’t exist in the same timeline, so only one of you could keep the correct memories of their respective ’novels’ to avoid triggering ’it.’]
Fortunately for An Baekya, Bae Wonyoung was suffering from memory loss.
He knew that much about his Omega father-in-law.
I’m sorry, Uncle Wonyoungie— but my survival comes first.
***
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