Even a Lonely Squirrel Has Its Burrow - Chapter 111

***

As Sa Muheon conversed with Chief Han to catch up on what had happened while he was unconscious, he found that there was little difference from what his mother had already told him.

Sa Hiran, who had left saying she would be back soon, took much longer to return than expected.

Clatter—.

Even before the door opened, he could hear faint voices outside, so he had a rough idea. However, seeing the two people who entered together was quite unexpected. Sa Hiran stepped into the hospital room with Garam. One of Sa Muheon’s eyebrows slowly arched upward as he spotted the two of them.

“You came together?”

“Yeah. He was having a meal just outside, so I went and brought him along.”

There was a subtle tone of interrogation in Sa Muheon’s question, but Sa Hiran brushed it off as nothing. Garam, for some reason, was grinning foolishly as he followed behind her. Watching how even after entering the hospital room, Garam’s gaze remained fixed on his mother rather than on him, Sa Muheon felt an inexplicable annoyance creeping in.

“Garam.”

Deliberately using a softer tone, Sa Muheon called his name to draw his attention. Just as he intended, Garam blinked in surprise and turned his head toward him.

“Did you eat well?”

“Y-yes….”

Garam tilted his head slightly, as if he thought he had misheard, but still answered obediently. When Sa Muheon gestured with his chin, Garam seemed almost entranced as he stepped toward him.

Behind him, his mother cast a look at Sa Muheon that was full of exasperation, but he paid no mind and continued speaking to Garam.

“I heard you were really worried.”

“Ah….”

At those words, Garam’s face darkened, as if recalling the time when Sa Muheon had collapsed. He had chosen the wrong topic. Clicking his tongue inwardly, Sa Muheon quickly tried to change the subject, but Garam spoke first.

“It was because of that person, wasn’t it?”

“Hm?”

“Ryu Beomju.”

Sa Muheon hesitated for a moment. Would it be better to tell Garam the truth or to hide it? The fact that he asked so directly suggested that he had already guessed as much. But what worried Sa Muheon was that if Garam found out his injuries were Ryu Beomju’s doing, he might end up blaming himself.

“…Yes.”

In the end, Sa Muheon chose to tell the truth. Lying just to keep Garam from worrying didn’t feel right. He wasn’t someone who felt guilty about lying in general, but at the very least, he didn’t want to deceive someone he genuinely cared about.

“Did he escape?”

“Yes.”

“And he still hasn’t been found?”

“No.”

As Sa Muheon answered Garam’s questions sincerely, he found it difficult to read what was going on in his mind. Contrary to his worries, Garam neither blamed himself nor looked particularly angry or sad. He simply continued his questions with a calm expression.

After Sa Muheon’s last response, Garam paused briefly before opening his mouth again.

“Will you be able to find him again?”

“Yes. I will, without a doubt.”

It was an answer filled with certainty. Only then did Garam smile slightly. At last, Sa Muheon was able to grasp what Garam had been thinking.

He must have been worried that they might never find Ryu Beomju again—or that, in the process of searching for him, Sa Muheon might end up getting hurt once more. But upon hearing that they would definitely catch him, he seemed relieved.

That was when Sa Muheon remembered the time when Garam had met Ryu Beomju alone. Since Garam had been reluctant to talk about that incident, Sa Muheon hadn’t pressed him for details. But he had made great efforts to ensure that Garam wouldn’t feel anxious about it anymore.

Garam had never brought up that day again, and lately, he had appeared completely normal even when going out. Sa Muheon had thought that the memory had faded from his mind. But apparently, that wasn’t the case.

Realizing a bit too late that the fear still lingered in Garam’s heart left a bitter taste in Sa Muheon’s mouth.

“I really hope you catch him.”

“…Yeah.”

“Only then will you stop getting hurt….”

Garam’s voice trembled slightly as he said that. Noticing it himself, he pressed his lips together tightly.

Without saying a word, Sa Muheon reached out and firmly held Garam’s hand, which was resting on the bed. Fortunately, the warmth of his touch seemed to bring some comfort, as Garam let out a small, relieved laugh.

“Of course, we have to catch him. That way, our little one won’t have to worry anymore, right?”

It was Sa Hiran, who had been quietly listening to their conversation, who suddenly chimed in.

As if he had forgotten she was still there, Garam flinched and hurriedly tried to pull his hand away from Sa Muheon’s grasp. But Sa Muheon only tightened his grip and didn’t let go.

Walking closer to the two, Sa Hiran looked at their clasped hands with an amused smile.

“Sa Muheon, you should treat your little one well. You hear me? No matter what, how could you… to someone this young….”

She trailed off while glancing back and forth between their faces before sighing softly. She even muttered something under her breath, but the voice was too low for Garam to catch.

Of course, Sa Muheon, having read her lips, could make a rough guess at what she had said. But since she wasn’t wrong, he saw no reason to argue.

“T-that’s not what this is….”

Garam, on the other hand, flustered by whatever he thought she meant, stammered out a poorly constructed denial.

Sa Hiran looked at him in bewilderment before turning to her son instead.

“What do you mean, it’s not?”

Although she had directed the question at Sa Muheon, the answer came from an entirely unexpected source.

“I-I mean, we’re not….”

“Oh my.”

Sa Hiran widened her eyes at that response. Then, she alternated her gaze between Sa Muheon and Garam. Garam, looking extremely tense, was staring at Sa Hiran, while Sa Muheon, the moment his eyes met his mother’s, quietly shook his head. He felt that he had to step in and handle the situation before Garam said something even stranger.

“…Not yet.”

“What?”

“That’s why I’m trying.”

At the words we’re nothing at all, Sa Hiran’s gaze sharpened, and even Garam, who had just moments ago claimed the same thing, now looked at him with tearful eyes. However, upon hearing what followed, relief settled into both of their expressions.

“I see. If you had said you were nothing at all, I would’ve been really disappointed.”

At Sa Hiran’s playful remark, Garam’s face flushed bright red. He looked flustered, but at the same time, he seemed to realize that Sa Hiran viewed their relationship in a positive light. Before he knew it, the tension had left his face, and he was smiling awkwardly.

“Well then, I should get going now.”

“You’re leaving already?”

The one who reacted first to her words was Garam. Sa Muheon was slightly bewildered to see just how disappointed Garam seemed at his mother’s departure, but since she was smiling so warmly, he didn’t say anything and simply observed the two of them.

“Sa Muheon is awake now, so there’s no need for me to stay any longer. I’d love to chat more with our little one, but it feels like someone keeps throwing me rather unkind glances….”

As Sa Hiran spoke and glanced at the bedridden Sa Muheon, Garam, eyes wide, turned to look at him. Sa Muheon, as if to assert his innocence, put on the most docile expression he could while gazing up at Garam. Garam tilted his head, alternating his gaze between the two.

“Still, don’t overdo it. Chief Han will be here in the evening, so you, little one, should go home and get some proper rest. I heard from Manager Jang that the semester isn’t even over yet?”

“…Yes.”

“Good. Then once the semester ends, you should visit home with Sa Muheon sometime. We can have a meal together.”

At that, Garam’s face softened completely, and he nodded with a bright, beaming smile. Finding him adorable, Sa Hiran gently patted his head before throwing a light glare at Sa Muheon, who was still lying in bed.

“Sa Muheon, you too—don’t push yourself like earlier. If anything feels inconvenient while you’re recovering, let me know anytime. And don’t bother our little one too much; he’s busy with his studies.”

“What am I, a kid?”

“No matter how old you get, you’ll always be a child to your mother.”

Since Sa Muheon had no retort to that, Sa Hiran simply chuckled, bid her farewell, and left the hospital room.

With her sudden departure, the two were left alone. Garam lingered awkwardly near the door, glancing at Sa Muheon as if gauging his mood. When Sa Muheon gave him a light nod, Garam hesitantly approached.

“Why are you being so hesitant?”

“…Just because.”

“Hm?”

Sa Muheon smiled and took Garam’s hand. As he gave a gentle tug, Garam moved closer and sat down on the chair beside the bed.

When Garam averted his gaze again, Sa Muheon slowly moved his hand. He intertwined his fingers between Garam’s, lacing them together. Garam, cheeks flushed red, looked up at Sa Muheon with wide eyes.