Chapter 15: Wife
Chapter Theme: Love Light - CNBLUE

Han Seungwoo

Dongpyo and I looked like criminals chased by the cops so we kept on hiding in the dark. I made sure that we'll be unnoticeable to the women. We triumphantly exited the house without them noticing us. I can't let her see Dongpyo, it scared me to death if she'll find out I have a son. My reason might be shallow and coward but it's not the right moment.

"I'm sleepy.." Dongpyo yawned, displaying how tired and sleepy he was. I carried him to let him sleep on my shoulder.

I traipsed towards the spot where Hangyul was patiently waiting inside the car. He honked as soon as he noticed us.

"Seungwoo hyung.. can we wait for a bit..?"

"Uh, what's the matter? Dongpyo already dozed off to sleep."

I'm sitting in the front seat while Dongpyo was on my lap with his head on my chest supported by my arm.

"Noona asked me to drop her friend and it's more convenient if I'll let her ride with us. Dongpyo can lie down on the backseat in the meantime."

This is freaking insane! If it was only me, I'll probably agree right away with his proposal but the situation's different. Her inside the car would mean chaos for me and I won't let it happen.

I cleared my throat before speaking. Hangyul's my junior so he should take my request as his senior. "Yah Lee Hangyul, can't you see that I'm with a child? Where's your heart? I need to put him on a comfortable bed for him to have a good sleep!"

I used a flinty frigid voice for him to feel scared and coincide with my sentiments. Please work!

"But h-hyung.." I cut him off with my death glares and I pointed to my sleeping son before he could reason out. "Alright, alright! Your wish is my command!" He surrendered and started the ignition.

"No rush driving, please. Remember, you have a father and son with you." I reminded him to cool off the atmosphere. It's not my intention to piss him off so...

"If you're not Han Seungwoo, I have probably thrown you out with my punch, and the hell with the child! I'm so unlucky that you're Han Seungwoo," he sounded so defeated like he can't do anything because I'm the mighty Han Seungwoo.

Being born as Han Seungwoo made my life at advantage at some point just like now. I'm grateful for the people who respected me a lot just like how Hangyul acted. I respect everyone so I'm worth being respected.

"That fcking smile is so annoying hyung... you seemed to be happy for using me! Just to remind you, I'm not doing this for you to mock me, it's for the sake of our friendship!"

"Lee Hangyul.. watch your mouth."

"You have arrived at your destination, King Seungwoo," he took a quick peek at Dongpyo. ".. Prince Dongpyo."

My heartfelt smile escaped my lips. "Thanks for the free ride in your carriage, coachman Hangyul."

Dongpyo might look skinny but carrying him was exhausting. My joints produced sounds when I got off from Hangyul's car and he teased me because it's a sign of aging. Indeed, I'm aging.

The door was not locked and the house was quiet. Appa was already sleeping at this moment. I'm having a second thought if I'll wake Dongpyo for him to brush his teeth or not. His sleeping state was at peace and I don't have any courage to disturb him. There's always a cheat day.

***

"Full tank please," I told the gasoline boy and waited if how much I'll pay.

The sky was grey and the atmosphere was chilly. While watching the news earlier, there will be an upcoming storm. I made sure that Dongpyo brought his raincoat and umbrella.

As I drove the taxi, the rain started to drop slowly making the highway congested. People kept honking annoyingly making all the drivers burst out in frustration. The rain started to pour heavily making an addition to the frustration.

I was looking for an exit from this traffic not minding if it will lead me to a place, not on my route. After a few minutes, I was finally free from the heavy traffic.

A young-looking guy was waiting in a waiting shed so I stopped. He was wearing a black suit and was holding a black attached case making me think that he was an attorney.

With no words, he opened the backseat and placed the attache case on his lap. Using his hanky, he wiped some parts of his suit that were wet. Through the front mirror, I looked at him as I usually do to my passengers. He looked so anxious and uptight making me feel the need to talk to him.

Talking to my passengers, whether they're sad or happy, I customarily talked to them. Interacting will make the atmosphere inside my taxi to be warm and friendly. I want them to feel that they're in safe hands.

"Everyone's carrying a burden on its back.." I started to get his attention. My sight was fixed on the slippery road making sure we will arrive at his destination unscathed. I did not mind catching a glimpse of him because I know that I have his attention.

"Exhale the glumness that has been suffocating your heart and inhale the truths and realities that you've been refusing to accept for your heart to be cleansed."

I heard him sighed a relief. Moments like this, I can't help but say words to unload the burden of my passengers just like how I unload them to a safe unloading area. There's no need for an experience to comfort them, words were enough to soothe their blue hearts.

"I-I've been dying to solve a case but my seniors keep on pushing me out of the lane," he shared and by this time, I looked at him. He looked so defeated and immobile making him petty.

"'A rookie does not have any authority to do exclusive cases' they always say that to our faces. So what if we're just rookies? Can't we exercise our field of expertise just because we're rookies? They call themselves lawyers, but here they are mocking their kind. How ironic!"

I couldn't help but agree. Making someone inferior in contrast to what he believes is so filthy. He believed that he can help, why decline his offer? It's part of their job to help and guide the rookies to earn the confidence and to be the best.

"It's cliché but that's how life works. Oppressed by the oppressors is the trend since then that I think will never change no matter how hard we try to make a change." I shared my thoughts while looking at the front mirror.

Separating weaks from the strongs can make our world falter. There should be a proper balance to receive a good result. The rivalry of the strongs can sometimes lead to chaos because all of them wanted to have something all by themselves.

"Ahjussi, thank you for making me feel light,t and my spirit was revived by your enthusiasm. Taxi drivers shouldn't be judged lowly because you guys are the best listeners. Your advice today made me feel that I am more than they think," his voice was filled with great ecstasy. He redeemed the positiveness that he lost.

His compliment made me smile in awe. I had a soft spot for struggling people because I can reflect on myself them.

"We're not alone in this world, sir. We just have to believe that someone has its back on us."

I dropped him in front of the city court. "Break a leg! Use your profession to help the oppressed and make it your passion. What you said earlier made me conclude that you're enthusiastic about your profession. Work with your heart sir and all will be well."

The connection that we had was so strong. It was like we were bound to meet each other to fill his emptiness and I'm glad that it worked.

"You're more than a soldier, ahjussi. The words that came out of your mouth made me strong on my battlefield. I'll always remember this day in my wake. I'm Kim Minkyu and it will be an honor to give my service to you," he handed me a business card where his details were imprinted.

I accepted it wholeheartedly. "They might look at you as a kid but you know to yourself that you have your skills. Likewise, Kim Minkyu!"

The young lawyer saluted my taxi driver self. I waved my goodbye at him and drove off.

It's past noon and my stomach has been craving food. The rain stopped and the sun started to shine. I was in a place that's not on my route but as a driver, there's a need to familiarize myself with places.

I parked my taxi in a public parking lot and traipsed, looking for a food stall. The smell of the seafood made me more hungry. I entered the place with excitement and ordered a bowl of shrimp soup and fried squid.

The place was packed with people, from locals to tourists. Everyone was enthusiastically eating the fresh foods that were served. I joined a table where two female tourists were seated.

"Excuse me.." my meal was disturbed by one of the tourists. "Can you take a picture of us two?" She pointed to herself and her friend.

"Sure," I replied. I wiped my hands on my jeans because I can't see any table napkins near me.

She handed me her phone and I took 10 pictures of them. They were quite annoying, well they disturbed a hungry person because they can't agree on what pose they'll do. I was the one who told them what poses they should do so I can eat my meal.

"Thank you so much!" The phone's owner received her phone back and I sensed that she purposely touched my hand. She's flirting with me.

While I resumed eating my meal, I was secretly peeking at the two of them. They got blonde hair and blue eyes making my eyes glued to them. The girl who was flirting with me earlier was prettier. She had this kind of angel aura making my heart thump. Han Seungwoo, fix yourself! You're just stunned by her foreign beauty!

Out of nowhere, I remembered Harin making me feel guilty like I was cheating! Heol.

Truthfully, I'm slowly developing feelings for her that made me wary. How can I be responsible for my feelings for her if I want to keep Dongpyo a secret from her?

"What's the matter?" She pulled me out from my reverie. I was cluelessly staring at her while thinking of Harin. My bad.

"Uh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend you or make you feel awkward."

"It's okay. We're looking for a local tour guide that can offer us help while staying in the country." She sounded so confident while batting her long curly lashes.

She's making me nervous. I can't handle tourists because of the language barrier.

"There's an app that will help you or you can ask the owner of this food stall. I hope you'll have a meaningful and memorable stay!"

I consumed all my food to get away from them but they were so persistent in making me stay.

"You're handsome," the other girl said without emotion. She just complimented me, that's all.

Unlike her friend... "I took a picture of you a while ago because I thought that you might be an actor or singer or in a boy group but I didn't see anything."

Did I look at her with a so? look. Can't you see I'm not interested?

"Perhaps, you want to hang out with us? We're not racists and we accept everyone to befriend us as long as he or she is kind. So?"

The eagerness to persuade me to hang out with them was so evident in her voice. She's a pertinacious girl who's determined to keep her eye on me.

I'm sorry baby girls, but I'm not like those other guys who are willing to take a bite every time they're offered new dishes.

"Figures. I get it now," she said while rolling her eyes. The way how she swerved attitude made me irked. "Don't worry about the payment, you deserve a big amount, honey." The way she articulated the word honey was sexy but it didn't affect me.

I've been immune to girls making a move on me so this is not new, but she's not a local so it's half new. What am I saying?

"I'm not appropriate for a tour guide and I'm a busy man. My wife's pregnant and I need to run an errand every time she asks for a request. It's not convenient for me, jeongmal mianhae."

Their faces were unbelievable. Their jaw dropped after I stood up and paid for their food. I enjoyed our talk a little, anyway. It was lunchtime and she dared to flirt with a hungry man.

Wife my ass. Yoon Harin appeared in my mind while uttering the word wife.

Dream on, Han Seungwoo.