My Secret Daddy

Chapter 5

1.

As Jin-ho slipped his massive arms into the shirt Sun-mi held out for him, he grumbled discontentedly.

“You’ve been back in the country for ages, yet you just show your face and can’t even sit down for one meal with us.”

“You know how busy he is. That old house needed work everywhere I looked.”

“Exactly. It’d be easier for him if he just moved in here.”

“Who says it wouldn’t? It’d be nice to have Ruby here too. That girl is so sweet, she’s practically like my own granddaughter.”

Jin-ho shot his wife a sidelong look with his deeply set eyes.

“She’s just as clueless as Seong-hyeon. Don’t you know Seong-hyeon isn’t coming home because of Ruby?”

“That’s because you hate her. How can a man who gives to charity be so cruel to a poor child?”

“You think she’s pitiful? I don’t feel sorry for that girl at all. I hate the way she acts so confident without even knowing her own circumstances, and I hate how Seong-hyeon babies her.”

“Seong-hyeon was finally able to get back on his feet by relying on Ruby like she was his own daughter, and you can still say something like that?”

“Doesn’t he have parents? Siblings? Why does he need to rely on some little girl who isn’t even related to him?”

“Oh, honestly! You have absolutely no sensitivity. There’s just no talking to you.”

2.

Seong-hyeon stared down at the tie Ruby held out to him.

“That looks like the tie you once said was boring.”

“They say this university has a completely different atmosphere from New York. Apparently, the dignity of an educator is important, so professors are supposed to wear old-fashioned things like this.”

“Hm… Is that so?”

Ruby watched with a dissatisfied expression as Seong-hyeon tied it around his neck. Even in such a boring, schoolteacher-like suit, he still managed to look handsome.

Seong-hyeon suddenly became conscious of her gaze and glanced at her.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Your part! It’s not an eighty-twenty split. If you go out like that, they’ll kick you out for being an old man.”

“You little punk… What are you talking about?”

“Ugh! I can’t reach. Why are you so ridiculously tall?”

“On my first day of work, you’re really picking at everything you can.”

Ruby stretched as high as she could toward Seong-hyeon’s forehead. Seong-hyeon, watching her struggle with an affectionate smile, bent down at the waist like a man bowing before royalty.

“All right, Princess. Do whatever you want.”

Ruby gazed up at him with dazzled eyes, then quickly planted a kiss on his lips.

The unexpected gesture sent a shock through Seong-hyeon, like he had been lightly burned.

“I told you not to do things like that anymore. You’re getting too big for it to be cute. It’s creepy now.”

3.

After getting into the car, Seong-hyeon lowered the window and began lecturing her.

“Don’t open the door for just anyone. And don’t forget to turn on the security switch.”

“Got it. I’ll make kimchi stew, so come home early.”

“Don’t waste your time doing unnecessary things. Just study.”

“Oh, right! You need to take this with you.”

“What is it—Mmph!”

That was the second surprise kiss of the morning.

Seong-hyeon glared at Ruby’s shamelessly pleased face.

“You… You’re doing it even more because I told you not to, aren’t you?”

“Glad you figured it out. You’re really going to be late. Now, go!”

Ruby slapped the car door several times like she was smacking a horse’s rump. Then she swung her arms around in a boxing stance.

“Fly, Daddy! Fly! You have to win! Crush them all!”

Seong-hyeon shook his head as he turned the steering wheel.

“Good grief… What exactly am I supposed to crush?”

Ruby’s love signs filled the side mirror.

The clear morning sunlight scattered like snowflakes across her pale forehead and ivory knit sweater. A happy smile spread across Seong-hyeon’s lips, soft as sugar dissolved in water.

Even after he merged onto the road, he continued smiling like that for a long while.

4.

‘Professor Ha Seong-hyeon’s Office, Department of Music, Hyein University.’

Assistant Hoyeong adjusted his horn-rimmed glasses and looked over the nameplate.

The office had been newly renovated by combining two rooms. It was spacious enough to accommodate a grand piano, and it overlooked the gardens—in other words, it was prime real estate.

Naturally, some of the faculty had protested.

Hoyeong had already suffered through enough of Professor Jeon’s tyranny that he had little reason to expect much from Seong-hyeon.

Being a brilliant performer did not necessarily mean having a good character. Hoyeong acknowledged that Seong-hyeon was an outstanding musician, but with powerful connections backing him, it was only natural that he had risen so quickly.

“He’s the son of the Hwaeum Foundation chairman, isn’t he? If you’ve got enough money to throw around, I suppose you could make it all the way to the moon instead of Germany.”

Hoyeong wasn’t the only one who thought that way. Most of the male students did, too.

But most of the female students saw things differently.

“His looks explain everything. He’s tall, so his arms are long too. He’s just naturally gifted. Music is supposed to be beautiful, and just watching him perform is enough to make you happy. What more do you want?”

Through social media, group chats, whispered conversations, and every other means available to them, the students constantly debated Ha Seong-hyeon.

Ever since rumors had begun circulating the previous autumn that Ha Seong-hyeon would be joining the university, enthusiastic fans and anti-fans—none of whom Seong-hyeon himself even knew existed—had been steadily appearing in every corner of the campus.

Hoyeong shot a sidelong glare at two women chatting in front of the bookshelves before sitting down at his desk.

Just then, someone burst through the door as though they were breaking it down.

It was Go Eun-bin, the undisputed heartthrob of Hyein University.

Transparent skin, enormous eyes, bleached hair, and a tight leather jacket paired with skin-hugging stretch pants.

That’s supposed to be a guy? What an irritating bastard.

Hoyeong swallowed the thought and asked,

“What is it?”

“Today’s Professor Ha’s first day, right? Is he here?”

“His official start date is Monday. Today there’s a faculty meeting—”

“So when is he coming?”

“He should be here any minute—”

Before Hoyeong could finish, Eun-bin disappeared.

The door slammed shut behind him with a sound like an explosion.

“That rude little brat!”

The two women by the bookshelves immediately started gossiping.

“I’m seeing Go Eun-bin in person for the first time! He’s so pretty!”

“He looks like a girl, doesn’t he? But his personality is totally different. He’s manly, and he’s really gentlemanly with women.”

“His nickname used to be ‘Little Ha Seong-hyeon.’ I guess we’re going to be seeing a lot of him now!”

“If he’s already this desperate to find Professor Ha, I guess we will.”

“I heard the two of them are dating.”

“What are you talking about? Ha Seong-hyeon—I mean, Professor Ha—got married really young!”

“There are plenty of gay people who are married.”

“Shh! I don’t want to be disappointed in Professor Ha!”

“Either way, we’re about to get a double dose of two generations of pretty boys!”

“Talk about hitting the jackpot!”

The endless giggling finally wore Hoyeong down. He covered both ears with his hands.

5.

“Teach!”

Seong-hyeon had parked his car in the outdoor lot and was walking down the hill when he heard a familiar voice.

For some reason, he felt nervous.

He took a deep breath and slowly turned around.

A face that had always remained that of a boy in his memories was running toward him.

Now, that boy had grown into a dazzlingly beautiful young man.

“Go Eun-bin!”

“Teach!”

The two embraced and shouted in excitement.

Once they finally calmed down, they both began talking at once.

“Look how much you’ve grown. You’re disgusting!”

“Grown? What do you mean? You should’ve called me before you came. Wouldn’t it have been nice if I could’ve met you at the airport?”

“That’s why I didn’t tell you.”

“Why not? I could’ve brought a huge banner and mobilized the whole club band to welcome you.”

“That’s exactly what I was afraid of. But why didn’t you contact me all this time?”

Eun-bin’s mouth fell open like a frozen cod.

“Wow… You still have a way of getting under people’s skin without even trying. I sent more than a million emails to you while I was in the army, even though you never answered. Don’t tell me you marked them all as spam?”

“Ah. I had so many unread emails piling up over the years that I think I deleted them all at once.”

“I’m really sorry about Hye-jung noona.”

When Eun-bin saw Seong-hyeon’s bitter smile, he felt relieved. He patted his teacher’s shoulder as though comforting a child.

“You’re doing okay. You’re doing well.”

“You cheeky little brat…”

“But seriously, when were you planning to contact me?”

“Soon. I’ve been insanely busy. I barely managed to get the house in order. I was planning to invite you over soon.”

“Why bother with some formal invitation? I’ll just barge in. What time are you done today?”

At that, Seong-hyeon’s eyes widened. He checked his watch.

“The meeting! I’m late!”

“Run!”

Eun-bin immediately took off at full speed.

Seong-hyeon had no intention of running despite being in a hurry, but he ended up chasing after him.

“Why are you running?”

“Because I told you to run, Teach!”

“It’s fine if I’m just late. I’m getting old, so I don’t feel like running unless I absolutely have to.”

“Teach!”

“Yeah?”

“You’re not old at all! You’ve gotten even prettier.”

Seong-hyeon subtly slowed his pace and smiled smugly.

“Good grief. You still have an eye for beauty, just like before.”

“Your jokes are just as lame, too!”

“What?”

“You’ve really gotten lazy. Running used to be your hobby in Munich.”

The avenue leading to the music building was lined with banners bearing Seong-hyeon’s name.

‘Welcome to Hyein University, World-Class Violinist Professor Ha Seong-hyeon!’

‘Congratulations on Professor Ha Seong-hyeon Joining Hyein University!’

“It’ll quiet down soon. Can I go home with you later?”

“I don’t know when I’ll be finished.”

“That’s fine. See those beggars over there? We’ll be playing basketball.”

Eun-bin pointed toward a group of students crouching together at one corner of the lawn.

“They came just to get a look at your handsome face. I ordered them not to come within thirty meters of you.”

“Why?”

“You’ll get tired. Once the semester starts, you’ll be swamped with them anyway.”

Eun-bin waved and ran toward his friends.

So it’s starting all over again, just like Munich.

Seong-hyeon chuckled to himself.

Back then, Eun-bin had followed him around day and night.

Looking back, Seong-hyeon had spent more time with Eun-bin during those days than he had with Hye-jung.

They had been the brightest days of Seong-hyeon’s life, too…

It was early autumn, in the seventh year of his life abroad.

That was when Seong-hyeon first met eight-year-old Eun-bin.

The boy had become his student at the earnest request of a patron who sponsored the orchestra Seong-hyeon performed with.

“I’m sure you saw the article about that boy, Seong-hyeon. His nickname is ‘Little Ha Seong-hyeon.’ And the fact that the two of you happen to be living in the same city… Don’t you think that’s a connection worth paying attention to?”

Seong-hyeon couldn’t disagree.

Under the condition that he would teach the boy for only three months, he accepted the first and last private student of his life.

A few days later, he went to the house where the boy was staying.

A familiar child opened the door.

“Huh? You’re the kid I saw in the square.”

The boy was the same child who ran along the same jogging route as Seong-hyeon.

At the time, there were very few Koreans in Munich, let alone Asians in general, so Seong-hyeon had thought that he should introduce himself someday.

But the boy seemed annoyed and ignored Seong-hyeon’s words, instead giving him a strange greeting.

“Hello. I’m not sure what you came here to teach me, but since you came all this way for no reason, it’s nice to meet you.”

The sentence itself was awkward, but Seong-hyeon couldn’t help laughing at the boy’s attempt to look like an adult.

After laughing for quite a while, he noticed Eun-bin staring blankly at him.

“Ah, sorry. You’re just cute.”

“Cute? Me?”

Eun-bin shoved both hands into his pockets and lightly tapped the leg of the piano.

“What shall I play?”

“Anything you want.”

Before Seong-hyeon had even finished speaking, the performance began.

The eight-year-old was playing with Nocturne as though it were his personal toy.

Seong-hyeon thought it was practically an insult to Chopin, yet he couldn’t help falling for Eun-bin’s extraordinary genius.

Even so, Seong-hyeon never forgot to give him the same warning.

“If a kid like you goes down that road, it’ll be a tragedy for the classical world.”

Before long, Eun-bin had grown enough to speak in perfectly formed sentences, and he refuted Seong-hyeon’s words without leaving a single opening.

“I don’t make music for the sake of the classical world. I do it because it makes me happy.”

“I can’t argue with that. But first, learn the tradition properly before you start twisting it. Otherwise, you’ll only develop bad habits.”

“What’s wrong with having bad habits?”

“What?”

As the years passed, Eun-bin began gaining a level of fame comparable to Seong-hyeon’s despite not even having turned professional.

Contrary to Seong-hyeon’s worries, he never developed any bad habits.

But when Eun-bin began venturing into bebop, Seong-hyeon finally lost his patience.

“Go Eun-bin! What are you doing? Why are you playing music like that?”

“Why? That’s a strange question.”

“That kind of music ignores the very essence of music.”

“And what exactly is the essence of music?”

“Being true to humanity’s instinct to pursue beauty. And the source of beauty is order.”

“Art is a fickle thing. It spends all its time pursuing beauty, only to smash it to pieces one second later.”

“Don’t tell me you’re one of those people who defend the mistakes Duchamp and Munch made.”

“I don’t particularly like Duchamp or Munch, but whatever they chose to do was their business.”

“That’s true when they’re acting as individuals. But as artists, it was clearly a mistake.”

“Do you think artists are civil servants?”

“They used to be civil servants!”

“I mean now! Right now!”

That day, Seong-hyeon and Eun-bin wandered all over the streets of Munich, arguing.

When Eun-bin began losing the argument, he grew frustrated and shouted at the top of his lungs.

“Damn it! Why is it so cold? I’m pissed off, so let’s go drink!”

“What? Are you crazy?”

“This is Germany, and I’m fifteen now. I just got rejected by the person I love, and I’m really lonely!”

“What nonsense are you talking about? Do you think I’m going to sit around and watch you drink? I’m calling your father right now.”

“You thought I was living quietly and not drinking whenever you weren’t around?”

That night, Seong-hyeon discovered the enormous stash of beer Eun-bin had hidden in the basement and was left utterly speechless.

And from the following year onward, he could no longer listen to Eun-bin’s mutant-like performances.