Why isn't he texting me?

The upscale traditional Korean restaurant was quiet, but Ho-jin's head was anything but. Phone still in one hand, he went on stirring his jeonbok galbitang with the other.

He had missed his mother and was happy to be with her, yet leaving Ji-hun at home had made him restless. More than that, he had absolutely no idea what he was supposed to tell his mother, when he should tell her, or how. 

With Su-min far away and knowing nothing about any of it, Ho-jin's life had been unquestionably easier. Having her sitting across from him now was different. He hated watching what he said around his own mother, and hated even more that there were things he had to hide from her.

Ho-jin had never known his father. Su-min had gotten pregnant after a one-night stand, and from the day he was born, she had done everything she could to be enough for him. She worked constantly, determined that Ho-jin would never have to ask her even once, "Why did you bring me into this world?" There had hardly been anything he did not share with her. Ji-hun was the exception. His relationship with him, how much he loved him, and everything that had happened over the last two years had all stayed outside Su-min's life.

"Ho-jin-ah... Did this restaurant open recently? This soup is incredible."

Ho-jin looked at his mother and smiled. "Yeah, Mom. I think it's been seven or eight months." His eyes went to his phone again before he put it back down. "Ji-hun loves this place. We've been here a few times."

"How long has he been staying with you?"

Ho-jin had not been ready for that. Come to think of it, how long was Ji-hun supposed to have been staying with him? "A few weeks, I think." He checked his phone again.

"He's such a respectful boy, isn't he? Where does his family live?"

"He doesn't have any family, Mom. He lost them."

"Oh, I'm so sorry. Poor boy..." Su-min's face fell. "He doesn't have anyone at all? Is that why he's staying with you?"

Why isn't this little bastard texting me? Is he sulking because I didn't bring him?

"Ho-jin-ah..."

"Yes, Mom?"

"Is something wrong? You keep checking your phone, and you haven't even had one spoonful of your soup."

"No, no," Ho-jin said quickly. "Sorry, Mom. Ji-hun was supposed to text me about the campaign, but he still hasn't. My mind went there."

Neither of them said much for a while. By the time Su-min moved on to her second dish, Ho-jin's soup was still sitting untouched in front of him, completely cold. He wanted a glass of wine, but he was driving and could not drink.

"Mom, sorry. I'll be right back."

But Ho-jin did not come back right away. For ten minutes, he called Ji-hun over and over and sent five messages. By the time Ji-hun came out of the shower and checked his phone, he did not even know which one he was supposed to answer first.

Ji-hun, where are you?

Ji-hun, why aren't you answering your phone?

Ji-hun-ah, you're mad at me, aren't you?

Ji-hun, answer your phone.

You little shit!

"Sunbae, what the fuck?"

Ho-jin had only just sat back down at the table when his phone rang. "Mom, wait. I'll be right back." He hurried outside, and the phone was already against his ear before he even reached the door. "Ji-hun, why aren't you answering your phone?"

"I was in the shower, sunbae. Calm down. What's going on?"

"What do you mean, what's going on? I was worried about you!"

"I was taking a shower. Then I started thinking about you, so I was thinking about you while I—"

"Okay, stop it. I'm having dinner with my mom. This isn't the time."

"How is dinner? Is everything okay?"

"Ji-hun, from now on when that phone rings, you answer it. Got it?"

"Sunbae, you're reminding me of someone."

That brought Ho-jin back to himself immediately. He knew exactly who Ji-hun meant. Worse, Ji-hun was right. "Ji-hun-ah, I'm sorry... I got really worried for a second."

"It's okay. I really was in the shower," Ji-hun said calmly. "I called you the second I saw all the messages and missed calls. But I have to hang up now because I'm naked, sunbae."

"I miss you."

"Yeah, I figured that out, but I seriously have to go. My dick's all shriveled up."

"Pfft... Okay. I'll see you in an hour or two. I love you so—"

Ji-hun had already hung up.

Ho-jin put his phone in his pocket and headed back inside. He was still a few meters from the table when another message arrived. He opened it and found a photo of a naked Ji-hun reflected in the mirror, and for a second he had no idea where the hell he was supposed to put his phone.

Now that's the message you were supposed to send.

He was certain his face had turned tomato red. That part was manageable. The bigger problem was what was growing in his pants, so he dropped into his seat at record speed to hide it.

"Sorry, Mom. I'm trying to sort out a few things for work."

"Are you sure?" Su-min asked, smiling.

"What do you mean?"

"It sounded more like you were talking to a girl." She looked at him with amusement. "Actually, Ho-jin-ah, when are you gonna bring me a daughter-in-law? I wanna hold my grandchildren already."