The Three baby mining brothers - Chapter 6

Cold sunlight streamed through the large window. Though no birds chirping could be heard, the sharp rays were enough to wake anyone from sleep. As always, Yi-hon woke up in the same place at the same time. But this morning felt different—he awoke with the rare sensation of having slept deeply.

What’s more, he felt a stirring movement next to him. Slowly lifting his naturally heavy eyelids, he turned his head toward the source of the movement.

“What are you doing?”

Of course, it was Yi-eon. Still in his pajamas, Yi-eon was crawling up onto the bed, looking disheveled and out of place. When Yi-hon’s gaze caught him, Yi-eon reacted with a surprised “Oh?” as though he didn’t expect to get caught. Yi-hon was too baffled to even chuckle.

“When did you wake up?”

Yi-eon’s voice was full of amusement. Suddenly, Yi-hon remembered why his alarm hadn’t gone off. He had gone to his study to grab a document but somehow ended up spending hours in the bathroom. He had left his phone behind and forgotten all about it.

After finally coming out of the bathroom, he thought about sleeping on the spacious sofa in the study. But his body didn’t follow that decision.

After what must have been a long shower, Yi-hon found Yeoreum already fast asleep, clutching the towel he had wrapped around him earlier. He had considered ignoring the kid and moving on, but leaving him like that seemed like it would lead to bigger problems.

When he shook him awake, Yeoreum changed into the pajamas he was handed without even opening his eyes and promptly went back to sleep. There was no debate about whether he’d return to the study or lie down on the bed. Thanks to Yeoreum curling up in one corner of the bed, there was more than enough space left.

And so the night passed, bringing them to this morning. Of course, Yi-hon hadn’t expected Yi-eon to barge in like this.

A small furrow appeared between Yi-hon’s brows, a faint wrinkle forming. Annoying Yi-hon from the morning was one of Yi-eon’s specialties.

“Why are you doing this so early? Get out.”

But Yi-eon had already climbed between the curled-up Yeoreum and Yi-hon, sprawling across the bed. At Yi-hon’s irritated tone, Yi-eon raised a finger to his lips as if to signal for silence.

“……”

Yi-hon assumed Yeoreum must have woken up by now, but he was still soundly asleep, breathing softly. Despite the commotion, he didn’t stir. For someone nearing adulthood, Yeoreum still appeared very much like a child.

“We really feel like a real family, don’t we?”

Yi-eon’s words came with a bright smile. In response, Yi-hon threw off the blanket covering him. With an unmistakable expression of annoyance, he swung his legs out of bed.

Yi-eon’s and Yeoreum’s peculiar habits were alike—they said strange and unpredictable things at the most random times.

“Wake him up and come down together. And don’t forget you’re going to work today.”

Sliding his feet into neatly placed slippers and throwing on a cardigan, Yi-hon left behind a warning before heading out of the room. Yi-eon sprawled back on the bed with his arms outstretched, laughing to himself as Yi-hon disappeared through the door.

“You two have gotten closer, haven’t you?”

Yi-eon knew his older brother’s personality better than anyone.

He had been sure Yi-hon would take a blanket to the study sofa as usual. He had also confidently expected Yi-hon to wake at his usual time, shower at his usual time, and be seated in the dining room by his usual time.

However, this morning, only Yi-eon, rubbing his sleepy eyes, sat at the breakfast table.

“They’re both still asleep?”

‘Yes, sir. Both of them.’

The housekeeper had informed Yi-eon that Yi-hon and Yeoreum were still sleeping. Yi-eon couldn’t help but laugh at the irony.

Yi-hon, who never slept in, had clearly been bested by the younger addition to their family.

The first day Yi-hon shared a room with Yeoreum resulted in this unexpected late morning—a promising sign, perhaps.

The dining room echoed with Yi-eon’s laughter as he pushed back his chair and left, leaving the silverware clattering on the table. There was no hesitation in his step. He couldn’t contain his curiosity.

That morning marked the beginning of a shift in their relationship.

—

In the orphanage, Yeoreum often dreamed vividly. Sometimes the dreams featured friends leaving hand-in-hand with visiting adults, or carefree days spent playing with the director after finishing the laundry. Occasionally, Yeoreum dreamt of blurry-faced strangers offering a hand, saying they would adopt her.

Those dreams made her reluctant to wake up.

She knew her time at the orphanage was nearing its end; as an adolescent about to “age out” of the system, she would soon have to enter the world on her own. She didn’t want to leave, nor did she feel ready to. In the meantime, she clung to the hope those dreamlike figures whispered to her.

Even though teenagers rarely got adopted, she couldn’t let go of hope. Those blurry-faced dream figures had planted a small seed of hope in her heart.

Since arriving at the brothers’ home, she had stopped having those dreams, though she sometimes entertained the idea that her dream figures might be her new family.

A tickling sensation near her nose pulled Yeoreum out of her thoughts. She opened her eyes slowly. Sunlight streamed through the large window, blinding her momentarily.

It was Yi-eon, leaning over her, tickling her nose.

“Awake?”

Even as she rubbed her bleary eyes, she recognized him. How had he ended up here? Her vision cleared, and the lack of grogginess made her realize she had slept deeply.

“Wash up and come out. Let’s eat.”

He was wearing different pajamas than the ones he had on last night, which made her chuckle softly despite herself. Yi-eon lightly patted her cheeks before standing up.

“Oh, by the way,” he added.

“……”

“Did you sleep well with him last night?”

Yeoreum froze mid-step toward the bathroom.

She tried to recall, but her memory was fuzzy. Judging by the change of clothes, she must have slept fine. All she remembered was being exhausted and falling asleep quickly.

“…I think I just slept,” she muttered, nodding and resuming her steps.

Still, Yi-eon’s question lingered in her mind. She dismissed it and focused on washing up.

Yi-eon leaned against the open bathroom door, grinning to himself.

“This is too fun.”

By the third day of sharing a room with Yeoreum, even Yi-hon seemed to be loosening up. Perhaps a new beginning had taken root.