If You Could Go Back (Taekook)
Chapter 11
I loosened my tie and shrugged out of my suit jacket. It was
warm for September, though I wasn’t complaining. Fall would follow soon,
and then we’d have another dreary winter
Kim Yoo
You’re happy about something.
Kim Taehyung
My boss put me in charge of the pitch
to Westwater Hotels. If they accept our bid, I think the promotion is mine
Kim Yoo
Attaboy, proud’a ya.
He nodded and sat back, lighting up what was
left of a cigar. Despite being the gruff, retired army veteran from another
generation that he was, he was as generous with affection and rewards as he
was with structure and punishments. He’d brought up my sister and me
without help for the most part, and he had high morals and, in my opinion,
great wisdom.
There was no one I’d rather leave my kids with after school than my
father. Unfortunately, his physical strength wasn’t what it used to be.
Shrapnel in his leg, a bad hip, and a knee that was mostly metal made him
rely on a cane, and PTSD-related anxiety tired him out quickly. It was one
of the reasons we’d eventually settled down in Busan, where he was
from. He was happiest here, where he could sit in his backyard, choose
when he was mentally prepared to face crowds, and flirt with the
neighborhood ladies who stopped by with casseroles and cookies.
Kim Taehyung
How are you feeling today?
He looked okay, but his pillbox
was on the table.
Kim Yoo
I’m on the right side of
the grass, so I can’t complain.
My mouth twisted up. That was what he always said.
Kim Taehyung
You let me know if it gets to be too much with the boys—
Kim Yoo
Quit it, **he grunted**
Kim Yoo
Picking up those boys every day is the only thing
I have that gets me outta the house. I’ll make you suffer if you take that
away from me.
Kim Taehyung
No need to resort to threats,
Kim Taehyung
I still remember the
lashing you gave Hana when she tried to take away your crossword
puzzles.
Kim Yoo
She’s too high tech, that girl,**he grumbled**
Kim Yoo
I don’t know where I
went wrong with her.Electronic crossword puzzles?
He made me laugh.
Hana had given us PDAs for Christmas. I actually enjoyed mine
Kim Yoo
What’s
wrong with the old-fashioned way, huh? Not a damn thing, that’s what
He’d already complained about it a few times.
Kim Taehyung
She converted me **I admitted**
Kim Taehyung
I do my puzzles electronically now.
Kim Yoo
Yeah, well,**he huffed.**
Kim Yoo
Don’t you tell her,**he warned**
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