The next morning, Egemed accompanied his father to the city—Reme-Company. He didn't even allow his father to lift a single bag. He carried everything himself, letting the old man walk freely beside him.
When they arrived, Rada was already waiting inside their father's office.
"Good morning, Brother. It's been so long," Egemed greeted.
Rada smirked. "Oh, look who's here—our author from Nephelion."
"You always say that," Egemed replied. "But look who's the COO who hasn't visited home in decades."
Rada clicked his tongue, slapped Egemed lightly on the shoulder, and gestured toward the sofa. "Sit. I'll bring you two a special tea."
Egemed and his father waited patiently until Rada returned with three cups. They drank together, the aroma of the tea softening the air.
"Father," Rada asked, "why is Egemed here? He barely comes to the company now."
Their father paused mid-sip. "He wants to help me. I'll let him try."
Egemed smiled at his brother. "Don't worry, Brother. I'm not here to steal your position. Father is getting older."
"Listen to him, Father," Rada laughed. "He talks as if I hate him."
Their father chuckled. "Egemed, your brother has changed. Even if he doesn't visit home, he takes good care of me here."
Egemed's heart softened. When did this happen? he wondered. His brother, once distant, now spoke to their father like an old friend. He felt as though he had missed the moment the bond between them had mended.
"I'm sorry, Egemed," Rada said suddenly. "Your friend passed away, and I didn't even call or console you."
Egemed froze a little—he had never expected an apology from Rada.
"It's alright, Brother. I still love you the same," he said with a gentle smile.
"Father told me everything about you two," Rada continued. "How you traveled together… how you considered him your own brother. Meanwhile, I—your real brother—never cared."
"Did Father really say all that?" Egemed asked. "Brother, I understand you. You take care of Father here every day. You hardly even have time for yourself. Heryl and I look after Mother at home. You take care of Father; we take care of the rest."
Rada let out a deep sigh of relief. "Thank you… for always understanding me without judging."
The whole day, Egemed worked beside his father, engaging more with Rada—talking about home, the years they lost, and the life Rada lived in the city. When evening approached, Rada said he wanted to spend more time together and asked Egemed to stay the night with him.
"Tomorrow, Brother," Egemed replied. "Father might not come to work, so I'll stay with you then. I can't let him return alone today."
"Alright," Rada nodded. "Come safely tomorrow."
On their way home, Egemed carried everything again, joking endlessly while his father walked freely, chuckling.
"Father," he said suddenly, "I asked Mother if I could write a love story about you two… but she didn't answer. I think she wants you to tell me instead." He grinned. "So—how did you propose to her?"
His father burst out laughing. "Because we met in the most embarrassing way! Your mother mistook me for someone else. She grabbed my hand and dragged me to the principal."
He continued, "I was terrified—I had done nothing wrong! When the principal asked my name, she realized I wasn't the person she thought. Her cheeks turned so red… but she looked so beautiful. From that day, I fell in love. We became friends, and after two years, we started dating. We were classmates."
Egemed chuckled softly. "So that's why she didn't tell me. I wonder how she'll react when I tease her later."
"Oh, she'll shout," his father said, mimicking her voice: "Remeliom! Why did you tell our son about that?!"
They both burst into laughter.
"That's a beautiful love story, Father," Egemed said. "Love at first blush."
---
By the time they returned to their hometown, the sky had turned yellow with the setting sun. A herd of cows walked ahead of them, bells jingling around their necks, the earthy smell rising thick in the air. Egemed, who admired even the unpleasant parts of the world, didn't cover his nose—his father, however, nearly gagged.
"Walk faster, Egemed! I can't breathe," he said, covering his nose with a handkerchief.
"But there are so many cows," Egemed laughed.
His father raised a brow.
"Father," Egemed continued, "I wonder how miserable the cow keeper must be—enduring this every day."
"Well, if you don't get a job, you'll end up like him too," his father muttered.
Egemed shook his head gently. "I don't see anything wrong with what he does."
"And why is that?" his father asked, curious.
"Imagine if people like him didn't exist. We wouldn't have vegetables… milk… leather… so many things. Without him caring for the cows, we'd struggle to survive."
"Hmmm," his father murmured.
"This world is beautiful, Father," Egemed said softly. "Everything works together. But people divide themselves into 'higher' and 'lower' because of work."
His father sighed. "Where did you learn all this?"
Egemed chuckled, not wanting to make him feel bad. "I'm not scolding you for covering your nose. I'm just telling you how I see the world."
His father chuckled. "Well… when you say it like that, I understand a little."
At home, Egemed couldn't stop smiling when he saw his mother. He hid the story behind his grin and went to change his clothes. Soon, he stood in the kitchen, cutting the fresh vegetables his mother had left.
She noticed his incessant smile.
"Egemed, why are you smiling like that whenever I'm near you?"
He paused, looking at her mischievously. "Nothing, Mother. I'm just happy… and Father told me a few tips about your love story."
She froze and turned off the water. "What? What did he tell you?"
"Oh… just something about love at first blush," he teased.
Immediately she dried her hands, laughing and shouting, "REMELIOM! Why—"
From the other room, his father finished for her:
"Why did you tell our son that story?"
Egemed burst into laughter. Exactly as Father predicted.
As his parents teased each other in the other room, Egemed stayed behind in the quiet kitchen, smiling to himself. Some embarrassing moments, he thought, are meant to bring two souls closer. Mother shouldn't be embarrassed at all.
He finished chopping the vegetables.
Night fell, and the long day came to an end. Egemed went to bed early, excitement warming his chest. Tomorrow, he would spend the day with Rada.
For the first time in his life, his elder brother wanted to take him out—and that single thought was enough to lull him into a peaceful sleep.