Epilogue 

For three days straight, the rain refused to stop. The season just before summer swung between scorching heat beneath blazing sunlight and chilling wind whenever rain fell. Vulnerable to such sudden shifts, Go Igyeol let out a dry cough. Half-awake yet not fully conscious, he tossed weakly under the blankets—just as Seo Ihyeon, awake since early morning, burst into the couple’s bedroom. Even half-asleep, Igyeol instinctively opened his arms, and the child burrowed into his embrace, calling out, “Appa.”

“Ihyeon-ah.”

“Appa.”

“Is it time for kindergarten?”

Forcing his heavy eyelids open, Igyeol gazed at his son, and his expression softened into a gentle smile. His sleepy eyes were filled with affection.

“It’s raining again. Rain.”

“Mm. It hasn’t stopped yet. You can hear it.”

“It sounds pretty. Like water drops are playing a song.”

At five years old, Seo Ihyeon had extraordinary language skills. Anyone might say this out of parental pride, but truly, he expressed far more than children his age.

“You’re right. It does sound pretty.”

The two lay in bed lazily, listening to the soft patter, patter of raindrops against the window—until a noise from the bathroom made them turn their heads.

“Appa?”

Perhaps assuming Dohyeon had already left for work, Ihyeon’s voice sharpened in surprise. A moment later, Seo Dohyeon stepped out, towel-drying his damp hair. The child bolted upright from Igyeol’s arm pillow and held his arms wide.

“You woke up, Ihyeon?”

“Appa!”

“Did you sleep well?”

Seo Dohyeon’s voice, which rarely rose in tone, naturally softened and lifted. He held Ihyeon tightly against his chest and pressed a firm kiss to his round cheek—an action that looked entirely natural on him. Ihyeon puckered his lips, quacking like a little duck as he peppered his father’s cheek with kisses.

“You’re not a boy—you’re a little Quacker(Kkwaek-Kkwaeki).”

“Quack!”

The affectionate banter drew a burst of giggles from Ihyeon. Listening to Dohyeon’s spontaneous nicknames, Igyeol smiled quietly. Still drowsy with a hint of a cold, he stayed under the blanket, watching the two.

“Today… we’re supposed to go to the forest field trip…”

Knowing that Igyeol would instantly say no, Ihyeon directed his lingering hope toward Dohyeon. The alpha’s cool gaze flicked toward the window. The steady rainfall showed no sign of lightening.

“It’s raining, so Quacker can’t go… right?”

Hearing the child’s forlorn tone, Dohyeon smiled. He pressed another kiss to Ihyeon’s cheek and whispered gently:

“But Quackers live in the water, so… maybe you can go?”

“…Really?”

Their soft murmurs reached Igyeol. At his faint sigh, both father and son flinched instinctively and turned away as if pretending innocence. They were even about to slip out of the room—too bad that would never work.

“Seo Ihyeon.”

Igyeol’s voice rang out firm and unmistakable. Wrapped around Dohyeon’s neck, Ihyeon turned with teary eyes.

“How can you go to the forest in this rain? No.”

“…Qu-Quacker doesn’t get wet…”

“Even ducks get wet when the rain is that heavy. And you’re not a duck. You’re Appa’s boy—you’ll definitely get soaked.”

“…Appa… hng.”

Tears welled instantly. Pleading for rescue, the child looked at Dohyeon. With a barely contained sigh, Dohyeon searched for a way to persuade Igyeol—if he failed on the first try, Quacker, no, Ihyeon, would definitely not be allowed to go.

“If we dress him carefully in a rain suit… maybe Quacker won’t get wet. Even if ducks do.”

“……”

“All the other kids will go. If only our son can’t, he’ll be sad. That raincoat we bought has insulation. If we put a heat pack inside, he can keep warm too.”

His explanation grew long. Since Igyeol silently watched them, Ihyeon tapped Dohyeon’s shoulder insistently, urging him to say more.

“You know how much Ihyeon loves forest trips, Igyeol-ssi.”

After listening to Dohyeon to the end, Igyeol held his gaze for a moment before exhaling a long sigh.

“…Ha…”

At that one sigh, Dohyeon’s stance changed immediately. He looked down at Ihyeon and spoke with sudden firmness:

“Appa thought about it again, and even Quackers get wet. Ducks get wet, so of course you would. How can you go to the forest when it’s raining like this? No matter how carefully we dress you, you’ll get soaked.”

Just a moment ago, he said he wouldn’t get wet if dressed carefully.

Ihyeon’s face crumpled as he burst into heartbroken sobs.

“Why… hng… why does Appa always take Appa’s side…? Ihyeon always takes Appa’s side…”

As the child poured out every bit of pent-up grievance, Dohyeon froze in shock. His wavering eyes darted toward Igyeol, who only stared back as if to say, Well? Handle it.

“What are you talking about? Appa is always on your side.”

“Lies! You only like Go Igyeol-ssi… hnghhh!”

Imitating the way Dohyeon addressed Igyeol, Ihyeon burst into even louder sobs and demanded to be put down. When Dohyeon lowered him to the floor, the child sprinted toward Igyeol with a flurry of quick footsteps.

“Appaa…!”

“Stop.”

“If I go… hhic… there are sn-snails…!”

“There are plenty of snails in the yard.”

At Igyeol’s unwavering reply, Ihyeon threw himself into his arms, sobbing that he didn’t want to go to kindergarten. Igyeol simply told him not to, and hugged the trembling, overheated child close. He smelled sweet—just like he always did when he cried.

“Appa doesn’t love Ihyeon!”

“Seo Ihyeon.”

“…hic, hhic!”

The moment the words left his mouth, the child seemed startled by them. He hiccupped violently and shook his head. Tears pooled in his wide eyes and fell in heavy drops. Wiping his face with little hands, he sniffed and suddenly stopped crying.

“Appa does love Ihyeon. I just said it wrong.”

“That’s right. Appa loves you the most.”

“That’s what he said! That he loves me more than Seo Dohyeon-ssi!”

Still sniffling, Igyeol declared confidently that he loved Ihyeon more than Dohyeon. Listening to this, Dohyeon hurried over to the bed.

“I think I need to talk to Igyeol-ssi about whether that’s really true.”

“It is!”

“Really?”

When Dohyeon asked, Igyeol immediately averted his eyes. His hesitation made Dohyeon sigh, while Ihyeon let out a triumphant cheer, switching from crying to teasing instantly.

“Appa looooves Ihyeon the most!”

“Go Igyeol-ssi. We need to talk.”

“Well… that….”

“Igyeol-ssi.”

“Of course I love you.”

Trying not to upset their son, Igyeol’s answer faltered. Ihyeon hugged him tightly and declared that he loved his daddies the most too. Then, as if overwhelmed, he shook his head dramatically and said maybe his daddies loved him too much, and they could love him a little less—then immediately retracted it, grabbing Dohyeon’s hand.

“Don’t be upset. Grandpa said he likes me more than Appa too.”

“……”

“Appa is just nice to look at. What does that mean?”

The child who had been wailing about missing the forest trip was nowhere to be found. With utter sincerity, Ihyeon comforted Dohyeon, saying it couldn’t be helped that he was the most lovable being in the world.

“Appa is my second favorite. It’s okay.”

“That’s right, it’s fine. Then let’s get ready for kindergarten. If the rain stops, maybe you can go on the trip.”

“Okay!”

Brimming with energy, Ihyeon cupped Igyeol’s cheeks and pressed a kiss to his lips, then hopped off the bed. Instead of a goodbye, he declared “I love you!” and shut the bedroom door firmly behind him. Silence settled in the room after the earlier commotion.

“…Of course, Seo Dohyeon-ssi also—”

Before he could finish saying he also loves him, Dohyeon suddenly leaned in and kissed him. Softly, repeatedly—peck, peck.

“I love you the most, Go Igyeol-ssi.”

“……”

“I can’t help it.”

Just like Ihyeon believed he was the most lovable being in the world, Dohyeon smiled shamelessly, shrugging as if to say he loved Igyeol more in the same inevitable way.

“I…”

“You said Ihyeon is your favorite.”

“That’s not what I meant…”

As Igyeol frowned and parted his lips to explain, Dohyeon kissed his cheek again.

“Even if it’s not often, there are days when you love me more than Ihyeon.”

“…I love you. Just as much as I love Ihyeon.”

Pulling him close, Igyeol whispered his tender confession. At the sound of that soft voice, Dohyeon looked unbearably happy, burying his face against Igyeol’s neck. Pressing his lips to the warm skin, he whispered quietly that he loved Igyeol more than the raindrops tapping against the window.