IWBFF ~ 18

Chapter – 18

But the words kept flowing out.

“By the way, my mother recently found a new partner, and it turns out he’s Mr. Martinez—your father, Mina. Naturally, I found myself supporting their relationship, even marriage,” Radius said.

Mina drew in a surprised breath, hesitated for a moment, then asked quietly,

“Talasa said he wasn’t thinking about marriage.”

“Oh, my mother said she wouldn’t remarry because of inheritance issues, but the truth is, men with con-artist tendencies often approach her,” Radius replied frankly.

“Personally, I think Mr. Martinez is a genuinely good person, so marriage might actually be a good thing. I got so excited thinking about the possibility of a happy family that I may have been a bit rude,” he added.

“Why do you speak so highly of my father?”

Meeting Mina’s gaze, Radius smiled brightly.

“Because he’s your father.”

Mina’s expression twisted slightly at that answer.

“I know that you’re a fan of mine and that you care for me, but my father and I are different. My mother’s marriage isn’t something that should be taken lightly. They’ve just started seeing each other, so it’s really too early to talk about marriage…”

Mina’s words made Radius smile despite himself. Mina looked displeased at Radius giving such high praise even to her father.

Even that look was endearing.

The fact that Mina cared so much about someone else said a lot about her character.

“Did you know my mother asked Mr. Martinez out first?”

Mina’s eyes widened in surprise at Radius’s words.

“Oh.”

“She often went to Mr. Martinez’s restaurant while limping a little. His shoe laces kept coming undone, and every time, he would ask her permission and tie them for her.”

Mina met Radius’s gaze.

“My mother said it was the first time she felt attracted to a man who acted purely out of kindness, not money or social background. So she was the one who asked him out first.”

“…My father had been raising me alone since I was about fifteen after losing my mother, so he never really thought about dating. He was surprised when Talasa asked him out first,” Mina said.

It seemed she already knew that Talasa had asked Peto out first.

“My mother is rather forward, you know. Hahaha.”

Amid Radius’s awkward laughter, a faint sigh escaped Mina, tinged with sadness.

“To be honest… I didn’t like it.”

“Excuse me?”

Mina looked down at her knees and continued.

“I thought my father would be lonely, but I didn’t think about it deeply. I just wanted him to always be my father—only mine.”

Hearing Mina’s confession, Radius was slightly taken aback.

“Honestly, when my father was confessed to by another woman and wanted to date her seriously, I was scared that if he loved her, my mother might be forgotten. And if they had a child, what would happen to me?”

Mina’s voice trembled.

“Compared to you, it’s really childish and pitiful,” she added.

“Oh, no. That’s completely understandable,” Radius said hastily.

“I was also worried that my father might be taken advantage of when he met Talasa from the famous Lorbaker family,” Radius thought with a small chuckle. Until seeing Mina’s face, he hadn’t realized that his mother wasn’t in danger of being used.

“The first time I met her, it was obvious even just by looking that the Lorbaker family and ours were very different. I thought my father would strongly oppose her, but he saw her in such a positive light that it completely shattered my prejudice,” Mina continued.

“That makes sense. People of our parents’ generation always worry whether someone is truly good for their loved ones,” Radius said.

“My father preferred gaining a family over losing Talasa. I know it’s strange, but… I thought if he had a partner and married, I would lose my father,” Mina admitted.

Tears fell from Mina’s eyes. Radius quickly offered her a handkerchief.

‘Oh no!’

It happened to be the handkerchief Mina had signed herself.

“Ah, wait, another one,” he said.

“No, this one’s fine,” she replied.

“Oh, but the ink from your pen might smudge on your face if your tears fall on it,” he said.

“Pfft.”

After receiving a new handkerchief, Mina laughed through her tears. She gently wiped her eyes with the end of it and said,

“Thank you for honestly sharing what Father feels. You must have been careful.”

“Oh, no,” Radius replied, flustered by her tears.

“Yes. My father’s marriage could result in gaining a new family,” Mina said, her voice a little more relaxed, as if a weight had been lifted.

At last, Radius realized it. The topic he had been planning and imagining all day yesterday had finally come from Mina’s lips.

“Yes, that’s right. Their marriage could give us new parents and siblings,” he said.

“Yes, that’s true.”

Feeling fully alert, Radius began explaining his plan.

“Mina, we would become siblings. Not only that, but do you know that sometimes people have late-born children?”

“Hmm?”

At first, Mina couldn’t comprehend where Radius was going.

“Your mother could have a child. Of course, they’re just getting to know each other, so we must wait and see, but we can’t predict the future.”

“…Yes?”

Mina was surprised at Radius’s immense imagination.

“Since your mother’s traits tend to dominate, the baby will probably resemble Mr. Martinez—that is, resemble you, Mina.”

“A baby?”

“Yes. I am confident I could love the youngest sibling as if they were my own child.”

“The youngest?”

“If a baby resembling Mr. Martinez were born, it would be adorable. I think you would love a child born from your parents too, wouldn’t you?”

Radius’s ideas were so far ahead that Mina could barely keep up.

“I haven’t thought that far, but… yes, I suppose,” she said, managing to respond.

“I would treat a little sibling like my own child,” he said, as if Talasa were about to have a child any moment.

“Yes… I see,” Mina said, struggling to find the right words.

“I like the idea of gaining three family members from their marriage,” she added.

One of the three was a hypothetical child. Still, Radius couldn’t stop smiling.

Seeing Radius so delighted, Mina calmly collected her thoughts.

“…Lorbaker Youngsik.”

“Call me Radius. I call you Mina.”

“Uh, yes. Radius Youngsik,” she replied.

“You should consider getting married soon,” Mina said.

“Excuse me?”

Radius was confused by her sudden words.

“It seems your father wants a family,” she explained.

“For now, it’s okay because my mother might create a family soon, but… does he seem eager for a family?” Radius asked, touching his cheek.

“Yes. Well, their marriage could make us a family. But that seems like a distant matter. They’re just starting as a couple.”

“I understand,” Radius said with a playful smile.

Watching him, Mina awkwardly smiled and continued.

“Carefully speaking… it might be faster for your father to marry and have a child than for Talasa to have one first.”

Radius admitted that was true.

“Maybe so, but I currently have no woman in mind for marriage,” he said.

“Then what is your ideal type?”