Lost in Ice Cream
The 5 years old Kim Heechul was playing with his teddy bear when his mother called him in the living room. "Yes, Mum?" he looked at his mother.
"Chullie dear, we will have a guest today. Our best friend from China will come to visit me and your father," Mrs. Kim stroked Heechul's hair. Heechul's brow furrowed. "Where is China? Is it near Kangwondo?" asked Heechul innocently.
Mrs. Kim laughed. "No, it’s far from Kangwondo,” she answered. Heechul just blinked. “This friend of us, they have a little boy. He’s younger than you. Play with him, okay?” Mrs. Kim asked the little boy. “Okay! I will play with him! Can we eat ice cream?” Heechul looked to his mother. When Mrs. Kim nodded, Heechul leapt from couch and jumped here and there.
“But!” with that tone, Heechul stopped and stared at her. “Your new friend can’t speak Hangul. Remember, he’s from China. So be kind to him, okay?” Mrs. Kim explained. Heechul just shrugged his shoulder and continued his jump. Mrs. Kim just shook her head.
***
Hankyung looked outside the window of the limousine. He stared at the buildings, blue sky, next the view changed to trees. He enjoyed it, but still inside his heart, he felt strange. “Hangeng, what are you looking at?" his mother called him with his Chinese name. The 4-years old boy just shook his head. But he still looked outside the window.
"Hangeng, in Kim's house there's also a boy. But he is your Gege. So be friend with him," said Mr. Han to his son. Hangeng nodded his head. "You can practice your Hangul with him," Mrs. Han stroked his hair. Heard this, Hangeng frowned. "But Mother, Hangul is difficult," he whined. Both his parents chuckled.
"Your mother also said that, once. But now she can speak 2 hours about fashion in Paris non-stop in perfect Hangul!" Mr. Han exclaimed. His wife slapped his shoulder.
Hankyung just watched his parents with a smile. Then he looked at the view again. He wondered, how this Gege looked like. Well, they reached the destination and Hankyung would find the answer soon.
***
"Long time no see!" Mr. Kim greeted the Hans and hugged his friend. Both wives also greeted each other. Hankyung saw from the side. Then he noticed there's a boy watched the parents, too. But as a boy, Hankyung realized, he looked too much pretty to be called a boy. That pretty boy also looked back to Hankyung.
Before Hankyung could asked to his parents, that pretty boy came to Hankyung. "You must be Hankyung. I'm Heechul and I'm your hyung!" exclaimed the pretty boy. Hankyung just stared back. Heechul frowned and tugged his mother's shirt. Mrs. Kim knelt to her son and listened to Heechul's words. After finished, she just smile and called Hankyung.
Hankyung hesitated but he came to Mrs. Kim with worried look. "Now calm, boy. No need to afraid here," said Mrs. Kim in fluent Chinese. Hankyung raised hie eyebrows. Mrs. Kim took Hankyung's hand and also Heechul's. She made a gesture and Heechul nodded. He shook Hankyung's hand. Hankyung suddenly felt warm with the touch.
"Hankyung, do you understand Hangul?" asked Mrs. Kim, switched back to Hangul. Hankyung nodded stiffly. "Good. You can practice with Heechul. He's your hyung, by the way," said Mrs. Kim. Hankyung blinked and looked back to his parents, frowned. Mrs. Han also knelt beside Hankyung. "Hyung is gege," she said.
Before Hankyung could say anything, Heechul took his hand. "Come on! We will go to the kitchen and ask for ice cream," said Heechul while dragged Hankyung along. Hankyung could only follow desperately, left two sets of parents smiled warmly.
***
Heechul took Hankyung to the garden after they got the ice cream. The Kims have a swing set and Heechul loved to play it. So he decided to take his new friend to play. Hankyung obeyed him, while he tried to catch up with Heecul's words.
When they sat on the swing, they started to rip the plastic and enjoyed their ice cream. When Hankyung was about to lick his ice cream, Heechul asked him questions.
"How did you get in here?"
"Is it true that China very far from here?”
“Mother said you can dance ballet. Show me!”
The questions go on and on until Heechul said, “Yah! Why are you so quiet?!”
Hankyung blinked before lick his ice cream. “Hmmm I still can’t understand what you’re saying. I’m still learning Hangul. You talk too fast,” said Hankyung, quietly bit his ice cream. Heechul raised his eyebrows. Without saying anything, he stretched out his hand that held ice cream. Without hesitation, Hankyung bit the ice cream.
“YAH!!! Why you eat my ice cream!!!” Heechul screamed then ran to inside the house, threw his ice cream to the side. Hankyung stunned by the reaction, but he also ran to catch Heechul. He tried finished his ice cream before entered the house. After finished, he quietly entered the house. He saw Heechul talked to his parents with anger. Hankyung slowly approached his parents. He feared that his parents will mad at him. Mrs. Han saw his son and patted the space beside her. Hankyung sat there.
Heechul finished his story and realized Hankyung was there. He glared to Hankyung, who instantly hid behind his mother. Suddenly, Mr. Kim laughed so hard. “Father, he ate MY ice cream!” Heechul displeased with his father reaction. Mrs. Kim pulled Heechul to her lap and stroked his hair. “Tell us here, Dear. Why you angry so Hankyung can understand,” she said softly.
“I never asked him to eat my ice cream. I asked him to toast our ice cream,” Heechul pouted. Hankyung’s mouth formed an “o”, now understood the whole situation. His reaction wasn’t missed by Mrs. Han, who smiled.
“But, Chullie, did you asked Hankyung to toast, or you just stretched your hand without saying anything?” now it was Mr. Kim asked. Heechul stared to his father, then answered quietly, “I didn’t ask anything.”
“See, how did Hankyung know that you want to toast? What did I say about saying your intention to people?” said Mrs. Kim. “I know. I’m sorry, Mother,” said Heechul quietly. Mrs. Kim put Heechul down and pushed Heechul to Hankyung’s direction. “Say that to Hankyung.”
Heechul approached Hankyung and stretched his hand. “Sorry, Hankyung,” said Heechul with low voice. Hankyung accepted his hand. “I’m sorry too, hyung. I didn’t know that you asked for a toast,” said Hankyung. “So, let’s play again?” asked Heechul. Hankyung nodded and both boys ran outside again. Both the Hans and the Kims exchanged looks and laughed.
***
Heechul looked to the picture in front of him. Picture of him and Hankyung when they were little. They smiled to the camera while made a peace sign. Heechul didn’t hear Hankyung entered his office. “What are you looking at, Heechul?” Hankyung asked and startled Heechul. He gave the picture to Hankyung, who accepted it and looked at it. Hankyung smiled and put the picture on the table, while Heechul get ready in front of the mirror, fixed his tie.
“Are you ready to be introduced to your employee in China, President Kim?” asked Hankyung.
“Yes, I am ready, Vice President Han. Let’s go!” Heechul walked confidently to the door and walked out of the room, followed by Hankyung.
Since that “Ice Cream Incident”, the boys built a strong relationship as their parents. When Hankyung finished his Master degree and Heechul finished his military service, they inherited their parents’ company. Together, they worked hard to made the company bigger and expand worldwide.
The most important thing, they still brothers.