Be My Baby - Vol.3 Chapter 8 Part 2
“My waist…”
After barely managing to get up and take a bath, eat, and finally lie back down in bed, Seonwoo kept groaning and whimpering.
Thanks to soaking in hot water and getting bubble massage therapy the muscle pain had improved, but it still stung down below.
“It hurts…”
Though he had to lie still unable to move from the pain that kept stabbing sharply, he wasn’t in a bad mood.
No, he kept grinning helplessly because he felt too, too good.
He did get caught trying to save the precious semen, but now hyung said he’d give him plenty, so while having very positive thoughts about that, Seonwoo tried to roll over despite the pain and hugged his pillow while smiling brightly.
“Still feels good.”
Though it hurt, he was grinning under the covers at the dreamlike situation when his phone started ringing beside him.
His mind suddenly snapped to attention.
Remembering hyung’s words to answer calls quickly, he hurriedly grabbed his phone and pressed the call button.
“Yes.”
“What’s with the formal speech all of a sudden?”
The voice that came through the receiver wasn’t Eungyo but Seyoon.
Perhaps because it wasn’t who he was waiting for, Seonwoo’s voice turned grumpy:
“Oh? Why?”
“What do you mean why? I called because I was worried since you weren’t in contact.”
“You expect calls after blocking my number?”
“I unblocked it. More importantly, did you get the consent form?”
“Huh?”
“Didn’t Eungyo hyung show you the consent form?”
“Oh… I signed it yesterday. Wait, did you write that consent form?”
“Yeah.”
“Ah~. I thought it seemed like you.”
As Seonwoo answered that the sentence structure and format was exactly like Jeon Seyoon while letting out a quiet laugh, Seyoon fell silent.
Then after a moment, he asked:
“…Are you happy?”
“Huh?”
“Are you happy even after signing what’s basically a slave contract?”
“Slave contract? What is?”
“…Never mind. I’m the fool for asking.”
Though he’d called out of concern just in case, it seemed there was no need to worry as Seyoon changed the subject:
“Anyway, congratulations on resolving both the consent form issue and your persistent one-sided love.”
Implying “so stop bothering me now” without actually saying it, Seyoon offered superficial congratulations and Seonwoo happily shot back:
“Yeah. I’m really happy right now. Hyung said he’ll give me lots of sperm.”
Seyoon decided to exercise his right to remain silent regarding the intimate details he neither wanted to hear nor know about.
Well aware that “giving lots of sperm” meant more than just giving sperm, he stayed quiet not wanting to hear more, when fortunately Seonwoo changed the subject first:
“Oh right, how do you register as cohabitants?”
“Why?”
“So I can register as hyung’s cohabitant while changing my address. I can register as a responsible cohabitant, right?”
“…You want to do that quickly?”
“Um… is it too soon…?”
As Seonwoo lowered his voice, wondering if it was too brazen to be jumping ahead to registration while only being happy on his own, Seyoon let out a small sigh.
Then after a moment, he muttered in an extremely complex tone:
“…Do it if you want to. Just remember that once you do it, you absolutely can’t undo it.”
“That’s why I want to do it. So hyung can’t push me away.”
At those words showing he was worried not about himself, but about Eungyo changing his mind and pushing him away, Seyoon spoke in a voice that seemed to have given up on all of life:
“Fine, do it. Go ahead. Who could win against your tenacity and obsession and determination.”
“So I just go and do it?”
“You can do address change at your local administrative center, but for cohabitant registration you need to go to the designated registration office together with the person. Though it’s called cohabitant registration, registering as responsible cohabitants gives you legal rights comparable to marriage registration so you must go together.”
As the number of cohabitants in various forms besides family and marriage increased exponentially, the country began implementing a cohabitant registration system that gave actual cohabitants protective obligations and legal rights.
For those who had left their families or hometowns, or those who actually had no family, when they lived with friends or lovers, it gave nearby cohabitants the authority to report kidnappings or various accidents – that was the main purpose, and there were two types of cohabitants.
Simple cohabitants applying to friends or close acquaintances, and responsible cohabitants for unmarried couples in de facto marriages.
Since responsible cohabitant status was legally recognized for same-sex as well as heterosexual relationships, same-sex couples who couldn’t legally marry mainly used this as an alternative means of marriage, and indeed the legal rights were recognized at almost the same level as married couples.
Therefore, while this applied to simple cohabitants too, for responsible cohabitants both people must go to the registration office together to verify their identities and register genetic information.
Plus if they designate legal guardian status, they gain authority comparable to actual marriage.
“So I have to go together with hyung?”
“Yes.”
“…He probably won’t want to go if I ask…”
At the sound of Seonwoo sighing that he’d probably hate something like that, Seyoon replied dryly:
“He’ll probably rush to do it before you even ask. If hyung suddenly calls you, assume it’s for registration. And if he suggests putting something in your ear, know it’s an electronic chip. Even if he gives you a watch or ring as a gift, there will be an electronic chip inside.”
“Electronic chip? What kind of chip? For hearing impairment if it goes in the ear? But these days they regenerate the auditory nerve instead of implanting chips?”
As Seonwoo made what wasn’t quite a brag saying he’d done the auditory nerve regeneration too, Seyoon cut off his words.
Then after staying silent for a moment, he let out a deep sigh and continued the conversation:
“…Well, whatever this is or that is. Anyway I’m glad to know you’re alive. Oh, and to register as cohabitants you need to change your address first. They’ll reject cohabitant registration if your address isn’t changed, so do that first.”
As Seyoon explained the detailed registration order while thinking this must be his fate, Seonwoo nodded:
“Got it.”
“Right, live well.”
After that final greeting, the call cut off and Seonwoo lay there for a moment before rolling around and getting up from beside the bed.
Though it still stung and hurt below, he felt like he needed to move a bit now.
“Let’s go register the address change.”
After searching for and liberally applying ointment below despite the embarrassment, Seonwoo headed straight out and just as he got on the elevator, he let out a small “Ah.”
There was definitely a clause in yesterday’s consent form requiring contact and consent about destination and stay duration when going out.
The local administrative center was located just a 5-minute walk away.
Though it wouldn’t take very long, he called hyung to inform him of his destination and time and waited briefly, but after ringing twice it went straight to voicemail.
At that message saying he was working, Seonwoo decided to just leave a voice message:
“I’m going to stop by the administrative center. It’s 3:20 now so I’ll be back home by 3:40.”
After leaving a message saying he’d call again if he got delayed, Seonwoo hung up and started walking while slowly checking the map to find the exit closest to the administrative center.
Since the complex was large and he could end up taking a long detour if he went wrong, he was carefully checking the entrance locations while walking when suddenly a car stopped beside him.
Then men in suits got out of that car and blocked his path.
“Dr. Lee Seonwoo?”
At the voice calling his name, he looked up to see the men in suits asking again as if confirming:
“You are Dr. Lee Seonwoo, correct?”
“Yes, I am.”
“You’ll need to come with us for a moment.”
Seonwoo blankly stared at the men who appeared out of nowhere and suddenly said he needed to come with them.
Then after a moment he asked:
“Why?”
“There is someone who would like to meet you.”
At that familiar situation he’d experienced often since childhood, Seonwoo made a slightly displeased, sulky face.
“…A politician?”
“Pardon?”
“Assembly member? Minister? Or chairman? If not those, then ambassador?”
The words of people who would suddenly appear before him demanding his time since he was 15 generally followed set patterns.
We’ll give you this much money so come to our company, or we’ll provide a private jet so come to our country, or declare your support for me in this election.
Though he showed an annoyed face, tired of those ‘sirs’ who kept showing up repeating those words, the men didn’t even twitch an eyebrow.
“You must come with us. The chairman is waiting.”
“If you have something to say to me, please relay it through the Director of the National Genetic Engineering Center.”
Though he said the Director would contact them, as he tried to walk away the men blocked his path again.
At their continued obstruction, Seonwoo frowned, and one of the men blocking him spoke again:
“You must come right now.”
The men clearly had no intention of letting him pass easily.
So finally Seonwoo gave up and tried to find a compromise:
“Why are you doing this?”
“We don’t know either. Just that it’s an important matter.”
“I’m busy…”
“He said it was a personal matter, so it will only take a moment of your time.”
At the words “personal matter,” he suddenly had a hunch.
There was only one reason why some ‘sir’ would seek him out for a personal matter.
“If it’s about organ regeneration or surgery, you can just make an official consultation request to the National Genetic Engineering Center.”
Though he said that since occasionally wealthy people would seek him out offering huge sums to regenerate organs, the men just kept repeating the same words with expressionless faces:
“You must come with us now.”
“I really can’t right now since I have something to do.”
“It will only take a moment.”
At the most stubborn attitude he’d seen from people so far, Seonwoo scratched his hair.
Though slightly annoying, rather than waste time arguing with these men here, it seemed better to see them briefly and properly refuse.
“Alright, let’s go then.”
Thinking this wasn’t the first time dealing with such things so he could just refuse appropriately, he got in the waiting car and the door soon closed.
Then as the car slowly started moving, he took out his phone again to send a message:
“A sick chairman wants to see me so I’m going briefly.”
Thinking he’d have to send the location after checking where they arrived, he leisurely leaned back in his seat holding his phone.
Wondering what organ they wanted regenerated this time, Seonwoo relaxed thinking this could be another interesting project if handled well.
Until then, he hadn’t given it much thought, just assuming it would be like any other time.
***
