Chapter Thirty-one (1/2)

A week passes by and Jeonghan is out to go to a parent-teacher meeting.  Seungcheol is at home and looks at the little kids who are working on their projects or studying their textbooks.  He folds his arms as Joshua types something on his phone while looking at his book. "What are you doing, Joshua?"  He asked silently, sitting down next to the oldest.  "I'm making an audio book,"  Joshua started, "I learn best when I get the material spoken to me.  So I'm typing the parts that I'm having trouble remembering, so I can listen to it while reading along."  He answered, showing Seungcheol. The adult raised his eyebrows as he looked at the phone.  "Wow..  I never thought of doing that.."  He muttered.  "You're not cheating, right?"  He looked down at the child. Joshua chuckled.  "Of course not, Dad.  I wouldn't do that."  He assured.  "I just really don't want to fail this class.  It's really interesting to me." He said honestly Seungcheol shifted his eyes to the book.  "Government class?"  He asked, taking the book. "It's not advanced stuff.. but it really makes me think.  And I don't like innocent people getting hurt like what this book said happens.."  He muttered.

Seungcheol held his chin and put the book down.  "I thought you wanted to take pictures."  Seungcheol commented. "I want to take pictures!"  Joshua said excitedly.  "But I want to take pictures for fun and to make memories."  He said, sitting on Seungcheol's knee.  "I still can't decide what I want to do yet, but everything's really interesting to me."  He admitted. Seungcheol held back his pained expression from the big child sitting on him.  Not that Jeonghan's any lighter than Joshua, but he was just not ready for the sudden seating.  "Well you have time to figure it out.  I'm here to support you all the way, Joshua."  He assured the younger. Joshua leaned down and put his arms around Seungcheol.  "Thank you, Daddy!  You're the best."  He said. Seungcheol patted the boy's back for a few minutes.  "You need to get back to work.  I want you learning all of those laws in that book."  He instructed.  "And once you're done with that, I'll get you something more advanced."  He winked. Joshua bowed respectfully before going back to his work.  Seungcheol looked around and noticed the back door was open.  He stepped outside and saw Jun practicing his forms on the grass. "Hai Hu Ho!"  He kicked the air, punched, and then spinned around.  Seungcheol leaned back on the frame, watching his child practice with the air.  Watching how Jun moved in the air like a leaf; it's as if he's one with nature as he's able to move his body against the laws.  I'm surrounded by talented children.  He looked back to see Mingyu mouthing the new vocabularies.  A ring at the door made him stop watching the children.  His heart beated faster, knowing fully well that he's not expecting a delivery or any guests.  Excitement filled his whole being as he walked to the door.  He opened the door and his expression didn't change, even if it was fake. "Hello!"  The child waved.  "I'm Jun's training partner.  Mr. Jeonghan said I could come over to practice with him."  He said, looking up at Seungcheol with a bright smile. "Sure, he's out back."  He let the child into the house.  Once the boy was out of range, he sighed.  "Stork.."  He walked outside and closed the door behind him. "I'm home today.. please bring us the next child?"  He sat down against the wall and looked up at the sky.  "I'm not tired of the children we have, by any means I adore them endlessly.  I just.. I want to be here for one.  I’m upset I couldn’t have been there for Minghao or Mingyu, please let me be here for another?"  He begged, a tear starting to form in one eye. He sighed as nothing came back to him.  He went back into the house and looked at the children once more.  "Daddy!"  Seokmin called out.  "Can you help me with this?"  He asked with a bright smile. "What is it, Seokminnie?"  Seungcheol asked, sitting down next to the child and Woozi.  "I'm having trouble with this section.."  He pointed. "Isn't this Woozi's book?"  Seungcheol asked, seeing the handwriting across the page.

The small child looked away with blushed cheeks.  "I'll help you, Seokmin.  So pay attention."  Seungcheol said, looking back at Seokmin, knowing that Woozi is secretly watching.

*** Jeonghan arrives home with grocery bags in his hands.  He puts the chicken in the freezer before looking around at the quiet house.  No one is in sight.  He scratched his head as he went up the stairs, taking his jacket off after his gloves.  Once he reaches his room, it's still quiet. Their shoes are at the door and the car is still here.  But where is everyone?  He wondered.  He opened his bedroom door with a sigh.  He then looked at his bed to see the kids all there with Seungcheol at the center.  They're all sleeping.  He smiled and sighed quietly in relief.  He put his garments down on the table before taking his place between Seungcheol's legs, putting his head between Jun's and Hoshi's heads on Seungcheol's stomach. About to fall asleep, Jeonghan hears a cry in the crib nearby.  He sat up instantly and looked at the vacant crib, knowing that Minghao has outgrown the crib and is sharing a room with Mingyu.  He silently walked up to the crib and saw a baby there, tears going down his cheeks.  "Shh,"  He picked the child up, "what's wrong, little one?"  He whispered. He looked around and saw a book on the nightstand.  He walked up to the book with the child in his arms.  In Seungcheol's handwriting, he read the title of the baby book, Seungkwan.  Jeonghan looked back at the baby.  "Seungkwan?"  He thumbed away the child's tears and picked up the book. He quietly left the room and went down stairs.  He sat on the floor against the couch, having the child on his lap as he opened the book. "Boo Seungkwan, arrived January 16th, at 4:34pm.."  He muttered.  "Oh, you haven't been fed yet."   He realized. He put Seungkwan in the basket in the kitchen, letting the baby's head rest on the pillow softly.  He went into the pantry to open a new bottle of formula and mixed it with some water.  He felt the water and nodded at the correct temperature. "Okay, now I can read about you."  He picked Seungkwan up and put the bottle to the child's lips.

Seungkwan gladly sucked on the bottle while staying close to Jeonghan's chest.  Jeonghan looked at the stork's letter on the inside cover. "Dear Parents,   Through your sassiness, you still managed to be respectful.  And with love, you have gained Boo Seungkwan from Jeju Island.  He will have a fabulous attitude along with a big appetite.  Take care of him well!"

Jeonghan looked down at the child and laughed when the bottle was empty.  "Are you still hungry?"  He patted the boy's back.  Seungkwan held the bottle and waved it in Jeonghan's face.  "Okay, okay, I'll make you more."  He kissed Seungkwan's forehead and put him back in the basket. Mixing the formula once more, he feels hands on his hips.  He recognized those big hands and those lips on his neck.  He felt the temperature of the formula while smiling.  "Seungcheol.."  He giggled. "Lemme tell you how he came to us,"  Seungcheol offered as he watched Jeonghan pick up the baby again. Jeonghan seated himself between Seungcheol's legs while Seungkwan snatched the bottle.  "Okay, tell me."  Jeonghan leaned back against Seungcheol.  "I was really hoping for another child to come today,"  Seungcheol admitted, pulling Jeonghan closer to him, "I guess the stork heard me.  As Jun's friend was leaving, there was Seungkwan on the porch." Jeonghan looked at Seungkwan.  "You didn't knock or ring the doorbell, Seungkwannie?  What a powerful entrance."  He chuckled, kissing Seungkwan's forehead. "And Juni's friend helped me feed Seungkwan for fun."  Seungcheol continued as he watched Seungkwan happily suck on the formula while holding Jeonghan's shirt. Jeonghan looked back for a moment.  "He's eaten already?"  He asked in surprise. "Yeah.. but it seemed like he was really hungry when I came down a little bit ago.  So I didn't say anything."  Seungcheol laughed. Jeonghan stroked the child's head before patting his back.  The baby burped and was done with the bottle.  "My Seungkwannie's going to grow up big and strong, isn't he?"  He lifted the baby up and looked up at his smiling lips.  "You're a good boy, yes you are."  He brought the child back slowly to kiss his cheek. "Oh,"  Jeonghan remembered something, "Seokmin's birthday is coming up soon.  What should we do for him?"  He wondered. Seungcheol hummed in thought.  "Maybe a picnic?  He's been wanting a picnic, maybe I can bring the grill and we can grill the meat together."  Seungcheol suggested. Jeonghan nodded.  "I think all the kids would like that,"  He chuckled, "and we can invite kids from the school that Seokmin wants."  He included.  "You remember the meadow you took me to that one time?" Seungcheol put his chin on Jeonghan's neck.  "The meadow that made us that dove baby Seokmin?  Yes, I remember it fully.  I'll rent it out again."  He said, looking at the sleeping baby in Jeonghan's arms. "You rented it out?  Not just a coincidence?"  Jeonghan laughed.  "It makes it less magical, doesn't it..?"  Seungcheol asked with a sigh. Jeonghan shook his head.  "It means you put more effort and love into making me comfortable.  You know I wouldn't have wanted to cry my eyes out in front of a whole bunch of people."  He said.  "Not again, anyway.."

Seungcheol sighed and held Jeonghan's shoulders.  "I'll never let you cry out of sadness again, I promise."  He said.  "Why can't you be turned toward me?  I want to kiss you.."  He pouted. Jeonghan laughed at the older's childish tone.  "Let's go upstairs and put Seungkwan back in the crib.  It's nap time."  He suggested, standing up and looking back at Seungcheol.  He leaned down and put their lips together briefly.

"I love you, Cheol."  He whispered.  "Get Seungkwan upstairs, I'm going to start on dinner, actually. "  He changed his mind.

Seungcheol smiled while looking up and into Jeonghan's eyes.  His smile is small and his cheeks are relaxed.  "You're more beautiful every time I look at you.."  He whispered.

"My face is getting wrinkles, what are you talking about?"  Jeonghan chuckled.

"I'm not talking about your face, I'm talking about your eyes."  Seungcheol corrected as he took Seungkwan gently.  "My heart goes out of control every time you look at me."  He said  Jeonghan blushes and automatically looks all around Seungcheol's eyes, seeing them being playful and in love.  "Get upstairs, Cheol.."  He turned away and went to the freezer.