Chapter Fifty-five (1/1)
The end of November comes by, making Minghao twenty-one years old. His first year of aging normally. The first week of December comes by and Jeonghan notices that Wonwoo's not home. He looked around the children who are normally home at this time. Jeonghan also noticed the absence of Hoshi. He pouted his lip as he looked at the empty places at the table. Seungcheol is also absent. He divided the chicken among the other kids and himself and sat down to eat. Joshua looked at the empty seats before clearing his throat. "Has Cheol-dad said where he was?" He asked. "He said he'd be home a little late.." Jeonghan sighed. "I don't know what's up with the other two." He held his forehead. Jun pouted his lip for a moment. "A business man came to the college today to pick Hoshi up for something. I don't know for what exactly." He informed. "Have you texted Hoshi?" He asked. Jeonghan took out his phone. "Good idea.." He pressed on Hoshi's contact. "Now what about Wonwoo..?"
The kids look at each other. Each one had a look in their eyes that said no. "He's probably just out studying late. It is going to be the end of the semester two weeks from now." Mingyu mentioned. Jeonghan nodded. "That makes sense.. but he was late last month around this time too.." Jeonghan poked his chicken. The front door opens and Jeonghan raises his head. The parent watches and waits for the kitchen door to open. He sees Wonwoo stepping into the kitchen. "Where were you?" Jeonghan asked, standing straight up. The others stay silent as they watch the parent-son duo lock eyes. "I was at the hospital." He said honestly. Jeonghan dropped his napkin and ran up to him. "Are you okay?" He asked, looking around the taller. "I'm fine.." Wonwoo replied. "My study partner's boyfriend was out, but he asked me to go with her to the obstetrician. She gets a bit nervous." He said. Jeonghan sighed in relief. "Your study partner is a girl? And she's pregnant?" He asked in shock. "Is she okay?" Wonwoo nodded. "It was just a routine check. Everything's going well.. She's about twelve weeks in.." He replied.
Jeonghan did math in his head. "So three months.." He muttered. "Well hopefully she and her boyfriend will take care of the child well. I'm surprised he asked you to take her." Jeonghan said while holding his chin. "Yeah well.." Wonwoo smiled nervously. "He's a really good friend of mine. We respect each other." He lied.
Jeonghan nodded and sighed. "Did you eat while you were out?" He asked. "Yes, she and I met up with her boyfriend and ate." Wonwoo said. "I'm going up to finish my homework." He bowed. Jeonghan pursed his lips and looked at the other kids. Jun was putting a big piece of chicken in Seungkwan's mouth. Jeonghan raised an eyebrow at them and Jun quickly went back to his seat. Joshua cleared his throat once more and looked Woozi's way. "How has Yeosang been?" Joshua asked. "I haven't seen him around lately." He commented. Woozi swallowed his chicken first. "I suppose he could actually be doing school work." He said before taking a sip of water. Jeonghan sits down and holds his forehead. Joshua's dating.. Obviously Woozi's dating.. He looked toward Wonwoo's empty chair. Good friends or not, boyfriends don't generally ask a male friend to bring their girl to a baby check-up. Not even Cheol wanted me to bring Junmyeon for Jun's follow-up! He shook his head and picked his phone up from hearing it buzz. "Hoshi and Seungcheol are on their way home." He muttered the text. Jun nodded and played with his napkin. "So.. Jeong-dad.." He started shakily, earning the eyes of the called parent. "My martial arts teacher will be retiring next year, he said. So he's asked me to do special training to become the next teacher at college." He continued. Everyone looked at Jeonghan to see his reaction. Joshua had the most concern, knowing Jeonghan went crazy over his little part-time job. "Okay," Jeonghan nodded, "I'll talk to Seungcheol about it tonight. Find us the prices and schedules of the classes and we'll make arrangements as we can." Jeonghan said, looking down at his food. They're growing up.. He heard Seungcheol's voice in his head. I know, but now they're dating and getting jobs. Why can't they slow down? He argued with Seungcheol in his head. If that's what they want to do, why should we stop them? They're happy. You want them to be happy, right? "Yes." Jeonghan answered aloud.
The table grows silent and looks at Jeonghan. "Really?" Seungkwan asked with wide eyes. "You think Vernon can stick five straws in his ear?" Jeonghan looked at them with shocked eyes. "I mean.." Jeonghan scratched his neck. "I don't know why you'd want to, but probably.. How big are the straws?" He asked. Seungkwan held his chin. "Good point.."
Not too long later, the front door opens. Jeonghan stops loading the dishwasher to go to the front room. I'm desperate to see them, aren't I? He inwardly sighed. "Where were you, Hoshi?" He asked, holding the boy's chubby cheeks. "Why didn't you come home with the others?" Seungcheol patted Jeonghan's shoulder. "Everything's okay. Dongwan sent one of his assistants to pick Hoshi up today." He explained. "The school said that I was free to take off one day, so I was being shown around the second floor at dad's company." Hoshi continued. "He wants to hire me as an apprentice!" He said excitedly.
Jeonghan raises his eyebrows. "Ap-apprentice? For what exactly?" He put a fake smile on. Seungcheol smiled proudly. "Hoshi is working from the bottom to be at the top of the business strategy team." He held Hoshi by the waist. "But for now, he's gotta do a little bit of file management and sales." He chuckled. Jeonghan looked at Hoshi. "You still have college to attend though, right?" He asked. "I graduate this month, same with Joshua and Jun, remember?" He reminded. "My studies will be moved to the company's school." He explained. Seungcheol hummed. "He'll still have a good schedule though, so he should be home for dinner." He said, walking them away from the front door. "He'll be leaving in the morning with me."
Jeonghan nodded and played with his fingers. "Cheol, can we talk..?" He asked. Seungcheol gave him a concerned glare. "You were happy that Dongwan was considering him a job, is there something wrong?" He asked, letting Hoshi's waist go as they entered the kitchen. Hoshi takes this as a cue to leave them be. He silently goes upstairs. "I know that," Jeonghan continued with the dishwasher, "I have nothing wrong with that." He held his hand up. Seungcheol saw those big eyes. "Okay, so what do you want to talk about?" He asked, leaning against the counter.
Jeonghan breathed in and out. "Jun was appointed to be the next martial arts teacher at his school," He said rather quickly, "he needs to take certain classes like management, speech, and tolerance." He continued before setting the dishwasher to run. "Ah.. I see.." He folds his arms. "Very excellent. He has a good reputation with the college then." He nodded. Jeonghan hummed. "Before he can become a teacher, he must do a presentation at the main building in Seoul. But that's a couple semesters from now, he said." Jeonghan put his forehead in Seungcheol's chest. "You're upset they're growing more, aren't you?" Seungcheol asked. Jeonghan nodded slowly, putting his arms around Seungcheol's waist. "I don't want to hold them back, Cheol.. but.." He sniffled. "Is this what my mom felt years ago?" He asked. "How she felt when she knew I was leaving her?" "Your mother is a bitch.. but she cared for you so much, Jeonghan." He stroked the younger's hair. "But just like her, you have to let your birds fly out of the nest when they want to eat." Jeonghan nodded and his shoulders shook. Seungcheol patted the boy's back and sighed. "I'm impressed with our children," He started, "I never thought they would achieve so much in so little time." Jeonghan smiled a bit. "I knew.. I knew they would be just as strong and smart as you." He pulled back, holding Seungcheol's cheeks. "They have passion for what they do, just like you. And that's why I'm not chaining them down. Because I know even how hard I try, passion is stronger than anything I could hold them back with." He kissed Seungcheol's lips. "I just.. want us all to eat together. At least at dinner time." Jeonghan said with hope. "Dinner brought us together, Seungcheol. I don't want to have too many nights where those seats aren't filled with our laughing children." He looked back at the vacant table. "I'll do my best," Seungcheol turned the other's chin back toward him, "but for now, let's cheer them on, okay?" He said, kissing Jeonghan's lips. Jeonghan sighed happily. "Thank you, Cheol.. I think I'd go crazy without you." He chuckled, remembering the argument he had in his head a little while ago. Seungcheol chuckled. "Sometimes at work, I hear your voice telling me not to do something." He scratched his neck. "So I think I'd go a little crazy too." He winked.
Jeonghan laughed and they separated. "I'm going to talk to a few of the kids first. Then I'll meet you in our room, okay?" Seungcheol assured.
Seungcheol first made his way to Wonwoo's room. He opened the door and looked at Wonwoo who was at his desk. The dark child put his pen down and turned to face Seungcheol. "You asked me to come in here?" Seungcheol asked, sitting down on the chair coincidentally facing Wonwoo's chair. Wonwoo nodded and looked down. "I wanted to talk about the arrangement for Jeong-dad meeting Nana.." He answered. "We decided that the Christmas party would be perfect, right? Only our close relatives will be there." Seungcheol said. Wonwoo hummed and played with his pen. "The thing is.. I don't know if I want the other relatives to be there when Jeonghan meets Nana." He said. "She might get embarrassed, and dad might get madder.." "What's wrong?" Seungcheol asked. "Dad.." Wonwoo looked at him. "Nana's pregnant.. three months." He stated.
Seungcheol widened his eyes and pointed at Wonwoo who nodded shortly after. "You-but-how-but.." Seungcheol was at a loss for words. "Oh no, no, no.." Seungcheol stood up. "This is not going to work." He held his head on both sides. "Okay," Seungcheol tried to calm down, "so does her dad know?" Wonwoo nodded. "Good.. what does he have to say?" He asked. Wonwoo smirked a bit and looked at the carpet. "I'll say it in his words, 'It's about time, I want to be around for my grandchildren.'" He answered. Seungcheol nodded. "Okay.. at least we only have one angry parent to deal with." Seungcheol chuckled. "Are you mad?" Wonwoo asked.
He sighed. "It would be a lie if I said I wasn't disappointed.. But I'm not Jeonghan-angry." He laughed nervously. "We need him to meet her alone then. Let's slowly introduce her as an idea. Tell the others to do that too until Jeonghan says that he wants to meet her." Seungcheol instructed. "Right.. Thanks.." Wonwoo put his head down. "Hey," Seungcheol put a hand on his shoulder, "in six months, you're going to be a father. A month before Dino graduates." He said. "Jeonghan's not going to kill you, he loves you too much." He chuckled.
Wonwoo nodded. "You have to get ready. Watch Jeonghan and my actions more closely from now on. Your children will need guidance, and so will Nana." Seungcheol patted the boy's shoulder. Wonwoo smiled when he saw his father's bright smile. "I'll do my best." He promised. "That's all they'll ever ask for, Wonwoo. So with that one thing, put your heart and life into it." Seungcheol said. "Never give up on them." He kissed Wonwoo's cheek. Surprisingly, the child didn't rub the kiss off or complain like he usually does. He bowed as Seungcheol exited his room.
Seungcheol then made it to Woozi's room, knocking on the door first. He looked at Woozi who was sitting on his bed. Seungcheol didn't need to be told to lock the door behind him and sit on the floor to look up at Woozi. "Yes?" Seungcheol knew the other had something to talk about. "Yeosang.." Woozi started. "I love him." He admitted. Seungcheol smiled. "Invite Yeosang to the Christmas party. I want Jeonghan to meet him." He requested. "I will." Woozi obeyed.
Seungcheol stood up and waved. He then finally made it to his own bedroom where Jeonghan was combing his damp hair. He picked his pajamas up and walked to the bathroom. He looked at himself in the mirror and noticed the dark circles around his eyes and redness in his nose. He took his clothes off and rubbed his sore eyes before going into the shower. He cleaned himself off from the day and came to the bed after putting his night clothes on. He smiled as he closed his eyes in the darkness. The stress is instantly escaping his body as he holds the younger male closer to him. "I love you, Jeonghan." He said, bringing the younger closer to his chest. Jeonghan moved in their spoon to put his face in Seungcheol's chest. "I love you too, Seungcheol." He returned, kissing the man's full lips and putting his heart into the kiss. Seungcheol could feel it. After the kiss died down, the day finally got to him. He fell asleep with a smile on his expression.
Josh, Hoshi, and Jun are almost finished with their general degrees.
Each boy is going into their own field, and it looks like Jun and Hoshi are already setting up for it.
Seungcheol was about to lose it hearing that Nana is preggies tho XD
<3