Chapter Sixty-three (1/1)

He puts his arm around Jeonghan and kisses the boy's neck.  Jeonghan blushes and leans into the hold of the older man; the warmth radiates between them, making Jeonghan smile as he watches the ducks open their wings together in the rain.  He watches them quack and call to each other as the droplets fall lightly. Jeonghan holds the other's hand, massaging his knuckles and getting his black hair stroked: his black hair  that waved cutely to his chin.  He looked up at the older, smiling as they made eye contact.  "Minhyuk,"  Jeonghan whispered as he cupped the other's cheek. Minhyuk leaned forward, putting their lips together and letting the umbrella fall.  They were suddenly in the back of Minhyuk's car, the seats being soft as Minhyuk's touches were as light as a feather.  Jeonghan blushed as their bodies came together to be one with nothing in the way. He giggled and moaned at Minhyuk's movements; he held Minhyuk's hands as they kissed; his body curled when he felt the man release into him.  "Minhyuk~"  He gasped happily. "Jeonghan.."  Minhyuk pulled back and gripped Jeonghan's neck tightly as they were now in the warehouse with their clothes on. "Please don't hurt me!"  Jeonghan begged. "Who said I'm hurting you?!"  Minhyuk tossed him to the floor.

Jeonghan sat up straight in his bed.  He was sweating a little as his breathing was labored.  He held his chest as he looked around, hearing the rain fall outside.  He put his knees to his chest as he looked at the empty space beside him.  The empty place that should have his husband there, spooning him as they dream together. He sighed and used to the bathroom.  Coming back, he picked up his phone.  Everyone was offline aside from his mother.  He looked at the time in the corner of the screen.  3:34am.  "What is she doing awake..?"  He wondered. Laying down, he pressed on her contact.  Mind filling with concern, he pressed the button to call her.  What surprised him was that she answered. "Jeonghan?" He bit his lip, knowing that it's been so long since he heard her voice.  "Mom..?" "What's wrong?  What are you doing awake?"  She asked. He put his blanket to his neck and his body naturally went into a curled position.  "I had a nightmare.. but I saw you online.  Is everything okay?"  He asked, knowing that he was going to get bitten in return. She sighed, he could hear that.  "Your dad needs to do a little work down in Gangnam.  I never sleep well when he's gone."  She explained.  "Where's Seungcheol?" "He has the night shift on the weekend.  A sister company is in a different time zone."  He answered.

She hummed and he could hear her blanket moving too.  "What was your nightmare about?"  She asked. "Minhyuk.."  He said honestly.  "I've been having them lately when Seungcheol's gone.."  He played with the pillow case. "November made seven years, didn't it?"  She asked. He nodded.  "Yes, it's been seven years since I moved out.."  He sighed.  "I.. I miss you so much mom."  He confessed, holding his stomach.  "I miss you too, Sweetie."  She replied.  "Jeonghan, I never hated you.  I hope you know that.  I just.. I wanted what was best for you.  I wanted to keep you my little boy forever."  She said. Jeonghan felt like she had more to say, so he stayed silent.  "You're my first-born, and to see you grow up so quickly, I didn't want to let you go.  I wanted to keep you.. And now your sister is growing up too.  She found a boyfriend recently.  It just feels like you guys are growing up and will never come back to me."  She confessed, holding herself too.  "At least your kids are still with you, Jeonghan.  Just wait until they show up with your grandchildren."

Jeonghan let a tear go down.  "Mom.. I'm experiencing the same thing..  The kids are growing up so quickly.  All but Dino has graduated, and they've found significant others.."  He wiped a tear.  "Wonwoo's going to be having children by June, Mom." "What?!" "Wonwoo and his girlfriend are pregnant.."  His crying was audible in his talking.  "Mom, why are they growing so fast?  Why can't they be my children for longer?"  He asked. The woman sighed and pouted her lip.  "Jeonghan,"  She started, "I didn't want to give you up.  Your experience with Jaebum and the others.. I just didn't want you to get into the wrong hands.  But Seungcheol's made you so happy, hasn't he?" "Very happy, Mom.  He's the best.."  He whispered. She hummed happily.  "I'm so relieved to hear that, Sweetie.  That's all I want for my children: for them to live happily.  Whether it's with me or the love of their life.  I was so sad when you and Seungcheol left together.  I thought that those nineteen years of raising you were going to be thrown away.  I thought Seungcheol didn't love you like I wanted him to. "I was ready to welcome you back into my home, Jeonghan."  The woman confessed.  "But I never got the call that he hurt you.  And when you came to me a year or so later, I heard about the progress.  I know I gave you a hard time then, but I was really proud of you.  It made me feel like I made the right decision, even though it pained me to be so mean to you." Jeonghan wiped his eyes and sniffled.  "No, Mom.  I was a pain, don't feel bad.  Please."  He begged.  "Now I know what you were going through, I'm so sorry for being a brat."  He bit his lip. "And look at you now, you're a father that has done well with his kids."  She smiled.  "And now I'm a great-grandma."  She chuckled. He laughed a bit too.  "I'm not old enough to be a grandpa.."  He muttered. She wiped her eyes and laughed lightly.  "I guess you are..  I never thought I was going to be a grandma before reaching forty."  She commented.  "You're not even thirty yet."  Jeonghan blushed and closed his eyes.  "They had secret relationships.. Josh, Woozi, and Wonwoo - they were dating without my knowledge."  He commented. "And how did it make you feel when you figured out?"  She asked. "I was.. mad..  But not because they were dating.  But because I didn't know who they were dating.  I didn't want them dating someone like Minhyuk.  I didn't want them hurt."  Jeonghan explained his feelings.  "But when I met them, I was so relieved.  They're kind to my sons."  He sighed. "You have to give them a chance to be happy, Jeonghan.  Just remember yourself and Seungcheol: you found happiness with him."  She smiled.  "You win, Jeonghan.. I approve of Seungcheol."

Jeonghan let a bittersweet tear go onto his pillow.  "I.. I want to hug you, Mom."  He said cautiously. "It would be nice to hug you too, Sweetie.  Maybe I can come over sometime?"  She asked. Jeonghan smiled.  "I'd like that.  I know dad has to watch Jeongda, but I want to see you again.  I miss you so much, Mom."  He wiped his eyes. "I miss you too, Jeonghan."  She smiled, wiping her bitter tears away.  "I'm so sorry for my past self." "Don't apologize, Mom.  You had every right to be protective over me."  He laughed.  "You should have seen the look Jaemin had when I banned them from seeing each other.  He looked so sad but understanding.  He was willing to go single for the rest of his life if he had to." She chuckled.  "I take it that you got the protectiveness from me.  Your dad was so open for you to be hanging out with Seungcheol." Jeonghan laughed and nodded.  "Seungcheol's the same way, he's so open about the kids dating.  He's had to cool me off a lot."  He admitted. "You two complete each other then.  I'm relieved."  She commented.  "Jeonghan, it's already been an hour.  You need to try to get back to sleep." Jeonghan muttered a no.  "I'll sleep when Cheol gets back.  I want to continue talking to you.  I know we'll be awake for a little longer."  He teased. She chuckled.  "Alright, tell me what all you've been up to these past years.."

*** Hoshi and Seungcheol get out of the parent's vehicle.  They go their separate ways and Hoshi sees a girl on his floor.  She looks familiar, however he's never met her.  She's chatting with one of the older guys in the office.   Hoshi sits down at his desk and logs himself in to put a log on his timecard.  His attention goes to the girl who giggled.  He looked up from his computer to the girl.  He then looked at some of the other employees he's working with.  One of the employees he knows to be Leeteuk's kid. Another employee he knows to be a stork he saw at the academy. Of course the new face was Mr. Kim.  He gets along well with his coworkers, but he's curious as to who this new girl is.  She doesn't have a lanyard like him or the other employees.  Her attire is a little elegant with the way the skirt is frilly at the bottom. "Hoshi!"  The man talking to the girl called out. "Come over here, please." Hoshi stood up and made his way to the man.  He bowed and looked at him before the girl.  "You asked for me, Mr. Kim?"  He asked. "Yes, what do you think about my daughter's new outfit?"  He asked. Hoshi looked at the girl's hair that elegantly flowed past her shoulders, showing off the sparkly blouse with a shiny layer over the peach colored shirt.  Then he looked at the belt between the blouse and pink skirt that went to her knees.  The skirt was layered. "It's beautiful."  Hoshi commented. She blushed and bowed.  "Thank you, it's my latest design.  Prom night is coming up."  She said. "Prom?  What's that?"  Hoshi looked at the man in confusion. She raised her eyebrows.  "It's like a school dance.  It's romantic."  She summarized. "Oh.. my school never had that."  He scratched his neck.  "You're a clothing designer?"  He asked. Mr. Kim hummed.  "My Jisoo has a degree in fashion."  He advertised. Hoshi smiled and looked around her once more.  "You're fantastic!  But.."  He held his chin.  "I could swear I've seen you before.. Maybe when I was younger?"  He raised an eyebrow. "When Jisoo was younger, she worked commissions at art galleries painting kid's faces."  Mr. Kim commented. Hoshi smiled widely and snapped his finger. "That's it!  You painted my face being a tiger!"  He said.  "Four years ago, I think."  He added. "Four years ago?  That would have made you a teenager.  I only painted children's faces."  She giggles. "Four years ago I was a child."  Hoshi laughed. Jisoo looked at her father in confusion.  "Hoshi is a stork baby.  He would have been around seven or so at the time."  Mr. Kim tried to do quick math. Hoshi nodded and folded his arms.  "That's right, young enough to get my face painted.  I was so excited to be a tiger for the day!"  He remembered.  "Joshua took a picture of it.  I'll ask Minghao to send it to me to show you next time you come here, Noona."  He said. She smiled and nodded.  "Sure,"  She said, "that explains why you didn't have a prom though.. I wonder if they'll ever have prom night at stork school.."  Jisoo commented. "Maybe in the future."  He imagined.  "I would have been alone that night.  I didn't have any love interests."  He said. Mr. Kim raised an interested eyebrow.  "Do you have an interest now?"  He asked. Hoshi chuckled and shook his head.  "Like anyone would be attracted to a tiger."  He waved at the man.  "I think I'd need to mature a little more before any girls would be interested in me."  He said honestly. "That's true.. My Jisoo likes dogs more."  He teased. "Dad!  I'm right here!"  She teasingly slapped his shoulder.  "Anyway, you're cute Hoshi.  Don't think your personality isn't attractive to anyone."  She said honestly.  "I need to go now, so see you next time.  I really want to see that picture."  She mentioned. Hoshi smiled and bowed.  "I'll have it ready to show next time then."  He promised. She bowed to her father before leaving.  Mr. Kim looked Hoshi's way.  "She's pretty, isn't she?"  He asked. "She's beautiful."  He corrected. "I wouldn't expect anything different from Mr. Kim himself."  He flattered the man. He chuckled and folded his arms.  "Evaluation week is coming up, I'm going to miss you being here on this floor."  He signed. "Evaluation week?"  Hoshi asked. "Every six months, Your father goes to every building to evaluate every employee."  Kim started.  "The whole process of evaluating takes a week.  Our building is first, and in which case, we'll be evaluated tomorrow."  He continued and sighed. Hoshi pouted his lip.  "Why would any of us be fired?"  He asked. "No, I'm saying that you're a good employee, Hoshi."  Kim laughed.  "You'll probably be promoted and move upstairs."  He explained. Hoshi grows red cheeks. "We'll see.  If I get promoted, everyone here is coming with me."  He said, walking away to his desk. The other employees smile at Hoshi's enthusiasm.  Being the youngest worker in the office suite, the other employees get his energy.

Meanwhile, Seungcheol paces around in his office.  He bites his lip as he sees Hoshi's file on the desk. "Why do I have to evaluate him?!"  He asked aloud. He sat down and looked at his child's name on the folder.  "It's not like he's been a bad employee, right?  I would have heard about it."  He nodded.  "But what if I have to fire him?   I can't.."  He sighed. "No, I have to evaluate him like an employee.  Right now, he's not my son."  He tried telling himself as he opened Hoshi's file.  "He's an employee who works for the company, just like me.  And just like everyone else, he will be evaluated according to his reputation, attendance, input, output, and growth. "He's just an employee in this setting."  He nodded and looked down at the numbers and notes put on Hoshi.

The next day came and he finished with Mr. Kim, looking at Hoshi's name next.  The said hamster-tiger walked into the office that Seungcheol uses to evaluate this building's employees.  Hoshi's hair is black and his gray suit was put on properly.  His lanyard displayed his field and name. "Good morning, Mr. Kwon."  Seungcheol greeted. Hoshi bowed.  "Mr. Choi,"  He sat across from the man. Seungcheol opened Hoshi's file and nodded.  "You have been completing your classes on time and been on time with all of your attendance.  You have made quite the number of sales and your growth is extraordinary for a young man."  He said. Hoshi kept a neutral expression as Seungcheol kept eye contact with him.  "However,"  Seungcheol said, "I don't see any reason to promote you at this time."  Seungcheol closed the file.  "Keep working and studying like you've been."  Hoshi stood up and bowed.  "Thank you,"  He said. "You may go home now for today.  Your work continues tomorrow."  Seungcheol instructed. Hoshi bowed once more and exited the room.  He went to his suite and looked at Mr. Kim who was packing his things too. "So, how did it go?"  Mr. Kim asked.  "You're out early."  "Seungcheol says there's no point in promoting me right now."  Hoshi stated.  "I'm still here."  He said. The office offers a small cheer.  "That means you're doing well, Hoshi."  Changmin said with a big smile. A popping noise came from one desk over.  "Six more months of the whole gang~"  Eunhyuk said, letting the confetti litter the floor. Hoshi chuckled a little.  "I'm glad we can all still work together."  He said, bowing to them. "Jisoo will be coming next week,"  Mr. Kim held Hoshi's shoulder, "don't disappoint her."  He winked. Hoshi blushed a little and went to his desk to put some things in his bag.  

It's a good thing his mom could keep him company and they made things right with each other <3

And it looks like Hoshi met someone from awhile ago~

<3