Chapter Sixty-four (1/2)
The family was at the dining table eating while laughing. The conversation is about a funny thing happening in Minghao's class. "My teacher literally freaked out over you throwing the lava lamp away, Woozi." Minghao laughed as he picked up his glass of water. "Seriously! I didn’t know what it was!" Woozi put his hands up while laughing. Jeonghan smirked a bit as they continued on about how the teacher says that the aliens are coming for them. He noticed Wonwoo taking out his phone, seeming like he just received a text. About to mind his own business, Jeonghan noticed Wonwoo flinch. "Wonwoo?" Mingyu looked at the older with a concerned glare. "They're coming," He stood up abruptly, "holy shit, they're here.." He ran from the table to the front door.
Seungcheol looked at Jeonghan before the calendar, seeing that it's three weeks away from the due date of Wonwoo's children. Jeonghan taps the table and Minghao looks over. "Drive him," Jeonghan tossed him the keys. Minghao nods and runs to the front door too, slipping his shoes on quickly. He exited out and saw Wonwoo starting on his bike. "Hey!" He called out. Wonwoo looked back at Minghao and saw the keys in Minghao's hand. Wonwoo came back and set his bike back where it was while Minghao got the engine running. Wonwoo got into the van and put his seat belt on. "Thanks." Wonwoo said. "I want to be the first uncle to see them." Minghao said playfully as he pulled out of the driveway.
Wonwoo laughed nervously as he held his thighs. Minghao notices in the corner of his eye. "Calm down, Wonwoo. She's going to be fine." He said in a calm voice. Wonwoo nodded and tried to control his breathing. He tried to tell the adrenaline to shut up, but his heart rate was still out of control. Seeing the hospital in his view only made his heart race faster. Minghao pulled up to the entrance, letting Wonwoo to get out while he went to park the van. Wonwoo looked at the signs and followed the pink line that led him to the delivery room. He looked at the names until he saw Nana's name written in Hangul. He breathed in and out as he heard her voice screaming inside. He knocks on the door and he sighs in relief as he is let in. He went right to Nana's side, holding her thin hand. "Wonwoo.." She took a breathing break. "I'm here. I'm sorry for taking so long." He kissed her hand and reached to separate her bangs. "It hurts.." She muttered. Wonwoo nodded and patted her hand. "Let your stress out on me, I can take it." He assured. She smiled a little before the doctor stated it was time to start again. She took in breaths like she was taught to. After some more time they heard a small cry. Wonwoo stood taller to look at the child, seeing her hands and feet curl. He gave a big smile to Nana, showing off his pointy teeth. "You're doing great," He looked back at Nana, "she's so beautiful." He said, kissing her cheek. Nana wiped her bittersweet tear. The doctor gave her another short break before they started again. The second round of crying gained the same response from Wonwoo. "They're here," Wonwoo said excitedly, "how are you feeling?" He asked, wiping some sweat from her forehead. She sighed as her legs were put back down and she could relax. "Relieved.." She chuckled. "I want to see them." She held his shirt and felt the material slowly. Wonwoo nodded and kissed her forehead. "They'll be in our arms here soon." He assured. She smiled and waited as the medicine was put in her IV bag. They stayed together when the two were brought to them. Wonwoo held one while Nana held the other. The older one was wearing a pink cap and the other is wearing a purple cap. "What should we name them..?" Nana asked, feeling the girl's cheek. "I've been thinking for a couple weeks. It's June, so why don't we go with birthstones?" He suggested with a smile. "The older girl can be ZhenZhu and the younger girl can be JinJu." He said. She chuckled and looked at the older girl in her arms. "ZhenZhu.. my little pearl." She kissed the girl's lips. "Let's do that then." Wonwoo smiled and then turned to the door that was knocked on. He allowed the person in, and Minghao came in slowly. He had a smile and waved to the girls. "This is uncle Minghao." He whispered to the girl in his hold. "Minghao, meet Jinju." He looked at Minghao. Minghao patted the purple cap. "Nice to meet you." "Minghao," Nana started, "Tade mingzi shi ZhenZhu." She introduced. Minghao chuckled and reached to pay the other girl's head. "Gaoxing renshi ni." He bowed. They chuckle and watch the girls. "Wonwoo," Minghao started, "these girls aren't going to grow up like you and me. They're not going to be adults in four years." He said. Wonwoo nodded and looked at Jinju. "I know, I think it's a good pace. We're still studying for teacher degrees. But I'll make sure to tutor as many kids as I can handle. It'll look good on my résumé too." He winked. Nana smiled and kissed Wonwoo. "Don't stress out over it. We'll take care of them." She assured. "Now about who they'll live with.." She held her chin. "You keep them with you since you're their mother. I want them to be comfy. I'll come over whenever I can." He promised. "I'll talk to my parents about building onto the house, if you agree." He indirectly asked. She nodded. "Let's do that." She agreed. Minghao was concerned, but was relieved that they were making plans well together. "I'm going back home." Minghao stood up. "I'll see you at school tomorrow, Hyung." He waved. Wonwoo nodded. "Thanks.. I'm sorry for running out on dinner. Eat well when you get home." He said. Minghao nodded. "I will. You two eat too." He said before exiting the room. Minghao found the van and sighed happily. He'll make a good dad..
*** A month passes by, making it graduation season for Dino. He dressed in his crimson robe and spinned around with his classmates. He danced with them until he felt someone's chest behind him. He looked to see the amber-robed student, Shownu. The students backed up a bit as Dino swallowed audibly. Dino bowed and took a step backward. However, Shownu took a step forward. "Dino!" They heard Seungcheol call out. The group looked the parent's way. Shownu then stepped away from Dino a bit. "Dino, I want you to show me your classroom. I've never actually been in any of them." He put his arm around the boy's shoulders. Dino looked into Seungcheol's eyes. The parent raised his eyebrows, signaling him to agree. "Y-yeah, this way, Daddy." He pointed.
They walked away from the group and Dino sighed. "Has that kid always been picking on you?" Seungcheol asked as they quietly walked into the building. "Yeah.. but I can't do anything." He said, looking at the familiar signs. "He's the administrator's son. It's like if someone tried to poke Hoshi, you wouldn't let that slide at all, would you?" Dino asked. Seungcheol hummed. "That's true.." "Class H18-4 was my last classroom." He slid open the door. "Each age has its own classroom. A few months ago, I was in H17-4. I was enrolled in the fourth cycle of stork babies, so I stayed in the fourth class." He explained as he sat down on his chair.
Dino breathed in and out as he stared at the chalkboard. "This is the room I spent all my time in until I turned eighteen. All of the classrooms look the same, so it feels like I've been in one classroom all of my life." Dino said. "No changes, no breaks, and no great memories. Just learning.." He said with a robotic smile. Seungcheol sat down next to him. "Was it that painful for you?" He asked. Dino shrugged. "It's all I've ever known, Dad. Study, study, study. If you weren't studying, you weren't excelling; if you weren't excelling you weren't learning; if you weren't learning, you're not worth the school's time." Dino said as if he memorized the whole thing. "And with kids like Shownu.. I wish I got held back a class." He chuckled. "But you guys would be mad if I had to wait to graduate until December." He folded his arms and put his head low on them. Seungcheol shook his head. "No we wouldn't.." He assured. "Do you know what they do to kids who get held back, even by one class?" Dino asked in a serious tone. "One of my classmates stayed in H14 while the rest of us went to H15. And within a week, she was in our class. She was shaking and quiet. She looked like she went through the worst torture, Dad." He explained. Seungcheol pursed his lips. "Maybe her parents.." "I don't want to know." Dino hid his face in his arms. "I just want to get away from here and never come back." He said honestly. Seungcheol nodded. "Let's go then. You have a ceremony in an hour." He instructed.
Meanwhile, Joshua and Seokmin were walking together. "There he is," Seokmin pointed out, "Sungjae." Joshua looked forward to see a boy in a black suit. It's tradition for all past students to wear the color they represent if they go to a ceremony like this. Joshua saw a few adults with teal-colored clothes as well as white and gray. Joshua looks at his gray suit before Seokmin's white suit. "Well then, introduce me to him." Joshua said with a teasing nudge. Seokmin blushed and they walked up to the black-suited man. "Sungjae," Seokmin got his attention. "Oh, there's my little dove." He patted Seokmin's shoulder. Seokmin looked down a bit. "This is my brother, Joshua." He introduced. Joshua shook the other's hand. "I understand you took care of my little brother in his class," Joshua said with a smile, "thank you for giving him so much attention." Sungjae waved his hand. "I would do it again if it meant I could see Dokyeomie's cute smile." Sungjae said, bending lower to look at Seokmin's blushed cheeks. Joshua smirked. Smooth.. "So this will be the last ceremony we'll be attending." Joshua brought up. The crow had a sad expression. "Really?" He looked at Seokmin. "But how.. Seokmin, you gotta come back. I love talking to you." He said. "Well you could give me your number.." Seokmin said shyly. Sungjae snapped his finger. "That's right.. That buzzard stole my opportunity last time." He said. "Which buzzard?" Joshua asked, thinking about Woozi. "Yeosang.. He claimed he wanted me to get my past read, so I couldn't see Seokmin before he went back home last year." Sungjae answered, taking out his phone. Finally, after so long! Seokmin took his phone out too. "Sungjae!" Someone called. The man rolled his eyes and turned around. "I said no working on ceremony day!" He shouted to the guys in the car that just pulled up. "It's an emergency!" The guy said. Sungjae stomped his foot and looked around. He grabbed Seokmin's phone quickly. "Hold on." He desperately put his number into the device. "Call me tonight, okay? Please?" Sungjae begged while holding Seokmin's shoulders. "Uh.." "Fly with me, Seokminnie." He whispered. Seokmin looked into the other's eyes as if he were in some sort of trance. "I'll soar high in the sky with you.." He said, walking with Sungjae. "Seokmin." Joshua held the dove's hand.
The crow then left abruptly. The two could see him yelling at the people in the car and punching the chair in front of him before sulking. Seokmin held his phone while watching the car disappear. "What was that..?" Joshua folded his arms. "Why did he say something like that?" Seokmin shook his head. "I don't know.. Whatever it was, it made me want him." He said honestly. "He said something like that at Minghao's party, and.. I want him." Joshua saw him gearing up to run. However, he held Seokmin's hand. "Don't." He commanded. "But-" "Seokmin." He said with authority. "You have his phone number now, text him later." He instructed.
Seokmin looked down at his phone and nodded. "Thanks, Hyung.." He put his phone in his pocket. "Does Jae ever say something to you that makes you crazy for him?" He asked as they slowly walked together. Joshua hummed and held Seokmin's hand, waving it back and forth. "He says something about letting him love me. It makes me want to cuddle with him and obey his every command." He said with a chuckle. "It's a weird feeling.. but the controlled feeling is attractive when you're not the one watching it." He continued.
"I know, it's like something pulled me closer to Sungjae." Seokmin smiled. "It's like every thought and action was geared to him. How did I look?" He asked.
Joshua furrowed his eyebrows. "Kind of scary.. It looked like you were programmed." He said. "I've seen Woozi in that kind of state many times, it's always the same: his expression is either blank or smiling while obeying Yeosang's every command." Seokmin shuddered. "This feels like some bonding thing I once read for a book review. The quota was fantasy." He explained.