Chapter Seventy-seven (1/2)

Woozi taps on his desk for a moment as he reads a book.  His eyes are on the page, but his mind is on something else.  He turns to look at the boy sitting next to him.  He has a cup in his hand, a straw in his mouth, and a book on the desk.  Woozi noticed that the book was about different sewing patterns in a sewing machine.  "Yeosang.."  He started, earning the boy's attention. The boy looked at Woozi with playful eyes at first.  However, he noticed Woozi's serious eyes and he copied them.  He put his drink down.  "What is it?"  He asked. "We're all alone.."  Woozi commented. Yeosang closed his book and leaned closer.  "On the table or the floor?"  He asked with hungry eyes. Woozi rolled his eyes.  "No!  That's not what I meant."  He pushed Yeosang away.  "We're alone.  Dokyeom's supposed to be here."  He pointed at the empty chair on the other side of the table.  Yeosang hummed and sucked on the strawberry milkshake.  "It is weird.."  He said.  "You two are supposed to be practicing together, right?"  He asked, finding his place in the book to put a bookmark. "Yeah.. The teacher said we need to keep practicing because he has a surprise for us."  Woozi confirmed.  "But where is he?"  "Did you try calling him?"  Yeosang asked. Woozi pouted with a nod.  Yeosang folded his arms.  "Wait,"  He snapped his finger, "Seungkwan said something about Sungjae being a detective.  Maybe Dokyeom sneaked out to meet him at the station." The shorter widened his eyes.  "Do you think so?"  He asked. "It could be possible.. I'll drive you there."  Yeosang stood up and took Woozi's hand. Woozi quickly packed his things up with one hand before letting Yeosang walk him out.  He looked at the road as they drove, only thinking about where Seokmin is.  Worried would be an understatement.  Woozi is scared.  Yeosang walked with the shorter into the station and he instantly spotted someone too familiar.  The dove was leaning back on a wall reading a manual.  His long legs were on full display as his hair had that red mixed in it.  Woozi noticed Yeosang staring at San and quickly punched his shoulder, earning the attention of the dove and the sheriff at the desk. Woozi sighed and looked at the older male.  "I'm looking for my brother, is he perhaps here with Sungjae?"  He asked. "Oh, yeah, he said that he came over here because some kid stole his phone."  The sheriff said.  Woozi held his hips and looked at Yeosang.  "Stop staring at his legs."  He elbowed Yeosang's chest. "I'm not!"  Yeosang whined.

San smirked as the two walked by him to go to Sungjae's office.  He held Yeosang's hand, pulling him onto the wall.  "You wanna feel them next?"  He whispered to the crow. Yeosang fought punching the other in the face.  He quickly got off of the male and had a disgusted face.  "Leave me alone, San."  He put Woozi in front of him.  Woozi rolled his eyes and opened the door of Sungjae's office.  There he sees Seokmin smiling at Sungjae.  "Hey,"  Woozi got their attention. "So you'll tell me if you find it?"  Seokmin looked back at Sungjae. "It should be fairly easy to track,"  Sungjae replied, "you should go back with your brother now."  Seokmin blushed and leaned down, putting their lips together.  Sungjae made no effort to kiss back, but didn't push Seokmin away.  He faked a smile and looked at Seokmin.  "It's a shame you can't come over for semester break.  But hopefully you have fun at home."  He said. "I don't think it's fair.  Jeonghan's only not letting me go because you questioned him."  He folded his arms.  "I should be allowed to be with you."

Sungjae looked down, not wanting to argue with Seokmin.  I'll secure us being official soon, Dokyeom.  Just be patient..  He thought. "Well Sungjae's a piece of shit, so it's good you're not spending a week with him."  Woozi said, grabbing Seokmin by the arm and pulling him out of the office.

Yeosang made eye contact with San again.  The boy had a small smile, a charming one that was obedient.  Like San only smiled because Yeosang was looking at him.  He tried to break eye contact, however the dove was pulling him in somehow.  "Yeosang!"  Woozi shouted at him. "Y-yes?"  Yeosang looked down at the boy. Woozi had an angry glare.  "What, you wanna go fuck him?"  He asked angrily. Yeosang noticed the boy straightening his posture from leaning on the wall.  He had excited eyes.  "No."  He grabbed the siblings and rushed them out of the station. Woozi looks at Seokmin upsettingly.  "I wish you came by the study room first.  I was worried about you."  He said, holding the boy's hand in the back seat. "Yeah, well.. I didn't think about it.."  Seokmin looked at his thighs.  "I wish I could have spent a week with him.. We would cuddle and kiss all day.. make love at night."  He blushed. Woozi frowned.  "That wouldn't happen."  He said.  "I won't allow anyone to do that to you, especially Sungjae."  He said sternly.

Seokmin looked at the window with a frown.  *** The next day, Jeonghan looked at Vernon.  He smirked as today is the first day of Vernon working with him.  Vernon already admitted he wouldn't have any ideas, so Jeonghan hired him as his stay-at-home worker.  He hears the boy lightly snoring. "Vernon-ah,"  Jeonghan tapped him lightly, "wake up." "I'm awake."  Vernon replied. Jeonghan smiled.  "Mhm, that's why you were snoring."  He asked, helping him stand up from the couch. "I was.. contacting aliens?"  He said.

Jeonghan gave him an unamused face and Vernon shrugged. "Okay, I was sleeping.."  He came clean. "Well now that you're awake,"  Jeonghan put his phone in his pocket, "we need to head over to the next town.  Wonwoo made sketches on how he wants the expansion, and we have to get an estimation." Vernon looked at the sketches.  "He's building on the right side?"  He asked. "Yeah.. And Joshua said he wants to build on the left when the time comes."  Jeonghan shrugged as they walked to the gate.  "It's not too far from here, we'll just walk."

Vernon stayed silent as he followed the parent on the side.  "You've never met them, but Dongwoo and Jinyoung are old friends of mine."  Jeonghan said.  "They helped build the expansions on the house thus far."  He continued as they walked.

The child didn't recognize the names.  They walked up to a building that looked like a house, but had a company logo on it.  Jeonghan knocked on the door and a familiar face with glasses opened the door. "Jeonghan!  Cheol sent me a text you were coming," He hugged Jeonghan, "I'm so glad you could make it."  He let the two in. "This is Vernon,"  Jeonghan introduced, "Vernon, this is Dongwoo." Vernon bowed.  "Here are the sketches,"  Jeonghan handed the document, "where's Jinyoung?"  He asked. "Oh, he's in the office trying to get the fax machine to work."  Dongwoo pointed as he opened the folder.

Jeonghan opened the door.  "I can help, Seungcheol's fax machine needs fixing all the time."  He entered the office.  "Hey, Jinnie~"  He hugged the male. "Jeonghan, did you have more kids or something?"  Jinyoung chuckled. Jeonghan laughed.  "Nah, Wonwoo had kids and he wants them to move in.  Gotta get some space."  He answered. "Kids having kids.. You know, My Sandeul is getting a little fresh with Minseok these days."  Jinyoung mentioned. The parent widened his eyes.  "No way."

Dongwoo looked up from the folder at Vernon.  "You're a quiet one, aren't you?"  He asked. "Yeah.. I just like to do work silently."  Vernon replied. The male smiled.  "Do you have anything you're interested in?  Any school?"  He asked. "Not.. really.."  He answered. Dongwoo smiled.  "Maybe you can help with the construction then.  After it's done, tell me what you felt about it.  I wouldn't mind having a kid helping me."  He patted Vernon's shoulder. Vernon smiled a bit, seeing the older's fatherly, soft expression.  "Thank you."  He bowed.

*** Two days later, Jeonghan stepped onto a ladder.  He pressed on a button and a battery came out.  He put a new battery in, making sure the camera is rolling.  He nonchalantly waved to the camera and carefully stepped down.  He started shaking when his phone started ringing.  He closed his eyes as he felt the ladder wobble.  He then got down the rest of the way. Answering on the last ring, Jeonghan puts his phone to his ear and holds his chest.  "Hello?"  He didn't know who he was talking to as he didn't have enough time to look at the number. "Mr. Yoon.." "Jae?"  Jeonghan looked at his watch.  "What are you doing calling me? You're supposed to be in class."  He said, looking up at the remaining cameras.  I should have said yes when Cheol asked me if I wanted a bluetooth for Christmas.. "I just can't.. It's exam week, and I know I already failed two of my exams this week."  He said.  Jeonghan can hear the male crying. "Jae, what's bothering you?"  He asked as he sat down on the grass, hiding from the sun by sitting against the wall. He heard Jaemin clear his nose a bit.  "Joshua hates me, doesn't he?  I asked you to teach me, and now he hates me."  He said. Jeonghan closed his eyes, hating the sound of the boy's voice cracking.  He's used to the boy's never ending smiles and excited eyes.  Kind of like Cheol..  "He doesn't hate you, Jaemin.."  He muttered. "He shouted at me and was angry, how does he not hate me?"  Jaemin asked, sobbing louder than before.