Chapter 108 (1/2)

"What's up?"  Jeonghan asked.

Jun looked down at the floor.  "Sunghyun and Shownu are being investigated."  He answered.  "Every student that doesn't live on the campus is slowly being allowed out of the gate."  He continued, earning an interested eye from the parent. "What are they being investigated over?"  Jeonghan asked. "With Seungkwan's play, and various other pieces of evidence, it's strongly suspected that those two have something to do with the kidnapping."  Jun answered with serious eyes, making the parent tense up. Jun put his hand up.  "There's no need to panic,"  He said, "we're away from the campus and then those two will be escorted to the station.  They'll be heavily guarded and the principal is already working to make sure that no one that works for Sunghyun is on campus."  He explained.

Jeonghan breathed in and out shakily.  "So do you have school tomorrow?"  He asked.

"We do, the campus will be secure and we'll be having guards around."  Jun answered.  "Dino and Seungkwan's classrooms will be monitored especially since they are at high risk of being hurt."  He explained the layout. Jeonghan shook his head.  "This shouldn't be happening."  He looked down. "It shouldn't be.."  Jun agreed. "Seungkwan will be escorted by San and Dino will be escorted by Changkyun."  He informed. The parent hummed, looking around at the carpet.  "When do you think this will be over?"  He asked. Clearly, Jun is probably the most knowledgeable in what's happening. "I suppose that it'll last a month or two for having officers escort some kids and teachers, like Seungkwan and Dino."  He answered.  "But them being proven guilty or innocent should be finished within a week or two.  There's a lot of evidence that Shownu and Sunghyun had something to do with the kidnapping.. and murders.."  He explained. Jeonghan widened his eyes.  "Murders?"  He asked. "Haechan and Jongsuk."  Jun stated. "But in Seungkwan's play-" "Sungmin said that he wouldn't allow there to be any death in the play."  Jun interrupted.  "In the original manuscript, Seungkwan made a scene where the actors found the missing boy's body.  But instead, Sungmin said that the boy would only be in a coma."  He explained. Jeonghan nodded.  "This is a lot to take in.."  He commented. Jun stood up.  "There's also an officer watching over Renjun, just in case."  He included. "Even after the guards are gone, we need to stay vigilant.  Expect Mingyu to have you install more cameras soon."  He teased. Jeonghan nodded.  "I'll have to do it on the weekend.. At least I'll have an assistant this time."  He smirked. Jun chuckled and stood up.  "Everything should be fine, if any more shifty business goes down, those two can kiss their innocence goodbye."  He said, walking to the stairs. "Just wait until Cheol hears about this..  You guys might be sent to a different college."  Jeonghan said, shaking his head and walking to the kitchen. Mingyu took out the pots and pans he needed for dinner and worked on it silently as Jeonghan joined Ren at the table. "So, any boyfriends yet?"  Jeonghan asked, relaxing against the back of the chair and looking at the boy with a teasing smile. Ren shrugged and looked at the parent.  "My dating experience isn't the best."  He said, copying the older's posture. "Oh?  Do tell, what happened?"  Jeonghan asked in a playful tone, wanting to know what all Ren has been through.  Surely there has to be something exciting, right? Ren laughed a little.  "When I was in.. class H17, a boy found interest in me."  He smiled.  "He was really handsome and very nice to me."  He recalled. Jeonghan smiled.  "What's his name?"  He asked. "Minhyun,"  Ren replied, "he was only a month or so older than me and he always was so kind and gentle when he spoke to me."  He explained how the boy was. Jeonghan could see the happiness radiating from the boy.  "And?"  He asked. "Of course, I knew him ever since I was enrolled in stork school."  Ren said.  "The class you enroll in is the class you graduate in.  And so I got to see Minhyun age and mature."  He laughed, remembering some immature things the boy did. Jeonghan reached to hold the boy's hand.  "I like seeing you smile like this.."  He commented. Ren blushed and looked down.  "But when dad found out I was dating someone, he got one of his friends to threaten Minhyun."  His smile went down.  "After that, the boy barely spoke to me.. I miss him.."  He admitted. Jeonghan pursed his lips.  "Did you two ever.. bond?"  He asked. Ren simply nodded.  "I can't date anyone else in good conscience.. Whether he's alive or dead; married or single, I can't date anyone else.."  He sighed. Mingyu turned around for a moment.  "Minhyun's a stork kid?  I could easily look him up and see where he is."  He entered the conversation.

Ren's eyes go big.  "Would you?  It's creepy to track him, but I really want to see him again."  He put his hands together as he sat up in the chair. Jeonghan patted the boy's shoulder.  "You just gotta pay Mingyu."  He chuckled. "How much?"  Ren got his wallet out. Mingyu shrugged.  "Just bring me a free smoothie next time you come here."  He waved off the wallet. Jeonghan turned back to Ren and smiled at him.  "Did the teachers get mad that you were dating another student?"  He asked. "Absolutely not,"  Ren answered, "the school encouraged students to hook up and start a life together.  Many couples liked to make out between classes, right in front of the teachers or other students.  It was pretty wild."  Ren recalled. Mingyu hummed.  "Woozi and Yeosang were practically all over each other whenever a class wasn't in session.  Don't even get me started on what they did for recess."  He put his hand up. Jeonghan sighed and shook his head.  "I guess you get the hormones from me.."  He held his forehead.

Meanwhile, Seungcheol and Hoshi are driving together.  Hoshi plays with his nails as he is nervous.  However, he has something he wants to say to the parent.  He's in love with Jisoo, there's no doubt about that.  He always melts whenever she smiles at him; he always thinks about her when he's having a tough time at work; he always calms down and powers through everything when she kisses him. He nodded inwardly.  "Cheol-dad, I want to get closer to Jisoo."  He said. The parent widened his eyes and looked at the boy.  "Closer how?"  He asked, fighting stomping on the break. "I think I'm ready for you and Jeong-dad to meet her formally."  He said seriously, but still having a small smile.  "I don't want things to move too quickly, but I feel like we're not just dating to get to know each other anymore.  We've spoken a lot and.."  He looked down. Seungcheol nodded.  "Okay.. well, pick a day."  He said, looking at the traffic light.  "Are you sure you want to get Jeonghan involved?"  He asked a little bit teasingly. Hoshi laughed and shrugged.  "I'll be honest,"  He started, "I think that any way we slice it, Jeong-dad's just going to embarrass us kids."  He held his chin. "But you know what?"  Hoshi looked at the parent.  “I don’t think it’s a bad thing.  If Jeonghan can get along with her like he does with Jae and Yeosang, I think I’d be happy.”  He smiled. Seungcheol looked at the tiger with a smile.  “I’m glad you think that way, Hoshi.”  He patted the boy’s thigh before driving again.  “I’m proud of you.”  He continued, looking at the road. “She’s really excited to meet all my siblings too, she never met a stork kid before.”  He said, looking at the road too.  “I’m really happy that you and the others are mingling well with other kids,”  Seungcheol said, “one of my biggest fears for you kids was that you wouldn’t be accepted by other people.”  He confessed, seeing the gate to their property in the distance. Hoshi hummed and looked down.  “I heard that Josh kept it a secret as much as he could, he didn’t even tell Jae for awhile..”  He sighed. Seungcheol pulled into the driveway.  “Remember, it’s not how you were made, it’s the fact that you were made.”  He smiled.

Hoshi smiled and leaned over the console, hugging the parent.  “Thank you.”  He closed his eyes in the hug.  “If you’re wanting to get more serious with her, she must become your top priority.”  Seungcheol pulled back.  “You must protect her and her emotions, keep her happy and healthy.  And then work.”  He schooled the boy. Hoshi looked into Seungcheol’s serious eyes.  “I will..”  He promised. “Everything you do, think about how it will affect Jisoo.  Everything you say, think about how it will rest in her mind.”  Seungcheol said.  “If you manage these things, you’ll live a very happy life with her, I can guarantee it.”  He smiled. Hoshi nodded.  “I’ll protect her.”  He smiled. “Good boy,”  Seungcheol patted Hoshi’s head, “she’s going to depend on you, so make her know that you love her and care for her.  As my father once heard from his father before him, the vine is only as strong as its roots.  You’re the root that needs to be strong for her, the vine, so that she can grow beautiful flowers.”  Hoshi was speechless.  He got out of the car and went into the house with the parent.  “Ah, you’re home.”  Jeonghan smiled and held Seungcheol’s hands.  “It’s almost dinner time, come on~”  He walked the man to the table. Seungcheol couldn’t help but blush over the cuteness the boy possesses.  Every time he sees Jeonghan, he remembers how deeply in love he is with the boy. "I love you, Hannie." He gave a sweet smile to the bunny. Jeonghan looked at him with blushed cheeks. "Why are you giving me such a cute face..?" He looked at the older. "Look somewhere else." He tasked. Seungcheol obeyed and looked down at the plate. The kids all come to the table and start eating. "So, what happened at school today?" Seungcheol asked.

Immediately, the kids look at each other one-by-one. "Nothing too much.." Seokmin started. "..Sunghyun is being investigated.." He said. Seungcheol lifts an eyebrow. "Oh? What happened this time?" He asked. "Apparently, things keep coming out about the kidnapping." Mingyu said. "Things are being taken care of." He said, looking at Jun. The Chinese male nodded and looked at Minghao. "Your teacher is doing well, Minghao." He said. "His son is also doing okay." Minghao nodded. "That's a relief.." He said, poking at the stuffed shells on his plate. "The boy was able to remember the man who was at the park with him," Jun said, "the artist's composite kinda looks like Sunghyun's secretary, Jiyong." He explained, scratching his neck. Seungcheol pouted his lip. "Is this college really where we want to send our kids..?" He asked, looking at Jeonghan. "The way things are going, the school should be relatively safe after Sunghyun and Shownu are out of the picture." Mingyu said, cutting the shell before dipping it in some sauce. Jeonghan nodded. "That and the others only have a couple more semesters until they are finished all together." He said. "They'll be safe." He assured. Seungcheol looked at the others. "Seungkwan, you look a little upset." He commented. "If I didn't make the play, Jongsuk would be alive.." Seungkwan said, stuffing his mouth full of food. Jeonghan sighed. "Whether that's true or not, there's nothing you can do about it for now." He said. Seungkwan hurriedly stuffed the food in his mouth. "Slow down," Dino said in a concerned tone, putting a hand on the older's shoulder. "I said don't touch me!" Seungkwan pushed Dino away. Dino widened his eyes at the boy. "Seungk-" "It hurts, okay?" Seungkwan stood up. "I'm going up to work on the play.." He bowed to his parents before leaving the kitchen. Jeonghan purses his lips and looks at the other parent with concerned eyes. "I'm gonna go talk to him." He said, about to stand up. "I think it's best if we just leave him be." Seungcheol said, making the younger look at him with furrowed eyebrows. He breathed in and out, submitting by sitting back down. "Okay.." He said. "How's work lately, Josh?" He asked to change the mood. "Nothing dramatic has happened at the cafe, so pretty good." Joshua answered with a smile. "I'm actually thinking about starting school in January." He mentioned. Jeonghan picked up his glass. "Didn't you want to start after Jae is finished?" He asked before sipping on the water. "It was going to be like that," Joshua replied, "but Jae told me that because of this event, classes will be going cheaper for the next two semesters. I figure getting a discount would be good." He explained. ​​​​​​"And you're sure you want to go into law?" He asked, patting his lips from the sauce. Joshua hummed. "I'm sure," he answered, "I have until November to change my mind. But I don't see that happening." He smiled. Jeonghan smiled in return. "And you won't be moving to Seoul?" He asked. "The classes are just about done being set up for being online," Joshua answered. "If you want to move to Seoul for studying, that's always an option." Jeonghan said, looking down at the table. "You don't have to be tied down here if you don't want to be.." Joshua held his chin. "Although it would be wonderful to see Jae every day again, I think it's better if I don't." He said, finishing his plate of food "I would be way too distracted." He chuckled. "Oh? He bothers you?" Jeonghan asked. "We had one semester that we were classmates," Joshua started, "the whole time we were sitting next to each other, all I could do is look at him." He blushed. Woozi huffed. "I remember that I caught you two making out in the hallway." He said with a smirk. Joshua sighed. "Kissing in public is definitely something we don't normally do, so I'm sorry you had to see it." He said, cleaning his lips. "It's not a bad thing to kiss," Minghao commented, "you two are way more tame compared to some others.." He said, looking at the pair of crows. Woozi simply stuck out his tongue. Jeonghan turns his eyes to Ren. "I forgot to ever ask, is Minhyun a stork? Or is he a crow?" He asked. "Stork, so you're not gonna get any grandkids from us." Ren answered. Jeonghan snaps his fingers. "I'll just have to tamper with Josh's protection." He smirked. Joshua huffed. "Better not, I can't have a kid and go to school." He folded his arms. "Kids are just going to have to wait." He continued, standing up from the table. "The stork doesn't care what you want," Seungcheol said, "if he wants you guys to have a kid, he'll give you a kid." He winked. "I'm going to my room now." Joshua didn't give a comment to that. Yeosang looked at the younger parent. "Don't worry, Mr. Yoon, Woozi and I are still trying every night." He advertised. Jeonghan watched Minghao leave before looking back at the blonde. "Go crazy." He waved his hand. "I'll just have to surprise Nana one day so I can play with the twins." He said with a devious smile. "Did you see Jinju's smirk when she slapped Wonwoo with a hand of paint?" Vernon asked with a chuckle. Jeonghan squealed. "I did!!" He clapped. "Did Nana share the one with ZhenZhu poking Mr. Yang with a marker?" He asked. "No, show me." Vernon got up and went to Jeonghan.

"Ugh.. you two cuting is cringy.." Woozi stood up. "Let's go." He signaled to the other crow and the dove.

Yeosang stood up.  “So do you have to study first.. Or?”  He looked down at the shorter.

Woozi walked to the stairs with the other two.  “I promised DK that we would read a story tonight, so don’t hog the blanket.”  He said.

“You never told me about it..”  Yeosang pouted.

Seokmin chuckled.  “Yeah, well it’s happening.”  He said.  “I want to spend brother time with Woozi.”  He had a proud smirk.