Chapter 136 (1/1)

After the show, the class was gathering up to go into the bus.  Sungmin was so impressed that he said he would treat the students to lunch.  However, there is one face that is missing from the bus.  He looked around and even at the floor of the bus. "Where's Chenle?"  He asked, stopping Kyuhyun from driving away from the venue. The class looked at each other.  Jongho raised an eyebrow when he saw the space beside him empty.  "I haven't seen him since the show ended."  Seonghwa said. Seokmin pursed his lips. "He's not picking up his phone either."  He included. Sungmin hums.  "Seungkwan, please check the bathrooms."  He requested. "What if he went back to the hotel on his own?"  Jongho asked. Sungmin clapped once.  "Alright, go ahead and walk all the way to the hotel and see if he's there."  He tasked.  "You are his roommate after all, you should be keeping an eye on him."  He nagged teasingly. Jongho then stepped out of the bus.  He turned the direction the hotel was in and pulled out his phone.  He tried calling the Chinese boy once and still didn't get an answer.  He sighed and pulled up the directions to the hotel. Upon arriving, he enters their bedroom.  He sees the boy on his butt with his knees to his chest on his bed.  They make eye contact for a moment. "Hey.."  Jongho broke the silence. "Sungmin wants to take us out."  He informed. "I'm not feeling it.. I'm sorry.."  He said, trying to not show his face too much. Jongho tilted his head and walked closer.  "Are you crying?"  He asked with concern.  "What happened?"  Chenle shrugs.  "I'm just.."  He looked down. "You can talk to me, I'm not going to make fun of you or anything."  He said, sitting next to the older. Chenle raised his eyebrows.  "I'm just not good enough for anything or anyone.."  He said quietly with his tears starting again.  "I don't know how you felt when you and Seungkwan broke up, but right now, I'm miserable."  He said, holding his heart. "You were really that attached to Hyolyn?"  Jongho asked. Chenle shook his head.  "Not too much.. but it's the principle.  They're right, I've been rejected all my life because of who I am and because I'm not good enough."  He said, wiping a tear.  "I was one of the kids that the teachers were helping to pair with someone.  But no one wanted me.  So many kids flocked to Jun and Luhan, but I was always the odd one."  He explained. Jongho looked down and didn't know what to say.  "It's just hard for me.. I feel like just giving up and.. leaving this world."  He admitted.   "Chenle.." "I don't think I'm good company for you guys."  Chenle said in a defeated tone.  "You guys have fun, I'll just stay here and have my ugly pity party.."  Chenle's shoulders started shaking. Jongho put his arm around the smaller-framed male.  "I can't go out and have fun while you're feeling like this.."  He sighed.  "I wasn't too attached to Seungkwan, but I wanted to be.  When I saw him being happier with Seonghwa, it did kinda hurt.."  he stated. ​​​​​​"How did it feel dating a stork kid?  Were we that much different?"  Chenle asked. Jongho shrugged.  "I realized that you guys take love a lot more seriously.."  He said.  "It wasn't bad, and I wouldn't mind dating another stork kid."   Chenle widened his eyes, looking at Jongho in shock.  He couldn't believe how quickly his first kiss came.  It was soft and comforting; bittersweet to the last second.  "J-jongho.. y-you like Seungkwan.."  He remembered.  He couldn't be selfish and take Jongho for himself. "Seungkwan and Seonghwa love and understand each other in ways that I can't come between."  Jongho spoke softly.  "Maybe we're just rejects, the scraps that are left behind."  He held Chenle's hands. Chenle searched the boy's eyes. "You won't hurt me like you did Seungkwan, right?"  He asked, worry was definitely there. "Even if it takes ten years, I'll learn my strength."  He said a little teasingly. Chenle smiled a little.  "And you're not humoring me?  You're not just-" "Give me a little more credit."  Jongho laughed.  "You're perfect the way you are, so don't think that you don't matter." Chenle hugged the other, pulling him closer.  "Thank you.."  He muttered.  "We should join the others, I suppose.."  He continued. "Nah, we're getting room service."  Jongho said softly, pulling closer in their hug. They lay down and it became a quiet cuddle.  Chenle's heart went from being empty to being warm.  He felt a tingling sensation throughout his body as Jongho held him.  His hold was super cautious, making Chenle giggle.  He got even closer and made a little noise to tell him to cuddle more.  Jongho closed his eyes and put his hand through the boy's hair.  He was calming down too.  The rage he felt from the beginning of the trip, from the beginning of Sungmin putting them together, slowly vanished.  Is this really what it feels like to be in love?  Jongho asked himself.  He has dated fabulous guys and girls with the intention of getting serious, but it never came. He never felt this beautiful sensation in his life.

*** A week after that had passed, making it Sunday.  And not only was it Sunday, but it was Jeonghan's birthday.  He didn't say anything when he woke up, and neither did any of the children.  Jeonghan walked downstairs and saw that Joshua and Jaemin already had the coffee going. "Morning."  Jeonghan rubbed his eyes as he looked at the young couple. Jaemin smiled as he looked up from his coffee.  "Hey, you wanna play on the Switch today?"  He asked. Jeonghan smiled too.  "Sure, you Josh?"  He asked, pouring a cup of coffee and drinking it slowly. "I'd like to watch."  Jsohua answered.  "I think Renjun wants to play too.  You should play with him."  He nudged the younger. Jeonghan imagined that kid playing games.  He chuckled.  "That would be fun."  Jeonghan commented, sipping on the warm beverage.

Not too much time passed before the three had controllers in their hands.  Renjun pouted at the game when he wasn't winning.  "Yah!  Stop cheating!"  Renjun looked at Jaemin. "I'm not cheating, I just suck a little less than you."  Jaemin teased. Jeonghan laughed as he won the round.  "Looks like you two are distracted."  He said, taking a candy out of the bag and sitting back. A knock on the door interrupted them.  Joshua stood up and walked to the door.  He saw a man that he's never seen before.  He was almost the same height as Joshua and had ashy brown hair.  His makeup wasn't too thick, but it was there.  He was also wearing a suit and had a lanyard on.  "May I help you?"  Joshua asked. The man bowed.  "I'm Yoo Kihyun with Child Protective Services."  He introduced himself.  "Are Mr. Yoon and Renjun home at the moment?"  He asked. "Yes, please come in."  Joshua made room and the other walked into the house. He took off his shoes and followed Joshua into the sitting room.  "Yah!  In your face!"  Renjun stood up victoriously. "Don't celebrate too early."  Jeonghan said, still having two lives compared to Renjun who was on his last life. Joshua cleared his throat, tearing the boys away from the video game.  Both characters fell down and Jeonghan was declared the winner.  However, the victory didn't really settle with the boys as they saw Kihyun. "Hello, I'm Kihyun."  He waved to the boys.  "May I talk with Renjun for a few minutes?"  He asked. Renjun stood up.  "Follow me~"  He said with a  big smile.  "Then I want to keep playing.  I think I'm getting better."  He continued, walking Kihyun upstairs.

Renjun offered for him to sit on a chair while he took his bed.  "How has your week been, Renjun?"  Kihyun asked with a small smile. "It's been relatively fun."  Renjun said.  "Mr. Yoon walked me to school just about every day since Minghao is using the van for driving the other kids to college."  He continued.  "We got to see a lot of animals on the way, I like seeing the turtles at the pond."  He said. Kihyun put his hands together.  "How would you say the others have been?  Are they nice too?"  He asked. "Of course."  Renjun answered.  "They have been super nice since the beginning.  Mr. Choi kind of intimidated me at first, but he's really so sweet too."  His eyes turned to crescents.  "Yesterday, he hugged me and we fell asleep.  I think it's because he was shifting to the night schedule."  He explained. Kihyun looked around the room.  "And have you been enjoying this dark room?"  He asked. "This room was Wonwoo's room,"  Renjun started, "it is a little dark.. but I dunno, I haven't really had the urge to ask to remodel."  He shrugged. Kihyun then noticed the scratch on Renjun's arm.  "Where did you get that scratch?"  He asked politely. "I was at school and my arm scraped against the lockers."  Renjun shuddered.  "It wasn't that bad, and it only bled a little."  He put his index finger and thumb together to show how much it hurt. Kihyun nodded and crossed his leg.  "Has Mr. Yoon or Choi done any discipline?"  He asked. "Mr. Choi kinda gave me an upset face when I wanted to jump on Jeonghan and scream in his face happy birthday,"  Renjun recalled, "but they haven't yelled at me or slapped me."  He said honestly. Kihyun smiled.  "And have you been sent to detention this week?"  He asked. "Nope!  Oh, and I only have a few more demerits to get rid of."  He clapped excitedly.  "That's wonderful."  Kihyun smiled back. "Are there any changes you'd like to make?  Is there something that has been getting on your nerves since you got here?"  He asked. Renjun pursed his lips and looked around.  "I don't think so."  He tilted his head.  "Oh, I wish Jaemin could stay over more often.  He's really nice.."  He put his hands together nervously. Kihyun raised his eyebrows as he watched Renjun.  "Why can't he be over often?"  He asked. "He's doing law school in Seoul."  Renjun said.  "But he's really nice and I look forward to the weekends when he comes over.  He almost feels like a father."  He smiled at the end. Kihyun hummed with a smile.  "He's the boy you defeated?"  He asked. "Mhm, he likes taking care of kids, he said." Renjun mentioned.  "When he's visiting, I embrace still being a kid."  He admitted. Kihyun chuckled.  "I thought you were an adult."  He teased. Renjun blushed and looked down.  "Anyway, I really like it here."  He turned to a serious note.  "I can concentrate when I'm doing my homework and they always ask if I'm doing alright.  Even Miss Nana asks if I need something."  He said. Kihyun stood up.  "That's a relief, Renjun."  He put a hand on the younger's shoulder.  "You call this number if you ever feel in danger though."  He handed the boy his business card.  Renjun looked up at him with big eyes.  "Yes, Sir."  He bowed.  "What happened to mom?"  He asked. Kihyun looked the other way for a silent moment.  "She went to jail,"  He said, "but she's being taken care of there.  She's healthy."  He watched Renjun stand up. "Could you tell her I love her?"  Renjun requested. Kihyun nodded.  "I will make sure she gets the message, Renjun."  He promised.

They walk downstairs and Jeonghan looks up at Renjun.  "Jae picked out Mario Kart, do you like that game?"  He asked, letting the child sit right next to him. "I've never played it."  Renjun answered, getting closer to the adult. "Oh it's fun,"  Jaemin smiled widely, "WanEr loves playing it.  Check out her high score."  He pointed at the screen. Kihyun smiled and looked at the parent.  "I will be going now,"  He informed Jeonghan, "have a pleasant weekend."  He bowed. Jeonghan bowed as he could back.  "You too."  He waved.

Kihyun left by himself.  Joshua sat down on the couch next to Jaemin with an amused smile.  "So this is what you're going to do all Sunday?"  He asked. "Maybe not all Sunday, what do you think we should do, Mr. Yoon?"  Jaemin asked. Jeonghan raised an eyebrow.  "Why should I decide?"  He asked. "It is your birthday,"  Wonwoo said, "do what you want to do."  He continued. Jeonghan looked at the other boys who were a little annoyed at him mentioning that it was Jeonghan's birthday.  "Seungkwan might be getting the award for gossiping, but you're definitely getting a trophy for spoiling surprises and secrets.."  Joshua commented. Wonwoo shrugged.  "Mr. Yoon, which character do you want to be?  I wanna be Luigi."  He pointed. Jeonghan looked back at the screen.  "I'll be Peach."  He selected. "Oooo~  Seungkwan's alternate name."  Wonwoo said, sipping on some coffee. Joshua narrowed his eyes on the dark child.  "Don't you have weekend classes to teach?"  He asked. "I'm taking off because I wanna spend time with Jeonghan."  He said, letting his straw go. "Look out, emo-Woo has feelings."  Yeosang said as he walked in with his child and Woozi.

Jeonghan watched those two sit on another couch followed by Seokmin.  He then saw Seungkwan and Vernon.  "Make some room,"  Seungkwan said, sitting next to Wonwoo, "I seriously wanna see who's going to win."  He said. "It'll be interesting."  Vernon commented. Jeonghan then saw Hoshi walking in and taking off his jacket.  "I didn't miss Mario Kart, right?"  He asked, sitting next to Seokmin. Jeonghan's eyes go wide when he sees Jun and Mingyu enter the room too.  "Guys.. why are you crowding?" He asked with a chuckle. "Well obviously Wonwoo over here already spilled the tea.."  Jun said and Wonwoo didn't have an ounce of apology in his posture. "We kinda want to spend the day with you."  Mingyu said. Jeonghan looked around.  "So.. You don't want to spend time with Sungjae?"  He asked the sun on the other couch. "I went on a date with him yesterday."  Seokmin smiled.  "He's still working on Haechan's case, so I didn't want to take another day away from him."  He explained. Jeonghan nodded and looked at Seungkwan.  "You don't want to relax with Seonghwa?"  He asked. "It's not a bad thing, but I spent a whole week with him in New York."  Seungkwan chuckled.  "That and Hongjoong has some work at school today, so he has to be available to pick him up later."  He continued. Dino was the last one to sit in the room.  "Mrs. Gong said I could take off today."  He said, a little playful smile playing on his lips. The others knew what was up with that.  Jeonghan smiled a little.  "Well don't be shy, if you guys want to play too.."  He looked around them. Renjun pushed his body closer to Jeonghan.  "Let's start!"  He cheered.

Thankfully Jongho was there to help lift his spirits with a hug, and a kiss ;)

Jeonghan gets to have a fun birthday too!

Renjun's first check-up went smoothly, aye?