Sungyeol gave up squeezing info out of Sunggyu because it was clear as water that the boy didn't know, so he left his brother to fumble with his bag to prepare for homework before it was his turn to take a bath while he went to the kitchen to help his boyfriend.

“What can I do to help you?” Sungyeol asked as he looked around and Myungsoo smiled to himself.

“Set the table? I'm just looking at it so I won't miss the timing but give me five minutes and I'm ready to feed all of you.” Sungyeol looked inside the table to check and hummed. “I think I finally am doing this one right.” He said proud of himself and Sungyeol hummed and patted his back before he moved to take bowls and chopsticks. “Where are the kids?”

“Woohyun is bathing and Sunggyu is getting ready for homework before getting ready for a bath.” Sungyeol informed with a bit distress and Myungsoo quickly caught up with that.

“What happened?”

“Aside everyone behaving weirdly today? Nothing.”

“Come here.” Myungsoo beckoned and Sungyeol placed the bowls on the counter before approaching him and the younger took his eyes off the food for a second, so he could peck Sungyeol. “What are you talking about?” He asked as he returned his gaze to the pot he was stirring.

“First Chanyeol...” Sungyeol started only to be interrupted.

“Don't mind him. I think we will be able to put up with each other.” Myungsoo assured.

“Fine, but this is not the problem, Dongwoo hyung was being weird and...” Once more he was interrupted by the younger that frowned.

“Did he ask you about us too? Hoya hyung pestered me all afternoon to know if we had but I didn't crack.” Myungsoo considerably lowered his voice when he talked about and Sungyeol sighed deeply.

“Did he?” Sungyeol asked and as much as he wanted to seem angry he couldn't, he was worried instead. “I'll talk to him.” Myungsoo waved off as if to tell Sungyeol to not worry and then took the pot from the stove and placed on the counter. “I was kinda expecting to Dongwoo hyung to do the same so I had all this strategy to get the kids and run away, but he pulled me to a corner to talk to me.”

“He asked you about it in the middle of the kids?” Myungsoo gasped horrified and actually looked at Sungyeol in the eyes.

“No Myungsoo, he asked me if we had talked to the kids about...” He considerably lowered the tone of his voice. “...us.”

Myungsoo frowned and got one of the bowls to start putting some food on it. “Was he expecting us to talk to them? But I didn't even progress that much with Woohyun yet.”

“Exactly.” Sungyeol said then bit his lips and hesitated as Myungsoo filled the second bowl. “When I said we didn't he asked if I knew if you two fought.” Myungsoo frowned again. “I think he is worried about Woohyun but he didn't say anything more than this.”

Myungsoo stopped and then looked at Sungyeol with some worry. “Woohyun did seem a little too quiet.”

“I know, and I just inquired Sunggyu about it and he said they were playing with other kids and then he left them to go to the bathroom and when he came back Woohyun was alone and all quiet.” Sungyeol explained and Myungsoo gulped.

“You think he is having problems with other kids?” Myungsoo asked seriously.

“I dunno, Dongwoo hyung didn't say anything because he probably doesn't know, or maybe he does but only wants to talk to you. Maybe they argued like normal kids do and then tomorrow they will be best friends again, I don't know, I just...”

“What?” Myungsoo urged not knowing that at this point Woohyun already came out of the bathroom and arrived at the little corridor, getting a perfect view of the two adults but not been seen yet because they had their backs turned to him.

“Remember when you told me Woohyun had enough manners to charm any adult?” Sungyeol asked and Woohyun halted his steps, were they talking about him?

“Yeah, but what that has to do with anything?” Myungsoo asked.

“Woohyun charmed me.” Sungyeol smiled and if Myungsoo could he would dissolve himself right there. “He is caring and cute, and lovable, and funny, I like him a lot now.” He confessed, which made both father and son smile for different reasons, then sighed. “And I know how bullying goes, it was extreme with me, it happened with Sunggyu too and if it's starting with Woohyun we can prevent that?” Sungyeol lowered his volume so Woohyun couldn't hear from where he was.

“So you think Woohyun is being bullied?” Myungsoo was taken aback.

“I don't know, but if he is I can help you with this, we can make a joint complaint on the Education Department and find a new school for them both - because I won't leave Sunggyu in that school if that happens again even if he loves Dongwoo hyung to death – and then Sunggyu and I went through this, therapy and a change in environment works and..” Sungyeol assured nervously.

“Hyung, hyung.” Myungsoo called his boyfriend and placed a hand on the elder's shoulder to get his attention because he thought his boyfriend would start hyperventilating any minute. “Thank you for thinking so fondly about Woohyun to the point of getting really worried about him.” Myungsoo thanked first. “But don't worry, Woohyun is my son and I can fight an army over him.”

“Just have a talk with him? Please?” Sunggyu begged.

“Of course.” Myungsoo replied with an assuring nod. “Tomorrow, before going to work, I'll go to school to see if Dongwoo hyung has something to tell me too, ok? In the meantime act normally, Woohyun is an outspoken boy, he will tell me if there is something wrong, let's not worry before we check things up, ok?”

Sungyeol couldn't help but agree with a nod but at the moment the couple heard a thud, followed by what it seemed like a muffled scream of pain from Sunggyu and once their heads instantly moved to the direction it came, they saw Woohyun little feet disappearing to go help his hyung.

“! !” Both of them hissed lowly and Sungyeol rushed to the bathroom, with Myungsoo in his toll, because Sunggyu seemed to be in need of help, though they were surely afraid that Woohyun might have heard them or seen, What if the boy had seen they peck? They wouldn't be able to hide anything then.

“Hyung! Hyung! Are you ok?” They saw Woohyun knocking at the door, still having a towel around his shoulders and half of his head.

“Ahn, it hurts!” Sunggyu complained and now Sungyeol was totally worried about his brother.

“Sunggyu, what happened? Open the door!” Sungyeol demanded as Myungsoo pulled Woohyun to the side.

“I can't, ah, it hurts.” Sunggyu half replied and half complained and that was enough for Sungyeol to understand, the boy probably was physically unable to open the door, he must have fallen for sure.

Sungyeol promptly disappeared into his room, while Myungsoo and Woohyun tried to ask the boy what was happening until the elder came back with the bathroom key and finally opened the door from outside. The boy was laying on the ground, holding his tears the best he could and when he saw the door opening to show Sungyeol, and Woohyun and Myungsoo heads, he tried to cover his body only to hiss in pain.

“Don't move, don't move!” Sungyeol said as he approached the boy and Sunggyu looked at him teary-eyed.

“Hyung...” The boy whined and was about to try to explain himself but Sungyeol interrupted.

“You obviously fell, where does it hurt?” Sungyeol asked the moment Myungsoo came from behind him and placed the towel that was previously around Woohyun shoulders to cover Sunggyu body.

“I-I came out from the shower and I was about to take the towel when I slipped and fell on my side, over my arm-arm.” The boy explained trying to hold tears.

“Show to me.” Sungyeol pleaded.

“It hurts.” Sunggyu complained, not finding a position to turn to his brother. “I tried getting up but I scrapped my other hand.” The boy explained.

“We have to move him and dress him at least a bit in order to check him up properly.” Myungsoo said as Woohyun tried t peek from behind him and Sungyeol turned back to look up to his boyfriend.

“Is he that hurt?” Woohyun asked worriedly, but he was ignored by the adults.

“I can't carry him.” Sungyeol replied worriedly.

“Then move.” Myungsoo urged and Sungyeol got up and jumped behind Sunggyu and Myungsoo crouched beside the boy. “Gyu, I'll move you to your room, ok? Do you think you can hold on to my neck?” The boy nodded and Myungsoo placed his arms underneath his legs and underneath his neck and the boy tried to move his other arm around Myungsoo neck. “Ok, here we go, ok? One, two, three..”

Myungsoo picked the boy up only for him to hiss in pain with the movement while tears finally fall from his eyes and his older brother adjusted the towel around Sunggyu body for a bit before they took the boy for his room.

They placed him in bed and Woohyun tried to help by bringing Sunggyu some clothes while the two adults checked on him, asking which way it hurt. Sunggyu said it hurt everywhere, maybe dramatizing more than he should - some places like his left hand and the side of his right knee were just mildly scrapped, and were not even bleeding and they weren't sure Sunggyu hurt his shoulder but it was evident that he at least had some real problem with his elbow and wrist.

Sungyeol asked the father and son pair to help dress Sunggyu while he talked to his aunt (Sunggyu pediatrician) over the phone because he really was fretting up with Sunggyu first physical emergency. Once the phone call was done Sungyeol said he would be taking his brother to the hospital because the boy would need a cast, but father and son wanted to tag along.

Myungsoo drove because Sungyeol was too nervous for that, so the elder traveled with the boys, with Sunggyu leaning on him (with his good side) while Woohyun patted his friend legs to comfort him. When they got there, Sungyeol filled a bunch of papers while people checked on Sunggyu all over again and then the brothers disappeared into some room.

Myungsoo took Woohyun to the hospital cafeteria so they could buy some sandwiches for them - it turns out the food Myungsoo worked hard to make was left forgotten in the kitchen – and then brought for the brothers to eat while they waited for the X-ray. Once the cast was put and Sunggyu was released, they went back home because liking or not, the boys had homework to do and while a broken elbow and wrist excused Sunggyu it wasn't the same case for Woohyun.

The boy was halfway done when his father came out of the bathroom and peeked from behind his son only to frighten him.

“Daddy!” The boy complained.

“Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you, you were so concentrated.” Myungsoo explained with a smile and ruffle on the boy's hair only for the boy to pout and turn around to finish his homework.

“It's homework, I can't laze around or mom would see.” The boy replied then turned to look at Myungsoo worriedly. “What if Sunggyu get's scolded for not doing it?”

“He won't when Dongwoo hyung see the obvious cast he has on, though Sunggyu might have to do everything later when he takes it off.” Woohyun made a noise to tell his father he understood and Myungsoo hesitated a bit before starting a conversation with his son. “How's school lately?”

“Full of homework.” The boy replied pouting but still writing his answers down. “Is this why Sungyeol hyung said he didn't like school?” He asked and before Myungsoo could say anything the boy mumbled. “It definitely is.”

“But you have to do homework or else you won't learn.” Myungsoo chuckled and the boy raised his head and looked at him.

“When I reach daddy age, will I still have homework?”

“You will have one so big it will take you six months to do it. Just like me.” Myungsoo said as he referred to his graduation project and Woohyun briefly glared at his notebook as it was a sinner then went back to writing on it. “Nothing interesting happened in school lately?” The young father insisted.

“No.” The boy shook his head as he thought about the question he was answering.

“Come on, there must be something, everyday little bad things and little good things happen. For example, I bumped with that friend of Sungyeol hyung today and because I feel awkward around him I consider that a bad thing, but today I managed to cook a new recipe well, so I consider this a good thing. How about you? What happened on your day?” Myungsoo insisted.

Woohyun sighed deeply, and he leaned in his chair and looked to his lap. “Gyu hyung hurt himself, I don't think he can play that much now. I'm worried about him.

“Well being worried about a person it shows how much you like them right?” Myungsoo said trying to be positive as he ruffled his son hair again. “Don't worry about him, in two weeks he will be like new again.” The boy nodded pensively. “Did anything good happened?” Woohyun unexpectedly smiled and looked upwards to face his dad before nodding. “What?”

“Sungyeol hyung likes me a lot.” He said proudly.

“Yes, he does and I have told you that a couple times before, right?” Myungsoo confirmed/asked.

“Yeah, but it was the first time I heard him say that I charmed him and now he likes me a lot.” The boy said proudly, but blatantly confessing he eavesdropped.

“So were you listening to our conversation? Woohyun-ah, you shouldn't eavesdrop.” Myungsoo scolded though his voice was tense and his heartbeat was fast, afraid that his son had seen he and Sungyeol acting too close for comfort (pecking). “What more did you hear?”

“Nothing much, I swear!” The boy said alarmed, maybe he would get into trouble? “You two started to whisper so I couldn't hear, so I swear... and I didn't mean....”

“Ok, I believe in you.” Myungsoo said which made the kid relieved, besides Myungsoo thought if Woohyun had seen the peck he and his boyfriend shared Woohyun wouldn't be sitting and talking to him normally, maybe Woohyun would be throwing his notebooks and pencils at him.

“Do you know why we were talking about you?” Myungsoo asked as he took a step back to sit on his kid bed to talk, but the boy just shook his head. “Sungyeol hyung said that your energy seemed a little drained, that you were being too quiet and you didn't talk much, even with Sunggyu, so he was worried anything might have happened to you.” Once he said that Woohyun promptly avoided his gaze which told Myungsoo there was something happening, so, as patiently he could, he asked his son about it. “Is there anything you want to share with me?”

“Ahn, there is something.” The boy snapped his fingers together as if he remembered something and then got his bag and fumbled on it until he took a paper out and gave to his dad. “Dongwoo hyung sent you a letter.”

Well, Myungsoo definitely wasn't expecting that, but it made him remember the conversation he and Hoya spent some hours on in the afternoon, he could only think he managed to pass something of himself to Woohyun, so, for now, he decided to get along, before woohyun could evade some more.

“A letter?” Myungsoo asked in surprise while his son went back to pack his finished homework back into his red backpack. “It says here that your school will start preparing for a festival and that I have to sign if you're allowed to participate.” Myungsoo commented then he got up to try to search for a pen on Woohyun pencil case but that made an unexpected reaction.

“What? No! Daddy, you can't sign!” The boy looked up a bit desperate.

“Why?” Myungsoo replied at loss, Woohyun was so social in kindergarten, he participated in all events, he had a huge collection of pics as proof.

“Because I don't want to participate this stupid festival.” Woohyun said with a tone that screamed: 'isn't that obvious?'

Myungsoo furrowed his brows. “Why you don't want to participate? Festivals are great, we can show our talents and we can make new friends with unexpected people, isn't that nice?” Myungsoo asked running his fingers on his son raven hair but the boy didn't move. “You always tell me things, why you're being like that? Have someone told you something bad?”

“No, but...”

“Then tell me, daddy is here to support you and protect you.” Myungsoo insisted and Woohyun sighed and looked down his lap only to shift in his chair and play nervously with his fingers for some time.

“It's just... everyone is so excited because every mother and father will attend to support us and watch us perform... and everyone wants to impress...” The boy started nervously and Myungsoo squinted his eyes in confusion.

“You can do it too Namu, you always did good in those kinds of things.” Myungsoo said encouragingly and the boy finally looked up.

“But Daddy, Dongwoo hyung said the festival will be at the end of November...”

“So?” Myungsoo lifted his brows.

“Daddy, that's when you're busy...” Woohyun pointed frustratingly. “And mom is in heaven, you and uncle Moonsoo are always busy at the end of the year with exams and then grandma travels a lot and grandpa always follow her around and...” The boy started to point on his tiny little chubby fingers before looking at his dad with watering eyes. “Who am I going to impress? Who is going to come watch me? Who is going to support me? WHO?” Myungsoo was taken aback for a second and that was enough for Woohyun to get up while wiping his eyes and then stomp his little feet to his bed. “I don't want to be the only one who will be lonely, that's why it's better if I don't participate.” He grumbled before he laid down and threw his Toy Story bed sheets over his head.

Myungsoo gulped hardly before he came to sit beside his son and touched what it seemed to be his son's shoulder. “Namu-ah...” He called softly but the boy didn't move so he just laid down and pulled the boy closer to his body to hug him. “Namu-ah, can you lift your sheets so we can talk, please?” He pleaded and he could hear a little-muffled sigh before Woohyun finally showed his face, though as he tried to hide his watering eyes by looking somewhere else.

“Namu-ah.” He kissed the top of his son's head. “First you have to think about if you want to participate if you want to show your talents whatever way is it.”

“But what's the use when...”

“Just answer this question please, do you want to participate?” Myungsoo interrupted.

The boy hesitated a bit but ended up nodding. “Sunggyu hyung wants to sing together.” The boy muttered.

“That's great.” Myungsoo smiled and caressed his son hair a bit. “When you think of joining something like a festival you have to know that you'll put a lot of hard work, but you'll also have fun, you'll create nice memories, and you'll make friends. It's part of the whole school experience and you'll always look back at this fondly. But you have to do this because you want to do it, for yourself.”

“But if daddy doesn't watch me...” Woohyun was ready to rant when Myungsoo interrupted again.

“You are right, you know that at this time of the year all of our family members get super busy. Mom travels for work so she can release recommendations for places to eat for those who'll start their vacations and dad does his best to follow her around because he is already retired. But that doesn't mean we can't try to work our schedules to support you.” He said fondly and the boy got pensive so he continued.

“I am thankful you're thinking about us but it is not that it's certain we can't go to support you. I bet grandma can work her schedule so she can attend, and even if she doesn't, grandpa will come if he knows this is important for you. As for uncle Moonsoo, depending on the day he might have exams but he can prepare himself earlier and come, and then there's me. You know that daddy is doing more and more things lately, but I can also try to prepare for things in my school beforehand and I can ask Hoya hyung for a day off.”

The boy seemed uncertain, playing with his sheets against his chest and then wriggling his toes nervously before he finally looked at his dad. “If I participate, do you promise you'll come?”

“I promise.” Myungsoo lifted his pinky finger and his son wrapped his little chubby one around his.

“You can't take it back now.” The boy gave him a pointed stare.

“Why would I? I would never miss a chance to support you like you support me, I can't wait to take a bunch photo of yours too, I am your biggest fan!” Myungsoo was sure to react in a way that would please his son and as expected the boy smiled pleased for a bit until he got serious.

“I wish mom could see me.” He confessed only for his father to hug him tightly.

“She is always watching you and supporting you, I'm sure.” Myungsoo whispered in his son's ear. “But since she can't attend I'll be there cheering you better than any other parent.” The boy finally turned around in his bed a bit so he could try to hug his father back.

“Did mom took part in a lot of school festivals too?” The boy asked and Myungsoo sighed and hesitated until Woohyun looked up at him begging with his puppy eyes to be told a story from his mother.

“No, she didn't.” Myungsoo replied sadly, a thing that surprised his son.

“How come? Didn't daddy say mom was the prettiest and kindest girl and that she was talented playing flute too? Wasn't she invited to take part?”

Myungsoo smiled and patted his son head once before nodding. “Yeah, I told you that, but that is my perspective, because I knew her inside out and because I love her, so my perception of her might be different from others, maybe there is someone that disagrees with me.” He explained although he couldn't believe that such opportunity for him to explain this to Woohyun fell into his lap that soon.

Woohyun gasped surprised. “What? But-but...”

“Woohyunnie think about your classmates, who is the most beautiful one?” Myungsoo asked and the boy seemed to think a bit before he replied.

“Jiae noona?” The boy hesitated.

“Who is the person Sunggyu thinks it's the most beautiful in your class?”

“I don't know.” Woohyun seemed puzzled, he was completely lost in the conversation now so Myungsoo decided to make it easier for him.

“You don't know, but maybe he thinks it's Shinhye.” Woohyun was about to say that he didn't think his father had been paying attention when he said the poor girl had a piggy nose. “What I mean to say is that everyone has a different perspective and different tastes. Maybe Shinhye and Jiae are both pretty but you'll like Jiae more and Sunggyu will like Shinhye more because a different kind of beauty has a different appeal for everyone. It's like you liking Twice and Sunggyu liking Gfriend, each one likes a different group because of different reasons.”

“Eh?”

“Look, your mom was the most beautiful person ever - of course others found her pretty too but maybe she wasn't the prettiest for them – but when I say she was a beautiful girl it is because I knew your mom the best, and when we know a person well they can become more beautiful or more ugly too, you know?”

“Ahnn.” The boy seemed to get a bit of what his father was saying. “Who's the most beautiful person in the world for you?” The boy asked.

“For me? Namu.” Myungsoo replied with a smile and a little squeeze on the younger nose.

“Aside from me.” Woohyun demanded, patting his father hand away.

“Sungyeol hyung.” Myungsoo sputtered the first that came to his mind.

“Why? What about mom!” The boy whined and Myungsoo was already beating himself up for the answer he gave, but then he decided to answer cleverly.

“Your mom is not in this world anymore so...” Woohyun pouted but nodded, it only seemed fair that his dad would not include his mom, maybe she was the prettiest person in heaven. “... and the closest I get from Sungyeol hyung, he opens up and I think he becomes more beautiful as a person. He is quite good looking but I'm not referring to his appearance. He is more than the eyes meet, you see, not everyone does what he did, not everyone asks forgiveness and try to hard to be sincere, not everyone can change from hate to love and, as we both heard tonight, we can be sure that Sungyeol likes us a lot now.”

“Hum...” Woohyun nodded, somehow agreeing. “He has changed a lot.”

“Yes, and we discovered we had a few things in common too, and with your mother, it happened in a similar way...” Myungsoo explained trying to be as careful as he could. “We were both lonely for different reasons.”

“Daddy, how come?” The boy was curious.

“Well, you look after your mom with those communication skills of yours, I was not like you at all.” Myungsoo chuckled to himself. “You already know that I met your mom before we even managed to reach school grounds but our connection could have been just that you know?” Myungsoo said as he thought about the past nostalgically. “When I was your age I was so quiet that no one wanted to become my friend and it didn't help that our family moved to Incheon when the school year already had started, so the kids already made friends and no one talked to me so I felt lonely and...”

“Like Sunggyu hyung?” The boy wondered.

“Something like that.” Myungsoo chuckled at the comparison. “You did for Sunggyu the same thing your mom did for me – which surprises me because you didn't know anything about that and still behaved the same way - and then I opened up and made new friends, but she always was my number one friend, always making sure to be by my side.” He said and Woohyun seemed pleased to hear that so he continued.

“Your mom, just like you talked to everyone, therefore she got many invitations to our classmate's parties, or she was invited for pajama parties or sleepovers in other girls places, and she could have been reeeeaally popular, but...” Myungsoo halted his speech but Woohyun shook his shirt for him to continue.

“Tell me, tell me.” The boy insisted.

“Her mom was too overprotective, she didn't like Ji going anywhere, therefore the kids started not inviting her because they thought that Ji felt better than the others or something like that, this is why Jihyun often felt lonely and cried, so because I knew how she felt we grew closer and closer.”

“Why would grandma do this?” Woohyun asked in confusion and Myungsoo brain almost short-circuited right there, how explain that to seven-year-old innocent kid?

“Your other grandma was a bit strange like that, she didn't let Ji participate in any events inside or outside our school despite Ji pleading and begging. This is why your mother often cried, she liked to perform, she wanted to be an actress and appear every day on TV, but her mom didn't let her do anything.”

“Then how grandma Kim was able to take a photo of you and mom on Sungyeol hyung birthday if grandma Nam didn't let her go anywhere?” The boy asked squinting his eyes, he was suspicious.

“Grandma Nam? Is that how you're gonna call her?” Myungsoo chuckled bemusedly, but Woohyun gave him a look that practically said 'I have to differentiate them somehow', so he decided to drop that and continue. “While we were going to school we would often meet and Ji would often make me talk and smile so mom and dad loved her. Your other grandma never liked me though, but after much begging from my mom, she started to trust us to take care of Ji.”

Woohyun scratched his head not knowing how to react.

“It was very hard for your mom to live with so many restrictions.” He sighed sadly patting his son on his belly before looking at his eyes. “You don't know how lucky you are Namu, you really don't know how lucky you are. So if you have the opportunity, and you want it, go for it, your mom often wished she could experience very simple things in life or have chances that you are having now. I also don't want you to regret later; so think about your decision, ok?” Woohyun nodded and Myungsoo kissed his son's head. “Now let's end this conversation here, I'll let you sleep now.”

Myungsoo tucked his son in and added another kiss before going for the door. He was about to turn off the lights when Woohyun called him.

“Daddy?”

“Yes, Namu?”

“If grandma Nam was so protective of mom, where she was when mom died?” The boy asked.

“I honestly don't know that, it's been a while since I last saw her.” Myungsoo replied with a tired sigh. “Why? Would you want to meet her if you had the chance?” He asked despite being deeply afraid of the answer Woohyun might have.

The boy hesitated but replied in a mumble. “Maybe.” He then turned around, giving his father his back and ending the conversation. “Goodnight.”

The last answer came so quickly that Myungsoo eyes started to water and he couldn't even say goodnight back because he was sure his voice would crack. He closed the door of his son room then dragged his feet towards his own only to lock on the door and fall on the ground letting his tears flow. What if they found Jihyun mom? What if Woohyun wanted to meet her? What if he was deceived by her enough for him to like her? What if she wanted to take Woohyun away from him later?

What if... What if... What if...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sungyeol hadn't received a message from Myungsoo the night before so all bad things passed through his mind, who knew he was gonna be so far gone for the neighbors that he would lose a lot of precious sleep worrying over a kid he said he hated in the beginning?

At the time he didn't know, but now that he did know that was perfectly possible, and he had the school time as an excuse he rang the bell early so he could ask while Woohyun finished getting ready, but once the door opened he found Myungsoo with a slightly swollen face and some eye bags though he was already dressed for the day.

“Ready for the... My god, what happened to you?” Sungyeol asked worried once he looked at his boyfriend's face as Myungsoo opened the door for Sung brothers enter his apartment.

“I had a conversation with Woohyun.” He explained and Sunggyu looked at him eagerly.

“So is Woohyunnie still upset? What it is that he is upset about?”

“He is fine.” Myungsoo smiled which made Sunggyu smile and Sungyeol frown. “He is changing in his room, why don't you go hurry him?” Sunggyu didn't need to be told twice before he ran to surprise his friend.

“Sunggyu, be careful, for god sake, you already broke an arm.” Sungyeol demanded but it was not like Sunggyu paid his brother much attention.

“Kyaaaaaah” Woohyun yelled frightened before the adults heard some laughter and only when they were sure they wouldn't be heard they started a hurried conversation.

“So, how the conversation go? Is he being bullied?” Sungyeol asked with worry in his tone.

“No it was a false alarm, he was only having the same kind of problems he often has: insecurity because he is one parent short. He is afraid I won't be able to come and support him in the festival if he participates.” The younger parent explained.

“Thank god it was nothing then.” Sungyeol sighed relieved.

“I wouldn't say it was nothing, this is something that scares him.” Myungsoo half glared at his boyfriend.

“Of course, but at least it was something you already know how to deal with and not something new and horrible.” Sungyeol retorted but Myungsoo chose to stay silent and sat on the couch tiredly. “You know how to deal with this, right?”

“Of course, I've been dealing with this for seven years now.” The young father said tiredly before he elaborated a bit more. “I wasn't even expecting but I had the chance to demystify his mom a bit and I didn't get a bad reaction this time, all in all, the conversation was really good.”

“Oh my god, Myungsoo, this is great!” Sungyeol smiled genuinely, showing his pretty gums, and despite Myungsoo being weak for those kinds of smiles, today he wasn't in a mood to appreciate them and Sungyeol noticed so the taller ran his fingers on his boyfriend's hair before asking. “Then why does it seems a bus ran over you?”

“I couldn't sleep, it's silly but I feel like Woohyun was the one bullying me...” He sad with a sigh.

“What did he say for you to lose your sleep?”

“First of all, he heard us yesterday and I almost had a heart attack.” Myungsoo asked and Sungyeol went pale.

“He really did?” The taller asked and Myungsoo nodded. “Oh my god, he knows.” Sungyeol started to hyperventilate.

“No, he doesn't.” Myungsoo said and Sungyeol looked at him surprised. “Apparently he only heard half of what we talked about him so he didn't see...” Myungsoo lowered his voice and halted his words there, he didn't need to elaborate to Sungyeol understand he was talking about their peck. “He is actually quite happy that he heard you say you like him.”

“Oh, ok, that's good.” Sungyeol managed to stutter.

“Secondly... Woohyun understands things better if he can make analogies, that's a method that always works even more if I end up talking about his mother- which happened. I didn't give him many details but I told him a story about his mother and we ended up talking about his grandmother too and...” Sungyeol furrowed his brows not understanding where his boyfriend would get at. “... that's the second time he asks me about her, and I think he wants to meet her, but hyung, Jihyun mom was bat crazy, what if she wants to take Woohyun from me?” He dropped his voice to a whisper. “She can, and she has never liked me so I think there are chances...”

“YAH!” Sungyeol slapped his boyfriend shoulder not strong enough to hurt him but strong enough to make him shut up and pay attention. “I told you to not suffer in anticipation.” Myungsoo looked down at his feet, practically imitating Woohyun, yes, they weren't related but it was a wonder how much those two often did things similarly. “Look, you can be right, that can happen because he might want some answers and he might want to know about his origins. But maybe he won't, not everyone wants that, Hoya hyung had the opportunity once and he declined. Maybe he would like her, maybe not too, but if you're right about her being bat crazy you shouldn't worry because sooner or later all the masks will fall and Woohyun will know whom he should be with.”

“I know, I know, it's just.... my paranoid side didn't let me sleep...” He sighed tiredly. “I tried every way and still couldn't so, to not think about it, I tried to work and I actually progressed but I feel so tired right now... and I still have to go about the day and drop by to talk to d” Myungsoo rubbed his hands against his face and Sungyeol placed his hand on his boyfriend's shoulder and squeezed a bit.

“Look, I'm not saying I have magical powers that will make you sleep but today is Tuesday, I don't have to go to college and I'm ahead with my work so I can come back to keep you company after I drop the kids in school, what do you think?” He suggested with a kind smile.

Myungsoo sighed. “I would love to, but I'm afraid Hoya hyung will think I'm slacking, it's not even a month I started working and...” Myungsoo was halfway through an explanation when Sungyeol raised a hand for him to stop.

“Myungsoo please, you need to sleep.” He said though it didn't seem he was begging while he pulled out his phone and started dialing Hoya's number. “I'm younger but Hoya hyung owes me so much that you can consider me his boss, go hurry the kids up while I... ” Sungyeol waved for his boyfriend to go before Hoya picked his phone up. “Lee Howon, I demand a day off for Myungsoo...”

Sungyeol started demanding, using all of his persuasive power combined with a recounted of things that he had done for him, even saying “we might” (thing that Myungsoo didn't even want to think about what the elder was referring to) when the young father pushed the door quietly not to give the kids another fright and saw those boys sitting on Woohyun bed crunching over Sunggyu cast.

“Are you done?' Sunggyu asked trying to see what Woohyun was doing.

“I'm finishing it, it'll be pretty, I promise.” The boy answered slowly, obviously having more attention directed at what he was doing.

“I trust you.” Sunggyu said and looked again at his cast, trying another angle. “ The hearts are pretty.” Sunggyu said and Myungsoo wanted to smile to himself, Woohyun was drawing over Sunggyu cast and the said boy was letting and even finding the drawings pretty, what a precious moment.

“Hyung....” Woohyun said carefully as he gave the final touches on whatever he was drawing. “...who do you think it is the most beautiful person in our class?” Woohyun asked hesitantly.

“I think it's Woohyunnie.” Sunggyu replied with a smile not waiting for a second to reply.

“Why?” The boy asked raising his head and looking at his hyung and Sunggyu just shrugged.

“Because Woohyunnie's heart is the prettiest.” Sunggyu replied without batting an eyelash and both Woohyun and Myungsoo wanted to melt right there, Myungsoo thought it was cute, Woohyun thought he was very loved. Unfortunately he had to break their moment and hurry the kids up.

“Boys.” Myungsoo called, making the boys turn their heads at him and Woohyun quickly hid the pencil he was using to draw all over Sunggyu cast, he was afraid into getting into trouble with his father. Myungsoo ignored that, it was pretty obvious what the kids had been doing but if the owner of the cast was fine with it he was fine too, so he purposely not mention that. “Hurry up, you have to go to school.” Myungsoo said.

Woohyun sighed in relief and Sunggyu was already getting up to go ahead. Myungsoo waited for the oldest boy to pass him by before turning to go see if Sungyeol managed to score a day off for him, but Woohyun called him from beside his desk.

“Daddy!”

“Yes?” Myungsoo turned around.

“Daddy, you didn't sign my permission to take part on the festival.” The boy complained and grabbed the paper and pen and walked to his father to give him.

Myungsoo wanted to smile. “You decided to participate?” He asked just to be sure.

Woohyun nodded as much as he could. “I want to sing with Gyu hyung.” He said confidently.

“Then of course I have to sign.” Myungsoo smiled then rested the paper on the wall and signed it, which left his son beaming. Once Woohyun got the paper back he ran to his bag and put the paper and pen inside very carefully, practically radiating happiness. “I'm proud of you.” Myungsoo couldn't help to blurt once he saw his son mood change.

The boy smiled at him and put his backpack on before going to Myungsoo, that had been standing by the door, and gave him a big hug which the young father readily reacted to, hugging him back tightly.

“Thank you daddy, I love you.” The boy said loud enough for Sungyeol, that could see them from where he was sitting, sigh in relief and feel his heart warm as he observed the father-son moment. "Oh, and guess what? I'm the prettiest." The boy leaned back and added with a smile on his face, only for his father to chuckle as Sungyeol, and even Sunggyu, got confused.

________________________________________________________________

AN: FIRST WIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIN!!!!!!!!!!!! ABygheoediewnewbhewvvgehewkjiewokekl!!!!!!!

Awn Sungyeol you were genuinely worried about Woohyunnie and eager to help Myungsoo and guide him through a problem you already had before, you're more supportive than you give yourself credit. Let's clap for Yeollie development. I hope I was able to make Myungsoo explain he has a biased view of Woohyun mother, you also see here a bit more about his mom.

There is going to have some time skip so we can progress with the story.