Ahra wiped her old eyes gently then drank the rest of the water in her glass to try to calm herself but was startled once she heard the door opening and closing two times. Bumsoo tried to grab his son by the arm and spin him around back to where they came from but Myungsoo evaded as they moved closer until he stood in front of her.

“How dare you...?” He hissed boiling in anger. “The only reason I let Woohyun alone with you was that you said you wouldn't hurt him and look at what you did, mam! Is hurting innocent children feelings a sport for you?”

“How dare you talk to me like that? I said I would try my best and I did, things don't always go the way we want, Myungsoo, haven't you learned that yet?” She fired back.

Myungsoo wanted to place his hands on her neck and break it and that was what he did in his mind, but in real life he couldn't do that without heavy consequences so he just balled his hands into fists, a sign that made Bumsoo push his son chest (and the rest of the younger body as well) back and talk.

“I don't think you two should talk directly, being hostile to each other won't make Woohyun stop crying nor will bring his mom back. If we have to remotely work together we have to put Woohyun best interest's as our top priority.” He then looked at his son. “Come back to the car, I can talk to Ahra shi later.”

Myungsoo didn't reply but he let himself be pulled by his father, he was set to go and never come back anywhere near her but she stopped him.

“I'm sorry for making him cry.” She said rather sincerely and that surprised the set of father and son so much that they both stopped and looked back at her. “I really didn't mean to, but he asked about things he shouldn't have and there was really nothing I could say because it wouldn't change my past actions.” Myungsoo released a way less angry huff and was about to move forward when she stopped them again. “Can we talk?”

“I really don't think..” Bumsoo insisted but was interrupted by her.

“Well, I really think we should.” The old lady said firmly, done with any friendly behavior she had left. “Certainly there are things to be explained to me.” She said using a rather darker tone and the pair of father and son just knew what she meant.

Myungsoo turned around and met eyes with his father only for the elder to sigh and push his son back towards Ahra table so they both could sit down. “Regardless what it is the outcome let's talk about this like civilized adults, let's put hostility to the side ok?” Bumsoo tried to advise as softly as he could to not piss off those two and excused himself to send a message to Sonmi, time that both Ahra and Myungsoo spent in a staring contest until he was finished. “So...” He was about to try to initiate a conversation but Ahra was straight to the point.

“He is not yous.”

“He is mine, mam.” Myungsoo quickly replied only for Bumsoo to sigh in frustration.

“No, he isn't and there is nothing you can say to make me think otherwise because he looks nothing like you or even Jihyun.” The old lady argued. “Was Jihyun son exchanged in the maternity or something?” She hesitantly asked.

“Are you kidding me?” Myungsoo hissed.

“Myungsoo practically camped outside the NICU.” Bumsoo tried to explain way calmer. “There is no way Woohyun could be exchanged due to a hospital mistake.”

“But then how can you explain that he doesn't look like both his parents?” Ahra pressed moving her eyes to Myungsoo dad and the elder sighed.

“Myungsoo, tell her the truth.”

“No, I don't want to talk to her, I want her to stay far away from us as possible.”

“Myungsoo, just do as I told you...” Bumsoo demanded with a more incisive tone but when the young kept his mouth shut the older Kim had no alternative. “Biologically, yes, he isn't and he doesn't know it.”

Myungsoo slightly glared at his father for having spilled his secret then sighed and decided to address the old lady. “I'm the only father he knows.”

Ahra jaw fell and she actually produced tears as she tried to make sense of what she just discovered, apparently that changed everything for her. Myungsoo wasn't the one that messed with her daughter then who did it? And why did he took responsibility if he had nothing to do with her? Myungsoo could notice all the questions passing through her head so he sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose to alleviate stress.

“I did what you asked me to. I took care of her in the only way I could. If I hadn't taken responsibility no one else would have helped her.” He said the last part slowly, almost begrudgingly, but there was a hurt undertone in it.

“Then... then..” Ahra couldn't properly talk because tears fell from her eyes.

Over the years Ahra came to regret a few things, especially his daughter education that could have prevented her ultimate mistake, but that new knowledge changed everything. At the time, because Myungsoo was appointed as the father right away, she thought she shouldn't let him escape responsibility, not to mention that she knew Myungsoo's parents would help the couple because, honestly, she knew she couldn't, she was aware of her emotional and financial shortcomings and other personal problems as well.

But if Myungsoo wasn't the father, she simply dropped her daughter like a potato bag (not that it happened otherwise) with people that had no responsibility for what was happening. She forced a kid, two kids (three kids if she counted Jihyun), on them and that made her no better than the good for nothing of Jihyun father, despite not wanting to she would have to be a part of it and... and...

“Who did it?” She ended up asking.

Myungsoo kept his head a bit low but still looked at her in the eyes when he spoke with a bit of sadness in his tone. “Would it matter now? Ji tried to tell him and he just pushed the blame on me and didn't want to hear the truth, Ji and I had never....” He couldn't finish his rant so he avoided her gaze.

“If he isn't yours why are you throwing your life away like this?” She ended up asking after a few minutes trying to contain some crying.

“I'm not throwing away anything.” Myungsoo answered seriously. “I don't know how parenthood works for you but it is a thing my family takes seriously. Woohyun is the center of my life and I wouldn't have any other way, I like being his father.”

“But you are what? Twenty three? Shouldn't you be going to parties and messing with girls your age like any other evil man your age?”

Ok, Myungsoo knew this woman was probably so traumatized that she lost faith in any kind of men, he wasn't spared when he was little and he thought Woohyun would suffer even more than his mother if he started, for some unjust reason, living with her. But she was totally wrong, not only he was a good man that liked taking care of Woohyun, there was a very important factor she didn't need to know, after all, he was gay.

He sighed and leaned over the table to look into her eyes. “Mam, I have been trying to tell you this all my life but I'm not like the others, I cared and respected Ji deeply, she was my best friend and I would never ever have taken advantage of her physically. Also, I knew what she would have to go through and I didn't want that happening to her. She was an awesome friend, she didn't deserve to be frowned upon, she didn't deserve becoming bitter with the world, and, despite making a mistake, she should still be seen as a respectable young lady that she was.”

Once Myungsoo finished his speech his father felt so so proud of him, despite lying Myungsoo grew to be not only a good looking man but a man with sensibility, a man full of love, a responsible man, a man with an awesome sense of loyalty and with strong beliefs too. He was sure he made a mistake here and there, every parent did, but he made a great man out of his son.

“I married her because I wanted and because she needed a man in her life, and I wanted to be the man she could rely on to raise kids together. I never loved your daughter romantically, but when I repeated over and over again that I loved her I was never lying. I loved her so much that I staged this up to help her. But raising Woohyun has been a great joy, I can't care less if we have the same blood or not, I love him, he is my son.” He finished fiercely protective.

“But you don't have to..” Ahra was about to say something but was interrupted.

“Wow wow wow, let's stop this here.” Bumsoo said raising his hands in the air. “Are you hinting you want to take care of Woohyun? Is this why you wrote down information about him?” He asked which made Myungsoo eyes light up in anger again and the old lady looked surprised at them. Thankfully Bumsoo didn't need to explain hiding a camera in one of Woohyun buttons because her notebook with information on the boy was still open in front of her so he just pointed at it with his chin.

She closed the notebook in front of her and looked down at the table. “I regret a lot of things, and I can't exactly say I would have acted differently, I didn't have the means to support three children alone too. But I have some money now and...” She was about to explain herself when Bumsoo interrupted her.

“Look, Ahra shi, you asked me to help you emancipate your daughter so she could make her own legal decisions and I ended up emancipating Myungsoo too so they ended up marrying, but there was a change in the registration regulations back in 2008. Before that year, if a girl married she was automatically transferred to the husband family book and her children would belong automatically to the husband. In case of divorce, a child kept their father surname unless the father gave permission for them to change surname to the new husband's.”

“After 2008, and Woohyun was born after that so what I'm about to say applies to him, he has his own register which contains information on his birth, death, marriage or possible adoption, along with basic information on his spouse, parents, and children. There Myungsoo is written as his father and you, Sonmi and I are registered as his grandparents, all his documents are like that.”

“Woohyun uses your surname because the new law allowed his parents to decide who would be the head of the family and who would pass the surname down but Woohyun is free to change his surname to Myungsoo's as soon as he requests. Since he is a minor Myungsoo can request that any time and the only reason he didn't yet, it is that Woohyun likes having his mother surname.”

“Well, if the of his father didn't want to take responsibility I rather have Woohyun using my surname than his.” She mumbled to herself and that was kind of expected of her.

“Even if that birth certificate is turned invalid for whatever reason, Woohyun would be seen as a extramarital offspring and that allows him to use his mother surname but he is not obliged to use his biological dad or Myungsoo's therefore if Woohyun is not seen as Myungsoo's son he would be at least seen as his stepchild. Woohyun is not in an illegal situation and Myungsoo's rights are solidified, after seven years Myungsoo is the only father he knows so if anything happens the court will probably not take Woohyun away from him, but I prefer if we did things more formally and adopt him into our family, so if you are inclined to take him away from us just know we are ready to fight for him in court.”

Laws in your face crazy woman. Myungsoopettily wanted to scream that at her face but decided not to.

“Wait, what? You think I want to take him away? NO!” She said perplexed. “I'm not that dumb ok? Appearing in his life after seven years and suggesting that would be too weird even for me, so no, I don't want to raise him or anything, it's best if he stays with you.” She strongly denied and father and son exchanged a look and eyed her suspiciously. “I accepted meeting Woohyun because you two asked me to, but after everything I did I was sure that he – and now that I know, Soohyun too – should be kept away from me, I clearly only know how to disappoint children and he doesn't even want to see me again.” She reasoned.

“Then why were you uh... collecting information on him? ” Myungsoo asked full of suspicions.

“I was curious ok? Despite everything I got curious to know his name, to know about his sister, to know his birthday and silly things like that because I couldn't come up with the courage to read the few letters you wrote.” She said with a tone that begged to be believed and the others stopped to think a bit before Bumsoo carefully talked to her again.

“If something happens to Myungsoo the court usually pass the guard down to the maternal grandparents...”

“No, that can't happen.” She was resolute. “I can't do that, nothing good will come out of it and he just screamed at me that he hates me, that can't happen.”

“Would you mind to sign a paper giving up your rights?” Bumsoo asked to try to gauge her feelings on that matter but her answer wasn't like what he was be expecting.

“No! That would mean he wouldn't inherit anything I have.” She motioned around her. “Liking me or not, he is my sole heir and he will inherit this. It is not something that big but it is mine. After I'm dead he can sell or take it over - whatever he thinks is best for him - he will have a better life start with this. I couldn't offer much for Jihyun but I can do at least as much as this for him.”

“What the...” Myungsoo was about to say some stuff to her face but his father shut him up by stepping on his toes and he whined as his father spoke.

“Let me see if I get this straight... You're fine with Myungsoo raising Woohyun, you don't want to have responsibilities over him, yet you're still curious about him and wants him to inherit your business?” The old man asked in sort of disbelief.

“Curious or not, I won't sign anything that gives away his inheritance rights. I emancipated Jihyun, I didn't disinherit her, therefore she would be the one inheriting this if she was alive.” She was resolute and that actually made some sense.

“Then it is a court case then.” Myungsoo concluded angrily but still feeling some residual pain in his toes. “And I will not let him get close to you ever again.”

“Going to court against you is a waste of time and money.” The old lady said and finally, Myungsoo could agree with her on something because he felt the same way about her. “Can't we do something about this? Have some common ground?” She pleaded looking at Bumsoo with some hope.

“Well, that would be ideal, I'm not sure the law allows it because that is not exactly my expertise, but what do you propose?” Bumsoo asked in a business-like manner.

“I don't know if that is possible but... I can renounce preference rights, so if anything happens to Myungsoo he stays with you, but the boy would still inherit what is mine, I'll be in the back of the line that way. I am willing to submit myself to doctors if you need something saying I don't have enough mental health to raise him. ” She ended up suggesting, which for Bumsoo wasn't that bad.

“And, mam, what would you want in exchange, huh?” Myungsoo asked grumpily.

“Nothing that you can't give me easily.” She said very matter of fact and started counting on her fingers. “I want the name of the place where you buried Jihyun, I want more basic information about him, I want to see him and send gifts once a year - he doesn't need to interact with me though, he clearly doesn't want that and I will respect his wishes - and I want a copy of Jihyun and Soohyun death certificates..” She offered.

Bumsoo furrowed his brows, that was a good offer considering all his family was perfectly healthy and there was no news on Jihyun father and grandfather, though he couldn't think why she would need those certificates.

“What do you think? If the law allows would you like to solve this with a deal? I can formalize stuff pretty quickly.” Bumsoo asked his son.

“And how that would work?” Myungsoo asked, becoming more tamed but not trusting her enough.

“I just want to know if at any moment he will look like Jihyun, after he comes of age you don't need to keep doing this, or you might just send a picture.”

Myungsoo looked at her eyes for a brief second and then avoided her gaze nervously. “I don't know, I don't know, why do you even want certification about their death?”

“Then let me offer you something that can help you think better.” She said with some confidence and leaned over the table a bit to talk in an almost whisper manner. “Woohyun grandfather is a powerful and influential politician now and that has a lot of side business to pass down and no kids to inherit because his wife can't have children.” Wait, what? “I have a lot dirty on him and if he ever thinks about approaching Woohyun, I want him destroyed and I personally want to help you with that.”

“And do you think he would approach Woohyun?” Myungsoo asked mortified, now one more person that could in? He thought Jihyun father was out of the game for a long while now.

She shrugged. “He tried to find me with the intention of taking her away to be sent abroad or I don't know, I don't want to think what her father would be capable of doing to hide the fact she was an extramarital child. That's the main reason I moved in and out Incheon... If Jihyun wasn't pregnant we wouldn't still have stayed and I came up with the emancipation thing to prevent him from using some parental rights with her, though I'm well aware that by doing that this placed me in a category of bad mothers worse than I already was... ” She ended up growling to herself.

“Jihyun father is an influential politician and he might want...?” Bumsoo couldn't properly process and rubbed his hands over his face.

“He faked our marriage certificate and used my name to fraud a bunch of things, left me with a pretty big debt and a kid to raise, yet he walks around as if nothing, Urgh, only to think I once believed that guy leaves me angry...” She made a pause to try to calm herself because her breath was currently heavy out of anger. “What he has now... it's dirty money, I'm sure of it.”

“If he is so influential how do you think you can keep him away?” Myungsoo asked, clearly more interested.

“The death certificates.” She said. “But that won't guarantee anything, that just will keep him away only for a while, if he insists we take him to court...” She then made a wicked smile. “and press. Public pressure can end his career even if he isn't accountable for past crimes anymore but people will surely dig his recent dirty as well. With all those scandals, there is no way a sane judge will give Woohyun guard to a man like him, if so it is more corruption proof.”

Bumsoo didn't think that Korean justice or the universe would work like that prediction but he couldn't help but agree that she was mostly right, it seemed like she did some research at least. He and his son shared a look and now Bumsoo knew that his son has made his mind.

“I need a bit of time to do a quick research, get the copy of the documents so we can formalize stuff but it would be better for both parties to give each other something to demonstrate goodwill.” He suggested.

“Ok, I can write down some basic information on Woohyun and Ji address.” Myungsoo agreed and the old lady promptly pushed the notebook and a pen in front of him. She looked expectantly at him as he prepared himself to write but before did he looked into her eyes. “And your good will gift is?”

“Heo Joonho.” She blurted while Bumsoo immediately started a coughing fit, that was the Korean Minister of Strategy and Finance. !. “I lied to Jihyun about his name but that's Jihyun father.” She explained and hesitated a bit before she decided to give her advice. “Myungsoo, emancipate Woohyun as soon as you can so the boy can say no to his face as he said to mine.”

_____________________________________________________

Sungyeol tilted his head to the side as he watched the kids, Sunggyu was fighting sleep and losing miserably as Woohyun paced back and forth in the living room while biting his nails and from time to time he asked his grandmother if she had received news about his father. Every time Sonmi said no he got even more nervous.

To say Sungyeol wasn't understanding things was an understatement and the last time he ever felt something that remotely resembled what he was feeling now was when he was in the boarding school, getting beaten, being scared and helpless.

Sonmi told him what happened, it was only reasonable to explain a bit when he heard his little neighbor loudly cry and complain as soon as he got out of the elevator, also he had a spare key form Myungsoo apartment and she needed to talk to him to get it so one thing let to another.

The meeting was a mess for sure and if Woohyun came out crying a pissed Myungsoo was a given, but that could be a good thing too if Jihyun mother was an evil person and really had no interest in butting in between the pair of father and son, but clearly grandmother and grandson had different opinions on that. Sonmi thought that if Myungsoo were to piss Ahra off she might try to have Woohyun custody but the boy never thought about that possibility, for him his other grandma only aimed to hurt them (not that taking him out of Myungsoo's care wouldn't hurt them too).

Sonmi and Sungyeol tried to take the boys mind away from that with food and though Sunggyu gladly accepted Woohyun said he wouldn't eat until his father arrived.

“Come on Woohyun, I know you're hungry, say 'ah'.” Sonmi had tried but Woohyun was irreducible.

“Grandma how can you think about food when Daddy is with that... that dragon?” He said and Sungyeol almost lost his serious face, Woohyun flabbergast tone was too amusing when accompanied by that tiny body and pointing chubby fingers.

“Well, if you're not eating I will, don't complain later when there is nothing left for you to eat, right Sunggyu?” She asked and the said boy nodded, more awaken now when there was food in front of him. “Food can help with anything, wise words from Sungyeol mother.” She said to Woohyun and shoved the spoonful of food that was meant for him in only for Sungyeol snort. “Have you already read her letters, Sungyeol?” She ended up asking.

Sungyeol winced, he had no guts or time to read yet, a thing was happening after another and when he did have time the living ones in his life clearly had the preference. Noticing that Sungyeol didn't seem to answer that question Woohyun decided to save his hyung and try to bring the focus back to him.

“Hyung, call my dad please.” He pleaded worry etched in his tone.

“No, don't call.” Sonmi prohibited as soon as Sungyeol touched his phone. “If they didn't say anything till now their conversation might be going well.” She reasoned only for her grandson to whine and stomp his little foot on the ground.

“I'm sure Myungsoo hyung will come home soon.” Sunggyu tried to offer from his corner but was ignored by his friend.

“But grandma, that dragon is going to spit fire and hurt daddy.” The boy reasoned and again Sungyeol wanted to laugh again despite the situation.

“No, Woohyun, I'm worried too but your grandfather is there to help him with anything, we have to wait.”Sonmi was definitive.

“Was she that bad?” Sungyeol dared to ask, not to anyone in particular and although Sonmi nodded Woohyun raised a hand in the air for Sungyeol to stop and made an expression of sadness.

“Hyung.” Woohyun caught his attention with a broken voice and tearing eyes. “She abandoned my mom with us in her belly.” The boy said brokenly and Sungyeol felt a pang in his heart, he knew what it was to be abandoned when he needed the most and he couldn't say anything that could comfort the boy, he couldn't comfort himself completely yet because he didn't understood a thing.

Sungyeol stayed silent then and instead of sympathy Woohyun thought Sungyeol was being skeptical so he took the crumpled paper out of his pocket and handed to the elder before he wiped a tear that just fell. Sonmi tried to take a peek at the paper, she was curious because in the video they recorded she didn't see or hear the contents of the paper.

“My girl suffered so much.” Sonmi said with some pity and Sunggyu stopped eating to try to take a peek too but Sungyeol took away from his brother views.

“Woohyun, you tore a page of your mom diary...” He ended up trying to go the surprised route because if he acknowledged the feelings written there Woohyun might start crying rivers all over again.

The boy actually shifted in place. “Daddy said I shouldn't take mom stuff with me but I wanted to confront grand-the dragon.”

“You were very brave Woohyun, though I must say you almost gave your father a heart attack when you said you wanted to meet her.” Sonmi said and Woohyun looked down at his feet in guilty. “Your dad worst fear is losing your love.” She said and the boy looked up with determined eyes to her.

“But I love him the most.”

“Really?” Sungyeol teased. “What about your mom? What do you think she would think if she knew you tore a page of her diary?”

Woohyun gasped, he absolutely didn't think about that, and while Sonmi didn't think that would have been a real problem for Jihyun - because she mainly wrote those diaries for her children to read – it was enough to distract Woohyun a bit.

“Can you help me fix it?” He looked at Sungyeol with pleading eyes.

“Sure.”

“I'll get the diary.” The boy announced. “I'll get the tape.” Sunggyu offered right after and each boy ran to a different side which made Sungyeol wink at Sonmi that sighed a bit relieved.

Sungyeol sat at the coffee table with each kid on his side, Sunggyu trying to give his brother instructions and Woohyun begging for Sungyeol to be careful while Sungyeol surgically repaired the diary with, well, tape, as Sonmi briefly disappeared in the kitchen to take care of the dishes.

Sungyeol had just finished repairing the diary, noticing (as he did before) that there were other pages tore, when the door opened and closed and then they turned their heads to see who it was.

“Daddy!” Woohyun shouted in a mix of happiness and relief, and Myungsoo only had time to pass some food bags to his father before Woohyun hugged him by the waist. “Daddy why you took so long?” The boy whined.

“Oppa, Myungsoo, how did it go?” Sonmi came running from the kitchen to ask while Sungyeol and Sunggyu sort of stood where they were watching the family interactions.

Myungsoo squatted to hug and kiss his son as if both of them hadn't seen each other for at least ten years or as if one of them just escaped death, while Bumsoo sighed frustrated and mouthed 'we have a deal' to Sonmi.

Sonmi beamed but Woohyun cried desperately. “Daddy please, let's not meet that dragon anymore, please!”

“Shhhh, it's ok, it's ok, you don't have to see grandma Nam anymore, I'll never take you there again.” Myungsoo assured kissing Woohyun cheeks and patting him everywhere but his son pushed him away and looked honestly horrified.

“She is not my grandma! Grandmas are supposed to be nice just like Grandma Sonmi, the only one grandma I have, and that ahjuma is a wrinkled dragon, she spits fire and hurts us.” The boy said with conviction.

“I feel so special, awn.” Sonmi tried but didn't have much time to fawn over her grandson because Bumsoo tried to push her into the kitchen claiming to have to set the food for them to eat.

Despite Myungsoo's mother trying to say that they already had eaten, she was still rushed in the kitchen and Sungyeol took that as a sign that things didn't go that smoothly, even more, when Sonmi gasped from the kitchen. But once he looked at Myungsoo with Woohyun in his arms, it seemed that Myungsoo had not one problem in the world and he wondered why was that.

_____________________________________________________

Sungyeol jaw fell open when he heard about the meeting with Woohyun grandmother through Myungsoo's own whispered words after they put the boys in bed and the Kims went back to Incheon, but Myungsoo didn't seem bothered at all.

“What if he is powerful? He has been in some power position for god knows how long and in every government we had in the last couple of years. If he wants to stay in his position he can't dig into Ji family matters without causing the public to hate him. I'm not worried about him, Woohyun already sees Jihyun mother as a stranger, I doubt he would look at this guy any differently. As for Woohyun father, he is a , things with him will definitely be smoother if Woohyun doesn't know and then that's it, I can tell him.”

There was something inside Sungyeol that said things wouldn't be that smoother. He wanted to warn Myungsoo of that, tell him to keep his eyes open and don't be naïve, but before he could say anything Woohyun came out of his room crying. The boy had a nightmare with the 'wrinkled dragon' and then their nighttime convo was over, so Sungyeol decided to go back to his apartment to do more grading to see if the pile of papers lessened somehow.

Because Myungsoo managed to be ahead of schedule with the only subject he watched classes for he decided not to call his parents for help during midterms week and ended up helping Sunggyu and Woohyun to study for their exams. But, when both boys had to sleep, Myungsoo didn't spend his usual time with Sungyeol because Woohyun was still having some nightmares about his grandmother so they slept together during the week.

Midterms came and gone and that left the boys in high spirits because hey, they were freeeeee and they sort of had plans for a picnic in the park, but that plan went down the rail after dinner on Friday when Sungyeol asked for Myungsoo to keep an eye on the kids so he could go to his car and bring back another pile of things to work on.

“Really?” Myungsoo asked matching the kid's disbelief.

“I knoooooooow.” Sungyeol whined. “That's what I get for studying literature...” He cursed under his breath. “It's better if you don't wait for me and just go have fun.” He said only for Sunggyu to sigh in disappointment and go for his room, apparently, he was really looking forward that picnic because Sungyeol had been practically tied to his chair for about two weeks or so. Yet there was more work for him to do and suddenly everything was like when they started to live together (minus their fights).

“Hyung! Hyung!” Woohyun called but Sunggyu didn't come out of his room so the boy turned to Sungyeol with his best puppy eyes, that was becoming really effective on Sungyeol lately. “Hyung, come with us please, everybody is going!” He pleaded and blinked his eyes only for Myungsoo to try to imitate his aegyo from behind his back, which made Sungyeol try hard to hold himself to not succumb.

“I can't, I need to finish correcting these, what do you think Dongwoo hyung is doing right now? He is grading your exams too.” He pointed to the pile of papers resting beside his door.

“But... it will be no fun without you.” Woohyun reasoned resting his forearms on Sungyeol backrest and his chin on top of his small hands, it was evident that he was disappointed and Myungsoo nodded in agreement, hoping that Woohyun would sparkle something soft within Sungyeol.

“Since when do you think I'm fun? Since when you need me to have fun?” Sungyeol asked bemusedly and Woohyun blinked his eyes and pulled away from the backrest to look at him with an answer on the tip of his tongue.

“Since you became our friend.” The boy finished with an upset pout and then climbed down the couch to join his friend in his room. Both adults sighed once Woohyun closed Sunggyu door.

“I screwed up big time haven't I?” Sungyeol pinched the bridge of his nose before he walked to the couch and left his body fall on it beside Myungsoo's.

Myungsoo sighed and that told everything Sungyeol need to know. Still, the younger father brushed Sungyeol hands out of his face and moved the taller chin to make Sungyeol look at him. “I'm sure that wasn't your intention. It's just... I was juggling problems and you were working nonstop and then there were midterms for all of us... their life is simpler, they don't have to worry about many things so, for them, once midterms are over it is play time again. I confess I thought you would have some free time after midterms but I guess we still have our responsibilities, right?”

Myungsoo aimed to be comforting, but that kind of speech didn't help much. “I know, I know.” Sungyeol whined. “But... I feel so bad I'm being perceived as if I am doing this on purpose because I don't want to spend time with each of you... Man, what an awful feeling.”

Myungsoo smiled kindly. “I'm not thinking like that but you have to look at things like this: if we have such expectations of you it is because we like you, and if you feel bad it is because of you like us back, there isn't much mystery about it. Don't beat yourself much for this, just apologize to the kids because they don't have the maturity to understand that you'll have to stay at home this weekend, I can take the kids out and spend some time with them, you know that Moonsoo and Sungjong will be there too.”

“Yes, but I'm so frustrated.” Sungyeol sighed deeply.

“What are you frustrated about?” Myungsoo asked carefully, wanting to comprehend his boyfriend better because, really, Sungyeol was such a big help for him in every aspect.

“I traced this plan, right? But then my mother died, I had to take a break to take care of Sunggyu and get enough work to support three people, so most of my plan went down the rail... if my mom hadn't died I wouldn't be in the situation I am now.”

Myungsoo furrowed his brows. “Are you saying whatever is frustrating you now is your mother's fault?”

“No, not this at least so don't misunderstand.” Sungyeol shook his head before explaining with a bit of sarcasm. “It is just that if I hadn't taken a year off I would be over with my education already, but nooo, I still have some months to go and I need these ing credits... Urgh, I feel so stuck...”

“Oh, you're talking about the classes you're helping with.” Myungsoo spoke as if only now he could understand. “Why did you take these credits so late anyway and why do you need so many?”

Sungyeol furrowed his brows as if Myungsoo was using some alien language but then decided not to comment on it. “That's beside the point, I just need as many credits I can, they'll look very pretty in my curriculum.” Sungyeol said getting up to drag his feet to pick the pile of papers he needed to grade.

“If you say so.” Myungsoo chuckled. “But hyung, when do you think will be done with that?” He pointed with his chin to the pile of paper Sungyeol was picking up. “Maybe we can take the kids to have dinner out or go to the movie theater or plan some sleep over...”He left the sentence unfinished on purpose because the tone he ended his speech with made Sungyeol sure Myungsoo didn't really mean to sleep.

“I can't exactly pinpoint an exact date but I have to finish and return these by Friday, though I have a book to finish editing by that time too so the sooner I start the sooner I finish it.” The taller said as he moved to the dinner table they cleaned twenty minutes back.

Myungsoo looked at the pile of paper again. Ok, Sungyeol was about to start to work on a pile considerably smaller than what he had been working on the past week and he still had a book that he needed to finish editing, he didn't know about the complexity written in those papers or how many pages this particular book had left, but one thing he knew was that Sungyeol was fast when focused, so the taller would probably finish his work before the deadline.

“Alright, I'll cover for you.” Myungsoo said, getting up to go to the kids to keep them company.

Myungsoo played with the kids while Sungyeol worked a little but when the elder started to hear the sound of closing closet doors he knew Myungsoo was preparing them for bedtime which made Sungyeol get up to talk to them before they could sleep.

The boys were changing into their pajamas and talking about Sunggyu wanting to go to the beach for the first time and Sungyeol opened the door just in time to hear Sunggyu saying he thought Sungyeol had been making up work because he was tired to try to get close because he still didn't like him. Both Myungsoo and Woohyun wanted to say otherwise but chose to go back to their own apartment because Sungyeol was there and apparently was ready to solve the problem. Sunggyu rushed inside his blankets and covered his head to show Sungyeol he didn't want to talk, but the elder sat in the corner of his bed and started talking even so.

“Sunggyu-ya, when I was small there was no one to play with me. Sungjongie was too little, I only met Hoya hyung later, I didn't have the patience for kids my age and they hated me with a passion too. I have never played around much, I don't think I know how to do that very well but I like when we play together...” He made a pause and Sunggyu pulled his blankets down until it showed his little eyes. “I'm learning that with you and I like it, unfortunately, I still need to work because I want to change jobs as soon as I can so we can spend more time together, can't you have a little more patience with hyung? Hyung is trying hard.”

Sungyeol didn't know how but he melted Sunggyu heart then and the boy pulled his blankets fully down just to go hug his brother and tell him that he loved Sungyeol, and that he missed him and that he wanted the four of them to spend time together until he fell asleep hugging his elder brother.

Sungyeol still didn't go to their picnic but Sunggyu didn't seem too sad about it, mainly when he told Woohyun that his brother said he will join everyone to go to the beach, which left the young boy beaming because it would be so much fun. Myungsoo though was more understanding, but he was a bit sad because that also meant no alone time.

Sunday Myungsoo took care of the kids in his apartment again, they made a movie marathon of old films that the boys surprisingly enjoyed. “But daddy, it's 2018 already, where do we get a hoverboard?” Yeah, Myungsoo wanted to know that too, he actually wanted one himself though he was sure he wouldn't be able to pay it.

On Monday the couple went to college together but separated to go on about their schedules. Myungsoo had classes early on and would continue his project at the library while Sungyeol had to continue doing his work in college grounds, and that included answering some students questions (like finally they appeared!).

At night and because Sungyeol was almost finishing things before schedule, he decided to have a break and maybe have a proper sleep night, he had been grading assignments and exams left and right only stopping to progress with his book editing. He helped Myungsoo finish cooking and ate with him and the kids and sat to watch High School Musical (because if there were music and basketball Myungsoo and the kids were covered) until he actually fell asleep.

“Is he ok?” Sunggyu asked worriedly and sort of indecisive if he should try to check his brother temperature or not, last time he almost burned his hand, though Woohyun tried poking Sungyeol with his finger and the older didn't wake.

“Yes, he is just really tired, he is working really hard.” Myungsoo explained patting Woohyun hands away from his lover. “Go dress your pajamas, I'll put him to bed.”

As the boys scurried over Woohyun room to do what they were told, Myungsoo took Sungyeol to his room and laid the elder gently in his bed so in the end the four of them ended up sleeping together. Sungyeol woke up because of a kick and only then he realized he had actually fallen asleep before he finished his work. He hissed in his mind and tried to quietly push Sunggyu legs away from his body so he could just go back to his work and try to finish it before lunch.

He just turned Sunggyu around and was about to move when he felt someone hold his wrist.

“Hyung, stay.” Myungsoo pleaded sleepily. “You're tired, you need to rest too.”

“I can't.” Sungyeol whispered in the shadows. “As soon as I finish...” He was about to argue when Myungsoo sighed and let him go and Sungyeol hesitated a bit and got up but instead of going out of Myungsoo's room he walked around the bed, placed a hand on Myungsoo arm to balance himself and positioned his lips behind the younger ears. “Take the kids to school today please, if I finish around lunch time we can go on a date in the afternoon.” He suggested in a whisper and how Myungsoo could say no when Sungyeol spoke like that and finished with a kiss on his neck? He could only nod.

Sungyeol yawned in his way out and prepared coffee to keep him awake as he worked. He graded the last couple of exams left and finished the last chapter of the book he needed to proofread and then sent the grades to the head of the department and the text to his boss in Woollim before he dragged himself to his own bed to sleep. Sunggyu entered their apartment, got ready, tried to talk to him (Myungsoo and Woohyun tried too) before they thought that Sungyeol was a lost cause and left.

Sungyeol woke up around midday, feeling way more rested, and quite energetic too. He sent a message to Myungsoo to see if he was the one working now and if he wanted to have lunch together but the young dad replied saying that he already ate and was working while waiting for his father to come from Incheon to have a talk about Woohyun. The taller was a little sad because he worked so hard to have some extra time for the rest of the week and even if Myungsoo could hang out he didn't know if his boyfriend would be in the mood for anything after that conversation.

He decided to buy food and visit Hoya, that way Myungsoo would have a lot of time to figure things out with his father, and he actually bumped with Bumsoo before he entered his car.

“Where are you going?” Bumsoo had asked.

“Myungsoo was working and waiting for you so I figured it would be good to give you some privacy while I eat with my cousin.” He replied.

“Don't take too long, Myungsoo might need you.” The older Kim said as he waved and entered the building and that was enough to make Sungyeol be on the edge during lunch, much to Hoyafrustration.

“I don't know why you came to distract me when you are going to behave like a weird zombie from Sungjong horror movies.” Hoya asked after they ate and then stopped to think about it and made a face. “How Moonsoo even endures that?” He asked himself as he bit some thing

“I don't know.” Sungyeol answered truthfully, but Hoya raised a brow, he didn't know if his cousin was talking about himself or Moonsoo apparent ability to deal with Sungjong weird tastes. “I just wanted to give Myungsoo some space to solve his problems but now I'm worried as .”

“Yeah he told me he had some problems related to Woohyun lately, he didn't tell me what it was though.” Hoya sighed. “He doesn't crack with anything, he is one tough guy so I think you shouldn't worry.” He advised.

“Myungsoo?” Sungyeol scoffed. “He is not like that with me.” He tried to take a sip from his soda but he raised the can too much which resulted in the liquid escaping and messing his face and his shirt.

“Well, that is to be expected because you're his boyfriend.” He smirked then. “You don't think Dongwoo behaves with me in the same angel-like manner he behaves around his students, right? Because let me tell you something, when we are alone he is one hell of a y pink demon.”

“Did I really need to know that?” Sungyeol barked as he tried to clean himself and his shirt with a napkin and Hoya chuckled so the taller rolled his eyes and sighed. “Look, it is just... even if he asked me for help I wouldn't be able to help.”

Hoya looked at his cousin skeptically. “That's nonsense, anyone can help anyone. You know I feel dumb beside you a lot of times so I didn't think I could help you back then but, Sungyeol, wasn't interacting with me one of the things that helped you?” He asked not gloating or anything and Sungyeol looked down his hands thinking. “I was super scared of you trying it again but did I ever looked at you weirdly, with pity, or did I ever stopped trying to connect?”

Sungyeol blinked at him and Hoya continued. “We have our playful bickering with things that don't matter and I'm not trying to rub this on your face, I'm just trying to point out here that sometimes you just have to be there and insist a bit. Taking interest in a person and mutually opening up is already something huge. Only God knows how you managed to listen to someone dumber than you, in this case me, but you can help him too with a bit of persistence and patience.”

“While you're not wrong I still don't think I can.” Sungyeol insisted and Hoya raised a puzzled brow. “You know I'm not interested in others, I'm not that emphatic, and though I admit Myungsoo is improving me in this aspect, I don't have what he needs.”

“And what do you think that he needs?” Hoya asked furrowing his thick brows.

“Answers.”

“Well, nobody has them ready.” Hoya chuckled. “You should know that it is impossible to go through all different situations that life can present us with so we can have all the answers concentrated in one person, and even if two people went through the same thing the answer might not work for one of them. You shouldn't feel guilty about it, you just try the way you can to help him going on and face whatever situation it is.”

“You're absolutely right and that's exactly why I'm worried.” Sungyeol said now looking at his cousin in the eye and then tried to come up with a metaphor. “Do you remember that there was a time you were failing some subjects and your asked uncle help but he couldn't?”

“What about me being dumb has to do with anything Myungsoo related?” Hoya chuckled.

“Do you remember? Do you remember his answer back then?” Sungyeol insisted and Hoya decided to indulge.

“That he couldn't help me and that I should ask help from someone that actually could help me better so he called you.” Hoya said though not understanding where Sungyeol was getting.

“Everything you said so far is important, so it is no wonder your father cheered on you, but what he said back then...” Sungyeol raised a finger up not particularly pointing anywhere. “It actually means that if you don't know how to help – and back then it was because he didn't remember stuff – you can get help from someone that actually knows how to deal with your problems better – back then that meant me coaching you over the phone until you slept on me -  and today it means me asking you advice about interacting with people.”

Hoya chuckled at the memory then made a confused expression. “Yeah, you're right, but what is really your point?”

“I'm helping with I can from the sidelines and Myungsoo only needs his father because he is the one that can actually help now, but there will be a time his family won't be able to help him, I won't be able to help him too... but you can.” Sungyeol said looking deeply into his cousin's eyes.

“Me?” Hoya asked in sort of disbelief. “Aside from paying him a salary, and maybe advising him about you, I don't think he needs me for anything, he barely asks for any instructions at work let alone ask for help with something else.”

“I also didn't ask for your help hyung, yet you helped me. If Myungsoo ends up in a situation like that can you do that again?” Sungyeol asked firmly.

“If he doesn't feel uncomfortable and has his mind open I can try, tho I still have no idea on what I can help him.” Hoya was a bit dumbfounded but agreed. “Do you want to give me some heads up or something?”

“I can't tell you because I promised him he could trust me his secrets, but I can tell you something.” Sungyeol said and got up to walk towards his cousin and look at his eyes as he patted Hoya shoulder once. “You were failing school and that was your problem for not understanding things, but your father thought it was a problem for him that you didn't have at least medium grades so, when I helped you, your problems disappeared and his did too.” He paused a bit and hesitated but decided to add something in the end. “You also don't have Myungsoo answer hyung, but you might have Woohyun's, and if we solve his problem we can solve his father's.”

Hoya furrowed his brows not understanding much as Sungyeol walked towards the door and opened it but stopped for a bit to look back at him. “You're not dumb hyung. We have similar IQ, but your area of expertise is different and you were roughened up earlier. Don't ever think you're inferior, I wouldn't ever have asked for your help if you were. And thank you, I'll bring food for you later.” He said before going completely out and closing the door.

Hoya sighed deeply then kicked his legs in the air in frustration. How could he accept Sungyeol compliment when he spent 90% of the time just throwing things out there and not understanding ? He was completely clueless on what kind answer he could give Woohyun that would make his father relax. Really, he had no idea, and it was times like these with conversations like these that Hoya felt the dumbest, why sometimes Sungyeol had to be so cryptic?

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By 2 PM Sungyeol was almost biting his nails out of worry, there was no message or phone call from Myungsoo whatsoever yet and he was afraid of knocking at his lover door and interrupting some important conversation so he decided to just enter his apartment and sent his lover a message.

Sungyeol: Just arrived home, if you need to talk...

He was taking his shoes off when the door opened and hit him, making him lose his balance a bit, though he didn't fall or anything. He looked behind himself to see a radiating boyfriend and that made himself relax as much as he could, at least it meant that the conversation Myungsoo had with his father was good. He finished taking his last shoe off and straightened himself only to complain playfully.

“Myungsoo!”

“Hyung!” Myungsoo ignored whatever complaint and just embraced his lover completely and didn't wait for Sungyeol to add anything. “Hyung, I'm so happy!” He said and gave Sungyeol neck a small kiss before he pulled back.

“What happened?” Sungyeol asked, unconsciously opening up an smile.

“I made a deal with Ji mother, my dad just came pick up some documents and my signature and now I don't need to worry about her anymore.” He beamed and now Sungyeol stretched his lips in a full smile.

“Oh my god, that's great news!” He beamed too only to hug Myungsoo again and ran his finger through the younger hair. “I'm so happy for you.” He ended up saying with such genuine relief.

Myungsoo pulled back again and smiled genuinely. “For us.” He corrected. “Now that this problem is basically over, I can finally focus on you, on us.”

“Right!” Sungyeol agreed, trying to stop a gummy smile from appearing with a bite on his lips. He started moving to his room hoping that Myungsoo would follow him (and the younger did it) while looking at his watch. “It's around 2 PM, we can still have our movie date before we pick the boys up and then we can take them to eat out to celebrate, my treat, what do you think?”

“That's a good idea.” Myungsoo replied though not enthusiastically as he had been a couple minutes before.

“Great, I just need to change my shirt...” He was about to open his closet when Myungsoo grabbed his elbow and stopped him.

“Hyung...”

Sungyeol turned himself around. “Hm?” He asked curiously.

Myungsoo gave one step closer, invading his boyfriend personal space, but kept his head looking down then took his hands from Sungyeol elbow. He gulped down a lump that formed in his throat while Sungyeol looked at him puzzled, and ended up hooking his finger on Sungyeol belt loop.

“Hyung...” Myungsoo said again, his voice becoming pleadingly as he forced Sungyeol even closer, pulling the taller by his belt loop only to dare to look at him in the eyes.

Myungsoo voice, his expression, the pulling on the belt loop, his intense eyes pleading… it was just too brief. Sungyeol only had time to move his eyes from Myungsoo's eyes to his lips and he felt compelled to cup the younger face and kiss him slow and deeply. While they kissed, somehow still holding themselves, Myungsoo grabbed one of Sungyeol hands took away from his face only to place on his waist.

Sungyeol instantly pulled back and looked at his boyfriend with a bit of apprehension and the younger kept his eyes closed for a bit while he his lips. Myungsoo took a deep intake of air before he opened his eyes again and dared another look at the taller. “Hyung...” He whispered pulling the belt loop again.

Now there was no way Sungyeol was interpreting things wrong or halfway, so he applied some pressure on Myungsoo's waist then kissed him passionately while he pushed the younger towards the bed.


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AN: I had this ready for some time, I'm happy my thesis is progressing so I decided to update this to make you guys happy too. My deadline is still April 20 and I'll make it, things will get back to normal hopefully by then, see you soon.