“Nooo!” Sungyeol and Sunggyu said together because Myungsoo seemed too stunned to even process that he was in a world where Sungyeol wasn’t hated for loving him. It seemed to him that Woohyun loved them both (of course in a different way) but didn't love them together.

“Why would you think that?” Sunggyu added a question right after, half sad, half outraged by his friend question.

“Because he didn’t like me before.” The boy said as he made a very sad/disappointed expression and waited for Sungyeol confirmation.

Sungyeol eyes watered a bit, he thought he deserved a lot of things but this wasn't one of them. When looking at how easy the relationship Myungsoo and Woohyun was, he had wanted his relationship with Sunggyu to go smoothly too so he put a lot of effort to get close to his brother, but, as Woohyun opened up to him, he started to put the same real effort to open up to the boy. That had happened before Sungyeol even though it was possible to date Myungsoo so his bond with Woohyun definitely wasn't part of some agenda. Maybe it had been part of Sunggyu agenda when the maknae discovered, but certainly not Sungyeol's.

He felt like a thousand needles pierced his heart one by one as he thought he was being misunderstood one more time, his past behavior would haunt him forever, wouldn't it? Even if it didn't, it was too fresh to be forgotten just after a few months and maybe that's why Woohyun was saying this, he had to believe this was the reason.

“He likes you now.” Sunggyu said as he tried to help his brother. “Hyung has been really nice, he is not scary anymore.” The boy said with confidence and Sungyeol felt touched when the boy defended him

“Woohyun, I don't think it is ok for you to say something like this…” Myungsoo finally grew some witts back after he heard Sunggyu and was about to defend Sungyeol in this one when the said man raised a hand in the air, he wanted to explain things himself.

“Woohyun… I know we didn't start on good terms…” He stopped a bit to try to blink some tears away, though the tone of his voice made evident how hurt he felt by the boy question. “I judged you and your father too much and I regret that, but I apologized and since then I have been trying my best to open up not only to Sunggyu but to you too.”He said as his conscience was very clean because of that.

“You’re a sweet, caring and funny child and now I started enjoying to spend my time with you the same way I enjoy to spend time with Sunggyu.” The elder continued and Sunggyu smiled pleased as he thought how much his brother changed. “Now I feel that we became friends and our relationship feels so natural and genuine that I miss you when you don’t come to play with Sunggyu, I miss cooking for you, baking together, helping with homework or teaching you to play the piano.”

Woohyun eyes grew big in surprise. He liked his eldest neighbor a lot and enjoyed learning things with him as they spent but not in a million years he expected to hear Sungyeol say that he was like family. A warm feeling filled his small body and he held in an emotional cry as Sungyeol continued with his speech.

“Returning or not returning my feelings, I will forever be grateful to Myungsoo for helping me discover how wonderful you two are.” Sungyeol looked from one the kid to another as he said that, although that made Myungsoo heart squeeze in a good way before he settled his eyes in Woohyun again. “But, since I spent more time with you before I started spending more time with him, I know for sure that I fell in love with you before I fell in love with him.”

“Do you love me?” The boy perked up.

“Yes.” Sungyeol said as he briefly looked to Myungsoo that seemed to be absorbing what he was saying and thinking deeply. “You’re my priority as Sunggyu is because I feel as if you’re part of my family too.” He said sincerely before looking down at his feet and with that, he missed Woohyun eyes filling up with happy tears and a smile he was holding back although it was pretty obvious it was there. “But if you are uncomfortable with me because you know I have feelings for your dad…”

“It’s weird.” Woohyun confessed as he got up to the couch and walked in Sungyeol direction. “But you’re my friend.” The boy said as he tried to hug and nest himself in Sungyeol lap.

While that caught Sungyeol off guard, Sunggyu opened a big and clapped his hands excitedly, and Myungsoo felt jealous of that moment. The young dad was happy that it seemed like his son still liked his ex-boyfriend - and that could be useful if he decided to date Sungyeol again - but he felt jealous that Sungyeol didn’t get any hate, it seemed like he would be the only one getting that. Deep down he knew already this would happen and that it was his fault for hiding the truth, but still…. That hurt.

“I don’t want to see you nor daddy sad so if you’re both fine then I should be too right?” Woohyun asked and Sungyeol was only able to hug him back.

“Thank you for your trust on me Woohyun.” He whispered in the boy's ears. “I’ll try my best to always tell you the truth from now on and I’ll keep taking good care of you whenever you’re with me ” He promised although he was fully aware that a few things depended on Myungsoo.

“Ok.” Woohyun said as he nuzzled his cheek on Sungyeol neck.

“Does that mean we can use that song?” Sunggyu decided to ask a few seconds later and with that their moment was broken.

Woohyun leaned back and turned around only squint his eyes at his friend. “No, it is a love song and I don’t like that one.”

Sunggyu sighed tiredly. “We don’t have much time to learn to play the song so we have to pick one soon.” He scolded, and he had a point, they were less than a month away from the festival and they were not the best kids playing the piano.

“I guess I got to go.” Sungyeol warned as he got up and motioned Sunggyu to do the same.

“I know.” Woohyun huffed then, after noticing the neighbors were preparing to go, turned to his dad. “Can I go to Sungyeol hyung place so Gyu hyung and I can continue picking the song?”

It wasn’t like Myungsoo was against it, he had promised Woohyun that he would let the boy visit the neighbor's apartment, but he wasn’t inclined in saying yes. “Not today, Namu.”

“We’ll see ourselves out then, I shouldn’t even be here.” Sungyeol said. “Come on Sunggyu, let’s go play some chess until bedtime.” Sungyeol offered as he sensed that even if Myungsoo wouldn’t come clean to Woohyun right now, he probably wanted to talk with his son alone.

“Wait.” Woohyun pleaded at his friends then looked at his father in disbelief. “I apologized, can’t I go with Sungyeol hyung? I’ll be back before bedtime.” The boy pleaded to his dad.

“No, I think we should have a conversation of our own.” Myungsoo said as he started to follow Sungyeol to see him off.

“We can think about that tomorrow Woohyun, it’s ok. Goodnight.” Sunggyu quickly said to his friend before he hurried to follow his brother that was already by the door.

Woohyun pouted but walked behind his father then peeked from behind him to talk to the neighbors. “Bye hyungs, see you tomorrow.” He said to Sunggyu then looked at Sungyeol. “I can come by tomorrow, right?”

“Of course, if your father allows you.” Sungyeol smiled at Woohyun then was about to open up the door of his own apartment when he heard Myungsoo voice.

“Hyung wait.” Myungsoo pleaded as Sungyeol stepped outside with Sunggyu. The taller and his friend turned around to hear what the neighbor had to say while Woohyun peaked from behind his dad, suddenly interested to hear that too. Myungsoo gulped hard as he looked into Sungyeol eyes. “Thank you for having this conversation with Woohyun.”

Sungyeol forced a smile. “I like to be as transparent so I just put all my cards on the table.” He said firmly.

“Which cards?” Woohyun asked curiously from behind his father as Sunggyu furrowed his brows a little lost on the adult's conversation, but Myungsoo knew exactly what the elder was referring to, that Sungyeol didn’t like to hide things.

Myungsoo knew it wasn’t the best moment to talk about that so he just proceeded with what he wanted to say. “It’s just… this is what parenting is like and you’re doing a good job on it. You came a long way.”

Sungyeol smiled sincerely, really touched at that compliment, at least Myungsoo could recognize how much he changed at least for the kids. “Thank you a lot Myungsoo, this means a lot to me.”

Sungyeol felt the urge to kiss the younger but controlled himself enough to just nod then open the door to his apartment and get inside.

Myungsoo also closed his door and sighed only to notice that Woohyun had scurried off to his room to sleep, probably because he thought he would be scolded and wanted to avoid it. He took a deep breath but directed himself to his son room.

“Woohyun.”

“Yes?” The boy replied a bit suspiciously as he tried to get his backpack ready for the next day.

“Can we talk about what just happened?”

“Am I in trouble?” The boy asked.

“I don’t want you fighting anyone Woohyun, even more pushing your friend out of bed.” Myungsoo took quickly said seriously. “But no, I will not scold you more than this, you apologized to Sunggyu didn’t you?” He asked and Woohyun let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding then he walked and sat on his bed and waited after a short and cute ‘ok’. “You discovered Sungyeol hyung likes me right? What do you think about that?” He asked as he tried to not show how nervous this was making him.

Woohyun let out a tired breath. “I feel bad for him because you’re already married to mommy and she is the only one in your heart so you won’t return his feelings, but he said he is ok and you didn’t fight because of that, right? ” The boy finished with an innocent smile.

“Let me see if I get this straight. You’re not angry at him.” Myungsoo said as he tried to be sure.

“No.” Woohyun said as he furrowed his brows, he didn't quite get what his father was trying to get at.

“Why?”

“He is my friend.” Woohyun said as if it was obvious.

“So you’re fine if people show interest in me.” Myungsoo tried to make sure he was understanding correctly.

“No, they can’t!” Woohyun made a face.“But you’re not angry at Sungyeol hyung.” Myungsoo said with confusion

“He can’t help it to love you, daddy, it’s not his fault you’re handsome.” Woohyun promptly replied and Myungsoo wanted to roll his eyes at his son words.

“But if other people…”

“They can’t!” Woohyun was resolute.

“Then explain with your own words why Sungyeol hyung can like me but other people can’t?” Myungsoo demanded because at this moment his brain was spinning with confusion, for the first time in his life he wasn’t able to understand his son that much.

“Because it is different.” Woohyun said and when he thought about all the people that ever hit on his dad he made a face. “Other people want you to cheat on mommy and steal you away from her and date you but Sungyeol hyung…” He stopped to think his words through but it didn’t seem like he could explain himself that well. “He doesn’t and he says it is fine.”

So every other person was bad just because they wanted to date him but Sungyeol wasn’t bad because he didn’t expect anything from him? Myungsoo rubbed his face, he couldn’t believe he was hearing this. He could admit that after the last night conversation Sungyeol love seemed more selfless but Sungyeol had the same expectations from everyone else that ever hit on him, with the difference that some of those expectations were true for a while. How to deal with this now?

“So if  I was to get interested in someone... ” He decided to ask another question but the younger interrupted.

“You can’t, you’re mommy’s!” Woohyun said with a certain anger, which already gave Myungsoo the answer he wanted.

He sighed and looked at his son while trying to make himself really patient. “I’m not your mother property.” He said seriously.

“You’re her husband.” Woohyun retorted like it was the same thing.

“Was. I was married to her.” Myungsoo pointed only for Woohyun to get surprised. “ that doesn’t mean I’m her property.”

“But… you say you’ll always love her and that she is the only girl in your heart.” Woohyun said and his father winced internally as he heard that. He already regretted letting Woohyun hearing this though it wasn’t exactly a lie, today... today he regretted more.

“You’re right.” Myungsoo agreed and the boy was relieved for a second until he continued. “I will always love your mom, she will always have a special place in my heart that it would always be hers because she is the girl I chose to marry but… life is not like dramas Woohyun, a marriage can end as mine did.” He said seriously.

“No! Marriage is forever.” Woohyun disagreed.

“They are not, they can end.”

“No!” Woohyun started to deny, now hurt and Myungsoo had to grab him by the shoulders and look deeply in his eyes to get the message across.

“They can end if people don’t love each other anymore or one person dies. And if it ends people are allowed to move on and find another person to love.” He furthered explained.

“That is cheating.”

“That is not cheating Woohyun, cheating happens when one person doesn’t love their partner anymore so instead of saying the truth they prefer to lie and love someone else behind their partners back.”

“You don’t love mom anymore?” Woohyun was taken aback.

“That’s not it Woohyun. Of course, I love your mom but she went to heaven and I stayed behind, she isn’t here and our marriage doesn’t exist anymore so I don’t need to be alone if I don’t want to.”

“It is cheating because it is behind mom’s back.” The boy insisted and Myungsoo wanted to roll his eyes at his son insistence but decided it would be better to explain things using the boy logic.

“It isn’t cheating because there is nothing happening behind your mother back. I told your mother that I feel lonely, I told her that a couple of times already and that I want to try loving someone else.”

“Noooo dadddy, nooooooooooo~!” The boy insisted. “Besides, you aren’t alone, you have me, uncle Moonsoo, Grandpa, Grandma, friends…”

“It is not the same thing, these are different kinds of love.” Myungsoo said tiredly and hurt. “I have never tried loving another person because I wanted to focus on raising you but seven years is a long time Woohyun, I feel lonely…”

“You said that before but you said that Sungyeol hyung could understand you and that you only needed him to be your friend…”

“Things changed Woohyun.” Myungsoo finally leaned back and avoided his son gaze. “Sometimes we think something will happen but they end up not happening. I thought that if I befriended Sungyeol hyung he would be my best friend and that I would be fine, but that didn’t happen. Sungyeol hyung can’t be my best friend...” He said as he thought about the place Sungyeol occupied until they broke up. “... the school is currently forbidding us and he loves me, so he can get hurt sooner or later. But even if I didn’t know about his feelings and he could be my best friend, that wouldn’t be enough because I still feel lonely, I need someone to love me as a lover does.”

“But I don’t want that! I don’t want another girl in my mother’s place.” The boy snapped.

“I understand you don’t want to and this is why I haven’t tried to date anyone else until now.” Myungsoo admitted. “But you don’t have to worry about that, I promise no one will take your mother’s place, not for me not for you.”

“Nooooooooo, please.” The boy begged as he tried to grab his father arm to shake him. “You can’t daddy, I don’t want a stepmother, they are evil witches, all Disney movies say so. We’re fine on our own.”

“As I said before, life is not like movies and dramas Woohyun, not all people are evil, there might be someone nice for me out there. And we are fine on our own now but the more I take to find a lover the sadder I get.”

“But… but..” Woohyun stuttered as he didn’t know what to say.

“Do you want to see me sad, is that it? Do you want to see me lonely?” Myungsoo asked, making sure to show how sad and hurt he was because of that.

“No.” Woohyun said, of course, he didn’t want his daddy sad, he hated that.

“Then you have to get used to the idea of me having a lover.” Myungsoo said softly.

Woohyun heart ached and he felt afraid to hear an answer but he had to ask. “Do you-do you love someone else already?”

Myungsoo avoided his gaze before replying. “I didn’t say I would find someone right away, it might take some time.” He explained softly but he was saying this mostly because he didn’t know how he and Sungyeol would end up like. Woohyun wanted to say something and was about to try to get his father to look at him, but then a name stuck in his throat, he couldn’t say it.

Myungsoo sighed and decided to wrap it up. “There are many things that I have to share with it and explain to you that it is about time for you to know, but if you can’t even understand even this I don’t know if I’ll be able to share things with you.”

“No, no, daddy, you can!” This time Woohyun felt like he broke his dad trust somehow. “I can understand I just…” He was about to try to convince his dad otherwise but this time Myungsoo was done.

“Nothing is gonna happen right away so you don’t need to think a lot about it, but once my project is over we need to talk about this and many other things ok?”

Woohyun bit his lip guiltily but nodded and soon enough Myungsoo was leaving his room to let the boy think or do whatever he wanted until bedtime came but Woohyun didn’t think he would be able to sleep that night.

_______________________________________________________

Hoya finally moved back home and Dongwoo was so happy with that, not only he was able to spend late Sunday making love, from now on he could drop by his boyfriend apartment whenever he wanted. Aside from that he knew Myungsoo and Sungyeol talked and, despite not knowing details but knowing Sunggyu and Woohyun had a fight too, he was still feeling energetic. If the adults didn’t fix the kids fight yet he was confident that he could.

Woohyun arrived first, as he was doing at the last couple of weeks, but he didn’t seem that good and Myungsoo didn’t either. He was afraid to ask the young dad what happened because he knew he was seen as Sungyeol friend, but he caught Myungsoo eyes moving around as if he was searching for something.

“Is everything ok Myungsoo?” Dongwoo asked as he watched Woohyun drag his feet till his desk.

“Uh, yes.” Myungsoo replied awkwardly as he didn't find what he was searching for and seemed embarrassed like he was caught doing something bad.

Dongwoo eyed Woohyun again and saw the boy sighed deeply and rest his chin on his hand over that table then look at the window. “Is Woohyun ok?”

“He is fine. He is just probably brooding over a conversation that we had.” Dongwoo opened up his mouth to ask more but Myungsoo looked at his phone and decided not to stay anymore. “I have early classes and it will take some time to arrive in college so… see you later hyung, if anything out of ordinary happens, tell me ok?”

Dongwoo watched the young dad leave before he his wheels to approach Woohyun. “Is everything ok Woohyun?”

“No, nothing is ok.” Woohyun replied with a whine.

“Why?” Dongwoo asked in concern.

“Daddy and Sungyeol hyung…” Now those names made the pink-haired teacher very interested, unfortunately Woohyun didn't want to continue. “It doesn't matter.” He said and then looked past Dongwoo. “Oh, hyungs!”

The teacher looked back only to see Sungyeol and Sunggyu arriving together. “Good morning Dongwoo hyung.” Both brothers said at the same time only for Sunggyu greet Woohyun a second later. Hi Woohyunnie, is everything ok?”

Woohyun looked from his friend to Sungyeol then quickly avoided his gaze. “No.”

“What happened?” Sunggyu asked softly and now Dongwoo threw any concern about the boys out of the window, whatever happened had nothing to do with their friendship because they were still talking to each other.

“Is it me then?” Sungyeol asked with furrowed brows. “I thought everything was good between us yesterday.” Dongwoo eyes grew big, was Woohyun upset with Sungyeol? Did he discover everything between the adults? Holy , he needed to reactivate the shipping squad and probably call a meeting.

“No hyung, I…” He was about to look at Sungyeol again then decided against it at the last second, the boy really couldn't look in the elder eyes. “I don't want to talk about it.”

Sungyeol raised his brows in confusion but figured he couldn't do much for the younger right now, he had places to be. He ruffled Woohyun hair a bit as he learned from the boy father. “Hey don't be upset, if you want we can talk about it tonight ok?”

Woohyun nodded but hid his face between his arms and while Sunggyu took that as a sign that his friend needed comfort, Sungyeol took that as a sign to go and Dongwoo followed him.

“Do you know what is happening?” He asked.

“The boys fought because Sunggyu spilled out my feelings, but I talked with Woohyun yesterday and they made up. Woohyun and I are good too, probably because he doesn't know that Myungsoo and I dated, but aside that I don't have a clue why he is like that. Myungsoo must have told him something he didn't like.” Sungyeol guessed, shrugged then made an apologetic expression. “I'd love to update you more hyung, but I have to return to work today. I have a lot of meetings and one of them will be with my ex so I prepared myself to give him hell, I have to release more stress.”

Dongwoo was flabbergasted with what Sungyeol just revealed and but the next second Sungyeol was walking with firm steps and confident posture as he used to behave before everything was over between him and Myungsoo. Dongwoo found a bit strange for Sungyeol to blurt that to him but as he analyzed the taller retreating figure he couldn't bring himself to be really concerned, he walked confidently, he was well rested, his relationship with the kids was good and Hoya was back home, there was nothing to worry about.

He didn't know why but he had to inform that to Hoya. So he sent a message.

-----------------------------------

Myungsoo arrived college then did his best to pay attention in class, although his thoughts always drifted to Woohyun or Sungyeol. He was happy he managed to have conversations with them both but he wasn't sure about where exactly he stood with both of them.

At the end of the class, he handed the essay he worked on the weekend to his teacher then left to search for his adviser/neighbor/ex-lover, he felt like he needed to talk to him not only about his graduation project but about Woohyun too.

He walked through the hallways while people kept looking at him weirdly (like every time he had ever been in Sungyeol department) then knocked on the door to Sungyeol and Professor Song office.

He didn't hear an answer so he pushed the door open only to see there was no one inside. He tried to go for the second door and ask if Sungyeol was in a meeting (in this case he would wait) but that room was locked. He remembered Sungyeol also mentioned a lab where he could be so he decided to go search for the elder there, but when he was about to go out of the office professor Song was getting inside.

“Oh, you're Sungyeol student, what are you doing here?” She asked a bit confused and Myungsoo wondered why she was like that, weren't advisers and students obliged to meet in some office or something? “ Want to complain about something?” She furthered inquired.

“Oh no, things are going smoothly, I was just looking for Sungyeol shi, I need to ask him a few questions.” He tried to explain while using a dimpled smile that usually worked in his favor.

“He didn’t tell you?” The professor asked as she passed him by and finally entered the office. “He is back to work today so he will probably not set his foot here this morning.”

Myungsoo winced internally, he totally forgot Sungyeol had told him that he would be back to work, on his defense he didn’t know it was today, although to return to work on a Monday seemed very plausible.

“He told me, I just completely forgot about it.” He tried his best not to show how he was a little disappointed because he wouldn’t be seeing Sungyeol. “I’ll send him an email then, thank you for the information.” He said and bowed before leaving the office.

He decided to go home and get something done but his phone vibrated with a message from Hoya.

Boss: Since Sungyeol is probably being forced on a meeting with his ex and won’t probably be able to help you right now, drop by so I can give your payment and talk about the next chapter.

Of course receiving their payment would make anyone else happy, but Myungsoo could only focus on the words ‘forced on a meeting with his ex’. His eyes grew big and felt anger rising in the pit of his stomach. All of Sungyeol acquaintances had told him how bad of a guy the previous guy in his life was, but that didn’t matter because Myungsoo witnessed at first hand not only once but twice. He knew Sungyeol would probably know how to handle himself because he had long forgotten that guy, but Myungsoo didn’t want to give that guy the satisfaction to know that things weren’t exactly good between them. No, he definitely couldn’t let this happen.

He wanted to call but he wasn’t sure Sungyeol would pick it up if he saw his number, after all they were both trying to keep things on official channels of communication so he had to find one of Sungyeol few friends to help him and he needed ASAP. He made use of his athletic body to run through the halls, and he thought it would be more difficult, but he was able to find Chanyeol tall body leaning on a wall while talking with a girl.

“Yein, you need to pay me, we had a bet going on and I won.”

“You cheated.” The girl accused.

“How in the world I cheated? I handed my essay first and that means I earned fifty bucks.”

“You’re connected to them.” The girl explained.

“Because we do some research together but I assure you they aren’t going easy on me, we even got the same grade and that’s why the second part of our bet was nullified.” Chanyeol just tried to argue when Myungsoo placed a hand on the taller shoulder to get his attention.

“Chanyeol, I need your help with Sungyeol hyun-” Myungsoo halted his words as he finally saw who Chanyeol was talking to. “Hi, Yein-shi.”

“Do you know each other?” Chanyeol asked as he looked from one to the other.

“I’m rekindling the flames with his friend and I helped him find you some months ago.” The girl explained to Chanyeol, that furrowed his brows in confusion, then turned to Myungsoo. “I see you became friends.”

“You’re stretching things by a lot… but only because he doesn’t want to, I can be a really good friend you can ask Sungyeol hyung.” Chanyeol ended up looking at Myungsoo then the girl finally realized she confused things a few months back.

“Omg, I’m so sorry, you should have told me you were searching for Mr. Lee back then, nobody calls him by his name because he is so strict, I mean, aside from this guy here...” She pointed to the taller Yeol. “... only Chanyeol has the courage.”

“Sungyeol hyung loves me, ok?” Chanyeol said after a conceited hair flip in his non-existent long hair.

“That’s why you’re cheating.” The girl accused again as she remembered the previous topic.

“Guys!” he scolded to get attention then looked at Chanyeol. “I need some help, if you help me I… I don’t know, I will owe you big time.” He said and the said guy furrowed his brows.

“Are you looking for Mr. Lee?” The girl asked then furrowed her brows. “Why have you been wanting to talk to a Ph.D. student that is not related to the things you study? Give up, he is probably not gonna help someone from the Arts Department.”

“Actually he is Myungsoo new adviser.” Chanyeol explained which shocked the girl. “If you are looking for him, he is not here today, which is kinda bad because Yein and I have to talk to him about our next essay so you’d have to join the line.”

“I know, I just came from his office and he wasn’t there, but I need to reach him, it is an emergency.”
“An emergency?” Chanyeol asked as he furrowed his brows.

The girl made a face. “He doesn’t like ‘emergencies’.” She made air quotes.

“Yeah. An emergency.” Myungsoo confirmed as he chose to ignore the girl. “If I don’t talk to him right now I’ll die.” He said stiffly and made eye motions to the girl so Chanyeol knew this emergency was probably something personal and that amused him to no end.

“I guess duty calls me Yein, see you around.” He said his goodbyes then placed an arm around Myungsoo and easily led him to a quiet place where they could have some privacy. “What happened? Did professor Song discovered anything?” He asked in concern.

“No, it isn’t anything related to that, though I need your help because I don’t think he will pick him up a call from me.” Myungsoo said and Chanyeol stopped in front of a classroom, looked to both of sides then shoved Myungsoo inside and closed the door. Once they were alone he made hand motions for Myungsoo to continue. “Hyung is having a meeting with his ex before me at this very moment and I have to call him right now because that guy is…”

“Holy , that guy is an .” Chanyeol continued for him.

“Yes, and I know Sungyeol hyung can handle himself but…” Myungsoo tried to continue his explanation but Chanyeol raised his hand in the air and grabbed his phone with the other.

“Say no more, let’s call him from my phone.” The taller said as he dialed Sungyeol phone and Myungsoo waited nervously by his side.

“Hello?” Sungyeol answered his phone.

“Hyung! Thank god you answered your phone. Are you having a meeting with that bastard? Is he beside you? If he is, just say ‘hey baby’ so he thinks you’re talking to Myungsoo.” Chanyeol practically rapped on the phone.

“He doesn’t call me like this.” Myungsoo complained/hissed as low as he could.

“What?” Sungyeol seemed confused on the phone.

“No what, hey baby.” Chanyeol insisted as Myungsoo asked with his eyes what was going on.

“What are you up to now Chanyeol?” Sungyeol asked tiredly. “How do you even know…”

Chanyeol gasped. “You’re not supposed to say my name, the guy has to think it is Myungsoo here.” The taller complained then realized something. “He is not beside you, right?”

“He definitely isn’t beside me, he didn’t have the guts to show up in front of me.” Sungyeol briefly snorted.

Chanyeol sighed in relief as he turned and Myungsoo tried to walk to his front to keep asking with his eyes what was happening. “You almost gave us a heart attack dude,” The taller started to walk as he spoke and Myungsoo tried to follow him, by now already making an X with his arms to tell the other to stop talking. “The guy should think you’re happily dating Myungsoo so he doesn’t think about putting you on a spell on you or something.”

Sungyeol furrowed his brows. “If I needed to make sure he knows that, it would mean I still feel something and since this isn’t true because I love Myungsoo, I can’t care less what he thinks, but how did you know I was supposed to meet him today?”

“That’s an interesting story.” Chanyeol smiled from ear to ear and dodged Myungsoo again to continue spilling things that were leaving the basketball player annoyed and embarrassed. “You see, Myungsoo told me.”By the time Myungsoo heard his name he was already trying to grab Chanyeol’s phone but the taller was making the task difficult.

“Shut up, or I’m using my basketball skills on you and if your phone ends up broken it will not be my fault.” The basketball player threatened lowly as he tried to grab the phone once more but without success.

“I don’t know how he knows but you had to see him, he was sooooooo~ worried about you.” Chanyeol was plainly having fun now.

“He was?” Sungyeol wasn’t sure he could trust Chanyeol but if that was true he would melt a little.

“Yes, he was soooooo~ worried, he said if he didn’t talk to you he was gonna die.” Chanyeol said and the moment Myungsoo fully blushed he lost his patience.

“Yah!” Myungsoo complained loudly and now that Sungyeol heard him through the phone he really melted a little.

“Can you pass the phone to him?” He asked happily and in an almost giggling manner.

“Of cour-” Chanyeol turned and was about to willingly pass his phone to the younger when Myungsoo jumped on top of him to steal the phone. He was a bit startled because he didn’t expect the other to jump on him but the young dad was able to do a perfect snatch and then ended the call.

“Are you crazy, you were not supposed to say that.” Myungsoo said fully blushing then placed the phone over a desk, away from its owner.

“But it wasn’t a lie.” Chanyeol smirked deviously. “You can be upset all you want, you still like him.”

“So what? This solves nothing.” Myungsoo growled in return then started walking to the door as he mumbled to himself. “I shouldn’t have come, I shouldn’t… now what he is gonna think?”

Once Myungsoo opened the door Chanyeol made sure the younger was aware he had a debt to pay. “

“You owe me! When you’re famous I want tickets to your games!” Chanyeol yelled before the door closed.

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While Myungsoo wanted to die and probably rot in his apartment in order not to see Sungyeol, the said guy was in a great mood today. Some things were going his way after a while like Hoya finally going home, Sangwoo missing the meeting and be assigned to another editor, simpler books to edit this time, smooth office hours in college that he used to get started on the books he was assigned to, the kids were ok with each other and with him… but that call he received from Chanyeol put spring on his step although he knew Woohyun was still upset about something. He had promised to talk to the boy and he tried to get some heads up with Sunggyu but his younger brother didn't know and they had the same guess so it was better to wait and see.

Woohyun came early that night, right after dinner. At first, Sungyeol was surprised because the boy had been doing homework on his own and could only come after everything was finished but the boy said as soon he used Sungyeol name, Myungsoo said it was ok to bring his homework to do together. Sungyeol found that strange but guessed Myungsoo probably had a lot to do for Hoya or he was on a roll writing stuff so it was fine with him to deal with both children homework.

They sat at the dining table and started their respective homework (of course Sungyeol work would be paid) and Sungyeol would often stop to explain the kid's something, but what threw Sungyeol a little bit off was that Woohyun often stopped writing to focus his eyes at him.

“Is everything ok Woohyun?” Sungyeol would ask and Sunggyu would his head up to look from one to the other.

“Yes.” Woohyun said whenever he was caught up looking and quickly returned his attention to his homework.

Sungyeol found that kind of strange so he asked the boy what was going on but Woohyun just said that the elder didn't have ugly eye circles anymore. Then Sungyeol took the opportunity to ask the boy what he was upset with this morning and the boy said he got scolded by his father. If Sungyeol wasn't quite believing the first answer he was definitely not believing the second, Woohyun was a straightforward kid and if the boy was avoiding his eyes, there was something there. He decided not to push Woohyun since he had a better mood because they finally decided a song that night.

Tuesday passed uneventfully, Sungyeol didn’t hear from Myungsoo (because he was still dying out of embarrassment) so he tried to do his best to work while Sunggyu was in school so he could teach the boys how to look for simple tabs on the internet. He also had a brilliant idea to print and glue together the piano keys, so the boys could practice the order of the keys in school (though he didn’t know if that would be helpful). He knew he probably shouldn’t but thought that spending the night with the kids would help his anxious heart.

Wednesday was THE DAY for him. He dropped Sunggyu in school and was surprised to hear Woohyun Sunggyu and Dongwoo cheering for this round of exams. He didn’t remember he told them which day was gonna be but figured he was probably too obvious. He also received audios from Hoya, and Sungjong and Moonsoo on his way to college cheering him as well.

When he finally arrived in college Chanyeol and Dara were expecting him already. Upon seeing him, they each grabbed him by the arms and escorted him towards his department where there were candidates already waiting. The others candidates looked Sungyeol up and down as if he wasn’t worthy of competition, they considered him a child that just stopped using diapers or wondered why he was evening applying for this job if his CV probably didn’t have the same qualifications as them. Despite a bit anxious, that didn’t bother Sungyeol at all, not only he was confident on himself but Chanyeol and Dara helped to distract him a little.

At some point the candidates were asked to show their IDs, sign a few papers and then they were led to an empty classroom, they were told the evaluation would start soon and Sungyeol hands started to sweat out of anxiety. He couldn’t help but think that all his academic life, that was probably shorter than most of the other candidates, lead to this moment and he finally, finally would apply for the job position he always wanted.

A staff entered the room and then each candidate started to enter the room one by one. Sungyeol lingered outside a bit for a final cheer from his friends before they left. He took a deep breath, wiped his hands on his pants, he was about to enter the room when he heard uncharacteristic steps approaching. He thought this was weird because the other students of his department were usually collected while walking around, but this person was running as if their life was on the line.

If this was the old Sungyeol he would just simply enter the room and close the door, but this new Sungyeol was worried that a candidate was running late for the evaluation so he decided to wait a bit and see. If that was so he would ask people inside to wait a minute or two. The steps stopped only for Sungyeol hear the screech that came out of the shoes as the person appeared and tried to stop in front of the hallway he was in.

The guy wore casual clothes and had a bag backpack, it didn’t seem like he was a candidate. He thought those calves and the beaten snickers with ankle support were familiar to him until the guy lifted his head to take some air. Now Sungyeol was sure he knew him, actually, he knew the guy intimately. He furrowed his brows a bit as he felt confused as to why Myungsoo was there, but then the young dad sighed relieved he made in time and then made fighting hand motions for him.

Sungyeol lips stretched even though he tried to hold back an smile, He nodded then finally opened the door to entered the room. He felt fully recharged and he would be damned if he didn’t beat everyone’s asses for this job.

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AN: Sorry for shortening the chapter a bit, I could only stretch things so much because from next chapter on drama will happen, so 7,2k words this time. Between who you ask? Can't tell.

I know AFF ed up with formatting so I'll try to fix that from my phone another time.

Also, I don't know when I'll be able to update again because writing on the phone and I'll travel, but I'll try to keep things up. I'll try to update things on AO3 too.

To my readers, thank you a lot for always sticking around, this fic officially is already half of my previous one, it reached more than 30k views, 800 comments and 570k words so wow! I didn't think Tangled would be so big but we are all surviving this somehow. Thank you so much till now.