Sometimes children treated their blankets as shields and their pillows or plushies like soldiers that would protect them, this time it wasn’t different. The moment Myungsoo appeared inside the room Woohyun didn’t even bother looking at the rest of his family and stomped back to Sunggyu bed to hide inside the covers with the plush toy. Even if he did so, it was not like covering himself from head to toe would avoid talking to his family, but surely Woohyun wouldn’t need to look in their eyes. He didn’t know if it would be harder for him or for them.

“Woohyun.” Myungsoo called anxiously as he stopped at a good distance from the bed while Moonsoo closed the door and his parents were the one that tried a more physical approach.

“We were so worried over you yesterday.” Sonmi said as she touched Woohyun covered foot.

“Are you alright? Let me see you!” Bumsoo said and tried to pull the covers out of Woohyun face.

The boy didn’t reply to the elders but he held the covers tightly over his head and tried to kick hands out of his foot so the grandparents made startled expressions as Sonmi pulled her hands out. Meanwhile, Moonsoo sighed deeply and placed a comforting hand on his brother’s shoulders, this was gonna be hard and probably nothing of what they discussed would be helpful. 

“Woohyun,...” Bumsoo was about to try again, despite Sonmi warning glare, but this time Moonsoo moved forward and stopped him.

“Dad, don’t force things too much.” The maknae Kim pleaded.

“But…” Bumsoo was ready to retort but this time it was Myungsoo turn to be firm.

“Dad, no!” He said and Woohyun eyes grew big under the covers as he heard Myungsoo voice and he felt torn. He didn’t want to be seen or be touched by anyone so he was glad that Myungsoo was helping him with that, at the same time he felt his anger start acting up. “Woohyun.” Myungsoo called again, trying to be softer this time. “Can we talk?” The boy didn’t reply. Not only he felt anger growing in the pity of his stomach, but he was also praying that not doing anything would give everyone the hint he didn’t want to talk. Unfortunately, for him, Myungsoo insisted with a broken tone. “Please.”

The boy tried to adjust his body again under the covers, but he was already feeling hot so he decided to push down the covers a bit, pulling them over his head was futile. Once he finally showed his face he glared directly at Myungsoo. “So you can tell me more lies? No, get out!” Woohyun turned his back at everyone as both grandparents gasped with the boy attitude. “Who allowed you all here? This is Sungyeol hyung apartment.” The boy muttered upset, he had anger for his father but he didn’t exactly know how to face the rest of the Kims.

“Sungyeol did.” Sonmi said.

“Should we go?” Moonsoo wondered aloud but no one bothered replying him.

Myungsoo gulped hard before talking. “I was wondering if we could talk about the truth this time, what do you say? I can tell you.”

“I already know the truth.” The boy immediately fired back. “You’re not my father.” He added with anger in his voice and Myungsoo closed his eyes as he felt that the sentence pierce his heart like a dagger.

“Woohyun-ah don’t say that.” Moonsoo was the one that pleaded first from his corner.

“Moonsoo is right.” Sonmi agreed.

“Besides, you don’t know everything that happened.” Bumsoo said.

At first, Woohyun felt angry because it seemed like the other three Kim’s took Myungsoo side, a second later he still feel angry but he also could understand that it was because Myungsoo was related to them and that hurt. After another second passed and Woohyun actually thought about what the elder Kim said because it made him remember the conversation he had with Sungyeol. He was aware that if he wanted to confront Myungsoo now was the time, but then he noticed that if the patriarch was saying the same thing Sungyeol said with such calm tone then maybe the rest of the family lied to him too.

He turned around, sat and looked from Bumsoo to Sonmi to Moonsoo. “You-you knew about me?”

The other three looked between themselves tensely, apparently, they didn’t think that could hit the fan and spill on them. While the parents didn’t know how to reply to that Moonsoo quickly decided to lead this honesty wave. “Your mom confessed to me before you were born.”

Woohyun heart dropped with disappointment when he heard confirmation from his favorite and only uncle, the one that used to play with him when they lived together and often dropped by to play soccer and take him to the movies.

“We also know.” Sonmi confirmed right after and Woohyun turned to look betrayed at her, his eyes already watering.

“To tell you the truth, Myungsoo wasn’t aware we knew and all of us kept that from each other until recently.” Bumsoo added a second after in an apologetic manner.

Woohyun looked at everyone but Myungsoo, which already broke his heart a little, it was like he wasn't in the room. “H-how you discovered? And wh-why no one of you ever told me?” The boy asked as his voice cracked a few times.

“I heard hyungs and noona fighting once because she was scared when the doctor told her she was sick.  Later we talked and she said she would tell the truth to our parents after you and Soohyunnie were born. When she died…” Moonsoo stopped because remembering her might not have such an impact as it had on his brother but he also had loved her as if she was part of the family. “When she died you were already here and everyone already loved you…. It was not my place to tell you. If hyung hadn’t said anything I would never be the one to tell you because it would have been more painful if you had known through us. This was something only he could do.” Moonsoo tried to explain.

“Well, he didn’t.” Woohyun said and Myungsoo nervously shifted in place, he could already see that Woohyun was trying to control upcoming tears when he looked at the old couple as he waited for their answers.

“Your father…” Woohyun tried to glare at Bumsoo (because at that point he couldn’t bring himself to call Myungsoo that) when the older said that so he tried to reformulate his speech. “I always dreamed that your parents would date so after the shock passed, I was very happy when your mom told us she was pregnant.”

“You were over the moon.” Sonmi offered as she managed a small smile.

“I was but you were too.” Bumsoo looked at her and slightly stretched his lips before returning his gaze Woohyun that at this point was already biting his lips so the tears wouldn’t fall. "I started to notice when you were about two and recently I pressured Myungsoo to confirm my suspicions. More than angry or hurt that he lied, my main concern was how this was gonna affect you both but ultimately I was trying to encourage him to come out with the truth because I think that you deserve to know although that wouldn’t change all the love we have for you.” Despite disappointed, Woohyun felt like this was a good answer for now so he moved his head to the only lady in the room.

“I knew Myungsoo and Jihyun loved each other as siblings so I knew from the beginning Myungsoo wasn’t your father, but if I were to be honest, I don’t care about that at all.” Sonmi said and Woohyun seemed a little bit shocked with her words. “Your mother spent most of her time in our house, she was like a daughter to me, so I just accepted their marriage because that way she would be officially part of our family. In the end, it doesn’t matter to me if you come from Myungsoo blood. You definitely come from Jihyun,  and that’s already enough for me.” She reached a hand and half Woohyun chin softly. “If Myungsoo hadn’t insisted to marry your mother, oppa and I would have been the ones taking care of you now.”

Once Sonmi ended her speech with a soft smile and Bumsoo nodded to agree with her only for a single tear fall from Woohyun's eyes. The boy didn't bother wiping this year now but finally managed to look at a nervous Myungsoo.

“Why co-couldn’t I have known the truth? Why?” The boy asked brokenly.

Myungsoo gave a couple of steps further into the room and kneeled an arm-length from the bed, not to invade the boy space too much, before he tried to nervously explain. 

“It is not that you couldn’t know. Initially, your mother and I wanted to explain together, but she died and I was left alone… and... I never knew the right time and I knew this would hurt you.. also, this is something hard to talk about for me because to fully understand everything you’d have to understand other things that are not exactly related to your mom or your biological...” Myungsoo gulped hard. “...dad. At the same time… I promised your mother I would tell you before your next birthday so I've been trying to prepare you for some time already and give all the information you will need - and you have most of them already.” Woohyun squinted his eyes at him, clearly, he had doubts that happened. “I’m telling the truth Woohyun, I already started to tell you some truths about myself and I some time ago I promised you I would explain a few things to you, do you remember that? This was it, this is what I wanted to explain if you hadn’t discovered anything yet I would only have waited until school was over because I can’t live like this anymore.”

“Then tell me the truth!” Woohyun demanded. “The whole truth.”The boy pleaded a second later 

“Woohyun, this will not be easy to hear.” Bumsoo said carefully, but Woohyun couldn’t care less about him right now, his eyes were on Myungsoo, waiting for his answer.

Myungsoo ended up nodding nervously. “If you want the truth I can tell you the entire truth right now. But do you-do you think you’ll be able to handle?”

“Stop asking me this, just tell me the truth!” Woohyun demanded and his sudden outburst startled the adults a bit.

“Very well then, you were born prematurely in February, but this situation all began the previous year when the first school semester was about to end... “ He started so nervously his tone wasn’t even anymore.

Having finished his homework already, 15-years-old Myungsoo climbed on his couch and started looking through the pictures in his first digital camera - the quality wasn't that big and printed pictures would be better, simply because his parents didn't want to give him a fancy camera yet, they didn't know if this sudden passion for photography was going to stick around – when he was interrupted by a long sigh.

He looked at the girl sitting at his coffee table. She was small, very white, with beautiful black hair, small plump-ish rosy lips, and a very innocent looking face. He didn't look at her body too much, never had, so he really couldn't tell if she had a body that was considered good, but he could say she was on the petite side, although that was often hidden by the clothes one size bigger than she wore.

The girl had several books and notebooks in front of her (half of them were Myungsoo's) but she had her elbow resting on the table and her chin resting on her hand with a dreamy expression on her face. He snorted and poked her with his socked foot.

“What's with you?” He asked in amusement.

She kept her chin resting in her hand but turned slowly to look at him and let it out a silly smile. “I'm in love.” She confessed breathily.

Myungsoo changed from surprised to confused, to worried pretty fast. “Is it me?” He asked because he had to know. If it was the case he would have to deal with different kinds of problems.

The girl dreamy look disappeared and she became serious. “What's if it is?” She asked challenging.

Myungsoo put his camera to the side and climbed off the couch to sit facing her right side, then gently made her turn half of her body to look at him and grabbed her right hand in his. “Then you'd have to dispose of your feelings because...” He looked briefly around to see if his parents would suddenly pop up, or if his brother was hidden anywhere before he lowered his voice as much as possible. “Ji, I think I'm gay.” He hesitantly confessed.

“G-gay?” She gasped.

“Yes.” He let her hand go, slid a bit back then looked down at his hands nervously. “I'm sorry if this hurts, disappoints and even disgusts you...I don't think there's anything I can do about it, but please don't tell anyone?” He pleaded.

She took her legs from under the coffee table then slid near Myungsoo before hugging him. “How can I be any of that? Hm? You're my best friend.” She said near his ear. “Don't worry, I won't tell anyone if you're uncomfortable with it.”

Myungsoo parted the hug and looked in her eyes to search for the truth but soon he knew that his best friend meant her words and that she would back him up with anything that he needed. “Thank you.” He said with a now light heart while she smiled softly and rubbed his knee in encouragement.

“I'm quite happy with this news, my virtue is forever protected near you, though I wish I could see your fangirl faces if they discovered that.” She said giggling and he pushed her shoulder softly. “And don't you see how this benefits our friendship even more? Now we can talk about boys as well and mom will stop picking on you.” She said in glee and Myungsoo cringed.

“Don't tell her. Surely it would help you, but, if you tell her, sooner or later my parents will know and I can't tell them yet.” Myungsoo begged and she made a resigned expression and nodded. 

“For me, that’s where everything started, because I like boys, because I’m gay, and your mother knew it.” He stated nervously, his biggest personal secret was now in the open. Myungsoo knew Woohyun probably wouldn’t like hearing that because the boy thought he and Jihyun were in love but he hoped that Woohyun wouldn’t worse things up by bringing Sungyeol into the conversation before he even got to talk about Jihyun pregnancy.

The boy blinked a couple of times, he had never imagined Myungsoo to say this. Until now. Woohyun had been hoping that whatever lie Myungsoo told him wouldn’t change that, and knowing this broke his heart even more because there was no way he could ever have loved his mother if he was a gay.

“You can’t have babies.” Woohyun pointed so shocked that his voice barely came out.

Myungsoo stretched his lips a bit then sadly confirmed. “Yeah Woohyun, I can’t have babies with another boy. To make a baby I would need a girl because only they have greenhouse inside their body.”

Woohyun got up, got the torn picture of his parents that he had left at Sunggyu desk the previous night and threw at Myungsoo angrily. “Then if you planted baby seeds in mom’s greenhouse why I look like another person?” Woohyun asked angrily. Myungsoo looked at the picture, in the middle of all the pictures he had of course Woohyun had found the only one where his biological father was in it, this is why he found out everything everything. “Tell me!” The boy demanded when he thought Myungsoo was taking too long to reply.

“I didn’t give your mom my baby seeds.” He finally confessed in the most simple and metaphorical way for Woohyun to understand, he then showed the picture and pointed to the guy. “He did.”

“Wha-what?” Woohyun gasped at Myungsoo blunt way and looked around, this didn’t seem to make the rest of the Kim’s surprised, they definitely knew too. “But-but you’re married to her! Was your marriage a lie too?”The boy asked brokenly and confused as he returns to sit in Sunggyu bed. “This can’t be true.” He added in denial.

“I knew it would turn like this.” Bumsoo commented lowly only for Sonmi to glare so he could shut up.

“No Woohyun, our marriage happened and I still wear our rings.” He said and pulled two rings on a necklace from under this shirt so Woohyun could see. “If you want to see our marriage certificate I can show you too.” Woohyun didn’t say anything as he tried to process and make sense of the elder speech so Myungsoo proceeds talking. “I loved your mom with all my heart but I never loved her like a girlfriend, I never loved her like a husband is supposed to love his wife, everything between us was staged. Even if I don’t love girls like that, my love for her was so big that I was ready to do anything for her and it is why I always say she will always be the only girl in my heart.”Myungsoo tried his best to keep his voice even as he repeated what he always said.

“How can you say that over and over again?" He snapped. "How could you pretend all of this time that mom will always be the only girl in your heart when you are gay?” Despite Woohyun distress, Myungsoo was happy he was asking questions instead of bringing Sungyeol into the conversation, he didn’t want to talk about the tall neighbor. “You made me believe- you made me believe-” Woohyun wanted to add a complaint couldn’t finish his sentence, he felt words stuck in his throat.

“Because I love your mother in a unique way that it is only hers.” Myungsoo confessed and that was enough to shut Woohyun for the time being. “I know that my words deceived you because I wasn’t clear enough even when I was telling truths, it was also a mistake to not correct things but I didn’t want to hurt you, I just had to lie to everyone like this....”

“So it was really fake?” Woohyun interrupted to ask, his voice barely audible, it was hard to hear that his mom and Myungsoo didn’t love each other like he always thought they did.. 

“Kisses and touches? Yes. Partnership? No.” Myungsoo said with a guilty expression while the other three just felt the atmosphere get sadder.

“Did you know?” Woohyun asked looking sadly from one person to the other, he couldn’t care less about others but this was supposedly his family so it was important for him to know.

“No!” Myungsoo said with sincerity. “I was very afraid of how my relationship with my family could change so I didn’t tell anyone but your mom back then because I didn’t know how they would receive the news. I know now that not to tell my family about it as soon as I realized this was a mistake but I have moments where I’m really insecure so can’t gather my courage… back then even more.” 

“And this is a problem.” Sonmi said tiredly as she looked from her son to grandson in concern. “I often imagined that Myungsoo probably was gay because I thought there was something strange and almost stiff in him when he decided to marry Jihyun but he is often so quiet people don’t pay attention to that. He was only able to tell us after Moonsoo told us about him.” Sonmi tried to explain and Moonsoo nodded to back her up but it was not like that completely appeased the boy. He was angry.

"But if mom knew you’re like this, why she accepted to marry you if she knew you wouldn’t be able to love her?” The boy snapped in confusion. “Why she didn’t marry my father? Why you had to lie?”

Myungsoo felt his heart aching with those questions while the word he loved hearing be directed at someone that didn’t deserve. He seemed a loss of words for a moment but ended up taking a deep breath as he organized his thoughts. “Because… because…” He stuttered and Moonsoo decided to interfere.

“Hyung, it is time for you to get free from this secret.” The younger Kim said softly but encouragingly.

Myungsoo fumbled a bit with his fingers a bit then addressed Woohyun. “Because I asked her to. Do you have any other question about the fact I’m gay? If I continue the story these questions will be better answered.”

Woohyun promptly shook his head for him to understand that he didn’t have more questions of the time being so Myungsoo continued. “ So when I told her I was gay…”

After a second or so in silence she smiled naughtily. “But talking about boys is still up riiiiight?” She smiled widely and blinked her long eyelashes at him.

“I guess?” Myungsoo said unsure while scratching his nape.

“Guess who I am in love with then!” She said thrilled and poked him a couple of times to engage him.

“I don't know, we never talked about dating and stuff, people already think we date each other.” He said at a loss then rolled his eyes, it baffled him that people thought about them like that, there was only friendship there.

“It is really important for you to know that people around me and your mom thought about us like you used to so you don’t have to feel bad you understood things wrongly.”Myungsoo tried to assure and that disarmed Woohyun just a little bit. “Back then I had to protect her everywhere because her mother only allowed her to go out if I were to accompany her and this gave everyone around us the impression that we were, or would be, lovers one day. We didn’t mind that at first and only thought it was weird, but she started to hate when she fell in love.” Myungsoo said as he thought about everything that happened after she revealed that to him.

“Ahn that.... oppa, you're reducing my chances!” She laughed but that didn’t mean she like that, she was aware of how people saw them and maybe it bothered her more than him.

“As if I can do a thing to change people's minds, tell me already!” He demanded annoyed.

She sighed but wasn't defeated, the dreamy expression soon returned to her face. “Jung Taegeun oppa.”

“Is that my father's name?” Woohyun interrupted to ask, his eyes somehow lighting up at the moment.

Myungsoo looked down at his feet, he wanted to say he was the boy father but at that point this would only hurt them both, so he nodded.

Myungsoo scoffed. “He doesn't even know you.”

“And this is where you're wrong dear Myungsoo.” She said sarcastically gloating and without honorifics. “Because he knows me and he likes me, he told me so.”

“When did he?” Myungsoo asked raising a brow.

“That's not the point.” She said in a dismissive tone.

“No, no! Anyone but him, please!” He grabbed her arms and shook her so that could come into her senses.

“Oppa, do you like him too? “She asked angered after she managed to be freed.

“NO! Not in a million years!” He made a disgusted face.

“Then why...” She couldn't even finish her question because Myungsoo was already explaining.

“He has a bad reputation, Ji. I'm not that gossip tuned but my teammates talk, they tell me things and I heard rumors that Taegeun sunbaenim has an on and off relationship with a noona and, every time he is single, he hooks up with different girls then break up.” He spilled everything he knew about the guy, hoping that she would give up on that sunbae.

“Nonsense, he said this isn't true!” The girl scoffed irritated. “He likes me, he said he has been in love with me since the beginning of the school year.”

“He is lying Ji, please come to your senses!” He begged and shook her again. “This won't end well for you! What your mom will even say?”

“I tried to warn her and tell her that he wasn’t a good person, I really did, not only the day she told me but whenever I had the chance. Also, you met your grandma, I didn’t lie about her at all.” Actually Woohyun thought Myungsoo lied, the woman seemed worse than what Myungsoo had described previously, but he decided to not confront the elder about that, the dragon wasn’t worthy.

“Stop oppa, are you jealous because I can love freely and you can't?” She asked angrily, and that hurt, but Myungsoo pushed that to the corner on his mind so he could try to put some sense into her head.

“I'M NOT JEALOUS, I AM WORRIED ABOUT YOU, HE DOESN’T LOVE YOU!” He yelled and the girl became startled for a couple of seconds. When he was about to apologize she pushed him away and got up.

“I thought you were my friend, I thought you would support me the way we've been doing all these years...” She said with sheer disappointment as her eyes filled up with tears.

“Jihyun, you know our relationship is more than friendship, you're the only girl that I will ever love and I love you like a sister, I just don't want to see you hurt.” He tried to explain himself but the girl didn't want to listen, she gathered her things and shoved in her bag. Then she glared hard and left.

Myungsoo and Jihyun met each other around the time they entered elementary school and spent a huge amount of time together so until then he couldn’t ever imagine how excruciating two weeks being ignored by her would be. It wasn’t like he wasn’t seeing her, he still walked her to places but she purposely kept shut. 

Everything felt wrong and out of place, he wanted to talk to his friend, he wanted to hang out together after school, he wanted to be there for her, but Jihyun seemed to be really happy to put as much distance as she could between them. Maybe she thought that that would raise her chances with the sunbae that she liked.

But even though she was mad at Myungsoo for being unsupportive, at the end of two weeks, and the school semester, Myungsoo had promised he wouldn't boycott her relationship if she promised she would be careful and they ended up fixing their relationship, so people in their school saw them hanging out together with smiles on their faces again.

After finals they had one more week of classes, most self-study since they were waiting for the results, and also Myungsoo team had one more match, for charity, before break started, in which every kid in school probably would attend.

“Jihyun, it's time!” Myungsoo called from the door of her bedroom (he wasn't allowed inside), after he managed to pass her mother.

“I’m almost ready!” She said as she applied some eyeliner. “I just have to finish.... Ok, I'm ready! How do I look?” She asked brightly and turned around so Myungsoo could judge. She was wearing a modest flowery knee-length dress that hugged her curves perfectly, her hair was styled slightly wavy and her make up was light but made her very charming.

“Beautiful.” He said in all honesty although that also made him have a dread feeling fill his stomach, he quickly forgot about that because she was so happy.

That day their school team won and the whole student population that attended the match went crazy, Myungsoo had been the ace and people ran from everywhere to throw him in the air.  Although people were crowding him and trying to throw him upwards, Myungsoo was worried about his friend, she had been in the bleachers earlier, but had been accompanied by Taegeun and was enough reason to worry.

“Where's Jihyun?” He asked his classmates desperately.

“I saw her leaving with Taegeun sunbaenim.” Someone said and Myungsoo heart almost stopped, he ditched all the glory people wanted to force onto him and tried to search for her.

Despite tired of the game, Myungsoo ran around the school to search in every corner and check every place but he couldn't find her. No, no no! This couldn't happen! He tried calling her phone and sending SMS but she wasn't picking up, Myungsoo could only curse, he knew right then that things would never be the same anymore.

After the game his teammates would have dinner together but he skipped, he knew he couldn't arrive home without Jihyun or else... he would be blamed for anything that might happen and the poor girl would be locked for life by her strict mother, so he decided to hide between the shadows on her garden and wait for her there to cover her and at least pretend he walked her back home.

It took some time, more than two hours, but Jihyun appeared with a silly smile on her face and a spring on her step, she looked like she was glowing and Myungsoo could only guess what had happened but he had to confront her.

“Nam Jihyun!” He hissed when he grabbed her by the arm and turned her around once he came out of the shadows.

“Oppa!” She gasped surprised, but after a couple of seconds she was able to recompose, free herself and hit him. “Yah! Do you want to scare me to death? What the hell are you doing here?” She asked annoyed.

“Nam Jihyun, you know pretty well that I was supposed to bring you home, do you know what time is it?” He asked worriedly. “Your mom will kill us.”

“Of course I know, relax it isn't curfew time yet.” She huffed. “I thought you were celebrating your victory with your team members.”

“How could I when you were missing? Jihyun, where have you been?” He asked worriedly. The girl didn't answer this question but she smiled involuntarily and, although the light didn't hit her properly, he knew she was blushing. “Gosh you were with him right? Ji, don't tell me...”

“SO WHAT?” She hissed annoyed. “This is my life, it is my choice, I'm not a kid anymore. I have to do what I want. ”

“This is not it Ji, I just...” Myungsoo wanted to try to placate her but at that moment Jihyun mom opened the door and interrupted that.

“I knew right then that my warnings wouldn’t work, it was too late to avoid anything. I figured I would stop bothering her and decided to just be there for her, but it was so weird, it seemed like every day she got even sadder.” He awkwardly said while Woohyun looked at him, anxious to know everything, but Myungsoo closed his eyes as if in pain. “After a couple of weeks I asked her what was going on and she said the guy started treating her weirdly.”

“Weirdly how?” Woohyund demanded to know.

“Pushing her away until he stopped talking to her.” Myungsoo briefly explained. “She didn’t know what to do. I remember I hugged and told her to let it go because he wasn’t worthy and she would find someone better later.” He sighed before continuing. “The days passed and she didn’t get better until there was one day...”

“Oppa!” She called once she spotted Myungsoo and other boys coming out of the basketball court. The boy promptly waved at his friends and ran to her.

“Ji, did your club activities ended earlier?” He asked as he approached her, she had drama club activities at the same time he had basketball. She actually suggested him to try basketball so he could have an excuse to stay back in school with her.

“No, I skipped them.” She bluntly told him although very worriedly.

“What?” Myungsoo blinked in confusion, she wasn’t one to skip classes.

“Because I needed to go somewhere, but now we need to your house because I have to pee.” She said and she looked around as if she was afraid of being heard.

“If you need to use the restroom I can wait for you here.” He said as he pointed behind him where the bathrooms near the basketball court were.

“No, not here, in your house.” She was firm then turned around and Myungsoo could do anything else than to start walking with her.

“On the way to my house, Ji seemed really nervous and scared, she kept looking around as if afraid she was being followed by someone else. I tried to ask her if she was ok or what was happening but she asked me to not insist on talking until we arrived at my house. You know where my school was and you know it’s only a few blocks from my house but the way there never had seemed so long.” He sighed tiredly and rubbed his hands on his face for a bit. “When we arrived there, Ji made sure to know everybody was out before locking herself in my room with me.”

“Jihyun, can you please tell me what is happening?” He asked as he dropped his bag on his bed then turned to look at her.

She promptly avoided his eyes but came to sit in front of him. She took some time and a couple of deep breaths to be able to talk. “I think I’m pregnant.”

“Oh my god.” Myungsoo said right after as he let his jaw hung low.

She then got up and started pacing back and forth his room. “I know what you’re gonna say that you warned me countless of times, that Taegun oppa never wanted anything to do with me, but I-I…”

Honestly Myungsoo was too shocked to do any ‘I-told-you-so’ speech, also he didn’t want her to feel worse. “Are you sure?” He ended up asking, he didn’t need to ask who the father was, because he knew who was the only one to plant baby seeds in her greenhouse.

“Yes, I mean, no!” She said nervously then continued as she moved to search something inside her bag. “I mean, my period is late a couple of days…”

“What is a period?” Woohyun asked and now Myungsoo looked desperately to the only woman in the room.

“Woohyun, honey, remember when we renovated your room back in Incheon a few years back? A period is a time the body takes to renovate the greenhouse so girls can try to use it again later. It happens every month, if the renovation doesn’t happen then the chances of baby seeds starting growing is really big.” Woohyun side eyed her, that sounded really strange but still he agreed that maybe the greenhouse had to be improved somehow.

“Ahhh..” Woohyun ended up accepting that answer and everyone felt kinda relieved, Woohyun was a smart kid but didn’t have the maturity to understand things with their proper name and process yet. Myungsoo took that chance to continue.

“It can be nothing but it also can be…” She finally found what she was looking for and showed Myungsoo. “I skipped the drama club meeting to buy this pregnancy test but I didn’t have the courage to do in school so I waited for you because I can’t do it at my house ...”

“Ok, let me read these instructions.” Myungsoo promptly grabbed the kit in Jihyun hands and opened the box for her. He read and explained the instructions then both of them moved to the door of the bathroom. “Do you think you’ll need to drink some water to accelerate, you know?”

“No, I think I’m fine.” She said but didn’t move.

“Then go, I’ll wait for you here and we can check the result together.” He encouraged and she looked at him as if he was sending her to her death. “Jihyun we need to know so we can think of what to do.” He urged her.

“I’m scared.” She confessed.

“Me too.” He said and held her hand only to squeeze later and with that she finally gathered some courage to enter the bathroom.

What in reality was quick, for them both felt like forever because the seconds seemed to stretch and Myungsoo could bite almost half of his thumbnail off while waiting. She opened the door and proceeded to his room only for her friend to follow her. Once the door was locked again she handed the test to Myungsoo. “Please take a look at it, I can’t.”

Myungsoo bit his lips and grabbed the test carefully and took a breath only to see two bars firmly appearing in it. “Ji.” He called her but he didn’t need to tell her the results, his defeated tone said it all.

She sat on the ground at the same time as he placed her hands in her temples in a complete mental breakdown. 

“No, no, no. what am I gonna do with a child? I don’t want it, I have to take it out.”

“What?” Woohyun gasped and his eyes started to produce tears. He didn’t know what abortion meant but when the terms 'take out' were used, he could understand perfectly. Did that mean she didn’t want him and his sister? That was also a lie? The three other Kims made expressions of pain as if they were being held and couldn’t move to help the boy.

“Woohyun-ah the truth is not pretty.” Myungsoo said gravely as he looked at his son with a bit of pity, he wanted to go and comfort him but he knew Woohyun was too upset to let him.

“But you said mom loved me and Soohyunnie.” The boy refused to believe.

“She did with all of her heart, but at first she was scared and didn’t know what to do… she was really confused, she thought she had no option.” He tried to explain as Woohyun chanted ‘no’s’ in denial and tears threatened to fall his face again. “I convinced her that there was another way.” He said proudly for the first time that day and prepared to continue the story everyone wanted to hear.

“What, Jihyun, no!”

“I HAVE TO!” She insisted. “Mom will kick me out.”

“Please, don’t take this decision yet.” Myungsoo begged. “Try to talk to him first, I don’t know. Maybe if he takes responsibility you don’t have to do that. Besides, whatever happens I’ll be by your side and I will help you with your mom and take care of my little nephew.” He promised.

Woohyun shifted in the bed and the tears that were almost falling finally did. Not only it was painful to hear that his mother thought about taking him out before he was ready, hearing Myungsoo call him nephew was weird, but it also made his heart ache in a different way than had been aching in the previous night.

She shook her shoulders a bit then stomped one foot on the ground. “Fine.” She agreed, she didn’t know what Myungsoo would do but she felt better she had at least one person by her side. “I’ll try calling him but I’ve been trying to contact him for the longest time and he is ignoring me.”

“You have to talk to him again.” He said firmly but on inside he was practically just nervous as she was, mainly when he guessed how the guy's reaction would be.

She sighed and walked to his bed to sit and Myungsoo followed her. While she called the baby’s father he fumbled with his own phone and started recording everything. After a few unsuccessful tries, the girl was losing her mind.

“He doesn't pick up no matter what.” Jihyun said in a desperate tone.

“He probably blocked your number.” Myungsoo said with a sigh and Jihyun started to sob. Myungsoo quickly walked to the living room and came back with another phone. “Here, try it from my landline and put on speaker.”

“Do you think he will pick it up?” Jihyun asked as she tried to control her sobs as she dialed one more time.

“Just try it, you have to tell him, it's the right thing to do.” Myungsoo said with a firm tone and they waited for the call connect while holding their breaths.

Knowing where things were going Bumsoo tried to stop him. “Myungsoo.” He used a warning tone, he didn’t need to say anything more so his son would understand that he didn’t think it was correct to explain things to Woohyun that explicitly.

“NO! Let him talk, I want to hear everything.” Woohyun promptly complained once he noticed what was going on, but behind his back Sonmi sent her son a look as if asking if he was going crazy. Besides one thing was talking badly about Jihyun mother, the responsibility of Jihyun kids was not directly hers, but Woohyun might not take well if Myungsoo were to talk badly about his biological dad.

The boy turned to Myungsoo as he gulped hard, how to tell Woohyun the things he had to tell and protect him at the same time?

“Hello?” A masculine voice said as soon as the call connected.

“Oppa, I’m pregnant with your child.” Jihyun voice came out shaky and very fragile but she said bluntly so he wouldn’t have the time to hang up on her like he did countless of times before

There was a moment of silence because not only Jihyun but both Myungsoo and Woohyun dad were silent. “Huh?” The other boy voice came out a little surprised after a few seconds. “I think you called the wrong number.” The boy concluded and was about to hang up when Jihyun tried again.

“No, I didn't call the wrong number, I...” She inhaled deeply and quickly. “Taegun oppa, it's me, Nam Jihyun, don't you recognize my voice? We...” As soon as she heard that the boy hissed but she was quick to talk again so he wouldn’t hang up. “Oppa, stop avoiding me... we need to talk, please!” She begged. “You told me you loved me...” She seemed disappointed and sad.

“But I don’t.” The guy continued.

Woohyun gasped and Myungsoo had to stop a moment to try to stop his tears from rolling down his face. The conversation he was revealing hurt Jihyun beyond belief and he was sure it would break his son’s heart too even if he avoided the name calling and the humiliation of his friend. He just needed to give Woohyun the information that he needed, he didn’t need to say things word by word to hurt the boy even more.

“He… He didn’t like her?” The boy practically stuttered in shock.

Myungsoo shook his head and confirmed. “No. He said he wasn’t in love with her.”

“What?” Myungsoo gasped in shock that he had the audacity to confess that, though he already could guess, some situations were obvious for everyone but those in love.

“I-I… no.” Jihyun stuttered, out of betrayal, but her broken voice didn't seem to make any good to stand her ground. “You were my first boyfriend and... and... we are going to have a baby, I don't know what to do.” She helplessly added then tried to sound more firm. “You have to take responsibility.”

“You’re doing well, stand your ground.” Myungsoo whispered to her.

“Jihyun… I don’t want to have a baby.” He said firmly. “I’m too young.”

“What?” Her voice sounded broken and betrayed.

“What?” Myungsoo gasped again although he tried to control the volume on his voice for the guy not to know he was listening.

“Taegun oppa, but you have to help me, my mom will kick me out once she knows.” She tried to convince him one more time.

“I can’t help you, besides I’ll leave for college in a few months.” The guy said extremely cold. Once she heard him she knew that he meant and was being serious, there was no way she could change his mind. She loosened her hands on the phone and started to cry so Myungsoo got angry and felt compelled to give the guy a piece of his mind. “Now wait a minute here.” He yanked the phone from Jihyun hands, but he hadn't had a chance to defend his hiccuping friend because the next second they were already hearing the guy last sentence.

“Please, stop looking for me, I don’t want to be a part of this.” The guy said before hanging up.

“I can't believe he hangs up!” Myungsoo said before Jihyun started to let it all of her sadness and frustration in the form of loud cries. “No, no, no, Ji, don't cry for that idiot!” He begged.

He tried to hug her and comfort her but it took some time for her to even try to collect his feelings, even if she wanted it also didn’t mean that she could.

“What-what do I do?” She asked brokenly when she finally managed to look in his sharp eyes. 

He closed his eyes and gulped hard, he knew he didn't have many options, but he had to do something, Jihyun was right there and she needed him, now more than ever. He tried to think about a solution, but almost every one of them Jihyun would end up on the streets with a baby unless… He knew it was risky, he knew it was too much and she might not agree, but maybe if he hid a part of himself they would have a chance to do some damage control.

“Let me help you”. He pleaded as he pointed to her belly. 

“How?” She asked in confusion.

“Let me be your baby father. We.. We can stage this up.” Myungsoo finally worded his intentions and Jihyun became so startled that her eyes were comically big and she forgot all the crying she had been doing.

“But.. but.. you’re gay!” She pointed as she got up and walked away from him. “Are you crazy?” She asked once she finally gathered her thoughts and enough distance from him.

“No, listen.” He got up from his bed and walked up to her but she gave a step behind so he stopped midway. “My parents want grandchildren and they expect me to produce an heir in the future, but despite also wanting to be a father from the bottom of my heart, I'm gay so that will never happen. But if you and I have this kid together...”

“But... I can't let you do this, you'd be throwing your youth away!”

“Ji, people already think we are involved with each other, let's just pretend that we are. A baby needs a family, you'll need help, I want to help, I want to be your baby daddy.” He said with determination. 

“No, no, no, no, I can't let you do this.” She paced back and forth only to stop abruptly and turn to him. “Maybe I should really take it out.”

“ARE YOU CRAZY? NO!” He said firmly then got near her to grab by the shoulders and shake some sense into her literally. “NO, you hear me?’

She looked at her feet as soon as Myungsoo stopped shaking her. “But this is the best outcome for everyone.” 

She mumbled and Myungsoo completely let go of her, he couldn't believe what he was hearing. “The kid would need two loving parents, but Taegun oppa doesn't want to take responsibility, I can't let you take responsibility of a kid that is not yours, and I'm not sure I'd be a good mother either, I don't have the money to raise him, I'm underage, I still haven't even finished high school, I still totally dependent on my mom and that already , she already makes me feel like a burden, what she would do when she discovers I'm pregnant? I can see her totally kicking me out of the house, what I'll do on the streets with a baby, oppa?” She listed all of her concerns as she started to tear up again. “I can't do this. I just can't.... the baby only will suffer if it comes to this world, so it's better if I…”She said but with a sad tone, it was like she didn’t want to do this but thought it was the only option for her at the moment.

“Don't you dare to suggest taking out again!” Myungsoo growled. “This will not only kill the baby, if it is done incorrectly it will kill you or it will damage you so you won't be able to have kids when you grow up as well... Please Ji, don't do that, I don’t want anything bad happening to you, you’re my best friend!” He pleaded.

“Oppa, even if I give it away for adoption I’ll still be kicked out, you know my mom and it is not like I can give this child to you! What your parents would even say!” She retorted trying to reason with him.

“They want grandchildren, you know this, I already told you this countless times.”

“YOURS OPPA, YOURS, NOT MINE!” She yelled. “I can't force a kid on them.”

Myungsoo took a big breath to calm himself down and then grabbed her by the arm again, but this time was gentler. “As I said we can stage this up, we can say we have been together for a couple of months and that I…” He looked down at her belly before looking back at her eyes. “That I am your baby’s father. Your mom might want to kick you out, but if I tell her I will take responsibility for you and the baby things might go different.... We could marry. My parents love you as their daughter so once the shock passes, you'll be welcomed into the family and they will love this child as much as I will. I bet they won't mind supporting us until I can do it on my own and we will raise this kid together, I will be there with you for everything, I promise.”

“Oppa, do you hear yourself? We're fifteen, and you're gay, we can't marry... we can't.” She started to cry again. “I can't do this to you, and I can't lie to your family either. This is my mistake, I should face the consequences on my own and…”

“Ji, you're not doing anything to me, I am choosing to do this, because I love you, I already love this baby and I don't want to see my dearest friend in such deep trouble. Come on, your baby needs a family I want to help you with that and we don't have to be married forever, we’re still young enough to pursue our own happiness when the baby has grown up enough to understand. And I promise I will raise the kid by myself if you want, I will behave as his/her father for as long as I live.”

“I don’t know.” She said uncertainly. “Marriage…”

“Please this is the only way.” He insisted.

“Are you sure…” She was about to make a question but Myungsoo interrupted while shrugging and making an apologizing expression.

“Yes, I want to be your baby daddy.”

“We married in the hopes people wouldn’t look at your mother weirdly for being a single parent or that your other grandmother would want to stay - though you know already that she didn’t - but above all, you and Soohyunnie deserved the love that I was ready to give.” 

Woohyun looked down at his lap as he processed everything. He understood why his mother would agree to marry because he had seen Myungsoo receive judging looks too many times, he tried to make Myungsoo feel better and he pretended to not bother, but Woohyun knew it hurt and he couldn’t imagine his mother going through that, he knew that when his grandmother kicked her out she was already hurt a lot.  

But still that story seemed too weird for him to believe, something told him that Myungsoo wasn’t being completely honest with him, especially when he received warning looks from the eldest Kim in the room. 

What if this phone call had been a lie to everyone? What if they decided to not tell his father about him? If that was so his real dad would never be able to show him his love.

To think there was a huge possibility that Myungsoo was lying made Woohyun spirits rise in anger.

He squinted eyes at this fake dad and spat angrily. “I don’t believe you, you’re lying to me about my real dad just like you did with everything else about my mom.”

“No, you don’t mean that, you’re just angry right now.” Sonmi gasped.

As Myungsoo heard that, he felt like his chest was being opened, his heart taken from its place only to be shattered in pieces he probably would never be able to glue together. The gray colors that painted his world since his break up with Sungyeol had suddenly turned black and he felt he could see nothing in front of him. Since he saw nothing, he could only feel and he felt the pain in the worst way possible. It was not Woohyun distrust that hurt him deeply - he thought it was a given -, nor the boy asking to meet his biological dad - he also knew it could happen since Woohyun asked to meet his grandmother. What hurt him to the point he felt like a hungry monster was taking bite after bite from his flesh, was the sole fact that Woohyun used the word he used to hear so fondly whenever the boy called him, to refer to a person that he knew it didn’t deserve. Even in more when he attached the word real to it, were seven years of dedication just erased?

“I’m telling the truth.” Myungsoo argued weakly, hurt and with watering eyes then looked desperately for help. “Right? Right?”

“Yeah.” Bumsoo said awkwardly, he couldn’t exactly prove what Myungsoo was saying without showing the boy the phone call Myungsoo recorded and how much Woohyun biological dad was mean to his mother because Woohyun would hate that.

Myungsoo wanted to scream and tell Woohyun that no one would be such good father as he was for him, he wanted to beg the boy to take those words back but all he could do was try to gather his words in a last plead. “Please, I know you have the right to be angry, we can talk more until you accept the whole story,  just… just don’t say these kinds of things, I’m your father and you’re hurting me.” Myungsoo begged.

“YOU’RE NOT MY FATHER!” Woohyun yelled only for the other Kim’s jaws hung low. “I’ll never accept your lies, you’re not my father so I don’t want to see you anymore.” He spat angrily then passed Myungsoo to open the door and go out of the room fuming, he spotted the Lee’s at the table so he directed himself there. 

“Woohyun, come back here.” Someone said but Myungsoo couldn’t register who was the one talking as they left alone and sobs consumed him.

“Hyungs, let me stay here, please!” The boy begged with a trembling voice as his angry façade was crumbling and he was about to cry heavy tears as well.

“What happened?” Sunggyu asked though he and the other two had pretty much a good idea because Woohyun wasn’t bothering to speak lowly for the past minutes

“You want to stay here? You belong with us, your family.” Bumsoo was the one talking in shock again.

Sungyeol made an apologetic expression. “He is right Woohyun, you have to stay with your family so you guys can get through this.”

“But I don’t want to live with that liar!” Woohyun said loudly to be sure to make Myungsoo hear all the way from Sunggyu’s room.

“Don’t say things like that!” Moonsoo pleaded. “You’re hurting your father more than you think you’re doing.”

“I DON’T CARE, HE HURT ME FIRST! AND HE IS NOT MY FATHER!” Woohyun yelled.

Sonmi shifted nervously then decided to suggest something that would calm everyone down for now. “Maybe you just need a break from Myungsoo for a few days, why don’t you stay with us for a bit?”

“I don’t want to go to Incheon~~~~ I want to live in Seoul.” Woohyun said already crying.

“It’s ok, it’s ok, we can move here temporarily until school is over and then we see, hum?” Sonmi suggested as she tried to control the situation.

“Yes, I can look for an apartment near your school on AIRBNB.” Bumsoo agreed right after and pulled his phone to start looking then beckoned the boy closer. “You can help me chose it, what do you say?”

Woohyun looked at everyone and at the end at Sungyeol that nodded. “We will visit you.” He said lowly.

“Fine, as long as I don't have to live with him.” Woohyun said.

“You can use my laptop to make it quicker, it is in my room.” Sungyeol offered and Bumsoo caught on that Sungyeol was pleading to take the boy away so once the boy dragged his feet near him, with Sunggyu following close behind, the elder briefly threw an apologetic glance at Sungyeol for the scene inside the apartment and dragged the boys to Sungyeol room.

“Moonsoo, can you pack some bags for him?” Sonmi asked.

“Sure, can you help me Jong?”

“Absolutely.” Sungjong promptly said, actually it was the only thing he could say he was shocked enough with things he ended up overhearing.

The teenagers moved for the door while Sungyeol mouthed a question for Sonmi. Where is Myungsoo?  The woman moved her head slightly back to the room with a helpless expression. How is he? Sungyeol asked again.

Sonmi hadn’t time to answer. As the door closed behind the teenagers, Myungsoo was seen coming out of Sunggyu room like a wounded soldier coming out of the battle. He didn't dare to look at Sungyeol or his mother because he didn't want them to see him with a messy face and tears stains growing big in his shirt.

He directed himself to the door but both his mother and his ex-lover ran to him 

"Myungsoo, are you going to be ok?" Sungyeol asked first and he stopped so Sonmi also tried to comfort him by grabbing his arm.

"Don't listen to him, he is confused, he doesn't know what he is saying." She tried to say and she obviously was referring to Woohyun.

It took a couple of seconds for Myungsoo to turn around but, when he did it, it was slowly and both of them were able to see the messy state Myungsoo was in. .

Myungsoo looked at his mom's eyes and felt like crying even more but before that he looked at Sungyeol. "I told you he was going to hate me." His tone wasn't accusative nor angry, just plainly resigned and sad. Once he said that, he turned around to go and Sungyeol was stunned in place not knowing what to do.

"Myungsoo, wait." Sonmi didn't bat an eyelash to go to her son.

_______________________________________________________________________________

AN: Hey guys, here I am with a big chapter... again. This time the update came earlier because I wrote a lot of random scenes in the month I didn't update, I hope you enjoy Myungsoo last blow, things only can get better from now on, Myungsoo will probably get his act together in the next chapters and hopefully we will end this fic before it reaches ch.100. I'm already trying to correct some mistakes to put in AO3 so tangled already has 48 ch. there.

Also, I wanted to talk about something with you guys.

I want to keep writing, I do, but I feel utterly unmotivated when I receive comments with just 'thank you' or 'please update' in it. I know it makes sense to write this if I spend a month to update, I know it is not everyone that reads write comments (you don't have to do if you don't want to) and it is not everyone that comments that do this (a big thank you), but I put a lot of effort. A chapter like this one (exactly 9980 words) took almost a week to adapt even if I had plenty things already written and chapters with a lot of angst are specially troublesome to write so it would be nice to read about my long chapters in the comments. Your comment don't need to be big, you don't have to do it if you don't want to, but I get all excited with my notifs only to feel bummed when I open and there is only those small words in it. Let's talk guys, let me see what you're thinking, how will I know I'm not exaggerating in a few things? Give me suggestions. Last time a reader spoke their mind I changed the ending, that was already written, because it made me realize what I was writing wouldn't have realistic chances to lead me to the ending so please please, when you decide to comment, write me some stuff about the story too.