Myungsoo only had a few seconds to prepare to defend himself, he expected some screaming, accusations, maybe some cursing too if Sungyeol couldn't hold himself (because of the alcohol that he was smelling), and he thought that if it came to fists he clearly would be the one winning, but he didn't expect for Sungyeol to talk using a tired but firm tone.

“Call Sunggyu, it's past his bedtime.”

Ok, Myungsoo knew one day they would be caught but he hadn't been expecting this to happen in that calm way, so he did the only thing that would fit at that moment: he opened the door widely, if Sungyeol wanted to get in, stepped back and called his brothers.

“Ahem, Sungjong, Sunggyu, your brother is here.”

Sunggyu promptly let the sword in his hand fall and became pale while Sungjong quickly scrambled from the couch he was sitting at and came towards the door with the most apologetic expression he could muster at the moment.

“Hyung, I can explain, I... we..”

“Explain what? What's happening is obvious, though I was really not expecting this Sungjong, so congratulations for making me feel dumb.” Sungyeol said more hurt that his brothers were doing things behind his back. “Now get Sunggyu, it's past his bedtime.” Sungyeol ordered with a hint of irritation.

“Sungyeol shi, if you want to we can try to talk about this like grown ups, I know I'm in the wrong here but...” Myungsoo caught himself saying, hoping to help Sungjong out.

“Talk? I'm in no condition to have a proper coherent conversation even with my shadow, I just want to put Sunggyu into bed so I can sleep.” He said but everyone was just frozen looking at him, expecting him to snap. Feeling like things wouldn't be done if he didn't do them himself he called his baby bro, though he didn't dare to step a foot inside the neighbor apartment. “Sunggyu-yah, let's go home, you don't need to be afraid, you're not in trouble.”

Sunggyu poked his head from behind his friend, where he managed to go during Myungsoo, Sungyeol and Sungjong’s exchange, and hesitated, clearly doubting his hyung, until he heard what the elder said next. “Gyu, I don't want to yell at you.” Sungyeol said with sincerity and though none of the adults, and the other kid, quite believed that, Sunggyu came out from behind his friend and walked till his brother and grabbed his hand.

Myungsoo frowned as a confused Woohyun hugged his waist and Sungjong was surprised that his younger brother was not putting up a fight like he was used to. He knew something had changed this week between the two although he didn't have any details, he didn't think Sunggyu would just accept Sungyeol impositions like that.

Sungyeol opened his door and softly pulled Sunggyu inside his apartment when Sungjong bowed, gave some excuses and was about to follow them when Sungyeol placed a hand on his chest and pushed him outside. “We’ll talk about this later.” He said before closing the door on Sungjong’s dumbfounded face.

“Are you ok hyung?” Unexpectedly it was Woohyun that asked.

“I'm...” Sungjong didn't know what to say, he expected Sungyeol to be angry, he didn't know what to do what that kind of reaction. “I don't know.” He mumbled and Moonsoo rushed to his side.

“It's going to be ok.” He patted his friend’s back. “He'll come around.” Myungsoo wanted to snort, he kind of doubted that but Moonsoo sent him a glare that shut his brother up.

“I'm not so sure.” Sungjong looked dispirited. “He had never acted like this before, I know everything is my fault and I think it would make sense if he yelled at me, but I'm worried he will unleash everything on Sunggyu... and... they only started talking to each other like two days ago, this would make them, I don't know, walk backwards in their relationship because when Sungyeol hyung yells Sunggyu get's really afraid and upset...” Sungjong ranted kind of groundless.

“I must say I expected some rude words as well.” Myungsoo scratched his nape with one hand while rubbed Woohyun’s hair with the other. “Maybe he was a bit out of himself because of the alcohol, he was smelling like beer anyway, last time I had seen him he was out of himself because he was sick and he ended up not saying much to me so...”

“Well.. but he said to me.” Sungjong slightly glared at Myungsoo. “And now I messed up two times in a row so imagine how pissed he can be at me?” Both brothers looked at each other helpless, they didn't have comforting words for that. “And if I were you hyung, I would at least come up with one apology myself.” Sungjong said looking at Myungsoo.

“Apology for what?” Both Moonsoo, Myungsoo, and Woohyun managed to ask at the same time.

“I'm sure you remember answering his phone hyung. I don't know what you said at that time, he doesn't know either, but you might have had a hand breaking up his relationship.” Sungjong kindly answered. “Which I am thankful for, because the person didn't deserve him, but that also made him behave outside his pattern.”

“Wait ,what?” Moonsoo asked because he wasn't following the conversation.

Remembering the rude and demanding voice on the phone was a male one Myungsoo opened his eyes huge. “Is he...?” He gasped in shock, Sungyeol seemed so rigid that not in a million years Myungsoo could picture him being gay. Then he inhaled deeply as he realized what the consequences of answering that simple, but rude, call was. “Oh God! I... didn't... know.”

He rubbed both hands over his head in distress, Sungyeol was probably bitter that his relationship with that rude guy was over and maybe that's why he went out to drink? Now Sungyeol had a concrete reason to hate him this would probably reflect in his son and Sungyeol would ban Sunggyu from playing with him all over again. Gosh, what was he supposed to do? He didn't think Sungyeol would accept to talk to him if he wanted to apologize.

“Dad, what's happening?” Woohyun asked curiously.

“I don't know myself Woohyun.” He finally breathed out kind of lost.

“I think I better go hyungs, I'll come by tomorrow to face the beast.” Sungjong sighed dejectedly.

“Beast?” Woohyun was now puzzled.

“He meant Sungyeol shi, Namu.” Moonsoo explained then turned to Sungjong. “Come on, I'll give you a ride to the dorms, we can come back tomorrow.”

Sungjong merely nodded and let himself be pulled out of Myungsoo’s apartment, he had to go home and think about every possible scenario if he wanted to confront his brother tomorrow.

________________________________________________

Sungyeol woke up with a mild headache the next day and got up to take some pills before he went back to bed, he thanked the gods he hadn't been faced drunk yesterday and didn't get a major hangover but that didn't mean he was ready to leave his bed anytime soon. It was not like he had to sleep to make things better, but he didn't want to go confront the world, he didn't like playing the villain although he was sure both of his brothers were expecting him to be one.

He sighed deeply and placed a pillow over his head, what he should do? about what he discovered yesterday, fight his brothers and get them upset, or let go and they get the impression he didn't care about it? He didn't want to do any of the two options, but what Sungjong and Sunggyu did behind his back was wrong.

Ok, he could admit he had this prejudice against the neighbors, he didn't meet them in his best mood and he not only felt pushed but he felt like the neighbor rubbed some things in his face at the time. But if you put that aside, the boys had disrespected his order, they did things behind his back, both of them were lying to his face, and more than making him angry about mingling with the neighbors, knowing that his brothers didn't trust him and were lying ing hurt him. Not to mention that now that Sunggyu was used to playing with the brat next door if he was to reinforce the ban on the kid Sunggyu would practically hate him more than what he had been hating last year and the small progress that he made the last couple of days would be for nothing.

He lost track of the amount of time he spent thinking about this but, even if didn't want to, his body forced him to leave his bed in order to make food. With a quick glance at the clock, he saw that it was 9:30. He sighed, Sunggyu must be awoken by now as well, which meant Sungyeol would have the first confronting round with him.

Sungyeol dragged his feet to the room next to his, dreading the conversation he would have to have with his maknae brother, he wondered how he should proceed to have to scold Sunggyu without losing the progress they made in the last couple of days. Would Sunggyu understand him if he was sincere? Would he need to be scary? He didn't like doing this, it wasn't his real self, so how? Before he had an answer, the short distance from his room to Sunggyu was over and he decided to try being sincere.

When he opened the door he saw Sunggyu quickly covering his whole self with his blankets as if that would protect him from his brother’s wrath. It didn't matter if they were a whole generation apart, this kind of reaction was typical of a child, how many times he did this when he was a kid and how many times he saw Sunggyu do this as well?

He walked towards the younger bed, only stopping to pick up a Nemo plush toy on the ground before he placed it beside Sunggyu’s head and next to the wall, and finally sat beside his brother.

“Sunggyu, we need to talk.” He said but the boy just clutched to his covers tightly, the boy was clearly afraid to face him. “Sunggyu, please, not now... I'm not exactly angry at you, you're not in trouble, please don't stop talking to me again...” Sungyeol pleaded and waited for a reaction and after some moments of hesitancy Sunggyu pulled his covers down just a bit for him to show his small eyes and Sungyeol thought that this was an accomplishment. “I want you to know that I am not angry because you played with someone I don't like.”

Sunggyu fully put his covers down. “You're.... not?” He asked incredulously.

“No, this isn't exactly the problem here.” Sungyeol confirmed and now the boy sat in his bed, pulled his Nemo plush toy into his lap, so he could hug, and eyed Sungyeol with confusion, waiting for his hyung to continue. “You and Sungjong lied to me, you did things behind my back.”

“But...” The boy that usually didn't talk because he didn't want it, this time didn't talk because he didn't have words at all.

“I know you like Woohyun, you think he is nice and that I am being mean when I say you two aren't supposed to play together, I fully get that part and I admit I hadn't liked them much when we first met, they didn't give me a good first impression.” The elder admitted. “But even if you think like that, it doesn't mean that what you and Sungjong did were less bad, because this time you simply didn't just disobeyed me Sunggyu, this time you broke my trust.” Sungyeol voice faltered a bit until it became really small only to crack at the end of the sentence.

“Hyung...” Sunggyu eyes started to water immediately and it seemed to him that Sungyeol was about to be sad like he was during the past week, the only difference now was that it happened because of him and this knowledge made him feel so so so guilty, he wanted to play with his friend but didn't want to hurt his brother with that.

“I thought we were getting closer Sunggyu, so I feel really, really disappointed that you betrayed me like this, how am I going to trust you now? Hm?” Sungyeol asked and the boy hugged his plush toy tightly and hid his face in it. “What if something happened to you when you were over there without me knowing? What if you broke an arm while playing, or what if Woohyun’s dad brought you to the park and didn't look at you for one second and this is all that it took for someone to kidnap you? What if he didn't take proper care of you and you crossed a street unaccompanied and some car hit you? You don't think about this stuff but I, as an adult, have to.”

Sunggyu stayed silent feeling guiltier and guiltier by the minute, he bit his lip hard and a lonely tear fell on his cheek until it discreetly wet the plush toy Sunggyu was hugging.

“I know we aren't the closest and we lived in a war this past year because we were forced in this situation...” Sungyeol hesitated before continuing. “I know I don't do it and I will never come close to do such a good job like mom did, but she entrusted you to me. Even if you think I am bad, mean and scary, I can't make mom disappointed, I have to take care of you and... if something ever happens to you...” Sungyeol didn't finish his sentence because he was becoming emotions as Sunggyu was crying heavily now. “I can't fail at this Sunggyu... even if we don't get along, I... don't want to lose you too.” He finished with a small voice that cracked as he himself fought some tears, Sunggyu had managed to unlock the most sensible part of him a couple of days ago and now he wasn't sure he would ever be able to lock it again.

Sunggyu pushed his wet plush toy to the side, crawled on Sungyeol lap and hugged him tightly as he sobbed. “I'm-I'm sor-ry hyung.” The boy sobbed.

Sungyeol hugged his brother back as tightly as Sunggyu hugged him, he was sad for what was happening he wasn't trying to manipulate the boy but Sunggyu seemed as if he really understood this some of his fears without him having to play the villain so his heart was filled with hope that his and Sunggyu’s relationship was going to be ok, they would get through this.

“I'm so-so-so sorry!” The young boy repeated in Sungyeol ears. “I...” Sunggyu stopped a bit as if what he was going to say next would also bring him some physical pain. “I won't ever pla-ay with Woohyunnie ag-again.”

Sungyeol’s eyes became big and whatever sad emotion he had left his body only to make him worried. He didn't exactly want this, he still thought the boy was a bit annoying but he had never said that Sunggyu shouldn't play with him at all, he just wanted their friendship restricted to school because this made things way easier for him as well.

He tried to break the hug and push Sunggyu away a bit so he could look at the small boy’s eyes, but the boy interpreted this wrongly and clung to him desperately. “I won't e-ever talk to him any-anymore.”

“Gyu, this isn't what I...” Sungyeol wanted to explain himself, be honest, and maybe even admit that if he behaved and managed to gain his trust again he would think about letting the younger come over one day - he had to admit that Woohyun was a great of help to Sunggyu, Dongwoo always made sure to shove into his face that the neighbor boy was the only one that Sunggyu bothered enough to talk in school - but Sunggyu was becoming more and more distressed.

“Please hyung, forgive me!” Sunggyu was desperate and Sungyeol thought that maybe he should just appease him now and then when the boy was calmer, approach the issue and explain everything again.

“I forgive you.” He said softly but Sunggyu kept crying, so for the first time, and because Sunggyu did this for him too, he decided to comfort the boy.

He laid on the boy bed with him, even though it was a bit cramped, and hugged Sunggyu tightly as he patted the younger’s hair and whispered in his ears that he would be forgiven, he didn't know how long they spend like this, but soon enough they were both drifting to sleep.

Sungyeol woke up again disoriented, but once he finally understood/remembered the situation he felt another presence in the room and the eyes of that person on his back. Knowing very well that the only one person that had the other key to his apartment was his brother he cursed in his mind, he sort of handled things with Sunggyu, but he didn't think he would be as calm and composed with Sungjong, not to mention that the middle brother was Sunggyu’s favorite hyung, he didn't know how a fight with the teenager would affect his relationship with the boy.

He grunted a bit and check on Sunggyu that was sleeping soundly and thanked the gods for at least that, he then untangled himself from the boy and slowly sat up the bed to rub his eyes out of sleep then glare at the teenager.

“What are you doing creepily staring at two people sleeping?” He asked dryly.

Sungjong gulped hard, knowing Sungyeol was mad, but he still found some courage to open his mouth. “I came to talk to you about yesterday, but I saw you sleeping with Sunggyu and I wasn't sure if I should wake you two since you were kind of tangled.” He explained then lifted a suspicious brow. “Did you have to sleep like that to make sure he wouldn't go to the neighbors?”

Why in the hell would Sungyeol do that? If he didn't want Sunggyu going over the neighbors he could easily lock the door and hide the keys, so the fact that Sungjong was insinuating that he was becoming absurd due to his anger (although he knew Sungjong already thought he was absurd) made him angry. Due respect for the maknae’s sleep, Sungyeol merely got up from the bed and motioned Sungjong to follow him to the living room, where he could at least give the younger a few good yells before Sunggyu woke up.

Once the door of Sunggyu bedroom was closed Sungyeol turned around with fire in his eyes. “How dare you?” He growled.

“How dare I?” Sungjong gasped in surprise but quickly showed he wasn't here for flowers and rainbows, he would fight if he needed in order to defend Sunggyu. “How dare you! I had to do something to make Sunggyu happy when all you do is make him sad and upset all the time.”

“So you had to go and do things behind my back? Teach him how to lie?” Sungyeol spat angrily.

“You didn't give me a choice hyung! I did what I had to do to make a broken kid happy!”

“So when Sunggyu reaches your age and asks for an expensive car, even if he doesn't need it, will you bury yourself in debts, or will you steal one so you can give to him for him to be happy?” Sungyeol asked as he crossed his arms.

The younger rolled his eyes. “This isn't about possible cars Sunggyu might want in twelve years hyung, this is about him being able to play with a friend right now.”

“Of course it is Sungjong. He can't have everything, no one in this world can have everything, and he has to learn to cope with a 'no' so when he becomes an adult he won't be selfish, or spoiled, he will know how to accept life better. I'm sure mom said a couple of 'no's to him, and I am sure I'll give him my fair share too.”

“Hyung, are you crazy or what? These are two completely different matters! Wanting to play with a friend is something harmless, he won't become spoiled because of that!” The younger reasoned. “You're always telling him he can't do this and that!”

“Always? ALWAYS?” Sungyeol asked sarcastically and raising his voice, he was now seeing red. “Tell me again how is it bad to say he can't stay home and has to attend school? Tell me how it is bad to tell him can't be silent forever? Tell me how is it wrong to tell him he can't spend his life alone and that he should make friends? In the plural Sungjong, not the neighbor kid only! Tell me how is bad to tell him he can't call you every five minutes because you need to study too! I say no to him so I can say yes when it really matters.”

“When it really matters.” Sungjong scoffed.

“Of course I say yes when it really matters, didn't I let him drop out of school in his first year there? He was being bullied and having emotional breakdowns Sungjong, I understand that better than you will ever know and when it was with me I asked to change schools and mom said no! Do you happen to know what almost happened to me because of that? Do I have to describe in detail or should I make this graphic and draw so you can understand?”

“THIS IS NOT THE SAME THING!” Sungjong raised his voice even louder to be able to voice his frustration. “ He is not gonna get..”

“It starts like this you moron, with pushing, with mocking jokes!” Sungyeol interrupted his brother. “And after mom died he was not ok to face that so I said yes and let him stay home and guess who stopped chasing dreams to spend a year home with him? Now I have to work my twice harder if I want to achieve my goals.”

“So are you saying this gives you the right to forbid him from interacting with the first friend he gets?” The younger asked in sarcasm.

“No, of course not, what gave me the right to decide whatever I want is a ing paper that says that I am responsible for him, AND YOU,...” Sungyeol make sure to stress that, because wanting or not Sungjong was still gonna be underage until September,3rd. “...until you're both of age. Besides, I didn't forbid him to interact with the kid completely, he does that in school!” Sungyeol argued back. “Besides he wanted to go over and play with the boy the first day they met! Even if I liked the neighbors I couldn't simply hand my brother over to someone I don't know, I can't trust a guy that young with two kids alone Sungjong! If the neighbor had a wife it would be different because I would know there were at least two people taking care of the kids!”

“Do you think I simply dropped him with there?” Even though Sungjong was ignoring Sungyeol pulling an age argument, he still looked as if he was personally offended, it wasn't like he was irresponsible. “Woohyun’s uncle is my classmate, so I always stayed around whenever the kids were playing, so they hadn't one adult watching, they had three! And this is no excuse if you really wanted you could have been there too, but, no, you have prejudice because Myungsoo hyung is young not to mention all you wanted was to have free time to date a person that ing broke your heart!”

Sungyeol for a second stopped and his tears wanted to come out as he remembered what his ex-boyfriend did to him, but he pushed forcibly them back to where they came from. “This argument is really unfair.” Sungyeol he ended up saying in gritted teeth. “I didn't know about that because you used the little time I had to.... to myself and did everything behind my back!”

“Unfair is what are you being with Sunggyu and even the neighbors with all your prejudice. I have spent time with them hyung and they are nice, Myungsoo hyung absolutely adores Woohyun, and Moonsoo’s love for Woohyun doesn't come short and they were kind enough to extend a bit of their love to Sunggyu when you were being an ! And it was only because of that extended love that Myungsoo shi took care of you when you were sick AND YOU DIDN'T EVEN THANK HIM!”

“AND THIS IS BETWEEN ME AND HIM!” Sungyeol growled loudly. “You're focusing on my fight with the neighbor to justify your actions because you don't want to admit you're wrong! You decided things behind my back and lied to me, and you made Sunggyu think it was ok to lie to me too! This is not a situation where you throw a white lie so you don't hurt my feelings, this was a serious lie that hurt the trust I had in you! Can't you understand that I AM Sunggyu’s guardian, I HAVE to know where he is, I HAVE to know what he is doing, I HAVE to know whom he is with, because if something happens I am the one facing the consequences! I can acknowledge that you had the best intentions and maybe the neighbors aren't bad but this doesn't make what you did less wrong, your sneaky actions could have endangered him and I am not losing him due to your actions, I AM NOT LOSING HIM TOO SUNGJONG!” he finished with a determined yell.

Both brothers were so engrossed in their fight, each one defending fiercely what they believed, that hadn't noticed that their yells had woken up the maknae. Sunggyu had left his bed a bit scared, he was used on Sungyeol being scary and Sungjong fighting to defend him, but this time it was different, he still was the reason of the fight, but this time all of Sungyeol’s anger was being directed at the middle Sung brother.

He had opened the door quietly and had been watching the fight for a couple minutes already until he felt tears falling from his cheek when Sungyeol finished his speech. At that moment Sungyeol was breathing heavily in determined anger when he moved his gaze past Sungjong and fixed his eyes on him.

“Please stop fighting.” The boy pleaded in a small voice, but loud enough for his brothers to hear and Sungjong turned around and ran to give the maknae a hug while Sungyeol gasped alarmed.

“It's ok Gyu, Sungyeol hyung can yell all he wants, he can't scare me and I am going to fight for your right to have a friend!” Sungjong seemed convinced of that and wanted to convince Sunggyu as well.

“Hyung.” Sunggyu tried to push his brother away from him. “Hyung.” He called again and this time Sungjong pulled away wiped his tears and look at him. “We were wrong.”

“What?” Sungjong asked surprised as he looked at his brother as if trying to be sure this was really Sunggyu and not some robot in his place.

“We-we shouldn't have lied.” The boy added.

“But Sunggyu, he would have never let you play with your friend if we hadn't done that! It's not because hyung is used to being lonely that you should be too and...” Sungjong wanted to convince his brother that they were right but Sunggyu didn't let him.

“Hyung, you should apologize too.” The boy said with pleading sad eyes and Sungjong was so shocked he almost fell in his , what kind of brainwash did Sungyeol did on him?

“It seems that Sunggyu can comprehend things better than you.” Sungyeol merely stated. “I won't demand an apology from you but know that I won't let Sunggyu alone with you again until you gain my trust back.” Sungyeol said now void of feelings and the middle brother turned to look at him.

“What? You can't prohibit me from seeing him, he is my brother too!!”

“I'm not prohibiting anything, I just said your visits will be supervised. It doesn't matter if you want to bring him to the neighbors, the park, the movie theater or Mars, I'll go too, to make sure you won't bring him to a different place than what you told me.”

Sungjong stood up to his feet complaining. “This is ABSURD!”

“Do you think I want to do this? I trusted you more than anyone Sungjong and surely I didn't expect another backstabbing this soon, but I guess I should have been used by now right?” Sungyeol said with a hurt tone. “But to be fair a bit I want to spend more time with Sunggyu, I think we are in the right path now.” With that Sunggyu moved away from Sungjong and got closer to his elder brother only to hug his waist.

“I can't believe this.” Sungjong was dumbfounded as he moved his eyes from one brother to the other.

“What? You should be happy I'm following your advice.” Sungyeol complained at his middle brother but hugged the younger back awkwardly, he was not in a good position for a hug.

“You're using my advice as an excuse for absurdity!”

“You're using something you deem is wrong to to justify your own mistakes, nothing good will come out of that.” Sungyeol retorted. “Just think Sungjong, think and you'll know that this time I am right.”

“Whatever.” He spat. “But Sunggyu, don't come crying to me when he doesn't let you play with Woohyun anymore.”

Sunggyu lets go of Sungyeol to look at his middle brother with a sad but resigned face. “I won't be playing with Woohyunnie anymore.”

“Sunggyu, I didn't...” Sungyeol was about to say he didn't mean this way and that he could play with the boy in school but Sunggyu spoke again.

“I won't even talk to Woohyunnie anymore.”

Sungjong was done, it was no use to keep arguing with the eldest, Sungyeol was just being an idiot and prone to absurdity again and now Sunggyu had been somehow brainwashed as well. He needed to spend some weeks away so both brothers came to their senses but, for now, he needed to leave. He stomped his feet until he was outside the door, banged on the neighbor's door and then looked back inside his Hyung's apartment.

“Then good luck hyung, you'll be on ground zero again now that you made Sunggyu lose his interest in school.” He barked then turned around to see a worried Moonsoo, a boy that Sungyeol had never noticed if he was there the night before, looking at him. “Will you go back to the dorms right now or will you want to stay with your family?”

“I can go with you now.” Moonsoo assured and stepped outside, showing that Myungsoo and Woohyun were right behind them.

“Thank you for everything until now, but I don't think I'll be able to bring Sunggyu to play anymore, I'm sorry for that.” He bowed to the neighbors before grabbing Moonsoo wrist. “Now let's go, I can't stay another minute here.”

With that, Sungjong dragged Moonsoo to the stairs because he wouldn't have the patience to wait for the lift and Sungyeol moved to close the door with Sunggyu behind him. The kids met eyes briefly but Sunggyu avoided the other’s kid gaze and Woohyun looked pretty much like a wounded puppy. As for the adults, Myungsoo shook his head in disappointment then closed the door before Sungyeol could say something to him.

Sungyeol then looked at Sunggyu that was looking at the ground. “Sunggyu, you'll still go to school right?”

“Yes... to see Dongwoo hyung.” The boy mumbled sadly, then dragged his feet to his room and closed his door quietly behind him.

Sungyeol sighed deeply, now what?

_______________________________________________________________

As promised Sunggyu didn't make Sungyeol life difficult and got ready to go to school without a problem. The problem was that he looked sad and every time Sungyeol would try to talk about Woohyun the boy would just promise over and over again he wouldn't play with the boy or just shut up and went to his room.

Sungyeol should have predicted his Monday was gonna be bad when Sunggyu behaved like this, it was like things that bothered him or thing that would become problems just lined themselves waiting for him, and that was really apparent when Sunggyu stepped foot in his classroom in a dejected way and Dongwoo was waiting for him with crossed arms.

“Lee Sungyeol, can I have a word with you?” Sungyeol sighed, by Dongwoo’s tone he was not asking a question, he was giving an order.

“Sure, but be quick please, I have to go….”

“To college, I know.” Dongwoo then dragged him to a corner. “The is happening? Sungjong called us crying, telling us you wouldn't let him see Sunggyu anymore.”

“I absolutely have not said that; he is Sunggyu’s brother and he can come see Sunggyu any time he wants.” Sungyeol defended himself.

“Then why he said...?” Now Dongwoo just seemed plainly confused.

“I said I would not leave Sunggyu alone with him anymore because he broke my trust. Hyung, when I left the bar Saturday night I discovered Sungjong had been taking Sunggyu to play with Woohyun behind my back.” Sungyeol explained further but with an indignant tone and Dongwoo tensed. “Oh my god you knew it and if you know then Hoya hyung knows it too. Oh my god.” Sungyeol looked like the ground disappeared from underneath his feet as he pieced the puzzle together.

“Sungyeol-ah... Myungsoo shi and Woohyun are not bad people...” Dongwoo tried to explain in a soft tone.

“Gosh, can all of you stop telling me that? I couldn't care more about my fight with Woohyun’s dad right now, this is about MY family betraying my ing trust.” He hissed. “What if their escapades placed Sunggyu in danger?” Dongwoo was about to say something but Sungyeol interrupted him before he could. “When everyone will get that even if you think I am wrong that doesn't mean that they aren't too? This could have gone wrong in so many ways and I don't want to even think about that, I just don't want to lose another piece of my family.”

Dongwoo instantly closed his mouth because if he thought in that kind of light Sungyeol was right, besides, who was he? A teacher and Sungyeol’s cousin’s lover, and that just meant his responsibilities over Sunggyu when the boy was inside school were big but when the bell rang and kids went home, his responsibility over Sunggyu and his education and problems were very little and the max he could do was to give some advice here and there.

“Hyung.” Sungyeol called when he noticed the teacher mind wandered away. “Sunggyu witnessed Sungjong and I fighting very hard and he is very down, so keep an eye on him ok? If there are any problems call me and I'll come pick him up, but if he manages to spend the entire day here please give me a report on his interactions with Woohyun. I don't have much time to explain but I think he is misunderstanding something I said.” With that Sungyeol patted the teacher in his back and fled the classroom, he had spent the night thinking about his brothers and ended up waking up late.

The day in college was really annoying, he got scolded because he arrived late at his classroom and forgot his essay, thank god he had in his pen drive and managed to print to hand to the teacher later. Sungyeol was cursing everything and everyone in his mind, it wasn't enough that he had problems at home, he had been trying hard to impress the teachers in his department and late attendance and missed deadlines wouldn't do any good.

Due to his tardiness he ended up forgetting to pack something to eat and that means he would have to go down from his department and mix himself with other people in the college cafeteria, a thing he always dreaded.

Once kids ended high school and entered university life usually changed. They could drink and party, things denied them up till now, and have a lot of meetings with sunbaes or go on group blind dates, which meant that when people that entered college they would have a busy social life if they put some effort but... that didn't happen to Sungyeol.

Forget about his problems with Sunggyu, Sungjong and the death of his mother an year ago, still Sungyeol wasn't the best person socializing since he entered college, or even before that. That being said, Sungyeol had people he liked to talk and discuss things, but even if he used the dictionary definition of a friend, he didn't have those, although Chanyeol insisted he was.

Sungyeol, since he can remember, had always been the maknae of his class and, although being the maknae in Korean society was generally a good thing, that wasn't the case for him. People often treated him as if he couldn't understand things, often underestimating his intellect only to be angry he did good in his exams later. He was often bullied when he was in high school (which explained why he hated that place with all his cells), and some people tried to take advantage of him, physically, more times than what he told his family, a thing that made him always be on guard.

He worked very hard the last couple of years to make sure classmates and teachers would take him seriously and to stood his ground, but that somehow ended up with him being perceived as the teacher’s pet, a thing that once more didn't help him to socialize with people in his class. He got along with some hobaes, but due to his guarded personality and love for studies, most of people outside his class didn't even know him or which year he really was.

So that Monday, when Sungyeol had to go to the college cafeteria and get some lunch it was clear he would be sitting alone and that meant the entire campus would have their perception reinforced: Sungyeol was a loner. Once he got his tray with food he looked around to find a table to sit and to his luck (yeah, he had so much luck today ¬¬) he saw his neighbor sitting alone in a table and fumbling with a camera.

Sungyeol found it a bit strange, he remembered Myungsoo saying he played basketball, people that played sports were usually popular no? He shrugged, he didn't have anything to do with that, but maybe, just maybe, he could go over there, swallow his pride and at least thank him for taking care of him over a meal? And, a big MAYBE here, if Myungsoo was an evolved being, Sungyeol could say some apologies too?

He breathed in and out, trying to get some courage, but, the moment he stepped a foot in his neighbor direction, the guy looked up and smiled when some really tall people, taller than him and probably Chanyeol too, approached his table and sat on every chair. Not that Sungyeol would have approached that table to try to talk to the guy when there was giants his height or taller to back Myungsoo on anything. Sungyeol sighed and went to look for another free, and probably more hidden, table.

___________________________________________________________

AN: Helooooooo guys, sorry it took a while but, now that I have a beta, she was working hard on eliminating my mistakes (hopefully) or at least reduce them considerably, so shout out for @kyudaore for the big help she has given while correcting all the chapters I already updated for this fic.

I hope you won't be disappointed in this chapter but at least Sungyeol is already debating if he should approach Myungsoo or not, well his head will be filled with working his problem with him and Woohyun to please Sunggyu and that will make him forget about his heartbreak.

See ya next chapter.