The bell rang loudly, signalling lunch time in the orphanage. Screams and laughter were heard coming from all over, like a stampede, and Yoongi was scared. He didn’t show it, he’d practiced that a lot over the years he spent in his home; he was a boy with a terrible habit of keeping his emotions contained. Smiling was a difficult expression to hide, simply because it didn’t happen often, but he’d learnt to control it as best he could (as long as he didn’t smile absentmindedly).

The laughter and screams died down slowly as the children entered the large dining room. The table had so many chairs crammed around it, it was a surprise that anyone could fit into them without sitting on the others’ legs. The children slowed down as they proceeded to the mismatched armchairs, with some of the smaller children sitting on the older children’s laps to make room for the rest. In total, there were 17 children, of all ages, genders, shapes and sizes, and Yoongi’s mother wanted to take every single one of them home with her. Her heart sank at the reality of this being unfair, but soon perked back up once all the chairs were filled.

“Okay every-“

“Ah, um, Mrs Min? There’s still one more to come.”

“Oh I see, well in the meantime, shall I learn everyone’s names?”

Hyori laughed at the sudden raise in volume as each child tried calling their name out louder, over the top of one another. Yoongi’s mother laughed as well, as she raised her hands up to show her palms, indicating for them to quieten down. “One at a time, how about we start with you to my left, and make my way around in a circle?” Th