T H E  A L A R M – more like a ship’s fog horn coming into harbor. My whine grumbled in the back of my throat as I reached over the still sleeping (and might I add snoring) Yongguk to turn it off. I turned to my other side to see Zelo still sleeping as well. I questioned how they ever functioned with me not around to wake them up.

“Zelo-ah, wake up baby. Time for school”

His eyes flocked open as he sat straight up, “makeup?!” he questioned.
I chuckled seeing his excitement still present from the conversation last night.

“Ani, after breakfast and you get in the shower”

I watched him push the blankets off of himself as he ran into the hallway running on pure anticipation, soon following a loud thud symbolizing the bathroom door shutting and soon after the sound of water flowing the pipes. I chuckled even more and shook my head at such a simple driven mind. I decided to let Yongguk sleep longer since he didn’t need to leave as early as Zelo, and headed to the kitchen to get a start on breakfast.

Keeping in mind Zelo’s breakdown last night, I decided to make his favorite breakfast, American pancakes and eggs. Though it took a little more time than I wanted, it was worth it to see his smiling face when we came out of the bathroom and into the kitchen.

“Hyung… Daeeebak” He clapped sitting down to the meal. I smiled as his eyes continued to sparkle devouring the food like a vacuum cleaner. He had seconds… and thirds… and by the end he was rubbing his stomach in pleasure.

“Gomawoyo” He beamed shyly.

I returned the gesture, but knew the morning was only going to get better for him.

“Ready for makeup?” I questioned.

He ran straight towards the bathroom flailing his arms screaming.

“Zelo wait for me!” I laughed running after him.

When I walked in to the bathroom he was already sitting on the counter dangling his feet off the counter (they almost touched the ground because of his height). I rolled my eyes though I couldn’t help but smile at how cute he was. I walked over to my cabinets and pulled out a few products.

“What are you gonna use hyung?” Zelo asked filled of curiosity eyes wide; ulzzang.

I walked over to him placing the products on the counter next to him, “Whatever I want” I teased.

He pouted by sticking out his bottom lip.

“Yah no pouting” I flicked the pretty pink lip.

“Owww Eomma!” he whined mouth open.

I squirted some face primer on my hands and started to massage Zelo’s face.

“EoooO-MM-Ma” he managed to get out even though my hands mutated his lips causing speech to be somewhat difficult for him. I couldn’t help but continue laughing. He was just too CUTE!

Next was BB cream; I went a little heavier on places where he had several pimples.

“Wh-whaa-tss thiss?” he asked now having a lisp.

“BB cream” I answered massaging into his hair line to make sure it looked natural.

He looked at me confused tilting his head.

Just then Yongguk came in scratching his backside. His hair was a mess and his eyes were barely open. He shuffled over to the toilet and whipped out his-

“YONGGUK!”

Zelo squealed covering his eyes.

“NOT IN FRONT OF ZELO!”

“But I need to piss!” he complained, “Plus it’s a good learning experience to see what a real man looks like” he laughed making Zelo whimper more.

“! Get out-”

I couldn’t finish as Yongguk’s… stream began. The sound of running water filled the bathroom.

Zelo whimpered even more hands still over his eyes and by now I just gave up on the situation.

After the might I add LONG stream, the toilet flushed and he turned around giving me that signature gummy smile shuffling over to me.
“No” I protested as he attempted to kiss me, “Get out”

“But-”

“NO”

He frowned and looked at the open makeup bag on the counter and then at Zelo, “what’s going?”

“I’m putting makeup on Zelo what does it look like?”

“Oh NO NO NO NO NO NO! My son doesn’t wear makeup!” Yongguk roared.

“Oh stop” I smacked his shoulder, “You don’t get a say in this”

“Why the not?! He’s mine too!”

I looked over to see Zelo’s head down ashamed of letting me put makeup on him.

“Yongguk… I’m only going to say this once” He looked at me with wide eyes as I heard the sternness in my voice growing, “He WILL be wearing makeup and you have NO say in it. Our son is having confidence issues, and I’m doing all in my power to help him. If a little makeup will do that than so be it” I finished leaving Yongguk speechless.

He stared at the ground and shoveled out of the bathroom.

I sighed going back over to Zelo.

“I-I don’t wanna do this anymore”

“Why because of the big brute?” I questioned, “Don’t listen to appa he’s stupid”

Zelo giggled.

“There’s nothing wrong with boys wearing makeup, araso?”

I watched him nod as I pulled out the eyeliner.

He grinned almost evilly.

“Eomma~” he trailed off, “c-can you make me look like a k-pop star?” he asked shyly fiddling his fingers together.

I laughed his true intentions of eyeliner showing through.

“Mhmm” I nodded.

10 minutes later Zelo had transformed into a kpop idol. Perfect skin, heavy eyeliner, and I even fixed his hair. I took a step back admiring my work, “Zelo look at you! Jongup won’t know what do with you when he sees you!”

He turned around to look in the mirror while a smile grew from ear to ear, “Daeeebak~”

He hopped off the counter and took me into his signature bone crushing hug, “thank you hyung!”

“Anything for you Zelo” I sang deeply, “Now get your backpack and head off to school, and don’t forget to say goodbye to your father… even though he’s an idiot, but he’s still your father”

Zelo nodded and kissed my forehead, “Thank you eomma… really” With that he ran out of the bathroom.

“Kids” I scoffed though inside it really meant a lot to me. I was happy that I could help his little “episode” last night.

I went along with my daily routine as I got ready for school myself. Heading out into the kitchen I saw Yongguk at the kitchen table holding his cup of coffee.

“Ready? I’ll drive you to school today” He smiled.

“You should really apologize to Zelo” I said ignoring his comment while I watched his smile transfigure into a frown, “He cried last night telling me he wasn’t pretty. And then you tell him that he can’t wear makeup… Really Yongguk? You’re supposed to be his parent! Even if he did want to wear makeup just because he wanted to you should let him! You need to be more supportive”

“I know…”

“I mean” he caught me off guard, “what?”

“I know” he said more forcefully.

This took me by surprise. I waited for him to elaborate.

“I just want him to be manlier… Worrying about you because you are…” he looked at me “ the way you are is already enough. I don’t want to worry about him getting bullied, or hit on, or… ” he cringed, “but I realized what you just said to me a little bit ago, and I got to thinkin that I’d rather have Zelo be the way he is. Rather than me force him to be someone I want him to be. If he’s a little bit more feminine than I want, so be it, he’s still mine, and at the end of the day I’ll always be there for him. I just need to make sure he’s careful and let him know he can always call me.”

I ran to Yongguk wrapping my arms around his neck sitting on his lap, “Thank you… thank you so much Gukkie” I went into to kiss his cheek but instead he turned his head (purposely) and he dug his tongue into my mouth.

In the kiss I hit him playfully gaining a grin from his side that made a slight smacking noise of our lips parting.

“Now drive me to school” I ordered.

He laughed, “That was the plan babe”.