Papa had warned all of us about the Dong family. He asked us not to wander off away from our block, because it was possible to run into them. Papa had found out that the Dongs were eyeing to buy a property within the village. The boys were allowed to go to the park for baseball or go to the Mins and Kims, but aside from that, we were not allowed to galivant around the village. After that birthday dinner at the Nautilus, papa had called the oldies in his office to discuss what happened and to give them instructions on how to properly handle the kind of situation. Baekhyun had gone out pale in the face. I think he got shocked about what he learned. Lay ge was not new when it came to the Dong issue. Back in Hong Kong, he was one of those papa told about the Dongs.

Luhan had the most tired look after they had their meeting with papa. He looked as if the world was about to end. Kris and Xiumin were whispering to each other while they walked out of papa's office. We, the younger ones, were watching a late night TV program in the media room. Papa's office was just beside that room. The oldies had walked inside the media room after the meeting and sat contemplating. They watched the program with us silently. Baekhyun kept muttering something under his breath. Sehun got annoyed and asked.

Sehun: Ge, what did you say?

Baek: Huh?

Sehun: You were saying something, but it was in a rather soft voice.

Baek: I didn't say anything.

Sehun: Then what were you doing? Reciting a voodoo chant?

Baek: Uh...yeah..yeah... I was.

Sehun: Okay. As you say.

But I knew he wasn't. And I knew that Sehun knew he wasn't. I also knew that Baek knew that we knew he wasn't.

Papa had called Kyungsoo to his office the next day, Sunday. He was asked questions regarding the singing invitation that Chagiya offered him. Papa also called Suho to verify if the school event was real. I'm sure papa just wanted to make sure that the invitation was not a front to lure Soo into believing there was a school program, but actually it was a kidnapping plot. Suho ge had explained to papa that he called Song Qian to ask her if it was true. Suho was able to get the contact number for Hui Qiao's school administration. Instead of him calling to confirm, he gave the contact details to papa, so he could make the call himself. We pretended to be passing from the media room to Tao's room so we could hear what they were talking about. It was not my idea but Tao's. As usual. Anyway, I was only dragged in on the plan because Tao had pretended to be needing me to help him with something in their room and he called out. Sehun had lingered just outside the door to papa's office and pretending to be thinking hard about his lessons, because he was holding out an open book in his hand. Kai was not in the house that time. He had gone down to the pool to swim with Chen and Chanyeol. Kris had gone out to the mall to do some personal shopping or whatever with his friends from school. Luhan was in the garage washing his car. Xiumin also had gone out with his friends. And as most weekends, Lay was in their room in front of his piano and laptop. He was probably making new music because his roommates were not in the house. He had the room all to himself. And Baekhyun was out the front lawn and had pulled out a coffee table and chair under a tree. Yup, there was a tree inside the property. It was situated in the corner of the lawn just a little to the right after you entered the gate. Mama had went down to join him and they were probably drinking tea or lemonade under the shade while talking or watching Luhan wash his car.

What we overheard from papa, Suho and Kyungsoo's conversation so far:

Papa: Is this an international school too?

Soo: Yes, papa.

Papa: Hmmm... Alright, hold on. Let me copy down these contact details. Suho?

Suho: Yes pa?

Papa: You said that you're classmates with Hui..Qiao...?

Suho: Uhm...not Hui Qiao papa. Her older sister, Qian.

Papa: Ah. Why are they enrolled in different schools?

Suho: Not really sure. I don't really talk to Qian much in class.

Papa: You said she was a transferee?

Suho: Yes, she is.

Papa: Maybe her course was not offered in the other school. Hmmm. Okay. I'll call the school first thing tomorrow. Remind me, will you?

Suho: Yes pa.

Papa: Kyungsoo.

Soo: Pa...

Papa: I have nothing against you attending school events like this one, but I just want you to be vigilant. Not many people are trustworthy these days. Nevertheless, I would like you to do your best, so practice well.

Soo: Xiexie papa.

Papa: Ah yes. You're welcome. And Suho....you and Luhan should go with Kyungsoo on the event.

Suho: Uhm...

Papa: I don't want him to go alone.

Suho: Of course not, papa. Yes, I'll tell Luhan.

Papa: Where is he, by the way?

Suho: Washing his car?

Papa: Oh. Haoba. Are you doing anything else today?

Suho: Me? Uhm...not really.

Papa: I'm going to Haidian this afternoon. You wanna come?

Suho: Okay.

Papa: How about you Kyungsoo?

Soo: Ah..uhmm...sure.

Papa: I just need to visit someone there. It would be a nice change of atmosphere for you. Although, I can't bring you all with me. I'm just going to drive the S4.

Suho: Okay pa. I'll go with you.

Soo: Me too, I'll go.

When we heard that, Tao and Sehun suddenly grumbled. They wanted to come along too. But as we were supposed to be minding our own business and not eavesdropping, they went inside the media room to vent. I chuckled and went down the stairs. I didn't wanna go to Haidian anyway. I reached the ground floor and went straight to the kitchen and opened the fridge. I found a slice of cake on the top shelf of the fridge and pinched a piece of it. When I tasted it was good, I took it out and went to get a fork and started eating at the kitchen counter. It was almost lunch though. I burped. The househelp who was cooking lunch giggled. I grinned and went to wash down the cake with orange juice. I went to peek what was cooking and the househelp let me peek by opening the soup pan. I guess the oldies who were out will be taking their lunch wherever they were. I dared not go to the backyard where the bully boys were swimming. I didn't wanna be the of their jokes again. I had wanted to go out and spend time with my friends, but Ling Yan wasn't allowed. They had to go visit some relatives. The other girls didn't wanna go without her, so I just stayed at home.

The following week had been a busy one. It was just 2 weeks before the first quarter exams. It was almost Kris ge's birthday. His mom had called and arranged for him to stay with her for a week in Japan. His mom was a fashion designer who was based in Japan and has worked with Kai's mom several times already. If there was one word that I could use to describe his mom, it was "cool." Yup. Kris ge's mom was cool. She didn't make it hard for papa whenever she wanted to spend time with Kris ge. She didn't go barging in our home unannounced and proclaiming she was there to pick up her son. So when she learned that she was going to work with Kai's mom (around 3 years ago), she had called Kris ge to ask Kai how her mom was. When she was told about MK's stubborn attitude towards papa, she pretended she didn't know papa and had a smooth working relationship with MK. But of course, the fashion industry was prone to gossip and heresay. Word spread that Kris ge's mom had been Wu Zun's lover at one time. MK had called Kai about it to verify if Miss "L" was Kris ge's mom. MK just knew papa had other women, but she didn't personally who they were, except mama.

Anyway, because Kris ge was expected to be in Japan during exam week, the school had given him an early examination schedule. He had to study and review every night before his exams. So, it went on for the whole week. He was supposed to go and check the construction site, but because of this, Baekhyun was given the task. Luhan and Xiumin were asked to accompany Baekhyun during Wednesdays and Fridays respectively. Kris had also let Baek use his car after school to be able to go to the construction site. Papa had allowed him to practice driving around the block using Kris ge's car.

Luhan and Xiumin were becoming busy with soccer practice. So every after class, they'd just drive us home, change clothes, then went back to the school's soccer field to practice. Kris was not able to join the basketball practices either. He was found in his room with a lot of books and his laptop in front of him. Suho was tasked to make sure that everyone was accounted for when the clock chimed 6 PM. And always, Tao had been missing between 5 to 6 PM. When Suho called Luhan, the latter confirmed that Tao was inside the car while he drove the maknaes home. It was found out 4 days later, that Tao had been found practicing his skateboarding after he arrived home. He always snuck out and went round the block to practice. He was nothing but thorough. Whenever he was set with a task, he made sure that he did it perfectly. He was not one who would settle for mediocrity.

Papa was kinda livid when he found out that Tao had been sneaking out to practice. He had said that if Tao had asked permission properly, there was no problem. This resulted in papa punishing him by not letting him go anywhere else after school except at home for 4 days (the same number of days he was sneaking out). That meant he couldn't attend two of their skateboard practices the next week. Baekhyun who lead the Wu skateboard sub-team was disappointed that Tao was not able to attend for two days. He told the team captain about Tao being grounded. The team captain was a little disappointed as well, but he thought that since Tao was practicing alone, it meant that he'll still get better even if he was not present for two meetings. Tao couldn't do anything but stay silent and tried going to mama to plead his case. But mama just agreed to what papa had said. He sulked the whole evening when papa announced his sentence, grounded for 4 days. The 4 days he was grounded, he resorted to bugging Kris who was studying for his early exams. The first day of his prison sentence, whenever I passed by the first floor going up or down the stairs, I could hear Kris shooing Tao away from the room.

Kris: Zitao. Go away. You are bothering me. You are making me lose my concentration.

Tao: Gege...

Kris: Please. Qing. Juseyo. Jebal. If I flunk my exams you're gonna pay.

Tao: I'm bored. Can we play on the XBox?

Kris: Not now, orz. Go away. Argghhhhhh... If you're not going to stop, I'm going to call papa and have you shipped to Afghanistan.

Tao: You are so cruel. Hmmpff..

Kris: Close the door when you go out.

Tao: Fine.

Kris: Do not slam the door, Zitao. Grrrr...

SLAM!

Kris: I swear I'm gonna hang you upside down, Zitao!!!

And I heard Tao laughing and play basketball inside the house. I was doing my homework that afternoon after class and he didn't do his, he tried to bug Kris earlier and now he was throwing pillows from the couch to the floor over one of the chairs. Papa was not home and mama had just called that she'd be home late. Mama had resumed going to her classes on regular days, so she was not home during the weekdays starting this week. The househelp had gone to stand by the living room couches and waited until all the throw pillows were on the other side of the chair before she picked it up and re-arranged them on the seats. Tao would pick them up again and throw them as if he was shooting a three pointer.

"And Zitao scores! Yayyy! Three points!"

If mama or papa was home, or even Luhan, he won't be able to do that. He'd be scolded and asked to do household chores. But as it was a normal day...meaning, no oldies...he was able to play to his heart's content. It was always like this during school term, anyway. Papa and mama away. Luhan, Kris and Xiumin either busy with other responsibilities and just checking up on us every now and then, so it was up to us younger kids to entertain ourselves the way we knew how. If Suho was home, he'd have asked the househelp to leave the throw pillows on the floor, go about her chores and leave Tao to pick the pillows by himself. If Luhan was home, he'd ask Tao to pick up the pillows and change the pillowcases and go to the laundry room to wash the ones he took off. If Xiumin was home, he'd automally ask Tao to go out and mow the lawn or vaccuum the carpet, etc. The pillows would be forgotten on the floor and Luhan would then shout to Tao that he needed to change the pillowcases and wash the soiled ones. And since Kris ge was home but busy, if he was not busy, he'd had played basketball with Tao with the pillows and there would be no laundry nor vaccuuming the carpet. However, if he got home and was feeling bossy, he'd tell Tao to stop playing and wash his car as punishment. With that in mind, I wondered how Lay and Baekhyun would exercise their authority once the oldies would have gone to college.

I imagined Lay would be the passive type. He'd be like Xiumin in the sense that he'd go directly to the punishment before correcting the mistake. LOL. And I imagined Baekhyun to be just like Kris. Bossy type of gege. But he'd be a mix between Kris and Luhan, that he'd be asking the one who made the blunder to correct it first, then give a punishment.

"What's for dinner?"

That made me turn my head around to the sound of his voice. Kris ge had gone down the stairs and going straight to the kitchen to check what was for dinner. The other househelp, who was not waiting by Tao, was just preparing the ingredients for the food, and Kris picked up a knife and attempted to slice the tomatoes. He laughed when his tomato was squished instead of sliced. He picked it up and ate it instead. Then he opened the fridge and rummaged to get a new one and replace it on the table. He mouthed an apology to the househelp who just smiled and bowed. Tao had stopped shooting imaginary hoops with the pillows as soon as he heard Kris. He threw a pillow at Kris and it hit him in the back. "Enemy annihilated. Mission accomplished," Tao had announced. Kris picked up the pillow and lunged it at Tao who dodged and laughed. Kris didn't go back up the stairs. He went to sit on the couch opposite Tao and reached for the TV remote with his long arm. Kyungsoo walked in from the back door. He had stayed outside doing his homework for peace and quiet. Chen had stayed in his room to do his homework. The other boys were still in school; Luhan and Xiumin soccer practice, Suho with his homeroom meetings. Lay had gone to a classmate's house to do group study. Baekhyun, Chanyeol, Sehun and Kai were in skateboard team practice.

On Friday afternoon, papa had asked Luhan to come with him to his office. Papa told him to dress appropriately, which meant he was supposed to wear a suit instead of casual clothes. Papa said he wanted to properly introduce Luhan to his colleagues as his next in line at the business. He had also asked Xiumin and Kris to dress as appropriately as well. It meant that they were there to be the second in command once Luhan takes papa's place. Mama was still in Med school and Suho had to stay for a little longer in school because of the theater arts guild was preparing for a production for the upcoming holidays. Kai had to stay behind as well, since he was part of the dance team. Chen, who auditioned for the theater arts guild was asked to stay. There was no official confirmation that he was part of the team already, but nevertheless, we considered it as already a confirmation. The president of the theater guild had personally asked Chen to stay after class for the meeting.

Papa had called the three oldest boys that morning and told them that after lunch, they were expected to get ready to go to papa's office. Papa delegated Suho to take over us younger kids. But since he had to stay after class in the afternoon, he asked Lay and Baekhyun to take care of us younger kids. That meant the ones who'd be home would be Lay, Baekhyun, Chanyeol, Soo, Tao, Sehun and me. We couldn't fit in Lay's car, so Kris had allowed to let Baekhyun drive his car home. He hitched a ride with Luhan going home after lunch. Papa had excused Baekhyun from going to the construction site that afternoon because there was no one else to go with him. Papa had said that Lay had a different task, so overseeing the construction was not his job.

So, there we were at home. We didn't know what time mama would come home or the others. We just knew that papa and the oldies would not be having dinner with us at home. It was a given that they'd be having dinner with businessmen. Rubbing elbows with the wealthy men of Beijing, that was Xiumin's words. He had chuckled after he said it and tried to rub his nose using his elbow. Kris had scoffed and commented that it didn't mean rubbing your nose with the other's elbow or vice versa. Xiumin just shrugged and laughed again. Luhan had sat up straight and looked as if he was reciting a sort of ritual in his head. His eyes didn't move, but his lips was muttering something. Xiumin had snapped his fingers in front of Luhan's face. That was when he blinked twice and looked confused. I bet he just felt nervous. It was sort of another step closer to adulthood. In a year or two, he'd be expected to take over some of the business for papa.

Lay and Baekhyun were in charge that afternoon at home. Neither knew what to do, so they just left us to do what we wanted to do. I went to my room to read my lessons. I didn't have much homework because of the upcoming exams. All I had to do that night was study for my exams. I didn't know what the others were doing because for a couple of hours since we got home, it was quiet.

My phone beeped. I checked it and saw a text message from Yue. She told me that she would be absent on Monday, so she won't be able to take care of her group in English Literature. She asked if I can help her by taking in her group for that day. I had said yes, I'd help her. She then said that I won't have a problem with her group because they'd practically listen to me since I had Jungkook and Taehyung in my group. She said that most of her girl groupmates had a crush on the two. I felt a little jealous knowing someone else liked Jungkook. Then I kind of smiled when I imagined someone liking Taehyung. He was nice, except only a little careless sometimes. He didn't have qualms speaking out his mind. He reminded me of Baekhyun and Sehun...well, more like Baekhyun actually. I wondered how his hyungs can tolerate his being mischievous. I was woken up from my reverie when I heard a scream and found myself in total darkness.

"AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! GEGEEEE!!! MAMAAAAA!!!"

That was Tao. I was sure of it. I pressed a button on my phone to lighten my way as I stood up from my bed and went to the door. When I got out, I saw that the whole house was in total darkness. Tao was in the bathroom when the lights went out. I heard Baekhyun tripping on the stairs going up and swearing so loudly. I was just glad that none of the oldies or mama and papa were home to hear him say those expletives.

Baekhyun: STAY WHERE YOU ARE! WAIT!

Tao: I'm not going anywhere. OH MY GOD!!! Hurry up!!!

Baek: Do you have your phone with you? Turn it on orz.

Tao: NO. WHY WOULD I BRING MY PHONE IN HERE?

I didn't have a flashlight. Bummer. But I kept my phone's backlight on, so the light won't go out. I heard Lay bump into the doorframe as he opened the door and hurry out. He was holding a flashlight in one hand and rubbing his knee with the other, when I saw him.

Lay: You alright, Xiao Yi?

Me: Yes, ge.

Lay: Come here, let's go down. We don't know what's going on.

Chanyeol: Ge, wait up. Wait. I don't have a flashlight.

Lay: Okay.

And the three of us made our way to the first floor. When we reached the first floor, Sehun and Soo were seated on the floor near the stairs. They were waiting for someone to find them. Baekhyun had found his way to their room to rescue Tao who was already sobbing. Lay asked us to stay together while he went to help Baekhyun.

A few minutes later, the three of them emerged with Baekhyun in a panicked face. Lay was the opposite. It was as if it was a normal day for him. He looked calm enough, but in actuality, he didn't know what to do. Tao's eyes were swollen from crying. Sehun had muttered, "Crybaby..." and lowered his head when he saw Tao glare at him. With only the light from the flashlight, Tao's eyes looked like cat's eyes and it was fiery when he glared at Sehun.

Lay then had ushered us to go down the stairs and stay in the living room. The househelp hadn't gone home yet. They were lighting candles in the kitchen when we reached the ground floor. Lay addressed one of them.

Lay: Do you know what happened?

HH: No, I'm sorry young master. It just suddenly turned dark. The other houses also lost power.

Lay: Okay. Can you please stay until the lights are back on?

HH: Yes, young master.

Lay: Xiexie.

It was a good 15 mi nutes before the lights were back on. Tao had sighed loudly when the electricity was back. Baekhyun immediately turned the TV on to check on the news. If the other houses also lost power, then it was not just a house-wiring problem.

So, there was a fire. But where exactly? No news as to how and where the fire was...or if it was already exringuished. Baekhyun immediately got up from his seat and hurried outside the door. He ordered us to stay where we were as he checked outside for any traces of the fire near our home.

Lay: Do you think it's our house?

Sehun: I don't think so. Our house is almost at the end of the residential area.

Lay: But it said near the residential area...

Sehun: Not the end of the residential area, ge. Please don't think it's our house. It's not even finished yet.

Lay: I was just thinking, you know.

Me: If it was our house, do you wanna go and check?

Lay: That is not a good idea, Xiao Yi. Papa will kill us if we go and get near that fire.

Me: I was just thinking too...

Lay: Aish. Let's just hope it's not our house.

And he stood up and went to the door to follow Baekhyun.

Chanyeol: I was almost stripping down to take a bath when the lights went off.

Tao: I was already taking a bath.

Chanyeol: Why did you scream? It's just a blackout.

Tao: It was dark and I felt someone was looking at me.

Chanyeol: Nobody would see you. Duh. It was dark.

Tao: Not a person, hyung. But something else.

Chanyeol: It's just your imagination, Tao.

Tao: Was not.

Sehun: Who's scarier, that ghost or Kyungsoo?

Tao: *side glance at Soo*

Soo: I will haunt you in your sleep if you don't stop bullying me.

Tao: I was only looking at you.

Soo: You are not allowed to look at me.

Sehun: Do we need your permission to look at you?

Soo: Yes.

Tao: I don't need your permission. My eyes see what it wants to see.

Soo: Then, I also don't need your permission to haunt you anytime I want.

Tao: Okay fine. I won't look at you now. Just now.

Soo: Grrr...

Chanyeol: Shhhhzzz...Do you have your phones with you?

Me: I have mine here.

Chanyeol: I bet papa will have learned about this already and will call anytime now.

Me: But he'd call either Lay or Baek?

Chanyeol: Oh...yeah...orz...hey...why don't you call papa instead?

Me: And what?

Chanyeol: Tell him we're okay.

Me: You call, not me. I don't wanna be scold.

Chanyeol: Sheesh. You're chicken, Xiao Yi.

Me: I'm not chicken.

Chanyeol: Then go call papa.

Sehun: Why call papa and get scold when you can call mama instead?

Chanyeol: Yeah...good point.

Sehun had grabbed my phone and dialled mama's number. He waited until mama answered her phone. He reclined on the couch and hugged a throw pillow. Tao was making no noise on an armchair, hugging another pillow. Baek and Lay had not gone back. They were probably checking outside with the neighbors about what happened. The househelp had resumed their work in preparing for our dinner. Chanyeol made weird gestures with his mouth as he watched Sehun.

Sehun: Mama! Did you hear? It was a fire. I don't know, but we're okay. Baek and Lay ge are out checking. No. Inside the house. Okay. Okay. No. But Tao cried. Heheheehh. Please hurry home mama.

After the call, he gave me back my phone. There was a text message icon on the notification bar. I checked it. It was from Jungkook. He had asked if we experienced the blackout as well. I sent him a reply.

Me: "Yes, we experienced the blackout. Do you know about the fire?"

JK: "What fire?"

Me: "It was in the news on TV. They said that a fire caused the blackout."

JK: "Oh, we just arrived home a few minutes. We were on the road when the lights went off."

Me: "Did you pass any areas where there was a fire?"

JK: "Nope. No fire. Maybe somewhere else. We didn't pass by the usual route because we had to do grocery shopping."

Me: "Oh. Then it means it's not our house that caught fire."

JK: "Why? What did the news say?"

Me: "It said that the fire alarm was raised near the Fengtai residential area."

JK: "Whoa. Really? Good thing we didn't pass there. We might have taken a longer time getting back home. Anyway, are you okay?"

Me: "Yes, we are okay."

JK: "You didn't get scared or anything like that?"

Me: "Scared? No. Why would I be scared?"

JK: "You know, because it just suddenly went dark and all...then you were probably alone in your room."

I laughed out loud at that. No, I didn't get scared, Kookie. As a matter of fact, it was Tao ge who screamed in fright. Not me. Hahahah. My brothers looked at me suspiciously. Uh-oh. If Sehun asked me if it was Jungkook, Chanyeol would probably freak out. I improvised.

Me: Yue had asked if the fire was near here. So I told her no. I also told her Tao ge screamed, though.

Liar, Xiao Yi. I laughed to myself. I needed a sister right that moment. If wishes were granted right away, I bet the boys would be shocked to see an instant sister in front of them. I tried to act casual, as if my lie was the truth. I went on to exchange text messages with Jungkook. I curled up on the couch.

Me: "I don't get scared even if I'm alone. Even if it's dark."

JK: "What if you were in a haunted house? Would you be scared?"

Me: "Nope."

JK: "Cool. So, since Halloween is almost near, can you prove that you're not scared by going with me to the horror house?"

Me: "Geez. Maybe you'll be the one screaming your lungs out. Ha. Ha. Ha."

JK: "What would I get if I don't scream?"

Me: "I'd treat you for lunch?"

JK: "That's a good deal. Do you know what I would give you if you prove to me you don't get scared easily?"

Me: "What is it?"
 

JK: "I'd be your slave for a day. Good deal?"

Me: "Hahaha! Are you sure?"

JK: "Yes, I'm sure. But if you lose, you should do something for me."

Me: "Hmmm...like what?"

JK: "Be my slave for a day."

Me: "Okay. Deal. But how about if you lose?"

JK: "Be your slave for two days?"

Me: "Ah...an upsize of your win? Haha. Sure, deal."

JK: "Any rules on being slave for a day?"

Me: "Nothing exaggerated okay?"

JK: "Alright. How about paying for lunch, carry the other's stuff, and hmm...doing one homework."

Me: "Nothing exaggerated and you ask for homework?"

JK: "Alright, then change the terms and conditions."

Me: "Haoba. Homework it is. Fine, fine. But don't give me your math homework."

JK: "Are you already conceding now?"

Me: "NO! Just saying if in case I lose. But I won't lose."

JK: "What if we both lose?"

Me: "I won't lose."

But deep inside, I was also wondering the same thing. What if we both lose? I'd treat him for lunch and I'd get to be his slave for a day. Well, both of us would be slaves of each other. Only that, he would be my slave for two days. That sounded like fun. He'd get to do one of my homeworks for two days. Hahaha. I smiled at the thought.

"Mama!"

Mama had appeared on the front door with Lay and Baekhyun behind her. Tao ran to hug her. She swept her gaze on each of us inside the house and exhaled in relief. She then hugged each one of us before she sat on the couch. She took out her phone and dialled papa's number. It turned out that papa already knew about the news and was about to call Baekhyun. He just got off from the meeting and was going to have dinner with his colleagues at one of the downtown restaurants. Luhan, Kris and Xiumin were still with him. Papa and mama talked for a while on the phone while we listened. He was assured that the situation was under control when mama told him that all of us at home were okay, no one got hurt or anything, and that the fire was far from home. Mama had assured papa that they could go ahead and have dinner with the rest of his colleagues, but papa insisted that they just went home and have dinner with us. He just wanted to make sure everyone was alright.

A few minutes after mama made that call, Suho and the other boys got back home. They looked worried as Suho hastily parked his car. Chen and Kai got out and slammed the car door and ran inside the house. Mama had calmed the three down and told them what was on the news. She had resumed to watching the news on TV and the updates were reported. The fire was declared out just a few minutes when the alarm was raised. No major damages were reported. It was a property just outside the residential area. It was a commercial building and no one was reported dead or injured.

Knowing that there were more people in the house, Tao had been more confident and went back upstairs to resume his bath. Chanyeol followed suit and went upstairs to our floor. Mama went up to change her clothes and the three other boys who just came home from school. The table had been set for dinner. Mama instructed the househelp that papa and the three oldest boys were having dinner with us instead. Papa and the three arrived about 35 minutes after. He called the village staff to get ask questions about the recent situation.

The three oldies didn't bother to change back to house clothes, instead, had dinner with their suits on. It felt like we were having dinner with guests. Papa hadn't gone to change his clothes either before dinner. Mama changed the topic from the fire to how the older boys looked dapper in their suits. Papa commended them as well. He was proud to have introduced his three oldest sons to his colleagues. Even if papa already introduced them in Hong Kong, it was only today that he formally introduced Luhan as his next in line and Xiumin and Kris the second in command. Also, their Beijing office had new employees and they didn't know who our brothers were. Papa also mentioned that Kim Seokjin was with his papa, as was Min Yoongi. Then, it suddenly dawned on me that the ones who probably went to the grocery with Jungkook were only J and Jimin.

Papa commended Lay and Baekhyun for showing they could take on older brother responsibilities already. He reminded the two that it won't be long when they'd be expected to do more and have more responsibilities. They just responded with a "Yes, papa" everytime papa said something to them. We, the younger kids just listened and looked from papa to each of the older ones. It was like we were playing eye-tennis. Head turn left...right...left...right...

Papa: I'll be leaving for South Korea next week. I'll be there for about 2 weeks. I will need you all to listen to your mama and your Luhan da ge. As Kris will be in Japan a week after next, Xiumin, I ask you help Baekhyun with his task. You, too Luhan. I'm saying this in front of you all because I want you to know I'm serious with wanting you all to behave properly. I will have no more of the reports about meeting undesirable people in public places. Suho, if Luhan can't take your younger brothers and Xiao Yi home, I trust you do that. And Lay, I trust you help with that as well.

Papa eyed the bullies and contemplated a bit before speaking again.

Papa: Chen. I don't want to receive a text message from Kyungsoo that you are bullying him again. Chanyeol, hmmm...same thing. Same goes for you Tao...Kai... I also don't want to hear about you making your little sister cry. I know, Sehun. You don't bully your little sister. But please try to minimize your banter with Tao and Kai. Or no skateboard team for you all.

Baekhyun was about to comment, but Suho who saw him abou to open his mouth, pressed his finger to his lips and shook his head at Baek.

Papa: I won't be here during your singing engagement, Kyungsoo. But Luhan and Suho will be with you. Do well, okay? And let me just get this straight. No one...not one of you must have any contact with any of the Dongs. May it be the father, mother or daughter or whoever. Just one more toe out of line from any one of them, I won't hesitate to file a case against them for harassment. Don't give your mama a headache.

All 13 of us: Yes, papa.

Blackout and Tao screaming. I'm actually sad because he's been injured while filming for Law of the Jungle. He updated his Mei Pai with him singing Rainy Day. Reminds me of Yifan's Time Hushes All Memories (Time Boils the Rain). TaoRis and Rain. It breaks my heart knowing he is sad and that he misses someone so much. I'd like to believe he misses Yifan much. I just hope he will get well as soon as possible. Anyway, here's me spreading Wu love to all of you. ♥♥♥  吴爱你们！我爱你们！(Wu Ai Nimen! Wo Ai Nimen!) ☺