Sunbeams shone through the window of Jiyong's big bedroom. A soft breeze played with the snowy white curtains that were hanging above them, making them look like a beautiful ballerina.  

The boy was fast asleep though and so he could not observe the pretty image in his room. But then again, Jiyong prefered his dreams over every miraculous thing in this world, didn't he? He had always been a dreamer anyway. His mind was wandering throughout the whole day and even though it seemed like he was there, his heart had already led him to the gardens of his imagination where everything was simply beautiful. 

Back then, before he had met Youngbae,  the brunette would refuse to acknowledge the existence of this world, his brown eyes being dull and dead as he sat at his desk at school. The other students had thrown pellets of paper at him, had called him names, but he had refused to wake up. Why would he want to live in a world in which he was not accepted anyway? No. He kept dreaming instead. He dreamed on. And one day, he had the most beautiful dream of his life and that dream was named Dong Youngbae. 

The educator knocked softly on the door. "Jiyongie?" He got no response and concluded from that that his protégé was still sleeping. Youngbae smiled. It was no wonder, was it? That boy loved sleeping more than anything and his assumptions were confirmed after he opened the door. carefully not to scare the brunette in the process. Jiyong hated to be woken up from his slumber through loud noises. If he really had to get up, he wanted people to wake him gently. Youngbae walked towards the king sized bed and sat down on the edge of it. His hands automatically went through the soft brown locks and carressed each strand lovingly. The lovely smell of apples invaded the educator's nose. "Jiyong.", he whispered. 

The younger boy's eyelids started to flutter and a small frown was forming on his forehead. The bed felt way to comfortable. It couldn't be time to wake up, right? As far as he remembered, he was in his holidays, so there was no way he had to go to school today.

"It's already 12pm. Don't you want to want to get out of bed?", the educator whispered, still playing with the boy's hair. Jiyong made a strange sound that was similiar to a cat's mewing and Youngbae understood that it was his own way of protesting. He couldn't help but find that utterly adorable. However, Jiyong was still in his deep slumber. Actually, he did not have the heart to wake him up and if he could, he would let him sleep some more but then he remembered how Mrs. Kwon had told him once that too much sleep was not good for her son and so Youngbae tried to think of another way to wake him up.  

The educator watched Jiyong's calm face and his chest, which was raising up and down. Slowly and carefully, he slid his own body next to the brunette's so that he was laying beside him, bending his arm so that he was able to support his head with his palm. Youngbae's other arm crept up on the younger boy's back and he started to draw small circles on it. At first he thought that what he was doing would make the brunette only sleepier but then, he noticed how Jiyong's body started to move slightly. Unconsciously, the educator pulled the slim boy closer to his chest. The apple scent invaded his nostrils again. "Jiyongie.", he called out softly again. The boy reacted as his eyes fluttered open, his vision still blurry from the sleepiness but he recognized the warm body close to his own anyway. The kind of warmth that Youngbae radiated was different from any other warmth. 

Jiyong rubbed his eyes and looked up at the insanely handsome face of his educator. The way his eyes were fixed on him made the brunette's cheeks flush in an instant. He was being watched through lidded eyes and was also being smiled at with those full lips. 

"Good morning, sleepyhead. Or should I say good afternoon?", Youngbae spoke softly and poked Jiyong's nose. 

"Mhm, I wanted to sleep more, Bae. Why do I have to wake up early when there is no school.", the younger boy whined. 

"Because the weather is awesome, Ji. You would not actually want to sleep on such a sunny day, would you?" 

"Yes I would." , Jiyong said pouting, causing the educator to chuckle. 

"You love sleeping way too much. You can sleep when you are old."  Youngbae poked his nose again.

"Why do you always touch my nose, Bae?" , the brunette asked, sulking. 

"Hm, because I like your nose. It's cute." 

"R-really?", Jiyong asked shyly. 

"Yes.", Youngbae drew his face closer and closer to his protégé's until he could see the mesmerizing light brown ring of Jiyong's iris. "Wanna know what else is cute about you?" 

Jiyong blinked his eyes, his face becoming even redder and hotter than before. "What?" His stupid heart was beating again. It hurt. 

"Hm...this!" Suddenly, Youngbae's fingers were on the brunette's sides, tickling Jiyong's most sensitive spots. He heard a whimper from the younger boy that soon turned into a melodic laugh. The educator smiled widely. 

"Bae!", he giggled, "it..it tickles! Ahaha!" 

Youngbae started laughing as if he was the one being tickled . He watched Jiyong's pink face and listened to his angelic voice, his heart feeling warm and fuzzy the whole time. He had finally mercy with the younger boy after his countless pleads, watching him regaining his breath. 

"Ah I laughed so much!", Jiyong said breathlessly, hiding his face in the educator's chest. The latter's fingers were combing through the brown locks again. It had become a habit.  

"That's right, just keep laughing." , Youngbae murmured unconsciously. 

"Hm? I can't hear, Bae." 

"Nevermind. Just get out of bed and have breakfast with me, alright?" 

Jiyong nodded, head still in his educator's chest. What a nice way to wake up. 

Youngbae opened the cupboards in the kitchen. "Say, Jiyong, what would you like? Eggs and bacon or pancakes?"

"Hm.", the brunette boy thought for a while, rubbing his chin as if reflecting about the deeper meaning of life. "I want pancakes. Oh! And with hot cherries on top!", he added excitedly. The boy surely got used to the French way of having breakfast: It had to be sweet!

"Hot cherries?", the educator chuckled, "You really are a gourmet. I don't think your parents have cherries at home." 

"But I only like pancakes with topping!" 

Youngbae went through the cupboards when a long, brown bottle caught his attention. "Is marple syrup okay with you?"

"Is it sweet?" 

"Well, I guess." 

"Then I am okay." 

"Aight, pancakes it is then!" Youngbae grabbed Mrs. Kwon's yellow apron and wore it before collecting the ingredients plus a pan and a bowl. He instructed Jiyong to prepare the table and stay at least one meter away from the hot pan to avoid getting hurt again. 

The educator was about to mix flour with eggs when the doorbell rang. "Hm?" He turned down the heat on the stove and wiped his hands on a dishtowel before making his way to the door. 

"Oh, uh, Madleine!" He had totally forgotten about her. 

The young woman wore a colorful maxi dress and a short denim jacket, as the weather was warm but not really hot. She wore her long, brown and wavy hair down, one thick strand tugged behind her left ear. 

Madleine Mannon and Youngbae had studied together in Paris, a couple of years ago. The two of them used to be really close friends but had less contact after Youngbae had started working for the Kwons. When he met her for the first time on his first day of university, he didn't know how to react to her bubbly personality and short temper. However, after some time, Madleine and he became quite comfortable around each other. 

"Hi Youngbae! I see you have not forgotten about our deal!", Madleine said laughing, pointing a finger at Youngbae's bright yellow apron. 

"Well, who said I had to get dirty?" , the educator responded, grinning. 

"Yeah, whatever. Will you let me in? These books are quite heavy, you know?" , Madleine giggled. 

"Oh, sorry, just hand them to me and come in!" 

"Wow! Nice place! You are lucky, Bae!", Madleine whistled, admiring the modern furniture and paintings in the house as her eyes went everywhere. 

"I really am.", Youngbae said quietly to himself. "The kitchen is over here, just follow me." 

Madleine walked through the long and elegant corridor until the two of them arrived at a even bigger room: the kitchen, that was almost as big as the young woman's flat! Her eyes widened. "Oh my gosh! It's so awesome!". She went to explore every item, every fresh herbal, exotic fruits and vegetables that she had never seen before and - and then there was someone. A boy. He was kneeling and looking for something in the cupboards while his fluffy brown hair hopped from side to side. Madleine knew, this must be Kwon Jiyong, Youngbae's protégé. She became curious. Who was this boy that her friend often spoke about? 

"Hey. Jiyong, right?" 

The brunette flinched when he heard the unfamiliar voice, almost hitting his head against the white cupboard. He stood up slowly in order to see who was greeting him, gripping the edge of his shirt out of nervousness. He was not really ready to talk to a stranger now. 

Madleine opened with the intention to reassure the guy in front of her but as soon as she saw Jiyong's face, she stiffened. The boy's fair skin, brown hair and sparkling eyes fascinated her. He was attractive, beautiful in all ways possible but not to the point that she would swoon over him like she swooned over other guys. She could not explain it. She had never seen someone like this before. 

"Ah, you two have met." , Youngbae interrupted after having put down the books somehwere where they were safe from dirt. He went over to the stunned Jiyong and put his arm around his shoulder. "No need to be shy, Ji. This is one of my friends, Madleine. She is really cool." , the educator said soothingly, smiling first at his protégé,  then at Madleine. 

Youngbae calling her 'cool' made the young woman smile. She slowly went up to the timid boy and gave him her kindest smile and her hand. "Hello Jiyong! It's nice to finally meet you." The younger boy looked at his educator, not being sure what to do. 

"Just greet her.", Youngbae whispered, squeezing his upper arm comfortingly.

The brunette boy just blinked at the woman in front of him for a while, the other two waiting paitiently for his reaction.  Just when the situation was about to become awkwad, Jiyong stepped forward. But instead of shaking Madleine's hand, he bowed to her. After all, his Korean blood was taking over. 

"Nice to meet you, Madleine.", he mumbled quietly. 

The French woman smiled at the brunette.  

She hadn't missed the way Youngbae had been looking at him all the time.