The six of them, four adults and two boys, sat together in the most awkward silent. Siwon had expected for the teacher to begin the conversation because isn't that what teachers in this kind of parents – teachers meeting should do?

But apparently not Cho-sensei. The man merely looked and read some papers while the three parents exchanged uncomfortable glances with each other. Neither of them knew what to say. The two boys remained quiet. Changmin was looking at the floor, a scowl on his face as if he wanted to run away from that place as soon as possible. While Junsu still hadn’t emerged from his hiding place. He had buried his head on Yunho’s neck and hadn’t looked up since.

Siwon cleared his throat uncomfortably, “Cho-sensei, should we-?”

“Your son pushed Junsu, made him cry, and broke his arm,” Cho-sensei cut him short, “What do you make of it Choi-san?”

“….he didn’t mean to push Junsu,” Siwon answered after a brief moment of hesitation. He wasn’t prepared for the teacher to interrupt his words just like that and it caught him off guard for a while. This Cho-sensei was certainly used to get everything he wanted by his own way. How rude, Siwon frowned. Unconsciously, a tendril of doubt began creeping in his mind. With a behavior like this, is this man really capable of teaching the kids? Or will he be a bad influence instead?

The teacher gave Siwon a long stare, cocked his head to the side and raised an eyebrow, “Yes that’s what he also told me yesterday.” The words were polite, but the tone was anything but. Cho-sensei heard what Changmin said, and it looked like he didn’t believe a single thing about that. 

Siwon felt an irritation built up inside him. “What are you implying?” It’s no wonder Changmin didn’t like this new teacher; even Siwon himself didn’t like him. He mildly wondered what this Cho-sensei said to Changmin’s grandmother until that woman practically gave him first-rated approval.

Cho-sensei gave him a square look, like he was calculating and challenging Siwon’s protectiveness towards Changmin. Somehow that only made Siwon angrier. Who was this teacher to judge him and Changmin? Even the boy’s previous teacher wasn’t this irritating. Changmin was his son for goodness’ sake so it was only natural that Siwon was protective towards him. But this teacher? What gave him the right to do so?

It was Jaejoong who finally broke the tension. He coughed once, successfully gaining the attention from everyone in the room. Well, except Junsu, because the boy was still hiding his face. “Cho-sensei,” Siwon heard Jaejoong said, “Junsu is fine. These things happen, especially with kids, no harm’s done.”

Cho-sensei whirled around to face Jaejoong. Siwon had expected the teacher to be as hostile as he was with him, but Cho-sensei was practically glowing right now. He was all smile and politeness. “I understand Mr. Kim, and thankfully Junsu is fine. But he got his arms broken. Junsu is always a sweet kid, he speaks a lot but he hasn’t said a word since he came in.”

Siwon thought he saw Junsu stiffening. Yunho’s hand that had been rubbing Junsu’s back nonstop suddenly stopped moving. 

Yunho then spoke, worry in his tone. “Sweetie? What is it?”

Junsu shook his head slightly and Siwon couldn’t help but be reminded by how similar Junsu was to Changmin. They were both stubborn when they wanted to, and the way they sulked was just so similar with each other. If they were friends, they must be arguing all the time. Which perhaps that’s how Changmin broke Junsu’s arm; maybe they were fighting for real.

Siwon frowned at that. He didn’t like Changmin fighting. Well, as a boy of course Changmin would fight sometimes, maybe he even needed to fight, but that doesn’t mean that Siwon would like it. Not everything could be resolved by violence and that would never be Changmin’s preference anyway. The boy was anything but violent. Up until now he was still using pouts to get everything done his way, but sooner or later he’d learn how to throw polite insults and sharp words.

Although actually, who could have resisted Changmin’s cuteness when he’s pouting?

“Daddy?” he heard Changmin whispered. Siwon was startled; he didn’t realize that he was losing his focus on this meeting. Turning, he saw his son was looking at him worriedly; an adorable frown was on his face. “Are you alright?”

Siwon gave his son a reassuring smile. “Yes of course I am.” 

Changmin still looked unconvinced however, he was still frowning. So out of habit Siwon picked his son up and sat him on his lap. Changmin immediately wrapped his arms around his father and hid in his favorite place: on the crook of Siwon’s neck. Siwon couldn’t help but laugh. His son was so adorable sometimes.

He hugged the boy’s small body and kissed the fragrant hair that still smelled like a shampoo. Gazing around the room, he saw now that Cho-sensei was looking at him again, but with a different glint this time. It wasn’t judging anymore, but satisfaction, as if he had just confirmed something.

Jaejoong had somehow managed to coax Junsu to stop hiding and now he was talking to the boy in indulging tone. Siwon couldn’t hear what they were talking about but it had Junsu giggling, and a bright, cheerful grin blossomed up on Junsu’s face. It was really bright like it could light up the room. 

Yunho then whispered something on Junsu’s ear that had the boy to stop smiling and pouted instead. Oh damn it, the pout was really really cute. Siwon somehow felt bad to his son. No wonder Cho-sensei liked Junsu more than he did to Changmin. The boy’s smile could melt anyone’s heart and his pout was an even mightier weapon.

After thinking for a while, Junsu suddenly nodded and hopped down Yunho’s lap. He was walking to Changmin and reached up, patted him using his good arm. “Changminie,” Siwon heard Junsu spoke, “Let’s play lego together later, okay?”

Those words worked like magic because Changmin immediately looked behind. He blinked once, like he wasn’t sure that Junsu was really talking to him or maybe he was just dreaming it, but then Junsu nodded encouragingly and smiled. 

Changmin wiggled around on his father’s lap until he was fully turned to face Junsu. He frowned, and Siwon knew that his son was thinking about this. He nudged Changmin slightly and the boy turned to him with an accusing look. Siwon stared back, giving his son a pointed stare that had Changmin to hop down so that he was on the same level as Junsu. They were making up somehow, if Changmin agreed to play with Junsu. 

Siwon prayed that his son would say yes. Otherwise the teacher would dislike him even more.

Finally Changmin answered. “Why do we have to play lego? Can’t we play gundam instead?”

 

Later in the afternoon, Siwon walked towards the school’s gate. The meeting, if it could be called that, was over and now they were all ready to go home. The two boys were running ahead of the adults, but Siwon was proud to see Changmin being mindful of Junsu’s broken arm. 

“We adopt him,” Jaejoong suddenly said.

Siwon was a bit surprised. He was too focused looking at the two boys until he didn’t realize that Jaejoong was walking besides him. Cursing inwardly, Siwon made a mental note to pay more attention to his surroundings. “I’m sorry?” 

The other man smiled. “Yunho always loves kids and I want him to be happy so we go for adoption. We found Junsu in an orphanage and his smile is so beautiful we fell in love with him as soon as we saw it. We asked the lady in charge and at that same day, Junsu began to live with us.”

“Oh.” Siwon didn’t know how to respond to that.

Jaejoong laughed, he put a pale hand on his mouth as if he was being embarrassed. “I’m sorry, I don’t know why I tell you all this. I guess I’m just…being swept by the moment.” An adoration look settled on his face as he looked at Junsu, and Siwon recognized that look. It was the same one he himself wore whenever he was looking at his son. Siwon knew that Junsu was a lucky kid, too few adoptions ended well after all.

“I hope Junsu’s arms will get heal soon.”

“It will. Thank you. Well, we should get going,” Jaejoong said as soon as Yunho and Cho-sensei walked closer to the gate. “It’s been really nice to meet you.”

Siwon nodded and bowed slightly. “The pleasure is mine.” He said the same thing to Yunho later. He then watched the two men fetched Junsu, and soon it was only Changmin who played in the sandbox. The boy looked much better than how he did this morning. Siwon sighed in relief. Finally this mess was cleared up.

The only doubt remaining was the problem with Cho-sensei. The man hadn’t said much, and when he did he was hostile. Or at least towards Siwon he was hostile (it was obvious that he was perfectly capable to be polite because he was towards Yunho and Jaejoong). So why there was such difference?

He looked towards the teacher whom was also gazing at the sandbox, also watching Siwon’s son.

As if sensing what Siwon was thinking about, Cho-sensei turned to him. “Changmin is a smart boy. Sometimes he’s naughty but that’s normal. He also catches things very quickly, and kind towards others in his own unique way. You have a wonderful son.”

Siwon was startled. He had expected more scathing remarks from the teacher and definitely not this. For a moment he was caught off guard once again by Cho-sensei. That’s twice in one day. “Thank you,” he said at last.

At the back of his mind, he wondered: maybe he had judged Cho-sensei too early. The man was fairly pleasant now. Maybe Cho-sensei wasn’t so irritating unlike the first they had met. Maybe he could be a good teacher for Changmin after all.

What Siwon hadn’t realized was, Cho Kyuhyun would be so much more than just a teacher for Changmin, and also for Siwon himself.



-End of Chapter Four-