Junhyung’s POV

We headed to the Hangang Park after having fun in the Teddy Bear Museum. We rented bicycles and I taught Ji Eun how to cycle on a two-wheel while Tae Hyun zoom around the area skillfully with Haneul.

“Appa! Are you still behind!?” Ji Eun yelled as she tried to balance herself.

“Yes.” I said, folding my arms across my chest, watching her cycle on her own.

“Don’t let go!” She said.

“Holding tight.” I said.

“Liar~” Haneul suddenly whispered behind me, shocking me.

“Omo~ I have a weak heart!” I said, pulling her close to me.

“APPA LET GO!!!” Ji Eun yelled.

“I did that long ago!” I yelled back.

“What!?” She turned back to look at me.

She screamed when she lost balance.

“Goodness..” I mumbled as I ran towards her, catching her as she and the bicycle crashed onto me.

“Are you alright?” I asked her as she climbed off me.

She nodded, although a little shaken.

“Are you okay!?” Haneul asked, carrying Ji Eun away and pulling the bicycle away from me.

“Yea, I am fine.” I said, dusting the dirt off my arms.

“Who cushions someone else’s fall like that?” She frowned, checking me for injuries.

“Me?” I smiled.

“You got a cut there.” She pouted, touching my elbow lightly.

“It’s fine.” I said.

“Ji Eun, are you okay?” I asked.

She nodded.

“It’s alright to fall. Once you fell, you’ve mastered it.” I said.

She looked at me, confused. Haneul smacked my arm, frowning at me.

“Isn’t it true? Try it again.” I said to Ji Eun.

She looked at the bicycle, biting her lower lip.

“Don’t trust me?” I asked, standing up.

“Scared.” She pouted.

“Come on, Princess. I am here to catch you.” I said, holding the bicycle for her to climb up.

“Go on.” Haneul encouraged her.

She reluctantly got on the bicycle. She struggled a little, wobbling here and there before she finally went flying off like nobody’s business.

“WOAH!!! GO JI EUN!!!” Haneul and I cheered like fans.

“APPA!! UMMA!! BYE BYE!!” She screamed as she cycled towards her brother.

“Let’s go cycle too.” I said, pulling Haneul along.

We cycled slowly, balancing the bicycle with one hand while intertwining our hands together.

“We’ll tell it to them later.” I said as we cycled, letting the breeze hit our face.

“Mmmm..” She mumbled.

“I’ll do it.” I said.

She looked at me.

“I’ll do it.” I repeated.

“Why?” She asked.

Haneul’s POV

“Because I foresee you bursting into tears even before you say a single word.” He laughed.

“Ya, ya~” I smiled.

I knew why he wanted to do it thou. It wasn’t because I would burst into tears. But because if things turn ugly, and since it was him who said it, it would be him Ji Eun and Tae Hyun hate, not me.

“Why not we do it together?” I suggested, not wanting him to hold all the burden on his own.

He shrugged his shoulders.

“Junroro..” I called out as we sat down on the ground, watching Tae Hyun and Ji Eun have fun.

“What?” He said in a dragged voice.

“Why are you so nice to me?” I asked.

“That’s a really difficult question to answer. Let’s see… Firstly, you attracted me the moment you snapped at me, and then I couldn’t pull myself out anymore. We have to dig deeper because it’s so weird, usually people don’t get attracted to the other after they got scolded. Maybe somewhere in my head, there’s this weird nerve that snapped or something. Or maybe, in short, I love you?” He said, looking into my eyes.

He leaned forward to kiss me on my lips. After kissing for a while, I bit his lips. “MMPHFF!!” He pulled away and frowned.

“Why!?” He pouted.

“Sorry. It was yelling at me to bite.” I giggled, touching his lips where I bit him.

“Don’t pout, or else, I’ll not be able to control my mouth and start biting you.” I squashed his cheeks.

We sat in each other’s embrace, enjoying the silence as we watch the two cycle around.

“What’s the time now?” I asked.

“10.30PM.” He said.

“So fast…” I mumbled, feeling the cringe in my heart.

“Let’s tell them.” He said.

“What? Now? Why?” I grabbed the sleeve of his shirt.

“It’s now or never, Lionny. We can’t possibly tell it to them tomorrow, right?” He said.

“But… But… I am scared…” I mumbled.

“I know, me too.” He said, cupping his hands over mine.

His usually warm hands were icy cold, and he was also shaking slightly.

“But we have to do it.” He said.

I nodded.

“It’ll be okay.” He assured me.

He stood up and went over to them. He told them something and then they started cycling towards me while Junhyung walked behind them.

Ji Eun and Tae Hyun got off their bicycles, sitting in front of me. I looked at Junhyung who sighed before sitting down.

“Did you all have fun today?” He asked, wiping the sweat of their foreheads with his hands.

They nodded, giggling as he poked them.

“Erm…” He started.

“Yes, Appa?” Tae Hyun asked.

“Alright. Listen okay. I… We… have something to tell you two.” He said.

“Are you and Umma getting married?” Ji Eun asked, giggling with her palm covering .

Tae Hyun burst into laughter as well.

I could feel my cheeks and ears burn up. Junhyung’s cheeks were a dark shade of red too.

“No no no! How old are you to be talking about marriage? What do you know about getting married?” I said.

“Appa loves you, and you love Appa. So you two get married. Isn’t it?” Ji Eun said innocently.

If it wasn’t for the news that we were going to break to them, it would have been hella sweet to hear something like that.

“We’re not getting married, Ji Eun ah.” Junhyung said after he calmed himself.

“But why?” Ji Eun pouted.

“Not yet.” He said.

“Does that mean there will be a chance you and Umma will get married?” Tae Hyun asked.

Why can’t they just stop talking about marriage!? Hearing it from two kids is so embarrassing. It is more pressurizing that adults asking us when are we getting married.

“You two would be the first to know if we get married, okay?” Junhyung pinched Tae Hyun’s cheek lightly.

“Ouh… Then… what?” He asked.

“Your Umma came back.” Junhyung said calmly.

“My Umma? She never left.” Tae Hyun said, pointing at me.

“Not me.” I mumbled.

“Your… Your real Umma.” Junhyung said, biting his lower lip.

“Umma is real.” Tae Hyun said, still pointing at me.

I knew he understood, he just did not want to admit.

“Yea, Umma. Oppa is right. You’re real.” Ji Eun said.

“Tae Hyun, look, listen.” Junhyung held onto Tae Hyun’s arms.

“Are you going to send us back?” Tae Hyun asked, pouting and biting his lower lip.

“No no. I mean… If you don’t want to, we wouldn’t. We never would.” Junhyung said.

“I don’t want! Ji Eun doesn’t want too, right?” He asked his sister.

Ji Eun nodded.

“But Tae Hyun, you and Ji Eun would be spending the next week with her.” Junhyung said.

“WHY!? I DON’T WANT!!!” Tae Hyun yelled, kicking Junhyung wildly.

Junhyung did nothing to stop him, even stopping me from stopping the boy. He quietly endured the kicks until Tae Hyun got tired and stop.

Ji Eun crawled onto my lap, hugging me tight.

“Umma… I’ll be a good girl.. Don’t send us away.” She cried.

I looked at Junhyung who seemed as out of it as I am.

The ride back was a quiet one. When we arrived, Junhyung got out to help them unbuckle their seat belts.

He squat down to their level, smiling at them.

“Remember what I said just now at the Seoul Tower?” He asked.

“We’ll forever be a family… no matter what happens..” Ji Eun mumbled.

“That’s right. So no matter where you are, or where I am, or where Haneul umma is, we’ll always be a family and nothing will change that fact. We wrote down our names on the padlock and locked it together, didn’t we?” He said.

Ji Eun nodded slightly while Tae Hyun just looked angry.

“And I’ll always love the both of you. So would Haneul, Ahjumma, Jace and the other members of Beast.” He said, pulling them into a tight embrace.

He let them go and stood up.

“Thank you.” I mumbled as he kissed me on my forehead.

“Alright! Go on it~” He said, forcing a smile, but I could see tears welling up in his eyes.

Junhyung’s POV

I waved at them before turning around to head for my car. My head was starting to hurt from holding back my tears.

Just as I was about to step into my car, a weight crashed onto the back of my legs, hugging my legs tight.

“Appa… Could you… stay tonight?” Tae Hyun said.

I turned around to look at him. He looked at me with big, watery eyes.

“Please.” He pouted, tears flowing down his cheeks.

I looked at Haneul for approval. She nodded.

“Don’t cry.” I said, wiping away his tears.

“I’ll stay.” I smiled.

That night, I washed them up before showering on my own. The four of us slept on Haneul’s bed that night, the two in between Haneul and I. We told them bedtime stories and chatted about a lot of stuff. When they finally fell asleep, it was 2AM already.

Haneul and I kissed them on their foreheads before covering them properly with the blanket. We headed over to their room to help them pack their bags for the next week.

“Thank you.” She said, turning to look at me.

“For what?” I asked, folding Ji Eun’s shirt.

“Everything.” She said.

“What am I going to do without you?” She hugged me from behind, resting her chin on my shoulder.

“Hahaha! Silly~” I pat her cheek.

For once, we did not kid around as we packed. I guess no one was in the mood. At 5AM when we were finally done, we slipped back into bed. Holding them in our arms, we drifted off into sleep.

When I opened my eyes again, it was morning. I secretly wished I did not, because like this, at least I could deceive myself that it is still yesterday.

I turned over to look at Ji Eun and Tae Hyun, they were still asleep, but Haneul was already awake. I honestly wonder if she slept.

“Good morning.” She whispered, turning to smile at me.

Judging from her bloodshot eyes, I knew she was awake all night.

“You never slept?” I whispered, touching her eye lightly.

“I did.” She said, not looking at me.

“Liar~” I poked her cheek.

We got up and went to wash up. Ahjumma and Jace were already in the kitchen.

“How was yesterday?” Ahjumma asked.

“Not bad.” Haneul mumbled.

Jace was quiet, chewing on his piece of bread.

“Can I use the oven?” I asked.

Ahjumma, Jace and Haneul looked at me.

“I want to… bake those bread for them.” I said.

“Please do.” Ahjumma said, taking out the ingredients and equipment for me.

“Why not I just go and lock the door and pretend no one is home?” Jace said suddenly.

“What?” Haneul asked.

“I mean, she can’t possibly climb in that gate, can she?” He frowned.

Jace was quiet about the whole thing. He never commented, neither did he show any expression. But of course, deep down, he is hurting as much as we all are.

“Oh Jace..” Haneul put her arm over his shoulder, pulling him closer to her.

“How could she just come after three years and take them away!? I mean… It doesn’t make sense!” He said, squashing the piece of bread in his hand.

“Jace…” Haneul tried to calm him.

“I hate this ing world! May 2012 really be the end of the world! Too much idiots!” He slammed his fist onto the tabletop before stomping off.

“JACE!!” Haneul called out, almost going to run after him but Ahjumma stopped her.

“Let him. He needs to cry.” She said.

“But…” She protested.

I said nothing. I just focused on my bread. I was in no position to comment.

Ji Eun and Tae Hyun woke up just in time for the bread to be baked.

“WERY WERY CUTE BWEAD!!!” Ji Eun smiled, climbing onto the chair.

“You like it?” I asked, putting a teddy bear bread onto the plate in front of her.

She nodded.

“You made these for them before?” Haneul asked me.

“Yea. Remember I told you Ji Eun refused to eat the other time?” I said.

“Oh..” She mouthed.

“Tae Hyun, which one do you want?” I asked him.

He had his head resting on his arm, looking at us blankly.

“Anything.” He mumbled. I handed him a rabbit.

We ate and chatted as thou nothing happened, until we heard the sound we all did not want to hear. The doorbell.

“I’ll get it.” Jace said, appearing suddenly as he headed towards the door.

He opened the door and glared hard at the woman.

“I see you still did not go find out about that wonderful invention called the mobile phone.” I said, staring at her.

“What is it?” She frowned.

“I thought I asked you to send your pigeon or owl next time if we meet?” I said.

“Get to your point, brat.” She said.

“You could have sent us a message to tell us you’re on your way, and not abruptly knock on our door, disrupting our pleasant breakfast.” I said.

“You have a lot of issues, don’t you?” She took a step closer to me.

“Apparently, towards you, yes.” I said.

“I suggest you see a doctor for your attitude problem.” She said.

“From the looks of it, it seems like Junhyung here has the attitude, while you, have, or rather, are the problem.” Jace said.

We all turned to look at Jace. Was he speaking up for me?

“A bunch of rude idiots. I can’t believe people like you in this disgusting place have raised my kids for three years. Oh god~” She commented.

“Well then, you’re free to leave, on your own.” Ahjumma said, stepping out from behind.

“Now, who is this old woman?” The woman scoffed.

“The owner of this disgusting place, problem?” Ahjumma said.

She stood in front of us, like a mother protecting her children.

“You call these three kids rude idiots, then have you ever wondered about yourself? Leaving two babies at the airport and just leaving. What? Is that a heroic act or something? Yes, they may be rude, but you deserve ever single drop of rudeness from them.” She said.

The woman’s jaw dropped slightly, but she quickly composed herself again.

“Whatever. Where are they? I can’t stand staying here for another second.” She said.

Tae Hyun and Ji Eun were hiding behind Jace and I. We turned over and squat down to their level. Haneul was standing behind them, looking down.

“Be good, okay?” I said to the both of them.

“Daddy, Appa, will we see you again?” Ji Eun asked, pouting.

“Of couse. In a week, we’ll pick you up.” Jace said.

“That may not be the case.” The woman commented.

Before any of us could say anything, Haneul spoke up.

“JUST SHUT YOUR MOUTH, WOULD YOU!?” She yelled.

Now, this is my Haneul.

“I’ve been holding it in, but damn you bloody ! Damn you for being so irresponsible! Damn you for appearing after three years! Damn you for criticizing the place that raised them for three years.” Haneul said angrily.

“You…” The woman was about to say something but Haneul stopped her.

“I SAID SHUT UP!” She yelled.

“The moment you stepped in here, did you even look for them? Did you even greet them!? After three years, don’t you even wish to know how they look like!? Don’t you even wish to know if they are growing well? All you do is criticize and criticize and criticize some more! You call Junhyung a brat? Then how about you!? You call Jace rude? Then how about you!? You call us idiots, then how about you!? Damn you for acting as thou you’re three levels above us! Come on! There is no such thing as higher or lower grade unless you’re a slab of beef!” Haneul yelled.

The woman stared at Haneul with angry eyes. Her face so red I was starting to wonder if she would get a heart attack soon.

“Umma…” Ji Eun mumbled, tugging onto Haneul’s hand.

Haneul’s expression softened immediately as she looked down at Ji Eun.

“Umma, don’t be angwee..” Ji Eun pouted.

“I am not.” Haneul smiled, patting Ji Eun’s head.

“Now, that’s what we call being a mother to someone.” Jace said.

“And yes, things like these are inborn. Even if you swallowed a book, it wouldn’t help.” I commented.

“Who are you?” Tae Hyun suddenly asked, looking at the woman.

We were all shocked by his statement. Didn’t the woman claim to be their mother?

“I am your Umma, Tae Hyun ah.” The woman said, trying to hold Tae Hyun but he pulled his hand away, tugging onto me quickly.

I pulled him behind me.

“Are you really their mother?” I asked.

“IF NOT ME THEN WHO!?” She screamed into my face. I admit, I was pretty shocked by that sudden action.

“Why does he not recognize you then?” Jace asked.

“He was only two at that time! It’s no doubt he doesn’t remember! ” She said.

“Oh, I see you knew he was only two.” I said.

She ignored me and tried to get to Tae Hyun.

“I am your Umma, Tae Hyun ah~” She said.

Tae Hyun shook his head, clutching tightly onto my jeans. Ji Eun was holding tightly onto Haneul.

“What proof do you have that you’re their mother? I mean, it’s pretty suspicious how you suddenly appear and then claim to be their mother but Tae Hyun cannot even remember you.” Ahjumma said.

The woman grumbled under her breath and pulled out a stack of papers.

“I knew people like you all would be difficult.” She mumbled.

“Look closely!” She said, pointing to the words.

It was Tae Hyun and Ji Eun’s birth certificates.

We looked at each other. We knew we had to let them go.

“It’s alright. It’ll just be a week. Treat it like camping.” I told the both of them.

“I hate camps.” Tae Hyun pouted.

“Me too.” I smiled slightly.

“I’ll wait in the car. Be quick.” The woman said as she walked off.

“Someone please hold me before I land my footprint onto that damn back of hers.” Jace hissed.

We all laughed, inside our hearts wishing he would really kick her. After a while of coaxing, they finally agreed to go.

“Give us the address to wherever you’re taking them.” Haneul said.

“Why?” The woman asked.

“What do you mean by why?” Haneul said.

“Why do you want the address for?” She asked.

“If anything crops up, at least we know where to go.” Haneul said.

“They’ll be safe with me.” The woman said.

“Give me the address or I’m not letting them go.” Haneul said.

“You dare?” The woman said.

“Are you challenging me now?” Haneul said, taking a step closer.

She was so close to the woman that it was written all over the woman’s face she was intimidated by Haneul.

“Fine. Move away.” She pushed Haneul roughly.

“ONE MORE TIME YOU TOUCH MY GIRL, I’LL BURN YOUR HAIR!” I warned her as I caught Haneul in my arms.

“Don’t push my Umma!” Ji Eun pouted, pushing the woman with her small palms.

The woman stared hard at Ji Eun while Ji Eun stared back. She scribbled the address onto a piece of paper before tossing it to Haneul.

“I want to be talking to them everyday. Not for anything else, but just to know they are doing okay. And also, by the end of this week, I expect you to bring them back here by noon. Whatever their choice is, we’ll settle it right here.” Haneul said.

Haneul squat down to Ji Eun and Tae Hyun’s level, her expression totally different from when she was facing the woman.

“We’ll see you two in a week, okay? Be good.” She kissed them on their foreheads.

“Umma~~” They pouted, hugging her tight.

Jace, Ahjumma and I took turns to kiss them and say goodbye too.

“Go on.” Haneul smiled.

She was digging her nails into my arm, trying hard to hold back her tears. So was I.

We watch them go into the car. Just as we were about to walk back in, a loud cry stopped us.

“I DON’T WANT TO GO ANYMORE!!!” Ji Eun cried.

We turned to see her pouting and crying.

“I don’t want too!!” Tae Hyun cried, running towards us.

“Appa! Daddy! Umma! Don’t send us away!” They cried as they pleaded.

“I don’t know who is she! I don’t want to go!” Ji Eun cried into my neck.

I couldn’t control my tears any more. I was the first to break down, but I have been controlling since yesterday.

“I am sorry.” I cried, hugging her tight.

Haneul’s POV

I was shocked when Junhyung broke down. We all were. But he had been controlling since yesterday. It must have been hard on him.

I rubbed circles onto his back, trying to calm him down.

“Quit your drama, would you? Are we acting here?” The woman said.

“SHUT UP!!” I snapped at her.

“Come on kids, let’s go.” She said, trying to pull Tae Hyun and Ji Eun away from Junhyung.

“LET GO!!!” Tae Hyun struggled, so did Ji Eun.

“Don’t do that!!! You’re hurting them! you!!” Junhyung pushed her roughly, yanking Tae Hyun and Ji Eun back to him.

“YOU ING PUSHED ME!?” She slapped Junhyung across his cheek before we could react, leaving a long red cut on his cheek left by her nail.

“I told you to never hurt him!” I tackled her to the ground.

I almost punched her in her face but Jace caught me.

“Not worth.” He said sternly.

“Group of barbarians.” She commented as she stood up.

“VERY FUNNY! WHO IS THE BARBARIAN HERE!?” I yelled.

“Don’t hurt our Appa! We’ll go with you!” Tae Hyun pouted, crying at the same time.

“Does it hurt, Appa?” Ji Eun asked, touching the cut on Junhyung’s cheek.

“It’s okay.” Junhyung smiled.

Ji Eun kissed him on his cheek.

“Appa, you pwomise you’ll come for us after one week?” She asked with teary eyes.

“I promise you. I would come for you two after a week, no matter what. Remember what I said?” He said, holding the both of them.

They nodded.

“Pwomise?” Ji Eun stuck out her pinky.

“Promise.” Junhyung hooked his pinky over hers.

We took turns to pinky promise her.

“Be very good kids, okay?” Jace said.

They nodded.

Jace picked them up, hugging them tightly.

“I never said this, but I love you, both of you.” He said, kissing them on their cheek.

“Love you.” I said, kissing them on their forehead.

They were finally off, leaving us standing alone. Suddenly, the orphanage seemed so quiet, like it was empty. No one commented. We retreated back into our places, Jace to his room, Ahjumma to the kitchen, Junhyung and I to my room.

“Does it hurt?” I asked, cleaning the cut on his cheek.

He shook his head, looking down.

“Come on, just cry.” I said, pulling him into my arms.

“Let’s go get them back now!” He broke down, crying like a baby.

***

Crying Junroro ><

Junhyung: Let's go get them back now!