Taeyong's expected due date was a week away, yet, it wasn't the happy occasion he thought it would be. He glanced around the dinner table, where Daehyun's unoccupied chair stayed tucked and Seunghyeon poked at his rice. Which he preferred over Myungsuk staring at his phone screen, a duvet draped over his shoulders and his food untouched.

Two keychains swung from the corner of Myungsuk's phone, clinking against each other with the slightest movement. Taeyong took a deep breath and stretched his arm out. But his bump made it impossible to reach across the table.

Instead, he opted to stretch his foot out and jab Seunghyeon's shin under the table.

Seunghyeon jerked his head up and he furrowed his brows at him.

Taeyong sighed and flicked his eyes towards Myungsuk. He needed Seunghyeon's help. Protecting Myungsuk was half the job. Now, they had to help him get over Insoo.

Seunghyeon glanced at Myungsuk and gave a stiff nod. "Myungsuk," he called out gently.

No response. Myungsuk continued to refresh his screen.

"Myungsuk," Seunghyeon repeated and shook Myungsuk's shoulder.

Myungsuk flinched at the touch and whipped his head up. Seunghyeon pulled his head back as Myungsuk blinked at both of them.

"You haven't touched your food," Taeyong added, gesturing to the bowl of rice.

Myungsuk glanced down as if he noticed it now. Shaking his head, Myungsuk tightened the duvet around him. "Not hungry."

Taeyong and Seunghyeon shared a look. Taeyong shifted in his seat. "Do you want some cake then? We can eat it while we watch something. You can choose today," he suggested with a hopeful smile.

Seunghyeon nodded, his enthusiasm stilted. "We can binge some Galactica. Even if it's the old one. We don't mind."

Myungsuk scrunched up his face in contemplation and Taeyong held his breath as he stayed quiet. A few seconds later, Myungsuk held his phone up, sinking into his seat. "I'm waiting for Insoo to text me."

Like ice water dumped on his head, Taeyong stiffened. Seunghyeon stared at Taeyong, equally stunned. What exactly did Insoo tell Myungsuk? Did he break up with him properly? Or was it Myungsuk who couldn't... or wouldn't get it.

Gulping, Taeyong couldn't scrub the pity of his face as he offered Myungsuk a smile. "It's late now. Give your eyes a rest."

"No." Myungsuk clutched his phone to his chest. "I need to make sure he's okay. He's not being himself."

"Maybe he was and you just didn't see that side of him," Seunghyeon suggested.

Myungsuk shook his head. "That's impossible. I love him and he loves me. There's no way he'd..."Myungsuk knitted his brows together and bit down on his lip.

Taeyong's chest tightened. "Oh, Myungsuk." He sat up and held his hand out, offering Myungsuk to hold it halfway. "Sometimes, people break up, even if the other person doesn't want to."

Seunghyeon nodded. "And sometimes"–Seunghyeon took a deep breath–"people break up when nobody wants to."

Taeyong flicked his gaze to Seunghyeon and furrowed his brows as Myungsuk turned to him curiously. "That doesn't make sense," Myungsuk said.

"External factors," Seunghyeon said and shrugged, keeping his head down. "Sometimes someone makes it clear the relationship is wrong."

"Or," Taeyong started, cutting Seunghyeon off. "Sometimes one person isn't always good for the other."

"But, we are good for each other," Myungsuk insisted, staring at his phone as he tugged his sleeve over his hand. "He told me he's the happiest when he's with me," he murmured, his eyes watering.

Taeyong took a deep breath and pushed himself up from his seat. He shuffled around the table and let Myungsuk rest his head against the bump. Taeyong brushed his fingers through his hair. "Maybe it's for the best, Myungsuk. Heartbreaks happen. It'll hurt for a while but you'll move on soon.

Seunghyeon dragged his hand over his mouth and turned away, blinking several times. Taeyong eyed him as he got up and cleared the table, padding over to the sink.

"Why don't you go get one of your plushies," Taeyong said, rubbing Myungsuk's shoulder. "I'll bring some cake and we can watch something, okay?"

Myungsuk sniffled and nodded. He pushed back from the table and shuffled out of the kitchen, dragging the duvet behind him.

Once he was out of sight, Taeyong let out a heavy sigh as he rubbed the heel of his hand against his racing heart. No, he didn't have time to focus on himself. Not yet.

Taeyong grabbed the rice cooker and carried it, setting it on the island before standing next to Seunghyeon. "What was that?" he asked, crossing his arms.

Seunghyeon pressed his lips into a tight line as he scrubbed one of the plates, rinsing it, and placing it on the rack. He picked up the next plate, holding it against the running water, staring ahead. "Do you think we made the wrong choice?"

Taeyong furrowed his brows. "What?"

"I don't know." Seunghyeon shrugged and turned to him. "What if we were wrong about Insoo?"

Taeyong clenched his jaw and straightened up. "Are you being serious right now?"

Seunghyeon stiffened, drawing his shoulders in. "What?" Seunghyeon frowned. "Maybe you were wrong, so what?" he spat out.

Taeyong gaped at him. Stunned. As his mind wrapped around Seunghyeon's words, Taeyong squinted his eyes. "Do you think I care about being wrong?"

Seunghyeon's nose twitched as Taeyong's scent shifted, but he stood his ground. "Isn't it? You're the one who always likes to play the hero."

"Are you seriously blaming all of this on me?" Taeyong gritted his teeth. "What about you?" he snapped. "You were the one who cried, asking me to do something. You have no right to put all the blame on me!"

"Well–" Seunghyeon stared up at him, unable to retort. Because it was true. "Maybe they do know what they're doing," Seunghyeon insisted. " And we shouldn't have gotten involved."

"We had to get involved." Taeyong hissed. "Do you want Myungsuk to end up like Jaejin? With a baby and an abusive family?"

"Obviously not."

"And Myungsuk can plan that far into the future? Could you plan your future at nineteen?"

Seunghyeon gulped. "I'm different. I'm just saying, maybe if wasn't our place–"

"Our place?" Taeyong slammed his fist against the counter and Seunghyeon jumped. "You're so selfish," Taeyong growled, his hand pulsating from the impact. "It is our job as a family to protect each other. Just because you don't like the consequences, doesn't mean you can pretend you didn't do anything." Taeyong's eyes watered as he pressed his hand against his chest, his heart racing.

"You wanna wipe your hands of this? Fine. Because you didn't have to go and talk to Insoo," Taeyong squeezed his eyes shut as he gripped the counter. "You just sat back and felt like you did something. You didn't have to tell him to break things off and see that poor boy cry." Taeyong glared at Seunghyeon. "Do you think I wanted to hurt him? All I needed from you was support that this was the right thing to do. Yet, you can't even give me that."

"Hyung," Seunghyeon breathed out, slowly shaking his head. "I-I–"

"Is that what happened?"

Taeyong and Seunghyeon snapped their heads up at the meek voice. Taeyong's body went numb as Myungsuk's plushie fell at his feet, and he stared at Taeyong.

"You told Insoo to break up with me?" Myungsuk asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Taeyong's heart squeezed, trapped alone under the hurt look. He sucked in a deep breath and took a step forward. "Insoo's going to end up like his family, Myungsuk. You can't handle people like that."

Myungsuk stepped back. "Please tell me you didn't tell him that." Myungsuk bit his lip and shook his head. "Please tell me you didn't use his family against him," he pleaded, whimpering. "They already hurt him so much."

They jumped at Myungsuk's outburst and Taeyong slapped his hand over his mouth as Myungsuk's pheromones stung the inside of his nose.

"What about your collar?" Taeyong added. "If he was a good guy, he wouldn't have forced you to share a heat with him."

"Wait, hyung," Seunghyeon said, grabbing his arm.

Taeyong whipped around to Seunghyeon, staring at his anxious expression. It made Taeyong seize. Of all the times Seunghyeon could have stabbed him in the back. Taeyong scowled and tore his arm away.

"He didn't make me do anything," Myungsuk managed to stay through shallow breaths. "I was the one who asked him first!" He snapped. "He never forced me to do anything!"

Taeyong paused, a lump forming in his throat. "Are you serious?"

Myungsuk scrunched up his face and nodded. "I asked him. Because I love him and he loves me. He's my mate."

"You're too young to know that," Taeyong insisted.

"I'm not!" Myungsuk shrieked and Taeyong jumped. "We love each other and you guys hurt him!" Fat tears rolled down Myungsuk's face as he dug his nails into his chest.

"We trusted you guys," Myungsuked choked out. "But you guys are the ones that hurt him the most!" Myungsuk's arms trembled at the strength he used to clutch his hoodie. "I hate you!" He screamed. "I hate both of you!"

"Myungsuk!" Taeyong called out. But Myungsuk ran out of the kitchen and a moment later, he slammed his door, rattling the chandeliers.

Taeyong's head spun at the sudden silence and he stumbled, grabbing onto the counter for support.

"Careful." Seunghyeon grabbed Taeyong's shoulders, holding him upright.

Taeyong gritted his teeth and smacked his hands away. "Don't touch me."

Seunghyeon flinched and stepped back.

Taeyong cradled his head in his hands, pressing his palms against his pounding temples as he forced himself to take slow breaths. "I have to deal with so much," he started, closing his eyes. "This baby, Myungsuk, and now you and your stupid change of heart," he said.

Seunghyeon shuffled his feet, hanging his head like a child. "I just think that we shouldn't dictate the terms, maybe," he explained quietly.

Taeyong let out a deep sigh and tsked. "Since when?"

Seunghyeon stared at him and gulped. He opened his mouth to speak, but instead, he pressed his lips together and shrugged.

"Gods," Taeyong scoffed and turned away. "You're such an asshole."

Seunghyeon tensed. "Hyung–"

"Just"–Taeyong brushed him off–"Just go and solve your own shit." Taeyong dropped his head into his hands. His head felt like it was wrapped with a million rubber bands. "I don't wanna see your face right now. Just leave me alone."

Seunghyeon sucked in a breath and shifted closer, but Taeyong drew himself in. Eventually, Seunghyeon's footsteps padded away, followed by a click of a door and a whirring lock. The front door.

Taeyong heaved out a choked sob and his knees buckled. He sunk to the floor and leaned back against the counter, staring ahead, his vision as muddled as his mind as tears trailed down his neck, soaking into the collar of his shirt.