did he hear that right? ❝e-excuse me?❞

a scoff was heard from kun, having him to give his little boy to his husband before dealing this woman who just came here. how dare she say that to xiaojun? this probably is his ceo's mother, judging how he reacted when he saw her. ❝listen here, just because he has something to do with your son—❞

with widened eyes and mouth agape, ❝kun ge!❞ xiaojun gasped when two men came inside the room all of a sudden, pushing hansol to the side and taking the landlord's hand away before he gets to touch the woman who's now looking pissed.

sian buried his head on to his dada's shoulder as he was scared to look, sniffling and this near to crying at the though of something happening to his mama. hansol, who was pushed aside, had his tongue poking at his inner cheek. not being able to hold it back, he went to one of them and took a tight grip on the man's wrist, glaring as if that could kill him. ❝let, the fuck, go.❞

the tone of his voice alarmed xiaojun, much more when one of the bodyguards raised a fist up. this is bad, very. he should stop this before hansol acts up. their little boy is here, and kun would literally kick him out of the house if he does something reckless that could ruin his image as a father in their son's eyes. 

what should he do? think, xiaojun.

fast, he should use his brain before hansol throws a fist and— ❝okay, fine!❞

the woman that's just standing there watched the sight with a bright smile. though, she was internally shivering at how hansol's gaze changed quickly when one of her bodyguards came to stop this landlord from laying a finger at her. but she shouldn't care a slight bit about that since her purpose here is this secretary right here who just gave in.

as if a fight wasn't about to start, she just clasped her hands and showed an endearing smile. ❝great! now, i want you to write a resignation letter this instant.❞

❝resignation.. letter?❞

she took a pen somewhere inside the room and a piece of paper, giving it to the secretary who's left puzzled at the situation. ❝come on, hendery won't believe it if it's not handwritten by you.❞

❝ah, this lady is crazy.❞ kun commented, making an attempt to yank his arm back from one of the bodyguards but failed nonetheless. ❝you worked hard to get this job, xiaojun, would you just give it up like that?❞

worked hard? she could only roll her eyes at it. the woman knew how this guys got to get the secretary position. no need to ask, a cotton candy told her the whole story.

❝if you truly love the two, you will do what i say.❞

🦋

❝na jaemin.❞

sneezing, the same male looked away to let it out before going back to his stance and taking the tray he had after noticing that he's just holding up the line at the cafeteria. soon then, he noticed the smaller male beside him being so nosy. ❝hm?❞

renjun isn't the type to force the words out from anyone. heck, he isn't even the type to care. however, his two boyfriends are an exception. ❝is anything bothering you? you have been quiet since this morning.❞

jaemin, himself, didn't even notice it as he was too busy with his thoughts. arriving at their usual table, he forced a smile that could cover up his preoccupied self. ❝nothing, it's nothing.❞

settling himself right next to him, renjun clicked his tongue and stuffed the male's mouth with the chicken nugget on his tray. ❝i'm your boyfriend, do you think that will fool me?❞ 

❝you once fell for it though, during your birthday.❞ jaemin muffled out with a chuckle. ❝but really, it's nothing.❞

playfully nudging him, renjun puffed his cheeks.. ❝i was just pretending to be shocked, just because i found out that it was a surprise.❞

jaemin's lips curved up and had his nose crunching while admiring his pouting boyfriend. he was about to lean in and steal a kiss, but was then disrupted by a tray being slammed in front of him. snapping his head to the people across him, that smile on his face dropped when he saw his other boyfriend together with someone who's having that deep frown. no, he wasn't jealous, he was more on worried and feeling guilty for his friend, yangyang.

❝you two are being sweet without me, hm?❞ jeno said with his famous eye smile, that meant something else.

gulping from their places, the two then ended up holding hands instead as where their intimacy is limited whenever the smiling angel is around. jaemin then puckered his lips. ❝you are not the jealous type, who are you playing with?❞

jeno chuckled, agreeing to that. ❝is the nugget yummy?❞

❝it is.❞ jaemin hummed, leaning closer across him with a smirk. ❝but you know what taste the best?❞

while the oldest of them was having his cheeks puffed from shoving the food at one go, the other boyfriends were staring at each other with crooked smiles. they were thinking of one answer and that is what they are mouthing at each other.

"renjnun's."

finding them suspicious, the oldest didn't hesitate to kick them under the table— but instead of their leg, he mistook it and kicked the other chinese's leg instead.

❝ah!❞ and a groan was heard from him.

the three then panicked and had their full attention to yangyang while renjun kept on chanting dozens of apologies. 

❝i-it's alright,❞ the youngest of them then said, holding a hand out so they could move away from towering over him. ❝it doesn't hurt that much.❞

renjun paused as he noticed something different. ❝that's weird, you'd be cursing at us by now.❞

that's in no way that offended them though, they were just used to handling yangyang who easily vents out. how can they be insulted by that when him cursing at them is like watching a baby trying to start a fight.

❝see? even renjun notices it, yang.❞ jeno then said, finding out about this ever since this morning. he had most of his classes with the male for the day and he has been catching him spacing out from time to time, and biting his bottom lip as if he's holding back a sob. ❝there definitely is something wrong, and you know we're here to listen to your problems.❞

squinting his eyes, the older chinese made a wild guess. ❝is it about that student who flirted with you?❞

it then caught jaemin's attention, making him tilt his head to the side. ❝someone did that?❞

jeno then paused for a while after recalling what happened. ❝he's a year younger, right? the one who toured the japanese transferee around the campus.❞

renjun then nodded his head at his butcher knife boyfriend. ❝that's him, i think his name is sungchan?❞

jeno snorted at how bold that kid was. ❝i had to put a stop to it before we get a fuming donkey rallying around the university.❞

meanwhile, jaemin looked so lost while hearing their story. ❝when did that happen?❞

❝you were physically there, but mentally away.❞ renjun said with a click of his tongue, also noticing how his boyfriend keeps on spacing out like what yangyang is doing right now, making him put his attention back to the younger male. ❝yang, is that not it?❞

the said male only looked up only to shake his head, earning a sigh from the other chinese.

❝you've been absent for the past days, did something happen between you and hendery?❞ renjun asked, ❝xiaojun?❞

jaemin didn't have the courage to ask the same thing as he already knew what the answer to that is. all he did was stare at his friend and couldn't help but notice at how he flinched at the mention of a certain name. but quickly, yangyang regained himself with a light chuckle. ❝just catching up with school works.❞

if there's one thing that his boyfriend and his friend are similar with, that's how they tend to believe that they can fool people with that smile. but then, renjun wasn't in the position to interrogate deeper into it. though, he didn't want to see the younger look like that and there's only one person who's good at lifting up the mood.

nudging his elbow at his boyfriend beside him, renjun nodded his head towards the youngest of them and jaemin had never felt this nervous as ever in talking to someone.

❝i h-heard that you finally got your first taken away by the two.❞ an unsure chuckle came out from his mouth. ❝congratulations!❞

that wasn't what they expected at him lifting the mood up at all. with renjun nudging him by his elbow again, really hard this time, and jeno went kicking him by his leg. his two boyfriend were giving him looks and are whispering a warning to him.

while yangyang was caught by surprise by his statement. ❝how did you know?❞

because he bugged that secretary to tell him about it. ❝w-well, hendery called our advisory that time a-and it just so happened that i was also there to answer it.❞ taking a gulp, he waved his hand frantically. ❝he didn't tell me directly what had happened! i just made a wild guess.❞

hendery? yangyang raised a brow at how he suddenly is not using his usual nickanames. it might have been a change while he wasn't around, but it's still unusual of him.

❝wait, didn't you also disappear during that day?❞ jeno questioned, putting his glare at his boyfriend that' sweating bucket.

he was saving his own life here and one wrong move, jaemin might blow his cover. ❝i s-skipped! because classes were pretty much boring.❞ 

he crossed his fingers and hoped that they would believe him for that, which they probably did since they dismissed the topic easily. well, after renjun scolded him for doing that, they didn't bring it up anymore, thinking that one of them would get uncomfortable with it.

their lunch would have continued being quiet, just small talks here and there, and this may have been their calmest lunch ever for the four of them, but a sudden question coming from the youngest made them panic in their own way. renjun biting his tongue by accident while chewing, jaemin dropping his metallic chopsticks on his tray, and jeno choking from the water he's drinking.

❝is it really possible to be jealous even when you three agreed to be in a relationship?❞

❝yang,❞ jeno threw an arm over the person that's sitting beside him. ❝i wasn't jealous.❞

renjun nodded his head. ❝jaemin and i were just acting like we were threatened by is smile.❞

half acting, since that smile of his could sometimes mean something else that they wouldn't like. 

and then, there's jaemin, asking something that has been asked before and also knew the answer to it. ❝did something happen to make you say that?❞

❝just a question i had in mind.❞ he then said, going back to eating his meal for the hour.

even though it was just a random one, renjun felt like he needed to answer it to prevent confusing the younger more with the relationship he just got himself with recently. ❝at the start, maybe? but that jealousy doesn't mean that you want one of them, it's because you want to be included.❞

❝though, you'll learn to appreciate seeing them together more when time passes by.❞ jeno continued, hitting himself with his own words as he was the last one to adjust to their relationship.

in giving advice like this, jaemin would have been the one who has a lot to say, but no word came out of his mouth and just stared at how yangyang was poking his meal with his chopsticks. ❝i'm not the one who's probably jealous, it's someone else.❞

jeno and renjun stared at each other in a puzzled manner. they both have their brows furrowed, trying to guess which on them were jealous and had caused a problem. while they were busy guessing, jaemin just sat there knowing everything and even taking part of it. he knew that what he was doing, keeping this a secret, is the right thing to do. but seeing the look on his friend's face made him feel the urge to just tell him everything so he wouldn't worry.

❝yang—❞ and just when he had the courage to do so, the bell began ringing.

❝ah, gosh,❞ the students started to complain at how their lunch break felt like only a minute had passed by. ❝i haven't finished my meal yet.❞

while he was spacing out at how he almost exposed himself, yangyang called out his name. ❝jaemin, hey? what were you about to say?❞

clamping his lips tight, jaemin shook his head aggressively. ❝i-it's nothing!❞

why does he have to be included in this plan? lying and hiding secrets from his friend and boyfriend was never his forte. in fact, he is bad at it.

🦋

❝then, this teacher brought little sushi and i to the playground!❞ being carried up by the student, eleven was blabbering this about his first day in school that hendery had enrolled him in so he'd be look out on by a nanny together with the head of finance's youngest. ❝and we ran around— papa?❞

but while telling his story, he couldn't help but notice how quiet the older was. it even looked like he didn't hear the boy calling him out. eleven puffed his cheeks after letting out a huff, just staring at his papa who's continued to carry him up as they made their way to the ceo's office. looking at it, the boy's lips curved down when he saw how lifeless his papa's eyes were. he could remember how bright and happy they were once, how those eyes comforted him, and how it was always sparkling. but now, it became to dark and gloomy.

like hendery, eleven was in no where being an expert to comfort people, but he hoped that this could at least make the student laugh.

❝papa!❞ putting both his small hands on the male's face, he started squishing it while making silly faces.

which it did. those silly faces caused for yangyang to chuckle lightly before booping their noses together and getting out of the elevator to go to the ceo office. they were greeted by the employees and as expected, eleven was clinging to the student as if his life depends on it, still not getting used to being around strangers. understanding that, the student hugged him tight while he hurried towards the office by the end of the room.

even though he showed a bright smile to them, that immediately changed to the opposite when he got inside the room.

❝we're here!❞ the kid's mood also changed when he realized that they were already inside his father's office.

the man that was dozing off on his desk then flinched when he heard a kid's voice. his eyes went wide open but was first greeted by a little boy pouncing at him and giving him the most tightest embrace. ❝eleven?❞

❝hey.❞ then another voice, a broken one.

❝yang,❞ yawning, he rubbed his eyes after settling their little boy down on his lap. ❝you picked him up? you could have called me.❞

❝lucas ge was passing by the university and told me that he's picking his son, i decided to tag along.❞ the student stretched his arms, having it numbed from carrying the boy. ❝and plus, look how tired you are.❞

❝you should also sleep!❞ when yangyang approached them and planted a soft kiss on top of the man's forehead, eleven then spoke. ❝i learned today that getting too tired can cause you nightmares. so that's why, you should take a rest.❞

hendery ruffled his hair. ❝but i'm a busy—❞

eleven knew how to cut his sentence off. ❝dad, do you want to dream about frogs?❞

that silenced the ceo up and also made the student panic. ❝eleven, you should not say that! how many times did dada tell you not to make fun of people's fears?❞

so that's what's missing. if anyone could walk in right now, they'd coo at how happy they look, even a perfect family. but if you were in their shoe, something is missing. sure, they are happy being like this, simple moments they are sharing, but they can't deny a vacant spot in the picture. that spot is xiaojun's spot.

❝i'm not making fun of him, i'm just saying that if he doesn't sleep—❞

❝alright, alright.❞ hendery didn't mind for his slacks to be dirtied on, he just let the boy stand there and face him. ❝dad will rest once we get home, okay? i hope shi yi will like that.❞

with a bright smile formed on his face, eleven nodded his his head. ❝i will love that!❞

yangyang nibbled on to his bottom lips as he had his eyes fixed on the two. his thoughts wandered away for a while until a question came in mind. ❝how is—❞

and it looks like hendery knew him very well to the point that he got to guess what he was about to say. since it was a good news, the smile on his face showed a glint of hope. ❝he finally sent me a message.❞

the student stayed still on his place, knowing that he'd get back to being emotional so he had to keep himself intact or he will have to explain everything to their little boy what had happened.

❝he told me he's fine and even asked how we are doing. but when i spammed him messages about how he is doing, he didn't reply.❞ the ceo continued, sighing after. but then, he could see that smile on the student's face and the spark in his eyes coming back. ❝at least we got something.❞

❝but he's okay, right?❞ yangyang wanted to reassure himself.

❝i hope so.❞ being it his turned to carry the boy, hendery used the other free hand to get his phone and put it inside his pocket and take his car keys as he planned to go home after seeing these two come here for hi. ❝i'm going to scold him for resigning, he doesn't know what the company went through after he did that.❞

not expecting that news, yangyang had his jaw dropped. ❝he.. he's not working for you anymore?❞

❝i could care less if he wants to still work under this company, i just want him to be safe wherever he is right now.❞ noticing the distress on the younger's face, the ceo went over to him and placed a hand on his cheek, caressing it. ❝he's just taking time in thinking about things, okay? don't go blaming yourself.❞

❝but i—❞ one way to shut him up was a kiss, and the student is glad that it's just a peck, because their boy is with them.

❝how about we go eat outside for dinner?❞ holding his boyfriend's hand, they were not making their way to the door.

❝dinner!❞ looks like eleven is the most excited between them.

and while they were admiring the kid's adorable noises he is making just because he was happy, hendery neared to the student and whispered on his ear. ❝and while we're at it, i want you to explain to me why on earth you made him use dejun's surname and not mine.❞

🦋

xiaojun gasped as he had his eyes scanned at the big place. ❝what do you mean i'll be staying here!?❞

the woman first ordered her security guards to wait outside before guiding this guy inside. ❝it's better than staying at your landlord's house, i know that would be the first place hendery will start looking.❞

speaking of him, xiaojun stopped the woman from striding down the living room by tugging on to the scarf she was wearing. she was taken aback by it but turned around to entertain him nonetheless. 

❝what is it?❞ she asked.

❝can i at least send one of them a message? they might report me missing to the police.❞

⚊ t b c ⚊