hendery ran a hand through his hair, despising the situation he is at that moment. he hated how the company's branch here is under his management but the employees are still so loyal to his parents that they tell the both of them everything.

like how he had no plans to report for the day, he only told the head of finance about that and asked him to handle the company for the day— but not even hours after, he received an earful of complaints from his mother, saying that he has been slacking off. sure, they are a complete family and thank god for him that he isn't under a household that finds their business worth more than a family, but the family is in values family equally with work.

❝i'm not slacking off.❞ he mumbled under his breath as he continued pressing on to the letters of the keyboard harshly. ❝i just needed to sort things out inside my head.❞

hendery tried reasoning it out to both his parents that he has to look after his boyfriend and their little boy, but they insisted that he can do that while also bringing work at home. that explains as to why he is at the living room right now, having his second cup of coffee for the night, and still thinking of what has just happened. 

last night when xiaojun ran away, he did went out to look for him. even yangyang wanted to tag along, but the ceo didn't want the student to stress about it. he drove around the city but found no signs of him, even asked the police for a search but they were of no help. hendery came home empty handed, not knowing where his secretary could possibly be. he was damn worried, but the student was feeling much more than that. yangyang was even scolding himself for being careless and wasn't aware of his surrounding enough. if he would have known that xiaojun was there, no misunderstanding would have happened.

and of course, hendery didn't reason that out to his parents. he hasn't told them that he was in love with two boys— and he was shaking at the thought that his parents wouldn't accept that.

❝why would i care if they won't accept that?❞ complaining once more, he was typing aggressively than before. ❝this is my life, and i choose what i want for it.❞

actually, he was now regretting how he told xiaojun to wait. he could have just asked his secretary out that instant, and he could have told his mother about their relationship as early as the first time she met him. but then, he was thinking about how his parents might misunderstand him for cheating, for falling out of love with yangyang, and how he wasn't contented to be committed with one.

❝if i want two, i will get two. i love the both of them!❞ he almost lost it after typing the last sentence, groaning deep in irritation before leaning back on to the sofa and covering his eyes with his arm. ❝why am i so scared of what they'll have to say about it?❞

he had so much responsibility for the day even when he's only at home. hendery had to comfort the student from time to time, he had to finish the work load given to him by his father, and worry a lot with xiaojun who still has no plans of going home, neither answering his calls. dozens and thousands, he had already pestered him with his messages and unanswered calls. but he decided to stop it as there was one thing he learned during quarrels, he has to give the other time.

❝where are you?❞ picking up his phone from his side, he stared at the recent person he tried calling, having that frown not leaving his face. ❝please be safe.❞

and just when he needed comfort, he felt a weight on his lap and that made him tear away his eyes on his phone. scoffing, he couldn't believe that this siamese cat still has the heart to be nice to him even after those moments where he pees on him for no good reason— except that one time where he and xiaojun cuddled on the sofa. they did really take his habitat.

xiaojun. mentioning his name is already enough to miss his everything. his voice, that smile of his, the way his stutters, how he tries to be confident, and how he's genuine with his actions. ❝ah, louis!❞

clicking his tongue, his thoughts about a certain someone was being disrupted when the cat was squirming on his lap and is doing everything just to get his attention.

clicking his tongue, hendery had no choice but to pet him. though, it did put a smile on his face at how the cat was trying. ❝you always act like you hate me, but i know that deep inside, you're just bad at expressing your fondness with someone.❞

he then earned a purr from the cat, either an agreement or not. probably the latter, since hendery could actually see how the siamese cat got along pretty well with their boy, eleven.

❝dad?❞

and speaking of, hendery lifted his eyes up from the cat on his lap and was greeted by a boy with the beagle dog tagging along with him wherever he went around the house, and a plushie in his hand. it wasn't just any stuff toy, it was leon. 

it reminded the ceo back when he bought that plushie for that guy and how his heart raced when he saw that bright smile on his face. ❝you have that?❞

following where the man was looking, eleven puffed his cheeks at how he had his attention on the plushie. ❝dada told me that if ever i get uneasy, leon will be here to protect me.❞

same reason when hendery thoughts scattered to places. it's as if, that cat stuff toy is already there comfort plushie. ❝what happened? you're still awake.❞

playing with the ears of the stuff toy, the boy avoided his gaze as he knew he'd be scolded for not minding his own business. ❝dad, where is dada? you said he'll be back home soon.❞

that's what hendery would like to keep on hoping for. ❝he will, alright? you should go back to sleep, eleven.❞

and here's another thing that he'd possibly get shouted at. ❝i went to papa's room.❞

hendery widened his eyes and sat up straight, got the siamese cat get down from his lap. if there's anyone that's serious about wanting to be left along when they are facing a problem, that's yangyang. it's also from him that he got to learn how to be patient with people and wait for them to open up instead of forcing them to say something. ❝shi yi, i told you to stay away and give him time alone—❞

❝i know! but papa was crying and i wanted to be there with him like how he's always there for me when i'm sad.❞ his voice just get tinier as every word comes out from his mouth. ❝but then, he started to speak weird.❞

raising a brow, that description made him wonder. ❝weird?❞

❝hm,❞ eleven agreed while nodding his head, hugging the plushie real as the occurrence still horrified him. ❝he was shouting as if he was calling out a demon.❞

no, yangyang's not calling any type of supernatural things. that's just him when he's— ❝drunk.❞

the boy flinched from his spot when the man jolted up from the sofa and went sprinting towards the kitchen. eleven followed from behind with the pets also trailing beside him. he watched how panicked hendery looked while looking over the cupboards and even the fridge. ❝dad?❞

he didn't even know why they had alcoholic drinks inside the house, but yangyang had probably took all of it without him knowing. ❝eleven, i want you to stay in your room.❞

it's just yangyang speaking german, he tends to do that when drunk. poor eleven, he became a victim of witnessing that side of his papa.

setting aside his work load in the living room, hendery marched his way upstairs with the boy following him from behind. the pets, they never left eleven's side. this boy surely is loved by animals. even when he was told to go to his room, he still disobeyed and struggled to catch up with the man's long steps. both bella and louis were helping him up whenever he almost stumbles down. it was when they reached to the student's room that hendery had notice the kid's presence following him.

stopping abruptly, he startled both the beagle dog and the boy when he turned around so suddenly, leaving the siamese can being the only one able to glare at him. ❝look, eleven, i'm serious. your papa is not in his right state right now, that's why i want you to go to your room and stay there while i take care of him, okay?❞

❝w-what happened?❞ tears were starting to form from his eyes as he was starting to get worried. ❝is p-papa tired from fishing again?❞

seriously, this isn't a laughing matter, but that made hendery snort, but it didn't take him a while to get back his stance to look stern. crouching down, he placed a hand on the boy's shoulders. ❝no, but he is tired from this situation. papa would appreciate it more if you will stay away from this, okay?❞

❝i h-heard you say 'drunk',❞ gulping at how the man stared at him, eleven was intimidated by him. ❝is p-papa drinking a-apple juice?❞

hendery didn't know where he got that term but it's probably coming from either of the two (yangyang or xiaojun) as they didn't want to taint the child at such a young age. ❝he is, that's why you have to keep away form apple juice, 'kay? it's bad.❞ 

❝but w-why is papa drinking apple j-juice if it's bad?❞ 

when hendery made mention somewhere that he's really not fond of kids that much, maybe eleven is also not an exception from it. the only baby he can handle is probably the head of finance's youngest child. though, he is also a handful at times.

sighing, the ceo was surprised that he can still keep his temper like this. this is the main reason as to why both the student and the secretary is in charge of taking care of eleven while he is there just to give the boy some life lessons. life lessons which he can't even filter his words with. ❝everyone has different ways of handling their problem. papa just does it that way. though, even i can't stop it, i'm not encouraging you to follow him just because i'm not forbidding him from it.❞

eleven listened intently to what the man was saying, nodding his head from time to time.

❝but papa is not a bad guy for that, okay?❞ he ended it with that before asking another question, smiling as he brushed a hand through the boy's hair. ❝do you know how dada deals with his problems?❞

hugging the plushie tight, it seems like it caught the man's eyes as the kid was shaking his head.

❝he hugs leon like this, because he knows that leon can protect him.❞ and that's how the kid reminded him of xiaojun.

the boy's cheeks heated up at how he was unknowingly getting his dada's traits. ❝what about you, dad?❞

the smile not leaving his face, hendery answered. ❝well, being with you and knowing you guys are safe is already enough to calm me down.❞

an adorable chuckle was heard from eleven when the man's hand went to pinch his cheeks before pocking his sides and tickling him. embracing the plushie tight and not planning to let go of it anytime soon, the both of them locked gazes until hendery had to destroy the moment by ruffling his hair.

❝so how about you go back to your room?❞ he said with a whisper, ❝because you'll be with little sushi tomorrow!❞

gasping a little bit too loud, eleven nodded his head with excitement as he immediately turned around and made a run for it. the beagle dog trailed from behind, barking at him as if bella was also sharing her excitement with him, while the siamese cat calmly followed them. hendery watched the sight with a giggle, about to stand up but was surprised by the boy who turned around.

hendery stayed crouching there, eyes widened at how the boy came running back to him. ❝eleven—❞

he was cut off by a peck on the cheeks. ❝good night!❞

still flabbergasted at the action, and also having this foreign warm feeling of comfort, hendery watched the boy running away while having his chuckle echoing down the hallways. 

it took the man a few more seconds before he regained himself an stood up being so flushed with his cheeks turning bright red. taking care of a child is still new to him and he actually thought that it would be burdensome, which he isn't wrong though. however, this isn't so bad after all. in fact, it felt great— but enough of that, he still has another baby to take care of.

❝yang?❞ getting inside the room, a sigh was the first thing that was heard from hendery when he saw two bottles on the ground and an empty ice cream tub.

as for the person he was calling out for, he was sprawled on the bed with tears staining the pillows. hendery was about to take a step close to him but stiffened when he heard snores coming fro the male. heaving out another sigh, he then decided to clean the room up. going in and out of the room, he then took a shirt out from the wardrobe and changed the student with it. yangyang kept on mumbling things and what hurt hendery the most was how he was blaming himself at the situation.

❝g-ge, does h-he hate me?❞ the younger mumbled while he was being placed gently down on the bed.

❝he doesn't, yang. don't ever say that.❞ but if you ask him, he also doesn't know what the deal is. xiaojun isn't the type to get jealous seeing them being so intimate. was it what they were talking about? but they were just talking about— hendery widened his eyes as he could remember what he whispered on to the student's ear.

❝i d-don't want him to go.❞ yangyang started to sob.

❝yang, you have classes tomorrow, sleep.❞ hendery took the duvet and covered the male's body with it. ❝and you shouldn't just get drunk around the house, now that there's a child living with us, understood?❞

shuffling his body on the bed and now had his back facing the older, yangyang bit his bottom lip to silence his sobs. though, it could be seen by how his shoulders were shaking and how he couldn't tone down his sniffles. seconds to minutes, until he eventually fell asleep thinking about it. hendery sat down there and felt guilty for scolding the student like that, but yangyang should be old enough to know what he should do already. after all, he keeps on insisting that he is not a baby anymore.

work, time, family, their relationship— hendery was so preoccupied with everything. his thoughts were being mixed up and he doesn't know where to start acting up and make a solution for it.

after having to make sure that the student is already asleep, hendery got out of the room and when downstairs only to be reminded that he still has so many things to do. but instead of going for his laptop and finishing the work load, he took his phone and dialed the number that he was keeping himself patient with.

he couldn't help it, ❝dejun—❞

but what can he do? he won't answer his calls.

and he also doesn't know where he is.

🦋

❝sir,❞ getting inside the office with a permission, the employee was surprised to see the ceo looking so drained. usually, they'd either be seeing him not in the mood, or being a smiling mess whenever the secretary and that student is around, together with their little boy.

but speaking of his secretary, they haven't seen him around these past two days.

neither of them would admit to it, as they wouldn't want to earn a scolding from their boss, but some of them were slightly jealous at the special treatment this secretary is getting in this company. he can get away with anything just because he is in a relationship with the ceo. some would continue to backbite the and create rumors around, while a small number would just mind their own business.

and seeing that the secretary isn't around, others felt like he should get fired for taking advantage at the fact that the ceo has a soft spot for him. while some, they were genuinely worried at their boss' health and how he is looking discourage as hours pass by.

❝here are the minutes that we gathered a while ago at the meeting.❞ with legs shaking, the person neared to the ceo's desk and carefully placed it down there. ❝sir, if i may ask—❞

❝no, you cannot.❞ even if he looked broken, hendery still had the blood to be stern. ❝if you don't have any more business here with me, it'll be very much appreciated if you leave.❞

and this person just so happens to be one of the less people who genuinely is concerned for the ceo's state. though, he couldn't get mad at his own boss, he must have been going through so much. not asking much more questions, he then took a low bow and started making his way to the door, only to be startled by a tall ass giant barging inside looking pissed.

it was the head of finance, and he also didn't look like his bubbly self. that's the cue for him to leave before he gets to be a witness of world war inside his boss' office.

❝lucas, what are you—❞

❝i don't know how damn mad you are right now at him,❞ he took a step at every word he has just said, slamming a paper down on his desk. ❝but that doesn't mean you have to be harsh and cut off his salary for the month!❞

the ceo's brows then knitted at what he was being accused of. ❝do you really think that i still have the time to think about his position in this company?❞

❝come on, you even removed his name in the list!❞ lucas watched how his boss took the paper and scanned it with his eyes, making him click his tongue at his move. ❝i know you are confused, you are conflicted, and you don't know what to do. but fucking hell, hendery, xiaojun was one of our best asset in this company. he contributed a lot, and he keeps on filling your spot whenever you're not around!❞

he knows that, hendery knows that very well. it is still even a wonder for him at how that small guy easily adjusted to this work place when he has no experience or whatsoever in the past. ❝i didn't do this.❞

❝hendery, i know you guys are dealing with a problem right now, but can't that not affect your business? your dad is relying you on this.❞ pinching the bridge of his nose, the head of finance was getting stressed about this. ❝and if you're mad at him, sort it out, talk to him!❞

crumpling the paper he had in hand, hendery gritted his teeth and fumed at his supposed to be friend that's accusing him of something he didn't do. ❝i said, i didn't—❞

just before the two were about to throw fists at each other, another person came inside the office without notice. it was the receptionist, and she was panting for air as she held on to a white envelope. both the head of finance and the ceo stared at her with furious expression but that didn't faze her at all as she was near to crying as if something happened.

for lucas, she must have been watching some dramas behind the desk. ❝anything wrong?❞

her tears now welled down when she was asked that question. ❝s-sir wong, your mother came and gave me a resignation letter.❞

since when was she close with lucas' mother? scoffing, hendery thought that it was just a prank that one of those bored kids had made. and since it was impossible for his mother to ever make such thing, the receptionist was probably referring to the other wong. ❝never knew that your mother worked for me, lucas.❞ 

the head of finance clicked his tongue at how the ceo still had the audacity to joke at at a moment like this. then again, maybe it is just one of those kids who dressed up as an old woman and gave this letter to their gullible receptionist. ❝give me that.❞

sniffling, she nodded her head and didn't hesitate to pass the letter to the head of finance. she wanted to speak but this news broke her badly and couldn't stop crying. she didn't mean to read the letter, but after knowing as to whom it was from, she couldn't help it.

and lucas didn't know what to react after reading it from start to end. ❝hey, idiot, it's not from my mother, it's yours.❞

with an expression that can't be drawn, hendery gave the man a look. ❝what?❞

having that frown on his face, lucas raised the white envelop that had the letter inside. ❝xiaojun resigned.❞

he.. what?

⚊ t b c ⚊