how are you guys?

getting inside the building after a good talk with the receptionist at the ground floor, they were now getting out of the elevator after reaching the certain floor. jaemin was looking awkward for tagging along, knowing that he wasn't in no where near apart of this problem, but there was no harm in giving moral support. although, what he should be worried about is not himself but the person walking beside him.

xiaojun was breathing heavily with his eyes shaking, hands and forehead sweating, and his stance in walking can even show how dead nervous he is.

❝is everything—❞

❝it's not yet too late to back out, right?❞

the younger paused from his tracks and also got the secretary to do so too, having the two of them looking at each other with jaemin giving him a look of disappointment and xiaojun looking up with his glossy eyes, obviously wanting to make him fall for his trap with his puppy eyes. well, he never fails to make his ceo crumble with that look.

but it's jaemin he's dealing with. that guy doesn't go under with anyone except for his two boyfriends. ❝you have already come this far.❞

and the older took that literally. ❝i mean, we did drive around and got at the other side of the city to be here.❞

composing himself down from going off at his response, the taller male first took deep breaths before giving him a soft smile. ❝look, what happened to your confidence awhile ago?❞

❝it died in the sewer.❞

❝hyung!❞ a groan was heard from jaemin as he pinched the bridge of his nose to compose himself down once more. ❝you can do this, all you have to do is to—❞

the secretary then cuts him off. ❝is pull a renjun, got it!❞

as xiaojun as ready to make a run for it, the younger male, that he is with, then grabbed hold on to the collar of his shirt and preventing him from sprinting away. the secretary heaved out a long and defeated sigh and gave up from struggling when he noticed that jaemin was never going to let him go.

he then crossed his arms and went back to facing the taller male who looked done with how he was becoming a coward in the last minute. the two of them stared at each other and it didn't take jaemin long until he had his eyes softening for the older. not at the fact that he looked adorable puffing his cheeks (wondering if he really is a nintendo switch like him.) but, because at how he understood how nerve-racking this could possibly be for him.

well, who wouldn't be tensed in this situation? ❝you are not following my boyfriend's footsteps, alright?❞ 

xiaojun looked away as this seemed like he was being scolded by his own mother.

sighing once more, jaemin reminded himself not to raise his voice even though this person really is testing his patience. ❝i know you're nervous in meeting her, especially when you didn't even tell hendery about this , but thinking about it, you're doing the two a favor.❞

❝by exposing our relationship and getting all the scolding instead?❞ the older questioned.

❝no, not that.❞ jaemin placed both his hands on the male's shoulder as he stared straight to his eyes. ❝by gathering the courage to make a move and being mature in dealing things rather than running away for no absolute reason.❞

❝but what if i run away because i can't take the pressure,❞ it's just one of his genuine curiosity. ❝isn't that enough excuse?❞

❝that's not even a valid one.❞ the student told him as he fixed the shirt that he crumpled from holding on to him so he couldn't get away. ❝you have to at least fight for it, okay? leaving would only cause for damage to the problem and not to mention, you'll hurt the both of them for that.❞

xiaojun admits, he did have a point, and he didn't want to hurt the two. not when they have gotten this far, and not when they basically already have written their names to be responsible for the boy they are now raising. but taking his feelings to consideration, he was nervous that he might fuck this up.

❝well, we're here.❞ the both of them now stood in front of a certain door that could have owned the whole unit in this floor. jaemin pressed his lips to a thin line as he turned to the male beside him, ❝i don't want to seem heartless, i didn't mean to pressure you like this. i just you guys to simply fix this and not complicate things more like how my boyfriends and i dealt it. but if you need more time to think about it—❞

lifting his chin up, xiaojun finally exhaled the air that he didn't even know he was holding in. ❝i'll do it, for them.❞

a smile was formed on jaemin's face as he did the honors to knock on to the door. they then waited for a good minute till they heard shuffling noises inside the unit. as they were waiting, the younger then had remembered the yangyang's words about this secretary. ❝yang told me that you tend to stutter a lot and say nonsense when you're nervous. so, if you feel like you need help, you can just turn to me and—❞

he didn't get to finish his sentence when the door went swinging open and showed a graceful woman in her night dress and hair sticking out everywhere, yawning and having her eyes squinted. jaemin showed a nervous smile, nudging the secretary beside him.

but neither of them spoke as they were still surprised to see the woman look like this, they had expected to see someone so strict wearing expensive suits or dresses. 

❝can i help you?❞ there was annoyance laced in her tone, probably because her sleep was being disturbed.

this is bad. what's bad? xiaojun shaking in his place. jaemin took a glance at the male and he could clearly see that he was this near to crying, which he felt bad somehow. the student then opened his mouth and was about to say something first, but seems like the secretary beat him to it.

and it wasn't the best first impression he had made.

❝i am your son's, and your son's boyfriend's, present and future!❞

yangyang was right, he does blabber things when he's utterly nervous, and jaemin honestly doesn't know whether to laugh or to hide in the corner at how xiaojun introduced himself to his soon to be mother-in-law.

🦋

getting out of his room, sian held on to his large teddy bear as he peeked his head out only to see his parents standing in front of the extra room they had inside their home. ❝mama? dada?❞

being called by their son, both the adults turned their heads towards the boy before looking at each other and giving signals with their eyes. kun had a brow raised at the taller male, telling him to go and deal with their son. hansol, however, puckered his lips and refused to leave as he wanted to also help him deal with this situation.

❝you'll be sleeping in the sofa tonight.❞ the landlord threatened.

❝you can't do that—❞ but in the end, the husband gave in eventually. ❝i hate you so much.❞

kun knew that he didn't mean that at all, which he just rolled his eyes at it. ❝just go and play with sian.❞

❝and i'll be playing with you later, tonight.❞ hansol said with a chuckle, leaning to place a soft peck on top of the man's forehead, but soon earned a smack by his stomach because of his dirty statement.

sian watched with pure confusion as he couldn't hear what the adults were discussing about, but what took his attention from it were the sniffles coming inside the room they were gathered in this early in the morning. he didn't know what was happening but he recognized that cry more than anyone, he knew who it was. and so, he approached the door, squeezed himself in between his parents, and put a hand on to the door.

his lips curved down at how he was also hurting with the sobs he is hearing. ❝mama, is uncle xiao in here?❞

neither of them answered his question and it was hansol who carried the boy up and pulling him away from knocking on to the door. ❝how about we go to your room and watch lion king, hm?❞

but sian was genuinely worried for the person inside the room, knowing very well as to who it was even though his question wasn't answered. ❝why is uncle xiao crying, dada?❞

❝uncle xiao is crying?❞ hansol had to make up a lie quick, he could feel his husband's glare piercing right through his soul. and plus, he didn't want to sleep at the living room tonight. ❝he's just sick, sian, and mama, here, will take care of him.❞

❝can i also take care of him?❞ he really does have a kind heart.

❝you know what will make uncle xiao happy?❞ swiftly putting the boy over his shoulder, hansol started to walk away with his screeching son. ❝it's sian eating a lot in breakfast!❞

kun gasped when the boy was struggling to support himself up from his father's shoulders. ❝hansol, you're going to drop—❞ but the two had already went downstairs before he could scold his husband who is so reckless at times. ❝him.❞

if their son also tends to be clumsy when he grows up, he's not going to be surprised about that. letting out a long sigh, he stood there for a couple of seconds and when he heard giggles from downstairs, kun now faced the door who was closed, but not locked. he knew he can just get inside and talk things out with xiaojun who came running back here early in the damn morning, but he looked broken. the married couple thought that he just needed time alone, but he has been crying inside that room for the whole hour already.

❝xiaojun, can i open the door?❞ he asked, already twisting the door knob even when he wasn't given the permission to do so yet.

and getting inside, he was greeted with a broken person, crying heavily on the bed with his sobs being muffled on the pillow he is burying his face on.

kun quickly closed the door and went running towards him on the bed, run a hand through his hair and hushing him down from hurting his vocal chords from crying so loud. ❝hey, hey— dejun?❞

❝i d-don't get it, was i just r-rushing things?❞ the sobbing male uttered, taking the pillow away from his face. ❝i know w-we just started t-this, but, damn i-it! i shouldn't h-have taken things so f-fast.❞

to be told, kun had a lot of questions he wanted to ask. but seeing how the younger wanted to let it out first, he just let him be. he let him say things he wanted to say, he let him curse in this household of his, and he let the male cry on his shoulder. it was after a few more minutes that xiaojun's cries died down but his sniffles still echoed inside the room. the landlord then took this chance to ask, ❝what happened?❞

❝i f-fell in love, t-that's what h-happened.❞

with brows furrowed, kun held on to the younger's shoulder and pulled him away from the embrace. ❝dejun, falling in love is not—❞

❝no, ge, i fell in love.❞ biting in his sobs, tears still streamed down from his face nonetheless. ❝i fell in love with the both of them.❞

this was something expected, but still caught the landlord off guard. well, kun had already guessed that something was going on between them. during his son's birthday party, and then that time when those two had helped him in packing his things up to leave. surely, xiaojun isn't dumb enough to leave the apartment he has been staying for years and go off with any stranger, he must have trusted the two that well to move out with them.

yet, here he is, returning. ❝are you scared that the society won't accept that?❞

❝n-no, that's the least o-of my concern.❞ knowing what the people would think about them was the last thing xiaojun was thinking about. in fact, that didn't matter to him that much as all he wanted for them them to be happy, for the two to be happy with him. ❝t-they were together, a-and were talking a-about..❞

kun seen him breakdown countless of times before, and he would usually know what to do and what words that can comfort him, but this one is different. ❝hey?❞

❝them, they were talking about their relationship. i know they've been together longer, but—❞ placing a hand on his chest, xiaojun clutched on to the shirt he borrowed from the family. ❝i-it just hurts so m-much.❞

was it because he wasn't included in their conversation? no, it couldn't be. was he jealous? why would he— he probably is. it's not just how he caught them being in that intimate position on the sofa, but how the two were talking about their relationship. it was supposedly fine for him, but he couldn't help but doubt at things, and hearing the two of them talk about their relationship made him somehow insecure of himself.

why? because it looks like the talk with hendery's mother didn't go quite well.

❝i'm s-scared, what if they are playing w-with me and here i am, falling this d-deep already.❞ he just let it all out, being at his weakest when he's with the older.

what else can kun say? knowing their relationship is already hard for him to catch up, and he is still having it processed inside his head. giving an advice would either worsen the situation, or it'll be of no help at all.

❝ge, i went to kunhang's mom. i thought that by doing it, it can at least prove to them that i am serious with what we are having, that by telling his mother about everything would lessen the problems we are facing.❞ wiping his tears first and taking in a deep breath, he continued only to breakdown completely. ❝it d-didn't go well.❞

the landlord has his eyes widened in concern. ❝did something happen? did she hurt you in anyway? how did things—❞

❝i.. didn't have a good start when i greeted her.❞ and that still haunts him up until now, thinking what was going on inside his head during that time and also apologizing for the second hand embarrassment that jaemin could have felt during that time. ❝but she still invited me in as she recognized me as kunhang's secretary, also jaemin as yangyang's friend.❞

putting a hand on top of his head, kun listened to him as he also stroked the strands of his soft locks. seeing the male cry so much like this reminded him of that one time when hansol brought sian to the playground and they came back home with their little boy having a bruise on his knee and that tall grown man giving him a sheepish smile saying that they were running around and the boy tripped. the two had a small fight because of it and sian couldn't hold back his cry as he was in the middle of them, watching the sight unfold.

kun's thoughts were then snapped back when the younger went back to sobbing again. ❝t-then i went to e-explain to her everything. she w-was confused at f-first, she looked at me like i was c-crazy for saying that his son is in love with two people.❞

honestly, hearing his story would be shocking at first, kun is going to admit to that. 

❝g-ge, is it impossible for kunhang and yangyang to love someone like me?❞ he asked, eyes filled with tears. ❝it may seem like i want something from them, because i have nothing.❞

❝love is not a question, it just happens. you can't ask why you're in love with them because you can't just love them for some aspect, you have to love them as a whole. you just love them for being them, even with their flaws.❞ kun explained, hoping that it would be of help to the younger who's conflicted. ❝i never questioned myself when i fell in love with someone stupid.❞

so much for getting emotional with the older's words. xiaojun now cracked a broken chuckle. ❝you can't say that to hansol hyung, he's a great guy!❞

❝he truly is.❞ which kun can't even deny to that. but the adoring smile on his face soon disappeared when he made another factual statement. ❝that still doesn't change at how dumb and clumsy he can get sometimes.❞

and hendery is a jerk, but you don't hear that coming from xiaojun. ❝b-but ge, i have another problem, kunhang's mother—❞

"excuse me, ma'am, i don't think you can just barge inside the house like this!"

"where is that secretary!?"

both their heads turned to the door that was pushed opened, and then having sian to get inside and run to his other parent. ❝mama!❞

xiaojun didn't get to fully tell all his problems to the landlord, and he didn't even get time to sleep as he immediately ran away from the house he's currently living at. he just roamed around the streets the whole night, spending money on food here and there, until it came to his mind to go back to kun and find comfort in his arms. that explains as to why he came to pay a visit this early in the morning.

but what surprised him was how an uninvited guest also came in view for them by the door frame, also along with hansol who's panicking at how kun was glaring at him for letting a stranger inside the house.

carrying his little boy, kun approached the woman who's fuming. ❝may i help—❞

❝you!❞ the woman just ignored the landlord and went pointing a finger at xiaojun who looked like a mess right now with his puffed eyes and swollen face from crying.

xiaojun shuffled himself up from the bed, fixing his hair and wiping the already dry tears from his eyes as he turned to face the woman who went pass by the landlord who looked offended by her disrespectful action. ❝if you're here to ask for my apology, i t-think we should go outside and sort things out—❞

she then took out her phone and surprised the male with the messages he received coming from her son. ❝how dare you go to me, tell me that you love both my son and his boyfriend, then run away after!❞

how does she know? ❝what?❞

❝now, i have to call my husband to take care of the company because hendery is one heck of a stubborn kid when he's not in the mood.❞ she grumbled, dialing a contact number and pressing her phone on her ear.

seconds after, xiaojun got a message coming from jaemin who sent him tons of "sorry"s for being the one to expose the mother where he is right now. yeah, that person was the only one he could rely last night and told him where he was. he clicked his tongue as he couldn't believe that he was bringing his own problem to this house where the landlord's family is just peacefully living. ❝i-i'm sorry, but i really do think we should deal with this outside—❞

❝don't think that your apology for me will do anything in this situation.❞ she said, her aura switching to the opposite as to how she was the first time they met. ❝and don't you dare think i'm done with you after this phone call.❞

❝i know it was my mistake for running away, but—❞

❝glad that you admit to it,❞ dropping the phone as her call wasn't answered, she faced him and decided to call her husband later after this. ❝and because of that, i want you to do something for me.❞

gulping, xiaojun was already thinking the extremes of how these rich people will punish him for what he has done. ❝w-what would that be.❞

❝i want you to resign,❞ she told him. ❝in being hendery's secretary.❞

⚊ t b c ⚊