❝you're l-leaving?❞

having yangyang with him, helping him in carrying the boxes he had arranged last night, xiaojun paused from his tracks along with the student as he heard a kid's voice that's cracking. he turned around and caught a glimpse of an adorable sian in his pajamas, probable woke up with how loud he was in getting his things out of his apartment. actually, the landlord insisted that he should wake up their son to spend his time with him but xiaojun told him not to, knowing how annoying it is to be waken up from his sleep.

he also didn't want to see sian act like this, knowing how attached he is to the kid already.

feeling his son move from his arms, hansol heaved out a sigh before placing him down and letting the boy run towards the secretary that's carrying a box that's probably filled with clothes. ❝uncle xiao, w-where are you going?❞

right, he didn't get to tell this to the boy. xiaojun snapped out from spacing out when he saw the student beside him giving him a small smile. ❝let me, and you go talk to him.❞

the secretary didn't argue as he let yangyang take the light box he once carried. he first watched the student making his way to the car safely before facing back to the boy that's now letting out sniffles and is using his small hands to wipe that tears streaming down from his eyes.

❝good morning, sian.❞ xiaojun greeted, passing him a small smile while crouching down to match the boy's height.

❝w-why is uncle yang squared and mister ryry putting your things inside the car?❞ despite of already sobbing, the boy still managed to ask in the most clearest way that the secretary could understand.

this is the main reason as to why he asked the the ceo to come pick him up this early. after their fun at the amusement park, it took him days to think about it before making a final decision in moving in with them. earning a prideful remark from hendery, both yangyang and eleven were glad to know it. they were the ones that would never shut up in asking him about what bedsheet he'd prefer in the new room that they have cleaned, how many pillows he'd like on the bed, and what kind of lamp he'd want to be inside the room. in the end, it was the ceo who had decided that it'll be eleven that's going to take the new room while the three of them would share a room of their own.

but the point here is, xiaojun didn't want to see sian crying as he leaves. he couldn't even handle breaking the news to him that he'll move out. the boy is everything to him, he's also like his own son, and he knows that sian had already grown attached to him. and seeing him break down like this, it's hurting him.

❝hey, you're crying as if we won't be able to see each other again.❞ with a soft smile, xiaojun bit down the sob at the back of his throat as he didn't want for his departure to be this emotional.

❝so,❞ sian first wiped the tears from his cheeks before he looked up at the secretary staring at him so dearly. ❝you're really leaving?❞

lying would only worsen the situation. and so, xiaojun gave him a nod. ❝but i'll make sure to come and pay you a visit all the time—❞

❝p-please stay.❞ now uncontrollably crying, the boy walked closer to him and held his hand. ❝u-uncle xiao, i won't slap you in the morning anymore! or, i-is it because of how dirty your room is? you can stay at mama's and dada's! you can sleep right next to s-sian, please stay.❞

he should have known how soft he can get with the boy. he could now even feel the tears falling down from his eyes as he listened to sian making an attempt to let him stay and not move out.

hearing him stay silent made sian squeezed the male's hand that he's holding. ❝if m-mama won't have time to make y-you breakfast, sian will learn! he'll wake u-up early everyday and—❞

❝sian, hey.❞ xiaojun noticed how the boy is having a hard time breathing in managing his cries and sobs at the same time, making him run a hand through sian's hair and pulling him in for a hug. he then offered his shoulder for the boy to cry on, and had a hand patting on his back. ❝you're making uncle xiao cry!❞

❝you're making me cry too!❞ for a second there, sian thought that he'd say a long speech that can make him cry a bucket— then again, he's already sobbing like there's no tomorrow.

the parents that are watching the sight then turned to look at each other. hansol still had those drowsy eyes as he just woke up in hearing his son nudging him and is already crying. he even wondered why kun isn't laying right next to him on the bed, only to know that he's already out there bidding one of his tenants farewell. it just so happens, it's someone so close to them, and especially to their son.

kun let out a chuckle at how tired his husband looked, and not to mention that pout on his face, lifting both his hands and fixing his messed up hair. that caused for the taller to show a smile and give his lover a short peck on the forehead.

while they were having their moment, both xiaojun and sian were still crying as they were in each other's embrace.

❝sian,❞ the secretary finally spoke after minutes of joining in the boy in crying. ❝uncle xiao will still be here.❞

❝you mean, y-you won't leave—❞ the boy's glistening eyes that showed a hint of hope was then changed to a gaze of sadness when he felt a finger poking his chest. sian quickly caught up to what the secretary meant and it only made him sob even louder. ❝you're making it sound like you'll die!❞

his statement made the male laugh softly. ❝don't cry.❞ taking a deep breath in, xiaojun wiped the boy's tears using his thumb. ❝i'll just be a call away, hm? so if something happens to sian, just call uncle xiao.❞

❝i won't s-say goodbye.❞ sian still couldn't believe, neither accept, the fact that xiaojun would now leave but his parents did teach him to be understanding. he knows that there are other things in life that the secretary should prioritize, not just him. ❝b-because we'll still see each other again.❞

the way his words pierced through his heart and how it made him feel the urge to let the tears roll back down from his eyes once again. but no, it'll only cause for the two of them to be a crying mess back again. ❝so, see you later, then?❞

❝see you, u-uncle xiao.❞ as much as sian wanted to hold him back from going, how possible can that get? they had already packed the male's things up and it's already inside the car.

xiaojun showed a wide smile and leaned forward just to boop their noses. he then took hold of boy's hand and went approaching to the parents that now stood at the front door of their unit. before sian could go running towards his mama, the secretary had already beat him to it and threw his body towards the landlord, who almost stumbled back because of the impact. lucky for the two, hansol had a hand supporting behind his husband's back to prevent the two of them from falling.

the boy showed a pout and went to his dada instead, wrapping his small arms around the man's legs as he watched xiaojun burying his head down on to his mama's shoulder.

❝we'll still be your family even if you're away from us.❞ kun said, patting the male's back as he hushed him down.

❝thank you,❞ he didn't want to cry, he already had enough crying in this broad daylight. and plus, they are probably waiting for him inside the car already. ❝for taking me in, for taking good care of me, despite of how much of a trouble i am.❞

❝don't you dare pull out a tear jerker speech on me, xiao dejun.❞ knowing where this is going to go, kun pulled away from the hug and went to stop the secretary from doing something that can also cause for him to sob like his son. ❝you haven't paid this month's rent!❞

after causing a scene a while ago with tears, xiaojun now had a playful smirk on his face. ❝remind me not to pay that till the day i die.❞

not like kun really mind, he just wanted to tease him about it. now that he was done saying his farewells with the landlord, xiaojun face to the husband and the smile on his face dropped. hansol raised a brow as he watched the secretary immediately turning around, scoffing at how disrespectful he was. ❝rude much?❞

hansol was more of a friend that being a father figure to him, unlike kun. it made him smile and turning around, he surprised the taller with the tightest embrace he could give. he mayhaps also squished sian who's still hugging his father's leg. also, he wasn't aware that a certain someone inside the car saw him being too clingy to hansol.

the male then chuckled, ruffling the secretary's hair. ❝it feels like yesterday you ran up to me talking about the cute guy you met at the park.❞

that memory is still fresh inside his head, remembering how he just faked to love that beagle dog but now, bella is already his favorite. ❝well—❞

❝and now you hit the jackpot.❞ hansol cuts him off with a statement that made his husband chuckle. ❝i guess, it's buy one take one?❞

this is what he meant by him being his friend rather than treating him like a son despite of their age gap. xiaojun clicked his tongue and lightly smacked the man's chest. ❝i don't like seeing you again if this is the case, thank you very much.❞

the taller man scoffed at what he said, very much aware that he'd be doing the opposite. ❝and in another second, you will come running up to me for advices.❞

❝no—❞ xiaojun pucked his lips as he gave the man an adorable glare. ❝i hate that you're right. that's unfair, you give best tips.❞

❝well,❞ kun's brows then twitched when he saw his husband bending down to match the secretary's height. was it jealousy? probably, but admitting to that would only boost the man's shameless ego. ❝if you want some tips in bed, you know who to call.❞

what happened to hansol after that would already be obvious.

while yangyang just got inside the car after putting the secretary's things at the bag and eleven trying to figure out how to complete the rubix cube given to him by the family, hendery still had his eyes gazing on them. he had a glare shot right through the tall man's soul as he was uneasy with how close he is with his secretary. scratch that, his xiaojun. he never took his eyes off them until the shorter male had already waved goodbye and is walking away.

he was about to start the engine of the car but he noticed how a certain boy was still crying. it gave him an idea, having that sly grin on his face.

❝eleven,❞ hendery had a deep frown when the boy sitting at the backseat isn't paying attention to him. ❝xiao shi yi.❞

both eleven and yangyang turned their heads towards the ceo and gulped at how stern his voice is. not only that, he called the boy's name in chinese that made them somehow scared that they might have gotten him mad for some reason. at home, the ceo usually calls him that if he doesn't listen to either of them and it's honestly scary, even more when it's hendery calling him that. but no, hendery just did it knowing that it was the only way to get the kid's attention.

❝i know that we aren't the type to show affection to anyone,❞ the boy's eyes landed on the handkerchief which the ceo is giving to him, making him furrow his brows at what he should do with it. ❝but someone needs comfort right now.❞

the student watching the ceo handing the boy his handkerchief honest made him smile, giving eleven that look of encouragement. it took the boy a while to finally understand what they meant, having to look to the side and catching sian ugly crying. it made him snicker, but the warning glare his father is giving him made him shut his mouth up.

❝do i have to?❞ maybe a pout can get him away with it.

❝don't make me say it again.❞ it's still a mystery to eleven as to how the ceo can be playful at one minute and in another, he'd be the scariest donkey he had ever met.

hoping to be saved by his papa, eleven raised his head to look at yangyang but the student only gave him a small smile. it made him let out a sigh, put the rubix cube down the seat, and take the handkerchief in the ceo's hand. he puffed his cheeks, holding himself back from sticking his tongue out at the man. opening the door to his side, he surprised the secretary— his dada, but didn't have enough time to explain everything to him and went rushing towards the crying boy that's about to get back inside their unit.

❝sian!❞

the said boy stopped his tracks and turned his body around only to face a panting eleven running towards him. sian tried to make up a frown and his brows knitted, wanting to let the other know that he hates his presence, but he still can't get over that his uncle xiaojun is now leaving and moving out.

which is why, he cried harder than before.

eleven got a look of approval coming from the boy's mama, but a glare coming for the boy's dada. he gulped and decided not to look at either of them, and just focus on the crying male. ❝h-here.❞

he may look tough on the outside, but stuttering is a habit he can't drop.

but sian started shaking his head, not wanting to accept any kind gesture from the boy as he did still hate his guts. ❝i don't w-want that.❞

pursing his lips tight as he clenched the handkerchief, eleven had his eyes wandering to the side. ❝t-then, what about t-this?❞

sniffling real loud, sian wiped the tears that's making his sight blurry and finally saw how eleven stretched his arms to the side, as if he's offering a hug. of course, he missed the part as to how red the boy's face is.

❝if you don't like that too then i'll be leaving—❞ eleven didn't get to finish his sentence when he was taken by surprise with a body thrown at him and having arms wrapped around his waist.

while kun was holding hansol back from pulling the kids away from each other, he's just protective over his son, the other parents that's now inside the car cooed at the sight of them interacting. mainly, it's just yangyang blowing his nose to the blanket he had brought with him for some reason. both xiaojun and hendery stared at each other and chuckled at the student's reaction.

❝my son is growing up.❞ he stated and of course he was proud because of it.

xiaojun admired the student but something in that sentence made his chest ache somehow. and to think no one would notice, the ceo was looking at him while lifting his hands up and wiping the tears from his boyfriend's cheeks.

❝yang,❞ hendery called him out, glancing at the secretary from the backseat before facing his boyfriend that's still crying. ❝ours, he's our son.❞

the secretary didn't know what to say, honestly finding the sentence hard to process. he may not know what to feel towards it, but his face showed disappointment. especially when he's being silent and sulky behind them.

it just made hendery chuckle. ❝that includes you too, dejun.❞

folding his arms, xiaojun looked away with a huff. ❝i didn't say anything.❞

❝but you thought of it.❞

❝i still didn't say anything.❞

❝so you admit that you thought of it?❞

❝you are—❞

and they are back it again, arguing in simple things. fortunately, yangyang is there to stop the two from pouncing at each other. ❝okay, stop it! eleven is already coming here.❞

ever since he had already exposed his feelings towards his secretary, hendery has grown balls and is confident enough to even wink at him. usually, xiaojun would flirt back, but he was still pouting at how he was being obvious right at the moment. the ceo just laughed at him before settling properly on his seat as the boy got inside the car and sat beside his dada in the backseat.

they were quite when hendery started the engine, but he just had to break the ice and tease the boy that's flushed red, probably because of the bold move he had done in giving his worst enemy a hug.

❝so, eleven, when is the wedding?❞

both yangyang and xiaojun gasped at the ceo, giving him a smack on the head at the same time. ❝hendery, he is a kid!❞

🦋

parking the car at the garage, hendery waited for them to get out before taking his keys and his phone with him and being the last one to get out. a smile never left his face as he watched both the student and and the secretary play with the boy, running around and even carrying him up without notice. he never knew that being in this kind of relationship would make him feel a lot. not that it made him uncomfortable, but it's too overwhelming.

and he's not complaining.

actually, it's beautiful. that's all he could say. he kept on denying his feelings, not knowing he'd feel the beauty of what they are having right now.

as he was about to join them, he felt his phone vibrating in his hold and after seeing the caller's id, he knew he had to take this. swiping it up, he pressed it on his ear. ❝what is it, lucas?❞

"i know you told me not to report to you anything about work but right now, we—"

❝i'm having a day off, please.❞ he groaned in annoyance, rolling his eyes as he started to take steps closer to the three that are still playing and their laughs echoing inside the garage.

"no, you don't understand. hendery, you should—"

❝let's talk about it tomorrow, hm?❞ the ceo didn't let him say another word and ended the call with just one press. chuckling, he tucked the phone inside his pocket and ran towards them.

❝dad!❞ eleven let out a loud laugh when he was being lifted off the ground and being placed over the ceo's shoulder. he had his legs dangling down the male's shoulders and hands on hendery's head to keep him away from falling.

the sudden action actually scared both yangyang and xiaojun for a second. but they wanted to join them, which is why the student held the boy's right hand and the secretary held the left, the ceo holding both the boy's legs. they were chuckling and were walking out of the garage in that position.

❝you know, i still can't believe that yangyang took this kid out from the orphanage.❞ hendery started the subject.

xiaojun mocked a groan, acting like he was tired by just remembering that scene. ❝and gave him a name out of jealousy.❞

the student puffed his cheeks at them. ❝you can't blame me for it!❞

❝wait, since yangyang is still a graduating college student—❞ not able to finish his curiosity, hendery was cut off by his secretary answering the question he had inside his head.

❝i handled the paperworks for him.❞ xiaojun heaved out a sigh.

with a brow raised, the ceo was mostly just teasing him. ❝oh, so you agreed to having a family with us way back?❞

❝hey, yangyang was giving me those irresistible puppy eyes of his!❞ the secretary defended himself with hands raised up to his chest, trying to prove a point.

hendery now turned to his other side and gave his boyfriend a smile. ❝let me see those eyes.❞

but instead of doing what the ceo wanted, yangyang just let out an adorable giggle and surprised him with a peck on the lips. not only him, but he also went to kiss xiaojun before running away and leaving the two of them surprised there. eleven was watching it all happen and he can't help but smile at how genuinely beautiful and heartwarming this is.

wanting to catch up to him, both the ceo and the secretary trailed from behind as they made their way to the front door where yangyang is already at. the student waited for them with a bright smile and did the honors in opening the door for them since hendery was busy holding on to the boy's legs and xiaojun had a hand placed behind eleven's back so he won't fall down.

however, opening the door, he didn't expect to get a hug from a certain someone that came to visit them without notice. ❝yangyang, dear!❞

xiaojun widened his eyes after seeing someone unfamiliar to him, eleven was also tilting his head to the side because of it.

meanwhile, hendery was stiff in his place as he also didn't except to see her here. ❝m-mom?❞

⚊ t b c ⚊