the three of them was seated down on the sofa with the boy in between them, having the cat comfortably laid down on his lap. the ceo's gaze frightened him but he kept his calm by caressing the cat's back, earning purrs coming from the pet.

with squinted eyes and brows furrowed, hendery's gaze first went to his secretary that is looking away and then darted his attention to his boyfriend that wandering his eyes anywhere but him the moment he caught him looking. clicking his tongue, the man standing there with arms folded across his chest now glared down at the boy who's obviously shaking in fear.

but hendery was mostly confused as to why louis is so clingy to the boy. he's never in good terms with humans, especially with him. how much does louis hate him? the cat peed on him for god's sake.

shaking his head at the far fetched thought, the ceo brought himself back to where he was focused on, and that is scolding the two. ❝who brought up this idea?❞

the both of them widened their eyes, preventing themselves from looking at each other so it wouldn't be too obvious. then again, admitting who's at fault won't change the fact that the both of them are in trouble for even letting this happen. taking a short glance to his side, xiaojun noticed how the student was already in the verge of crying. it made him sigh, thinking of sacrificing himself and putting all the blame to him. he didn't want for yangyang to be scolded and plus, he also got used to hendery shouting at him so he can endure this.

he hopes that this wouldn't break their relationship.

clenching his fists, the secretary raised his head up and opened his mouth to speak. ❝it was—❞

❝me. i'm the one who thought of adopting him.❞

all the blame shouldn't be put to yangyang, xiaojun also had done something. he also helped with the documents, signing the papers, even got his consent in everything since he's at a legal age for it. even though part of him knew it was wrong of not letting the ceo know, he couldn't help but help the student after seeing that smile on his face.

instead of looking at xiaojun after noticing that he was the first one who got to say a word, hendery stared at his boyfriend. ❝stand up.❞

hearing quiet sniffles from him, the secretary got worried on what the ceo could possibly do to yangyang. ❝kunghang, i—❞

❝i never gave you permission to talk.❞ hendery snapped at the male who's seated there. giving him a look, he darted his eyes back at his boyfriend who lowered his head as he didn't have the courage to look at him. ❝yang, to the kitchen.❞

xiaojun gasped, standing up. ❝but he's not the only—❞

❝xiao dejun.❞

gulping, the said male sat back down when his name was being called sternly. all xiaojun can do was stare at the student's back as he makes his way to the kitchen with his head hung low. with a frown on his face, he turned to hendery and tried begging for him not to be harsh on him as he really didn't have bad intentions in what he's doing.

❝don't worry, i'll just talk to him.❞ the ceo said. he's not that heartless, it's still his boyfriend he's dealing with. even though he has done something without letting him know, he still cares for how he's feeling. ❝as for you,❞

xiaojun blinked twice at how the attention was now at him, feeling cold sweat forming on his forehead. he wanted to look away but the doing that might only annoy the ceo, not wanting to irritate him more than ever.

❝i'll deal with you later.❞ after having his glare boring holes right through his secretary's soul, he crouched down right in front of the boy and raised his hand up, flicking his forehead. ❝and you!❞

the secretary flinched at how the man's voice was raised, also the student, that's peeking by the doorframe separating the kitchen and the living room, got startled by his boyfriend suddenly spoke sternly at the kid who's now rubbing the sore spot on his forehead where hendery flicked real hard. tears were even welling up in his eyes because of how it hurt.

❝you behave,❞ he said, an index finger pointed at the boy who's nodding his head with lips pressed into a tight line. ❝or else, i'll also have a talk with you.❞

frightening the boy made the siamese cat grow cautious of the man that hurt the innocent him, hissing at the ceo even though he's clearly not a snake. hendery rolled his eyes at louis who's hate on him is evident, standing up and catching his boyfriend peeking by the doorframe. with a yelp, yangyang quickly got himself inside the kitchen and decided to wait for the older there.

the ceo gave xiaojun one last glance before he got made his way to the kitchen silently, leaving the two alone in the living room.

well, it was supposed to be quiet while waiting for them to finish talking but xiaojun was taken by surprise when he heard muffled sobs coming from the boy, definitely holding himself back from crying really loud.

❝hey, why are you crying?❞ he positioned himself in facing the boy, actually concerned if he's crying because of how hard hendery flicked his forehead.

but it was something else. ❝i-i'm sorry, i a-always bring t-trouble wherever i g-go.❞

just a minute ago, he was still salty about how he slapped his hand and that rude action caused him to look at the boy differently. but now, he got soft just watching him easily cry. it got him thinking, maybe there's something more than what mrs. song told them about this boy.

with a small smile, he patted his lap. ❝come here,❞ the boy looked at him. ❝eleven.❞

his nose scrunched at the choice of name yangyang had given to the kid but what can he do? it has already been done.

sniffling real loud, the boy placed the siamese cat down the sofa gently before standing up and making his way on the secretary's lap. chuckling, xiaojun brushed a hand through his hair before engulfing him in a tight hug. ❝it's not your fault, stop crying.❞

❝but i m-made him m-mad.❞ the boy hiccuped, feeling a pair of hands cupping his face and the next thing he knows, his cheeks were already being squished.

❝don't mind him,❞ xiaojun said with a laugh, leaning forward as he booped their noses. at least with that, it made the kid smile. ❝he's just a grumpy man.❞

was it possible to change his mind and keep the boy? taking care of a kid doesn't sound bad after all.

meanwhile, the two that are inside the kitchen were surrounded by silence. yangyang had his back leaning towards the sink while hendery had his arms folded as he stopped himself by the kitchen island. the two locked gazes and the ceo could see how scared the younger is in getting scolded. not like this is the first time he had done it, he rarely does scold him. the older just scolds him if the action calls for it.

but for this situation, hendery just wanted to talk.

❝who told you that it was a great idea?❞ he said, seriousness laced in his voice.

❝h-he wasn't t-treated right there.❞ fumbling with his fingers, yangyang had his head lowered as he didn't want to see how angry his boyfriend looked. ❝so i took him in.❞

❝what do you mean he's not treated right there?❞ a scoff was heard from the ceo. ❝i asked the orphanage to—❞

❝well, he's being bullied there by kids his age!❞ the student didn't mean to raise his voice. he's just torn between lashing it out all out or keeping silent and listen to the older nagging at him. ❝and mrs. song told me that all he brings his trouble. i know he's not that kind of kid. the way he looks at me, ge, he's like asking for help and—❞

❝what do you know about him!? maybe he is a troublesome kid like what they describe him to be.❞

with a frown, yangyang didn't like how his boyfriend is talking about the boy he took in. ❝what do you know about him? you just met him now.❞

scoffing for the second time, hendery brushed his tongue in his cheek's insides out of annoyance. ❝i wouldn't have acted like that towards him if i had met him just now!❞

the student widened his eyes, not knowing anything about what he had just said. does that mean the two had already met? now remembering the past visits to the orphanage, hendery sometimes disappears out of no where and if he asks where he has been, he'd just say he's playing with the kids. maybe he meant a certain kid, and that boy happens to be the one he took in. ❝w-what do you mean?❞

letting out a stressful groan, the ceo ran a hand through his hair and messed it up. after his long day at work, he had to go home seeing this mess. and to think he's going to have a nice rest tonight. ❝yeah, he's the kid i would always play with whenever we go to the orphanage.❞

but the way he treated him a while ago. he flicked his forehead, he even raised his voice at the boy. shouldn't they be friends if they have met already?

❝until one day,❞ burying his face down on the palm of his hand, hendery started massaging his temples. ❝he brought me a frog.❞

yangyang stayed silent as he listened intently to the older. but he didn't say anything more after revealing to him that the kid brought him a frog, the silence made him furrow his brows. the ceo raised his head up and gave the younger a look, confusing the student. ❝what?❞

❝are you not going to laugh?❞ he actually thought that hating a kid because he brought a frog to you is an immature move.

the student started shaking his head, not a laugh nor a giggle came out of his mouth. ❝ge, you have a fear for frogs, i know that. there's nothing funny with being scared of something, why should i laugh?❞

sighing, hendery forgot how understanding the younger can be. it gave him a hard time thinking of ways to scold him for something he didn't mean any bad intentions to it. ❝as i was saying, i know him already.❞

covering his mouth at countless of possibilities he had inside his head, ❝then you know how he's treated at the—❞ but he didn't get to continue his words when hendery cuts him to it.

❝i do, and you're right. there is something more that what mrs. song told you about him.❞ the student just wondered why the ceo never told him anything about this. but then again, not like he ever asked something nor pushed him to say anything. ❝he begged me not to tell anyone.❞

puffing his cheeks, yangyang didn't intend to look adorable in front of the ceo just to force the words out from his mouth but that was what the older is seeing. ❝but we adopted him, doesn't that mean we get the right to know?❞

we? hendery's brows twitched at the word but shrugged it off nonetheless. ❝no, because we are bringing him back to the orphanage.❞

❝what?❞ stopping the older from leaving, the student took hold of his wrist and made the ceo look at him. this time, he wasn't showing any kind of fright. he was determined and that's was what the older didn't want to see. ❝we are not!❞

❝yang, we are not taking him—❞

❝why won't you just tell me what—❞

❝he was abused by his parents, okay!?❞

hendery didn't meant to shout at him, it just irked him at how the younger is pressuring him to say it. now that he said it, it surprised the student. ❝b-but mrs. song told us that h-he was being left at the d-doorstep with a note by his parents.❞

❝that isn't even his parents' handwriting.❞ grunting at how he had already exposed the kid even when he was trusted not to, hendery got back to the kitchen island.

might as well explain everything to him.

hopping, he adjusted himself seated down on the kitchen island with yangyang still looking at him with his eyed widened. surely he didn't expect to hear that. ❝he ran away from home bring a pen and paper. he had no where to go, living in the streets also isn't a great idea but he managed for one night. he then found out about the orphanage but he guessed that they won't take in just random kids. and so, he asked someone random to write a note for him.❞

with his brows knitted, the student found it strange as to why a random person would just write a note for the kid. ❝but the note talks about how troublesome he is—❞

❝he asked to have it written.❞ hendery told him, continuing his explanation. ❝it was so that no one could just adopt him that easily, neither have that much friends. he's already having trust issues at such a young age.❞

standing there, processing everything inside his head, yangyang waited a minute of silence before he could ask a question. ❝how did you make him say this? i barely even got a word out of him the first hour of being together.❞

❝i have my ways.❞ hendery said with a shrug, somehow proud that he got the boy to open up to him by just playing with him and being patient with his stubborn attitude.

but a small part angered the student a slight bit. ❝wait, if you know all of these then why didn't you adopt him?❞

❝god,❞ holding himself back from bursting, the ceo took deeps breaths before telling another part of the story with his boyfriend. ❝yang, remember that time when i talked about having children? it was also the same day where my parents teased us about having one.❞

not the right time to get flustered but he could feel his cheeks rising up upon remembering it, the memory still fresh as if it had just happened yesterday. ❝y-yeah, but i was asleep.❞

❝pretending to be asleep.❞ the older then corrected him. ❝that was the time i planned to adopt him but seeing how you reacted, i respected you, knowing that you aren't ready for it.❞

oh, so he really missed that opportunity. ❝but i am ready now!❞ the younger said in full determination, wanting to convince the ceo that he's fine with it. ❝why would you want me to bring him back to the orphanage?❞

❝yang, you are not ready.❞

insisting, yangyang stomped his feet in front of the older. so mich for looking mature. ❝i adopted him because—❞

❝you pity him.❞ hendery said, cutting him off. he got down from the kitchen island and walked closer to the student. ❝you took him in because you only feel bad for him.❞

feeling the counter behind him, the student gulped when hendery came to trap him with his hands placed on both his sides. the younger felt his breathing hitch when the ceo was back at it with eyes glaring at him, as if it's threatening him to follow his orders or he'd taste his wrath.

❝but do you know what the boy needs the most?❞ gaze softening, even hendery is not going to lie, he feels bad for the kid. ❝parents, yang. he needs parents, not a student who pities him. he needs people who's willing to take care of him, who'll be there with him as he grows up, who are there to support him in everything, who are going to correct the mistakes he would make, and those who are going to give him the love and affection every kid deserves.❞

a minute passed and yangyang hasn't spoken a word yet, making realization hit him like a truck. finding the younger's silence being enough as an answer that he should take, meaning that he's fine bringing the kid back to the orphanage, hendery pushed himself away from him and started to walk away.

but paused midway when the student finally said a word with his voice echoing inside the silent kitchen.

❝we can be his parents.❞

hendery took a deep breath in before exhaling, already exhausted from work and also from having a talk with his boyfriend. the amount of times he had sighed for the night because of this conversation.

but that didn't stop yangyang from convincing him. he'll do anything to keep the boy. after hearing his story, it only made him determine to take him in and take care of him. ❝ge, we can give him everything he needs. we can be his parents, we can give him love and—❞

❝should i say it again?❞ not bothering to turn around, the older let his back face the student. ❝you are not ready.❞

❝i—❞ in all honesty, hendery is right. but that doesn't mean he didn't want to keep the boy. ❝c-can we at least try?❞

giving up, it looked like his boyfriend really doesn't want to bring the boy back no matter how much he convinces him. ❝yang, we can talk about this tomorrow. i'm kind of tired now.❞

❝but—❞

starting to walk, hendery stopped midway only to say, ❝we can let him stay.❞

eyes sparkling, yangyang rushed towards him. ❝really?❞

❝for the night.❞

holding back the urge to groan, the younger male then just followed him from behind as they make their way back to the living room. their gloomy mood was soon changed when they saw a sight of the two that they left by the living room, already sleeping. the boy is seated on xiaojun's lap as he clutched on to his shirt while the secretary hugged on to him real tight as if he's protecting him from something.

❝should we wake them up?❞ the student questioned, cooing at the sight and took his phone out. he didn't forget to take a picture of the adorable sight.

just when hendery was about to suggest in letting them sleep here, xiaojun already fluttered his eyes open after hearing shuttering sounds coming from the student's phone. almost letting out a shriek as he saw the secretary waking up in the pictures he took, yangyang showed a pout as the of them sleeping didn't last that long.

yawning, xiaojun raising his hand up and rubbed the corner of his eyes. he made sure to be careful as not to wake the boy up. ❝are you two done?❞

❝dejun ge,❞ the student got seated on the sofa so suddenly, not even noticing the siamese cat that's laying close to the two. he almost squished louis but he didn't notice that, only the ceo who snorted at the cat's reaction. ❝would you want to stay for the night?❞

squinting his eyes, xiaojun started to look for the wall clock and when he found one, he gasped at the time. ❝i think i should go back to my apartment, kun ge might be looking for me.❞

so much for wanting him to stay for the night.

maybe he still can convince him. ❝but you don't have a car—❞

❝i can take a cab.❞ gently carrying the sleeping boy, yangyang took him in his arms instead so xiaojun could stand up from the sofa.

❝no,❞ taking the keys he threw on the coffee table, he faced his secretary who was startled when he started to speak. ❝i'll drive you there.❞

it was already late and xiaojun doubts that there'll still be cabs around the area. maybe taking his offer just this once wouldn't be so bad, he just felt like it would be a burden to do so since he just came home from work.

❝yang, can you take care of him?❞ hendery turned to his boyfriend who nodded with enthusiasm. ❝wait, before that, what did you name him?❞

eyes widened, xiaojun tried to block the man's view from the student. ❝you don't have to know!❞

❝ge, hush! you're going to wake eleven up.❞ the student placed a finger on his lips to hush the two.

tilting his head to the side with brows furrowed, hendery scoffed at the name. ❝why would you name him after a number?❞

❝because when he grows up,❞ this time, it was the younger's turn to glare at the ceo. ❝he'll be better than ten.❞

❝ten—❞ he found that name oddly familiar. but a question he had in mind stopped him from remembering who that person is that had that name. ❝surname.❞

this, this is what xiaojun knew he'd be a dead meat. ❝kunhang, how about we—❞

❝xiao.❞

with a shriek, the secretary pulled the man along with him as they went to the front door. ❝bye yang!❞ he shouted before shutting it close and dragging the ceo once more towards the garage.

panting for air, xiaojun stood there as he waited for the car to be driven outside the garage. having it stopped right in front of him, he got inside sitting by the front seat. he wanted to take the backseat and continued his sleep there but he remembered the ceo's complain about looking like a driver if he takes the back seat. not wanting to piss him off, he became obedient and took the seat right next to the driver's.

maneuvering the car, the two of them were silent. hendery didn't even question him about the boy's surname being changed. he didn't even scold the student for taking his secretary's name instead of his. it was nerve-racking to be sitting right next to the ceo, and it was strange not seeing him get mad.

or maybe he was already mentally killing him inside his head.

gulping, xiaojun felt himself heavily breathing at how even that sound was heard because of how quiet they are. ❝i h-heard you two t-talk inside the kitchen.❞

him breaking the ice first made hendery chuckle. and there he actually thought that his secretary could last an hour with not talking to him, it hasn't been five minutes even. ❝of course you did, we were shouting.❞ but something concerned him. ❝did eleven hear?❞

god knows when xiaojun will get used to that name. ❝no, i put him to sleep before you two started to argue.❞

and the both of them were back with staying silent. the road isn't that busy and it might probably take hendery only ten minutes to arrive to his secretary's apartment. but that would be without the traffic lights and with them unluckily getting the red one, the ceo heaved the nth sigh for the night as he stopped.

but for xiaojun, it was an opportunity he had to take. ❝i-if you guys don't w-want to take him,❞ he lowered his head and played with his hands. ❝i a-am willing to b-be his parent.❞

❝you know dejun,❞ taking hold of the steering wheel, hendery turned to look at the smaller male beside him. ❝there are sentences you have to say without stuttering if you really mean them.❞

that line of it, it always ticked the male off. puffing his cheeks, he encouraged himself to say it again and just like what the ceo said, he shouldn't be stuttering.

facing the man, xiaojun had his fists clenched with a look of determination. more likely reminding the man about how yangyang looked back when they had discussed inside the kitchen. ❝i am willing to take care of—❞

taking this chance of still being a red light, hendery went to lean towards his secretary's and connected their lips immediately.

the shorter male was surprised to say the list, stiffening from his place what the ceo had already started moving his lips. seems like xiaojun had no plans of kissing back, making him pull away with a chuckle.

❝did that shut you up?❞ getting back to his seat, the man went back to maneuvering the car and fixing his eyes on the road. as much as he wanted to see how much of a blushing mess his secretary is right now, he cared for their safety more.

but to answer that question, yes. that really did shut xiaojun up. not only shut him up but his thoughts were being a corrupted mess with all of the memories of them kissing replayed slowly.

❝and speaking of taking him in,❞ hendery paused for a while as he had to turn to a corner. ❝i was just playing with yangyang a while ago. of course i would be glad taking the boy in, he has been through a lot.❞

does that mean he's out of the picture? that honestly made him frown, adjusting himself back on his seat as he slumped his shoulders. that would make them unreachable for him. they'd be parents and that would be very wrong if he'd be in love with one of them— but is he in love with just one of them?

xiaojun didn't get to drown himself with his pile of thoughts when he heard the ceo talk about something he didn't get to hear as he was spacing out. ❝can you repeat that?❞

❝i said,❞ eyes on the road, hendery showed a smile only for him. ❝would you want to join in taking care of him?❞

⚊ t b c ⚊