xiaojun sat there clutching his phone real tight, checking for new messages only to pout the next second after not receiving any. he watched the sight of sian playing with his friends while the adults were on the different side talking, some were separated in another group, and some were getting food. while him, he sat there looking impatient.

he could have sworn he invited the two to the kid's birthday party, where are they now?

being in the middle of entertaining guests, kun's eyes went over to the the frowning male's direction and seeing him look so gloomy made him excuse himself from the guest. he then placed the glass of apple juice down the table where xiaojun is and caught his attention, giving him a small smile while taking the seat right next to his. ❝they haven't arrived yet?❞

❝i don't even know if they are coming.❞ it's not that xiaojun had no idea who these people are, he clearly had been to countless of parties that his landlord would hold at the backyard and he'd see familiar faces that he easily got along well to. it's just that, he just expected for two specific people to also be there.

❝maybe they just caught up with traffic—❞ kun didn't get to finish his sentence when he heard a loud honk coming from the front. he then turned to look at the younger beside him and saw how his eyes glittered in hope. ❝come on, it's probably them.❞

xiaojun didn't waste another minute and stood up, following his landlord from behind. they got inside the building using the back door and made their way towards the front, seeing a familiar car and two people getting out of it. one was holding a bag of gifts and the other came in running towards their direction, engulfing xiaojun in a tight embrace as if it has been a while since they have last seen each other.

kun watched as they got to greet each other but had his eyes widened when the student suddenly gave xiaojun a peck on the lips, having his brows furrowed as he turned to look at the man that's walking towards them after having his car parked properly.

❝ge, i'm sorry it took us a while.❞ yangyang said with a frow, still clinging to the older male with his arms thrown over his shoulders.

❝it's okay.❞ even though he really was missing them a while ago, he got better after seeing them. plus, his eyes darted at the younger's neck and saw red spots on it. he then smirked before giving him another kiss on the lips. ❝i understand.❞

with blushed cheeks, the student pulled away and placed a hand over his neck to cover the obvious mosquito bites. ❝i was too lazy to cover it.❞

❝or you probably were just tired.❞ xiaojun teased, having his brows wiggled up and down. ❝i hope he didn't go hard on you.❞

this is what yangyang actually liked being with him. compared to his boyfriend, xiaojun actually understands him and accepted his feelings despite of knowing that he already is taken. he tried to explain this kind of relationship to him and it didn't take him a while to understand. what he can't handle though was the way how he would tease him with his boyfriend at times.

with a pout, the student turned to the landlord that stood there and also ran to him just to greet him with a hug. ❝kun ge!❞

❝yang,❞ the landlord chuckled, patting his back before they pulled away with smiles on their faces. ❝he really was waiting for you two. he didn't want to talk to anyone.❞

having him telling that, yangyang's eyes grew wide. ❝really?❞

their gazes went over to the secretary and saw him approach the man that carried a bag of gifts just for the birthday boy. the student had a smile being remained on his face while kun had his brows furrowed at how the three were acting. first was yangyang kissing xiaojun even though he's already taken, and xiaojun going over to the student's boyfriend without having the younger grow jealous. honestly, if it were hansol seeing him talk to another person then he'd probably sulk for a whole day about it.

he then whispered on to the younger's ear, ❝isn't that your boyfriend?❞ he could remember xiaojun telling him about that.

yangyang can only giggle at how clueless the landlord looked. ❝soon, ge, i'll come back here showing you a powerpoint on what this is all about.❞

or maybe he can just ask a copy from jaemin.

standing in front of the ceo with his bright smile, xiaojun held himself back from retreating after feeling his glare on him. ❝d-do you want some help?❞

hendery had his gaze down at the shorter male before scoffing, shaking his head and refusing the offer given to him. ❝i can carry these all by myself.❞ not like he actually needed help anyways.

❝it's alright, i insist—❞

the secretary was stopped when he heard a groan of annoyance from the ceo, making him take a step away from him. ❝dejun, don't bother.❞

❝o-okay..❞ he's just offering him a hand, what got him so irritated all of a sudden? he was just fine the past few days, xiaojun can't also remember doing anything wrong aside from creating distance from him during work hours as the memory from what happened inside his office would always keep on popping inside his head.

the two then soon joined yangyang and kun who were now starting to walk inside the building and making their way to the backyard, xiaojun trailed from behind as he puckered his lips while staring at the ceo's back. hendery didn't want to say it but he could feel his secretary's stare from behind, confused whether he should be alright or be uncomfortable with it. he wanted to find discomfort with how he was staring at him from behind but he couldn't seem to feel uncomfortable.

arriving, some eyes where put to them and it didn't take time for kun to introduce them to his friends that came to his son's birthday party. hansol was there and he couldn't stop teasing xiaojun about hitting two birds with one being an eagle.

❝didn't know you had it in you.❞ hansol nudged the shorter male who's now flustered. ❝a student and your boss, damn.❞

❝hyung, i'm only dating the student.❞ xiaojun stated, pointing a finger at the younger male who's with kun and the two being so busy talking with the other adults. it made him smile at how yangyang easily got to fit in.

❝i don't know.❞ the taller shrugged, having his eyes darting at the ceo who placed the gifts down the pile of it. ❝he looks like he's going to fight me any second from now.❞

xiaojun followed as to where he was looking and gulped as he locked gazes with the man. ❝i t-think he's just annoyed at me.❞ he then quickly looked away and faced hansol beside him. ❝and plus, you're large hyung! you shouldn't be afraid if he'd challenge you to a fight.❞

❝i mean, kun handled me pretty well.❞ he probably meant in the thunders and cockroaches kind of way but the secretary was just too dense to understand that.

❝you and kun ge had fought?❞ the younger's jaw then dropped at the thought of that. he couldn't believe at the thought of his landlord having a fist fight with his husband, making him raise his clenched fist for confirmation.

❝yeah,❞ to match the secretary's height, hansol had to bend down with a smirk as he had his eyes fixed on the ceo that's walking towards them, fuming. he then leaned closer till he could now whisper on the younger's ear. ❝in bed.❞

❝what—❞

xiaojun had let out a yelp when he felt a hand on his chest and was being pushed back by the older male. he had his eyes widened as he stumbled back, only seeing that playful grin on the landlord's husband. the secretary then shut his eyes tight as he had his feet were tangled together and he was waiting for the floor's impact, only to be surprised as he felt a chest hitting him.

it made him gulp for the nth time as he could already guess who it was judging by the perfume that's lingering in his nose.

turning around, he didn't waste a second to take a long bow of apology. ❝i didn't mean to, i was pushed away and—❞

even hendery didn't get to speak as he kid's voice had called him out that made him whip his head towards the direction to where it is and it also cut xiaojun off from apologizing.

❝mister ryry!❞

putting up a smile, hendery crouched down just in time and caught the boy that came running to him. using this opportunity, xiaojun turned his head back to his landlord's husband and mouthed a curse word at him. the taller male standing there while drinking his apple juice just shrugged and motioned his hand telling that he should go and interact with the kids. it first confused the secretary but as soon as he got his eyes back at sian and hendery, he had it widened as saucers seeing two girls following sian from behind.

❝happy birthday, sian.❞ the ceo greeted, booping their noses together as he carried the boy up.

❝uncle ryry, these are my friends!❞ hendery followed to where he was pointing down below and gave the two girls a bright smile, waving his free hand at them. they looked shy, well the smaller girl does as he hid behind one that's probably as tall as sian. ❝this is princess and this is dami.❞

xiaojun watched at how hendery interacted with the kids, making him soft at how he looked completely different from a while ago.

the ceo then crouched back down once more so he could properly talk to them. he also carefully placed sian down and reached his hand out for a hand shake, not knowing who is who. ❝hi there, princess.❞

he was referring it to the little girl that hid behind the much more taller one.

blocking the little one from the man's sight, the taller girl had her arms folded. ❝the name is too royal and i'd like to blame it to my dad but hey, it's better than being called as fred.❞ or a number, remembering how she really got to almost have her name be a number. she then had a smile after shaking hands with the man who was surprised to hear her talk that much. ❝i'm cess.❞

smiling, sian went behind the taller girl and dragged the shy one out. ❝come on dami, introduce yourself.❞

hendery then darted his eyes at the shy girl and chuckled. the little girl covered her face using her hands and started shaking her head. princess saw the hand that the man wanted for the little girl to shake. something inside her didn't want that to happen and so, she went there and took his hand again. this time, she faked a smile. ❝she's dami.❞

❝cess, you're scaring him.❞ and it honestly also scares sian sometimes at how possessive this girl can get. even he gets a glare from her sometimes if he gets too close with dami.

❝it's alright.❞ the ceo chuckled and ruffled the girl's hair, earning a scowl from her. he then laughed nervously before slowly pulling his hand away from her head.

sian is actually right, she is scary.

clearing his throat, dami then gathered the courage to finally say something. even when both sian and princess were arguing, her soft voice made the two stop and even made hendery look at her. ❝a-and who a-are y-you mister?❞

hendery wanted it to answer for himself but sian beat him to it with an introduction that made him widen his eyes. ❝he is uncle xiao's daddy ryry!❞

the male being mentioned that's busy staring down at the ceo with eyes glittering and filled with affection was then snapped back to his senses, trying to catch up to what they were talking about. ❝eh?❞

❝uncle xiao, he's your daddy?❞ princess questioned, having her head tilted to the side as she found that oddly familiar. it's like she had heard it from her parents.

❝u-uncle xiao d-doesn't look like a b-baby.❞ dami also commented, her soft voice making everyone there coo.

baby? it made hendery unconsciously smile remembering how his secretary loved to be called that when he was sick. coughing, he forced himself out from his thoughts and try to change the topic before xiaojun would blow up in being a blushing mess. ❝sian, would you like to call little sushi?❞

the boy's eyes then lit up as he nodded his head in enthusiasm. ❝can i?❞

❝wait, a sushi is your friend?❞ the girl had her brows furrowed as she turned to sian while hendery was busy dialing a number in his phone.

❝he has a name but i didn't get to know what.❞ sian answered, the knowing smile on his face being shown to princess. ❝he's cute.❞

she scoffed. ❝probably not as cute as dami.❞

hearing her name made her pout. ❝i'm not cute!❞

sian ignored the little girl as he rolled his eyes at what princess said. ❝it's always dami, cess. it's as if your world revolves around her.❞

❝why, do you have a problem with that?❞

seeing her clenched her small fists then caused for sian to do that too. ❝i'm just saying, why do you have to get angry?❞

❝i am not angry!❞

❝you are!❞ he pointed a finger at how she looked. ❝see?❞

❝alright little princess,❞ someone then came and carried the fuming girl up in his arms, making hendery look up and also stand properly. ❝don't start a fight.❞

burying her head on her papa's shoulder, she whined. ❝sian is making me mad.❞

the said boy then gasped. ❝i am not!❞

❝you are!❞

❝s-sian..❞ dami went in front of the boy and started shaking her head.

heaving out a long sigh, he never knew a little boy like him could be this stressed out.

watching the scene unfold, hendery stood there with his phone in his hand, already calling a number. he then first glanced his secretary beside him who's still being a blushing mess because of a while ago before turning his head back at the male who's carrying the frustrated girl up. his stare was then noticed the next moment and it somehow startled him when the male gave him a smile.

❝i don't usually see you around here,❞ he said, using taking free hand out for a handshake. ❝i'm ten.❞

xiaojun just then got back to himself when he saw the two in front of him shaking hands. he wanted to call out from them and let them know that he's also there but then, he heard a voice from the other side. he snapped his head to where it was from and saw the student waving his hand up in the air. with a smile, he approached him by where the food were at without even telling the two that are starting to converse.

upon reaching beside yangyang, he was taken aback when he saw him raising a piece of meat up. ❝ahh..❞

xiaojun parted his lips and was ready to take the food inside his mouth but he was scammed by the younger, having him make a turn with the piece of meat and making it land in his own mouth. yangyang then munched at it happily while looking at the secretary who huffed at what he did.

the older clicked his tongue before having his arms crossed and just watch the student eat, he was done after all so really isn't that hungry. ❝anyways,❞ he started, eyes settled on the ceo who's still conversing to one of his landlord's friends. ❝you got along with the adults that easily.❞

❝yeah, but they were starting to about their kids.❞ yangyang said after gulping, taking a dessert he saw down on the table. ❝that part of their talk kinda left me out, thus explains as to why i'm eating here.❞

remembering at how hendery got along with the kids, it then made xiaojun wonder something. ❝have you tried talking it out with him?❞

❝talk what out?❞ yangyang then started to stuff his face with the dessert he found interesting and surprisingly, it tasted good.

❝about having a baby.❞

the statement caused for the student to breathe heavily and cough out loud, choking on the dessert he just ate. xiaojun quickly went off to find a bottle of water and when he finally did, he rushed back to the younger male and gave it to him. ❝w-we actually have.❞

the secretary then started rubbing circles behind his back, waiting till he calmed down before he planned to speak. ❝oh, and then?❞

❝i pretended to be asleep.❞ yangyang mumbled, looking away.

it's not that hendery was in a rush, it was his parents who actually was just excited about seeing little kids running around the house. it was during that day where they had dinner together with them and his boyfriend's parents brought babies up and having a family of their own. the two of them didn't really got themselves into the conversation but as they went home during that day, hendery just had to bring that topic up.

lucky for him, he was already laying down and all he had to do to avoid the subject is to pretend that he is sleeping.

hearing his explanation carefully made xiaojun chuckle. ❝it's fine if you're not ready yet, i think hendery can wait.❞ he then told him, eyes back at the ceo who still was talking with the same person. this time, they were laughing and looking like they have known each other for so long already. ❝i thought that he's actually great around kids.❞

of course he is, every month he always donates a proper percentage of money on the company to the orphanage. those were one of the many things that yangyang had fallen in love with him. they even go together to an orphanage and play with kids there. speaking about it, they haven't had that activity yet and the month is almost ending. since xiaojun is now there with them, maybe he can tag along too.

❝it's not actually because i'm not ready.❞ yangyang rubbed his nape, telling the secretary that he had no problems in taking care of kids. ❝we j-just haven't stepped u-up our relationship y-yet and t-taking care of a kid s-sounds like..❞

the older noticed how he didn't get to finish his sentence because of how embarrassed he is, making him have a smile plastered on his face at how affordable he can be. ❝so you guys haven't really done the real thing?❞

yangyang started shaking his head.

leaning close to the younger male, xiaojun started to whisper on his ear. ❝i heard it feels good, it's like you're in heaven.❞

how does he even know that? he hasn't even tried it yet.

that then made the flustered student push him away, fanning his face that's already heating up. the secretary laughed hard at how he looked, taking a cupcake down the table and started to eat it. puffing his cheeks, yangyang then turned his head around and scanned the backyard to look for his boyfriend.

only to see him talking with someone else.

❝who's that?❞ he had his brow raised after seeing hendery laugh at whatever joke this someone was making.

cheeks puffing with the cupcake he ate in one go, xiaojun followed as to where he was pointing and let out a muffled sound. ❝that's ten, kun ge's friend.❞

❝ten?❞ yangyang scoffed.

❝ten hyung is also good at dancing.❞ the secretary stated, having a memory of attending one of their child's birthday party and saw him dancing in front of the large crowd that has been invited. ❝great even.❞

he didn't know why but watching the two of them talk made yangyang feel uneasy, he didn't like it. how hendery had gotten too comfortable and how that ten guy had to playfully smack a hand on his boyfriend's shoulder.

xiaojun was just happily eating the cupcakes until he flinched when the student suddenly faced him while slamming a hand down the table. ❝is there anything wrong?❞

❝do you have drinks in here?❞

well, they have apple juice. why would yangyang ask that?

⚊ t b c ⚊