Two years ago

It's the twin's fifth birthday, Chanhyun and Yeolbyun are excitedly getting ready for their party. Their appa invited all of their classmates from kindergarten and prepared a party for them. Grandma and grandpa Byun as well as uncle Baekbom and auntie Minah are coming too. Appa also invited their uncles Suho, Lay, Kyungsoo, Kai, Sehun, Luhan, Chen, Minseok. But Yeolbyun is more excited with his uncles Kris and Tao. They are coming from China and every time they come for a visit, they always bring them gifts.  Yeol asked his dad if he can borrow his dad's video camera so he can make a surprise birthday greeting. Baekhyun nodded and told his son to get it inside from one of the box in his closet. Yeol ran up to his dad's bedroom and opened the closet, taking out the first box he saw, he look inside and check if it's inside. He saw a sealed box and opened to see what's inside. At five years old, Yeol is not the typical kid who loves to play. He's one of those rare kids who's IQ is above average for their age. Just like his appa Baekhyun. That's why when he saw the photos of his dad in a hospital gown and the baby photos of him and Chanhyun, he knew that there's something about it. He can feel it in him. He looked at all the photos. His dad, crying on the hospital bed as he looked lovingly at them, kissing them. His dad's friends laughing at uncle Tao and uncle Kyungsoo as they awkwardly hold each of the twin in their hands. Their grandparents, and uncle Baekbom looking at the babies sleeping on the crib. But what caught his attention is a photo of his dad in a girl's high-school uniform (he, or should it be a she? looks so pretty. Hair longer than it is now and looking at the camera with a happy face.) and a lone photo of a man, who's face is so handsome with an elf like ears. The photo seems to be taken without the person's knowledge, because he's not looking at the camera. Rather he was looking sideways like as if staring at something. Yeol turned the photo over and read the dedication at the back. It was from uncle Kai.

" I know you miss him, so I took the liberty of stealing a shot. I hope this would somehow make you smile at times like this. I met him at the fashion week yesterday."

It was dated 24th of August 2008. That was their 2nd birthday. Yeol continued to rummage through the box and found a folded document. It read, birth certificates. When he opened and read it, his brows knotted in confusion. He heard his dad calling his name downstairs. Yeol quickly but neatly put all the things inside the box again, checking if there's something amiss. When it looks fine to him he put it back inside the closet and open the other box where he found the video camera. He then proceeded to get it and close the door of the closet. His thoughts are still on the photo and the names written on the birth certificates he saw.

The party was fun. Baekhyun invited all of the twins classmates. All the children enjoyed the foods and games prepared by his friends. Eomma Taeyeon video called them. Chanhyun cried and hugged her twin brother when she saw the video message he made for her. The twin's closeness is evident and it shows in every single touch and look. All of the invited kids were so ecstatic as they enjoy all the goodies. They went home filled with happy memories and lovely giveaways made by Kyungsoo and Luhan. Chen and Minseok took them home in their van so that their parents need not fetch them. After the couple returned, they brought additional drinks. Chanhyun and Yeolbyun are now taking a nap on the couch. They had so much fun opening their gifts. He looked at them and kept smiling like an idiot coz he was so happy. He looked at his friends and felt so much happiness. Seeing them interact with the twins, loving his children like they were their family too. He was thankful of them all for being a part of the twins' life even if their dad is not here. He went to the kitchen to get more refrements for them. When he went back he saw Tao and Kris carrying the twin back to their room. Once the kids are settled, the couple went back downstairs and now they're ready for the adults after party. Baekhyun's parents and brother as well as Minah already went home coz they said they need to get ready for the opening of their new restaurant next week.

Kyungsoo watched as his best friend pour some soju on his glass. He feels a bit angry because when he called Chanyeol three days ago to ask if he could come for a visit back to Korea so they could have a reunion of sorts, ( though he plan on surprising Baekhyun and the kids. Cause' maybe if that giant saw the kids he'd realise they were his children and just maybe him and Baek could talk it out.) he declined, again. 😡😡😡 So he ended up getting pissed again, which made Kai worried for his husband. ( yes, they got married after graduation 😍)

" So what's next, Baek? What is the plan? The kids are already asleep. Let's talk about what you plan on doing. Have you tried contacting Chanyeol again?" Kyungsoo asked the latter, who's busy playing with his own glass of alcohol filled drink.

"Why should he? Why tell Chanyeol about the twins when that piece of shit doesn't even care. He's a prick so why would Baekhyun waste his time." Kris said, his voice sounding irked.

Tao hugged his boyfriend and kissed his forehead. He tried calming his annoyed boyfriend by massaging his back. Sehun and Luhan looked on the sweetness of their couple friends. Sadness filled Luhan's eyes because he wanted the same for Baekie. Baekhyun is still Baekie for him. He's that girl he still thought of him to be.

" Guys, let's stop here. Don't talk about someone who's not here. Maybe he's just too busy. And besides he did made the point in telling us he couldn't care less about Baekie here, when he left without saying goodbye and never looking back. He's not even sending us messages right? He cuts us off already." Lay nonchalantly spoke without edge. Just chilling. Suho laid his head on his lover's shoulder as the other kissed his hair. Chen and Minseok just silently look on their friends.

" Fuck that shit!!!! We did try reaching out to him. We called him and video messaged him but he really acts like as if he doesn't care. I almost sent him a photo of the twins but stopped myself. Shit!!! He's a dad already and yet he's out there having the time of his life. Sure he's already famous and all, but we're his friends!!! We used to be his friends. Can't he even just go halfway and reach out to us as well?!!! Tao, now the one who's annoyed got up and walked around sounding more angry.

"Lower your voice down Tao. The kids are asleep upstairs, but it's not like my house is too big for them not to hear whenever you speak like on speakers like that." Baekhyun said, walking towards his best friend and hugging him. He's eyes showing the tiredness in it. Sadness and unshed tears are also written all over his face. He did try contacting Chanyeol before the twin's 1st birthday. He just didn't let their friends know about it just in case he failed which he did. Chanyeol's personal assistant said he wouldn't take the call, saying he's too busy and that he doesn't want anything to do with him. That's the first and last time Baek tried it. He stopped hoping. Chanyeol wants to forget him, so be it.

"But he needs to know, Baek. The kids are already growing up. They're already in kindergarten. And Taeyeon is already married to Daniel, she can't keep posing as their mom when their real mom is with them!!! Also Chanyeol, that pigheaded bastard need to know that he's a father of a twin now. He has to take full responsibility of his actions!!!" Kyungsoo said. He just wants his friend to be happy like him.

" That's enough guys. We already did our part. The kids may lack a father but they're never short of a father figure. We are all here for them. We love them. Baekhyun loves them. So who cares a fuck if their real dad doesn't want them? We can all fill that void. They would not feel the need to look for him if ever Baekhyun here decided to tell the kids the truth a out how they're conceived. Right Baekie? " Suho finally spoke, trying to calm everyone.

" There, there. Let's not ruin this happy day. Okay guys? Let's stop talking about someone who doesn't even give a drop about us. Hey!!! Would you like to hear some good news???" Kai finally spoke to ease the tension. They all nodded in unison. "My husband is pregnant!!!!" 

Everyone clapped with glee. They were so happy and gave their owl eyed friend the tightest hug they can give him. They all decided to stop talking about Chanyeol, so they start drinking and eating while talking about the latest updates on their businesses. They all laughed at Sehun's antics of convincing his lover if he would also try to get checked up whether Luhan can also bear children like Baekhyun and Kyungsoo.

Unknown to them all, someone heard all that they're talking about and is silently covering it's little mouth to not alert them. Violently shaking with tears and shivering from cold, the little one stood up and stealthily padded softly back to their shared room. Approaching the bed of the other twin and hugging the other half tightly. Tears kept flowing the little child's eyes. Feeling heartbroken, Yeolbyun at an early age finds out the truth about his dad's medical condition by accidentally hearing it from his uncles' conversation. He felt sorry for his dad and at the same time anger for the unknown man supposedly their father who doesn't know nor care about their very existence. He bowed never to allow that man near his dad and sister ever.

******

Author's POV

Baekhyun cried silently as he looked at his sleeping son. His eyes puffy because of his almost nonstop crying. His conversation with Tao, repeatedly playing in his mind.

Tao called him while they were on the plane, (which happened to be when Baekhyun was sleeping) , and when the phone was answered he never bothered to asked who's on the line. Instead he spoke straight out telling the person on the line about Chanyeol already finding out about the twins and the events that happened at his parents house. Which the giant shared to all of their friends. And he also supposedly ended the phone by saying that Baekhyun really need to tell the twins about their real father and Baekhyun being the one who gave birth to them. He also unknowingly told the person on the line, who Tao didn't even seem to notice how silent he is back then and was actually expecting that he was talking to Baekhyun, that Chanyeol will be waiting for them at his parents house so they could talk. It was when Tao finally asked Baekhyun what his plans are that Yeol spoke and told his uncle Tao that he won't let his dad and his sister meet that man ever, the little boy sounding very angry, taking Tao by surprise at the sudden voice he heard from the other line. When the older tried talking to the little boy, Yeol turned off his dad's phone and went back to his seat, checking on his sister and dad's sleeping form. He covered them both with a blanket and kissed them both on their cheeks whispering I love you's.

Baekhyun felt so ashamed. He should have told his children about him and their real father. He thought he was protecting them from the outside world's harsh reality. But instead it was him hurting them from keeping them in the dark. And for his son to keep his emotions inside or his thoughts is such a heavy burden for a child his age to bear. He should have known that Yeol's a  smart boy. That his twin aren't just ordinary kids who only knows how to play. They're both smart. And they're both a little older now. They can understand if he explained it to them in a gentler way. Now, his son already knows. And he's  hurting inside without letting him know.

***

Baekhyun and Tao stayed on the phone talking for a little more after he found out what happened. His best friend giving him an advice and urging him to talk to his son first. He needs to hear his son out and find out what he feels. He has to for both of his children's sake. He has to tell both of them the truth.

He went first to his little princess' room, seeing his baby sleeping soundly and hugging the panda bear her uncle Tao gave her on their fifth birthday. She slept so peacefully. Her rosy plump cheeks so cute, a bit of drool run down on the side of her lips. Baekhyun gently touches her face, wipe the drool with a tissue from the box placed  on top of the side table and kissed her forehead. He arranged the cover to keep her from getting cold and made sure that the side lamp is set on it's dimmest light. He left the room and silently closed the door.

Then he padded softly where his son's bedroom is located. He lovingly stared at his son's sleeping form. 
Approaching Yeol's bed, he gently touches the little one's soft cheek. He's such a precious child. The older kissed the child's forehead softly, making the little boy stir from his slumber. Looking up the boy was surprised to see his dad leaning towards him, tears flowing from his smooth flawless face. His puffy eyes clear indication of probably long hours of crying.

" Appa? Why are you crying? Is it because of what I did at the airport? I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you sad and cry. Please don't be mad. I promise to never do it again." Yeol solemnly promised his dad as the little boy worriedly hugged his crying appa, making the said male shaking his head and  hugging his son tightly as well.

" No baby, it's not your fault. It's never your fault. I'm the one who should be sorry. I'm the one keeping secrets from you. Can we talk? As in talk like a parent to a son? Please? " Baekhyun asked the child. They both need to clear the air. The little boy nodded and stood up, leaving the bed and holding out his hand so his dad can hold him as father and son walk out and go downstairs together. Baekhyun left his son alone in the living room couch and went straight to the kitchen to heat up some water and prepare hot choco for both of them. He put some marshmallows in it since it was his son's favorite drink. He knows it's late but he wants for his son to feel better. Once the drink is ready he took it to the living room where he find his son holding a photo. His forehead knotted in confusion. Once sitted next to his son, Yeol gave the photo his holding to his dad.

Baekhyun's hand shook as he looked at the photo his holding. His eyes tearing up again and hold a questioning glance at the boy sitted beside him. He felt like fainting. The photo he's holding was the one Kai sent him less than six years ago when the twins are about to turn 2 years old and he was feeling every bit down and depressed that time coz he was too sick. He just underwent heart surgery that time. He's missing Chanyeol so much and almost lost his life twice. So when Kai sent him that photo, it became his haven. Whenever he feel low, he'd look at the photo and smile.

"Where'd you get this honey? Baekhyun softly asked, eyes not leaving his son's blue gray ones. He can see how torn his son feels  and it made him more ashamed of himself. He touched Yeol's cheeks, wiping the tears running from it. He smiled, reassuring the child that he understands.

Yeol sigh heavily, his eyes downcast. He seems to be thinking of what he wanted to say to his dad. Guilt written all over his face.

"I took it from the box inside your closet dad." Yeol said, sparing a glance at his father who's gently urging him to continue. " Remember when I asked to borrow your video camera on our 5th birthday?"
Baekhyun nodded as his son continued, though he already guessed what happened but waited, holding his breath.
"I saw it from one of the boxes. At first, I saw a photo of you in a lady's high-school uniform and another close up photo of you sporting a blonde long hair. You were so beautiful, dad. More beautiful than eomma Taeyeon." Yeol's eyes glistening with unshed tears but it also shows the love and amazement in it. Baekhyun blushed at his son's description of him in his photo. He hid those photos to remind him of what he used to be back then. " I was about to put it back thinking maybe you just wore it in a school play, but then I saw a photo of a man. He's handsome. I guess...he reminds me of someone looking like him. I flipped it back and saw uncle Kai's handwriting. What he wrote on it made me think. But I had no idea who he is. Then I saw an envelope. I was fearful dad. I'm sorry, really I do. I opened the envelope and what I saw made me almost puke. I was shocked." Yeol's voice quivered. He was waiting for his dad to slap him. Yet none came, instead he heard a gasping sound and a sob. He knew he hurt his dad then with what he said yet he continued. " I was waiting for the right time to ask you that night. But I fell asleep. At midnight, I was about to take a pee when I heard you guys talking about him. I heard all that you suffered dad. The pain you went through, when that man left you. It hurts appa. So much. I'm sorry you need to go through all that because of us. If we weren't conceived then, maybe you won't have to undergo surgery and wouldn't have almost lost your life. I love you so much dad. And I'm happy you're my appa. And my eomma. Chanhyun too. She loves you too so much." Yeol's eyes are swollen with tears. But in his eyes, shows the love. Pure love and pride for having Baekhyun as his appa and eomma.

Baekhyun's eyes widen, hearing from Yeol's lips that even his daughter already knows about the truth and him not even had an inkling that his kids are aware of the truth are unthinkable. He hugged his son tightly, thanking him for the love and apologizing for keeping it a secret from them. He can't imagine how long his kids suffered from trying to hide from him the fact that they already knew. All he can do is to try and make up for it. He felt another set of small hands hugging him from the back and a soft voice calling him eomma. When he turned, he saw his daughter softly crying and saying sorry for keeping a secret from him. His heart swell when he heard his daughter calling him eomma, a sign that she's now happy to finally able to call him that. He kissed both of them on their head and hugged them tight. They shed healing tears.

That night, their house were filled with playful laughter. The worst was over. Baekhyun showed them his secret album from a safe hidden behind a painting inside his bedroom. The baby pictures, and them nursing from his breast before his operation. And a video of him giving birth to them. The kids watched in awe as they saw themselves coming out of their dad's womb through C-section and also shed a few tears when their dad's heartbeat stopped during that crucial moment. As they hugged him tight, both kids kissed him and told him how much they love him. He smiled and hugged them back. They slept together on the queen size bed sharing the love for each other. And making a promise, that no matter what...they will stick together. Protecting one another.

****
Author's note.

To be honest. While writing this chapter, I was crying. Not because of what's in it but because of how I'm feeling. It's personal. But then, I know all this is just passing. And soon I'll be okay again. I hope you guys would love this. And hopefully I've put all my emotions to it. I love you guys. Advance happy valentine to all of you.

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