Jeonghan felt a light shake on his leg and opened his eyes. He could perceive a faint smell of something burning. He bolted up and saw Chan looking up at him with concern.

Jeonghan smiled. "oh Chan, were you worried about me?" He nodded. "I'm fine"

He wrinkled his nose. "Where is that smell coming from?" 

He picked Chan up and they left the room and descended down the stairs where the smell only got stronger. He rushed to the kitchen and saw Seungcheol running around the kitchen trying to salvage whatever it was that was burning in the pot. 

Jeonghan gasped and rushed inside, the smoke nearly choking him and Chan. Seungcheol froze when he saw Jeonghan switch off the gas. 

"Yah, what are you doing?" He yelled frantically dropping Chan on the ground.

"I was trying to prepare....."

"But that is my work! You don't have to do anything" He pushed Seungcheol aside and looked into the nearly blackened pot. 

"What were you trying to cook anyway?"

"Hangover stew"

Jeonghan's head rang when he heard that. His heart pumped more blood than normal and he turned to look at Seungcheol whose head was lowered in embarrassment.  Jeonghan was taken aback at the news, yet he couldn't deny that he felt a sense of satisfaction too.

"Hangover stew?"

Seungcheol remained silent.

"But why? Is it possibly because of me?"

Seungcheol gulped clearly uncomfortable with the turn out of the conversation. 

"Well... Well... "

The voices of the kids were heard outside and Jeonghan saw Seungcheol look actually relieved. 

"Prepare something for breakfast. I will be off to work"

Jeonghan nodded but his mind was calculating so many things at the same time. Seungcheol practically flew out of the kitchen and Jeonghan nearly laughed.

Could it be he was starting to care for him even if it was just a little? He had been trying to prepare hangover stew for him because he had gotten himself drunk yesterday even though he has said some pretty annoying things. But his heart was dancing crazily in his heart just by the thought of Seungcheol being nice to him. 

"Hyung, why are you blushing?" Seokmin said looking at him with one of his eyebrows raised. The other kids were there looking at him strangely. He hadn't even noticed when they entered. 

Jeonghan immediately covered his cheeks. "Oh really, was I?" he stammered.

"Go upstairs now and get ready for school" He said. The other four left while Chan remained. 

"Alright, I'll give you a bath soon but first let me prepare breakfast"

Chan just nodded while Jeonghan prepared breakfast and set it on the table while he went and bathed Chan. The other children were eating breakfast when Seungcheol entered in his suit and briefcase.

"Were is Jeonghan?" He asked. 

"He's bathing Chan"

Seungcheol nodded. "Eat up and let me drop you off at school"

"Aren't you eating?" Seokmin asked. He was about to talk when Jeonghan entered with Chan. The blonde smirked. 

"Why don't you want to eat? Are you embarrassed?"

He saw Seungcheol redden. "I'm fine"

"Come on, eat something or you'll be tired at work"

Seungcheol shrugged and finally sat down to eat. He finished the food quickly and waited for Jeonghan to finish feeding Chan before he got up. 

"We are set" Jeonghan said as he cleaned Chan's mouth before getting up. Seungcheol took a long deep look at him and his youngest before shaking his head and leaving for the front door. Seokmin took Chan and they all left waving goodbye to Jeonghan except Seungcheol who was walking towards his car stiffly.

Jeonghan stood at the front door.

"Bye Seungcheol, have a nice day at work!" 

Seungcheol shook and entered his car. Jeonghan chuckled softly as he drove away.

Jeonghan went upstairs to tidy his room when he heard his phone ring. He picked it up. It was Mrs Choi.

"Mrs Choi!"

"Jeonghan how are you doing?"

"I'm quite well"

"Sorry I've not been calling, I've been quite busy at my shop"

"It's alright"

"How about Seungcheol? Is my son still so cold towards you?"

Jeonghan was quiet for a while as he thought of the hangover stew Seungcheol had burnt in the morning.

"I think we are making some progress"

"Really? Tell me the details"

"I got drunk yesterday night so he wanted to make me hangover stew but it got burnt"

Mrs Choi laughed. "My son, he was never one to cook" She paused "How about the children?"

"They are fine. We are getting closer every day"

There was silence for a while "Jeonghan, how do you feel about Seungcheol?"

It was like time stood still. "I don't know what I feel yet"

He heard the woman sigh. "Alright then, no rush...Goodbye Jeonghan, I hope I will hear some better news when next I call"

Jeonghan just smiled "Goodbye"

They hung up and Jeonghan went about his day, cleaning up. He also decided to sweep the yard so he went out and stopped in front of the basement. Eversince Seungcheol told him about the basement, he had been longing to go in there despite the fact that Seungcheol might get angry with him. It was as if it was calling out to him. The door looked quite dusty and a little cracked. He tried to open it but it was locked. There was no way he could find the key so he decided to open it the old way. He found a thin iron, bent it and inserted it into the lock. It opened and he grinned. He pushed the door wide open and instantly inhaled dust. He coughed repeatedly until he got used to the dust. He looked everywhere. There were books, bags, pictures and a few musical instrument but what pulled his attention was an old piano resting peacefully in front of the small window. He smiled at it and ran his fingers through the keyboard. It made a sound. It was still working. He looked at the walls. They were filled with awards and even trophies. He spotted one of them which read 

We present the best songwriter award to Mr Choi Jihoon.

Jeonghan gasped. This was probably where Seungcheol's husband had worked. He saw several pictures of Jihoon receiving awards, being with Seungcheol, with the children. His heart tugged in his chest but there was one that almost made his heart drop. 

It was an old picture of Jihoon and Seungcheol but there was one more person in there and it was him, Jeonghan. The blonde couldn't believe it as he held the picture which was found on top of the piano. He was thirteen years old at the time and he remembered when that picture had been taken.

Flash back 

Jeonghan wandered towards the shops, tired and hungry. Eversince his parents died, he had been running away from child services. He knew that he had to stay out of sight and take small steps to survive until his aunt arrived, and he was determined to do whatever it took.

He didn't know how long he walked but he stopped and sat down on the ground leaning his head against the wall when he suddenly heard the most beautiful sound. The sound that he heard was so entrancing, it felt like time had stopped and he was in a dream. The melody piqued his interest and he got up to follow the sound. It took him to a restaurant and he looked at the window and saw a cute small boy playing the piano looking at ease and comfortable with himself. Jeonghan was not the only one entranced by the music. Some people had gathered around the glass to watch the mesmerizing scene. The boy played two more songs and when he was done, he received a standing ovation.

Jeonghan clapped harder than he ever had. 

"Wonderful isn't he?" A voice whispered above him. He turned and saw a handsome guy with dark hair and extremely long lashes gazing through the window at the cute boy who was now waving at him with a goofy smile on his face.

Jeonghan watched the boy and his heartbeat quickened. He had never ever found anyone attractive before but he was finding his fellow man attractive. He had butterflies in his stomach and felt like his heart was about to burst out of his chest. He felt ashamed and excited, a combination of powerful emotions he had never experienced before.

"Do you know him?" Jeonghan whispered and the guy looked at him closely with a soft smirk on his lips. Jeonghan nearly died there.  

"He's my boyfriend" The boy whispered back and Jeonghan's heart fell. He was the most handsome guy Jeonghan had ever seen, and he was taken. With a heavy heart, Jeonghan realized that first love was not always meant to be. Soon, the boy came out and his crush enveloped him in a big hug. 

"Yah, Jihoon, you were wonderful out there"

He ruffled his boyfriend's hair and the shorter male faked a frown. 

"Yah Choi Seungcheol, not the hair"

Seungcheol grabbed his cheeks. "Woah, you are so cute!" He said. 

"Choi Seungcheol! What are you still doing here? Go get me my cappuccino"

Seungcheol saluted. "Yes sir!" He said and ran out. Jihoon laughed at his love struck boyfriend while Jeonghan just looked the direction Seungcheol had gone. He was so lost until he felt a tap on his arm. He turned and saw Jihoon smiling at him, his eyes curving into half moons.

"What is your name?"

Jeonghan gulped "Me? I'm Jeonghan"

Jihoon nodded. "Jeonghan? Do you like my boyfriend?"

Sweat filled the younger boy's body but Jihoon laughed. "Don't be so shy, besides I won't be surprised if you fell in love at first sight. I did too. He's really unique isn't he?"

Jeonghan nodded.

"Where do you stay?"

Jeonghan shook his head "I don't have a place to go"

Jihoon looked surprised "Really? You have no place to go? Why?"

"I lost my parents last month and child services are looking for me but I'm waiting for my aunt to come pick me"

"Can you call your aunt?"

Jeonghan nodded and at that instant, Seungcheol came running with the coffee and some snacks. He stopped breathing hard as he looked at Jeonghan for sometime. Jihoon suddenly grabbed his arm. 

"Cheol ah, can you do me a favor?"

Seungcheol raised his eye brows. "What is it?"

"I want this kid to stay with us for a while"

"What? Why?"

Jihoon explained everything to Seungcheol and he also seemed to take pity on Jeonghan. He sighed. 

"If it's what Jihoon wants, I will do it but you're going to have to work for your food okay?" 

Jeonghan blushed. "Okay, thank you so much'

Seungcheol and Jihoon lived in a one bedroom apartment while they still went to college. Seungcheol worked as a janitor after school while Jihoon worked as a waiter in a restauWhen Jeonghan joined Seungcheol in his work, he tried to hide his feelings for him.r him. He didn't want to cause problems for the couple. Jeonghan had wanted to ask how the two of them had ended up living together but he kept it to himself. He called his aunt regularly and she promised to get him as soon as possible 

One day, Jeonghan was working, cleaning the bathrooms while at the same time stealing a quick glance at Seungcheol. He was busily scrubbing a toilet seat when two men approached him. They looked huge and rough.

"Come with us" One of them said harshly. Jeonghan shook with fear but tried to look fearless. 

"Why?" Jeonghan said. They laughed. 

"Do you have any idea who we are? You better come with us if you don't want to end up beaten"

"No, I'm not going anywhere with you guys"

"How dare you?" One of them raised his hand to hit him when Seungcheol suddenly appeared in front of them and held his hand 

"Who the hell are the two of you?'

"Let go or else" The one being held shouted. 

"Or else what?"

The other one hit him squarely on the stomach. Seungcheol staggered in pain and then the other tried to hit him too but Seungcheol dodged it and a huge fight started. Jeonghan shouted for help and some men came and separated them. Seungcheol was bleeding badly from his mouth but the two guys looked worse with their ripped lips and swollen faces. They took them away while Jeonghan rushed to Seungcheol.

"I'm so sorry"

Seungcheol chuckled "Why are you sorry? It was the fault of those guys. They wanted to take advantage of you because of how pretty you are"

Jeonghan blushed. He couldn't believe that Seungcheol had complimented him. "You think I'm pretty?"

"Yeah, you are so pretty but my Jihoon is prettier"

Jeonghan hit him lightly on the arm. "let's go home"

Seungcheol wrapped one arm around him and they left together. Jihoon was alarmed when he returned home to see Seungcheol in that state. Jeonghan told him everything and Jihoon hugged his boyfriend.

"Yah babe, it hurts"

"I'm sorry, let's go to the hospital"

Seungcheol shook his head "No hospital"

Jihoon sighed. "Okay, let me press your cheek, they are quite swollen" he left and Jeonghan followed him. He sighed as he filled a bowl with water.

"I just wish that Seungcheol would think of himself first before others"

"Why do you say that?"

Jihoon sighed. "Seungcheol and I have been together since high school but when my parents found out about it, they disowned me and chased me out of the house. Seungcheol took it upon himself to take care of me. He too left home and we have been together since then"

Jeonghan nodded and Jihoon continued "I want to have a family with him. I want plenty of children but I also want him to have a say in it and not just blindly follow what I want"

"It's because he loves you"

Jihoon nodded with a small smile "I know"

Jeonghan's aunt eventually came to get him and by then Seungcheol's wounds were healed. She met Seungcheol and Jihoon and thanked them for taking care of Jeonghan.

Jeonghan didn't want to leave them but he had to. 

"Will I ever see you guys again?" He said. 

"If it's fated, then we'll certainly meet again" Seungcheol said airily. They took a picture and Jeonghan looked at Seungcheol's handsome face.

Jeonghan suddenly hugged him, pulling him tightly to his chest, and even Jihoon and his aunt seemed shocked. This was his last opportunity so he planted a soft kiss on his cheek and ran into his Aunt's car blushing terribly. 

"Bye Jeonghan" Jeonghan heard jihoons loud voice. His aunt started to drive away and he turned round to see the two boys waving at him. However, Seungcheol still had shock written all over his face as the car drove off.

Now Jeonghan held the picture with tears falling down his eyes. He had definitely met them again but in a different situation. Hadn't they recognised him? Even when he was his first crush. How harsh fate was to Seungcheol. He had lost the love of his life. Would he ever remember Jeonghan?

Jeonghan waited for Seungcheol to return home. The man returned quite late after the kids had gone to bed. Immediately he saw him, jeonghan flung himself at him, holding him tight. Seungcheol, taken aback at the sudden show of affection, returned the hug with equal fervor. 

" Jeonghan, what are you doing?" Seungcheol said but calmed down when he realized that Jeonghan was crying. Seungcheol held Jeonghan closer, gently running his fingers through his hair, knowing that he had to do whatever it took to calm him down.

"I'm so sorry. It must have been so hard for you"

Seungcheol remained there not saying a word as Jeonghan removed his hands from him. He looked straight into Seungcheol's eyes.

"I promise you that I'm going to make you happy. I'm going to repay you for your kidness"

Seungcheol now looked confused. Jeonghan wiped his tears. "Shower and freshen up. I left food for you in the fridge. Make sure you're well and okay, don't skip meals"

He clutched his bag tightly. 

"Are you leaving?" Seungcheol asked.  

"yes, I'll be back in the weekend" jeonghan bowed. "Goodnight" He said and left the house knowing he was watching him the same way he did fifteen years ago.

######

Another long chapter. Bet you didn't see that one coming. I didn't either but do continue reading till the final chapter. Have a pleasant day everyone!