"Chenle, honey..." Jeno sighs as he knocks one more time on his eldest son's bedroom door.

He's embarrassed to say it out loud that Jaemin was right: Chenle was not doing his homework. The familiar and obnoxious sounds coming from his gaming PC is clearly heard.

Brief story of Chenle's computer: Jeno initially didn't plan on getting him one until Johnny convinced him. Pathetically saying Chenle would use it for good reasons: like his studies.

Obviously, that went South. Til this day, Jeno's surprised but also thankful that Chenle at least haven't failed a class yet so far.

However, he knows he shouldn't rely on that. Chenle can be a mischievous kid like his father, and Jeno wouldn't be very surprised considering their close bond compared to his and Chenle's.

"I'll be there, Pa!" Chenle's voice was muffled both due to the closed door and the obnoxious game sounds.

Jaemin purses his lips and slides his hand down on Jeno's lower back, "let's wait for him at the table."

Jeno seems hesitant to the idea, but gives in when Jaemin smiles softly. Nodding, they both head to Jisung's room next.

Jisung was slightly easier to get out of his room, seeing Jaemin there lifted his mood up too. "Mister Blue!"

"Oh? I'm Mister Blue now, hm?" Jaemin giggles as Jisung bounces around in excitement.

"Yeah! Your hair is the color blue." Jisung explains briefly, although he didn't really have to because it was plainly obvious.

"Did you know Papa's favorite color is sky blue? Is that why your hair is blue? How did you do that?" Jisung starts babbling in wonder.

He hadn't really blurted these out in their first meet, he was too busy showing Jaemin his toys which were left messily in the living room.

Jeno flushes in shyness, "Sungie, one question at a time, please." He catches Jaemin glancing at him teasingly.

The blue haired man smiles at Jisung and nods happily, "ah, yes. Your Papa had told me this, but it was just a coincidence my hair was already blue before we met."

Winking, he pathetically whispers to Jisung, "I guess it was a sign." He quips, eliciting a giggle from the little boy.

Jeno clasps his hands, smiling forcefully that has Jaemin snorting. "The food is about to get cold." Beckoning Jisung to hold his hand, they head back downstairs.

𖢻

They didn't eat immediately. Jaemin had took it upon himself to tell Jisung to wait, having him whine with his lips jutted out into a pout.

"We have to wait for your brother, Jisungie... We can't eat if he doesn't come down here."

"Why?" Jisung asks, glancing at his Papa who's drinking a glass of water.

"It is rude to start eating without the other person and asking permission, unless they have a good reason. But your brother is playing with his computer, do you think it is a good reason to skip?"

Jaemin lectures him, testing Jisung who immediately ponders in thought. When the little boy continues to pout and asks Jeno for help, the latter smiles tightly.

"It is never a good thing to skip a meal, and not joining your loved ones, like your family, even for a meal is not nice either..."

Jaemin nods at him, smiling as a sign of support before turning back to Jisung who was visibly still confused.

"How about you call your brother to come down and join us, would you want to try and see if he gives in?" He suggests, instantly getting a nod from Jisung.

"Yeah!"

"Okay, go ahead and try. But be nice, all right? If he still refuses, come back down. Either your Papa or I will talk to him."

Jisung hops off his chair, rushing up to Chenle's bedroom as Jeno exhales quietly. "I'm so sorry..."

"Don't apologize." Jaemin briefly kisses his temple. "It's a learning process to all of us."

Several minutes later, Jisung skips down the stairs with a grumpy Chenle trailing behind him. They sat down as Jeno starts a brief but thankful prayer.

Jaemin listens and watches carefully while being in sync with Jeno, noticing how it is just them saying the prayer. The kids are barely paying attention.

Jisung switches his gaze from Jaemin and Jeno while Chenle was leaning back against his chair.

He takes note of this and hopefully can change it sooner or later.

After that, Jisung chirps, "can we eat now?"

"We can if you say this one magic word." Jaemin says, bringing that frown back on Jisung's face.

"Magic word?" Jisung parrots in confusion, Chenle beside him huffs.

"Mhm." Jaemin nods with a small smile adorning his face, "if you can say it, not only do we get to eat, but you'll make your Papa very happy."

"Isn't that right, Jeno?" Turning to the brunet man, chuckling at the excitement written all over his eyes as Jeno hums in agreement.

"That's right, baby. You have to say it nicely too, like you really mean it." Pausing, Jeno then asks, "do you know what it is, Sungie?"

Shaking his head, Jisung mumbles, "I don't know, Papa... Can I get a hint?"

"You can ask your brother, perhaps he knows the answer." Jaemin flashes a kind grin at Chenle. "Chenle, could you please help your little brother so we can start eating?"

"I don't want to, he can figure it out himself." Chenle doesn't hesitate to retort.

Jeno frowns at him in disappointment, "Lele, darling... Be nice to Mister Jaemin and your brother." He scolds in a soft yet warning tone.

"He's eight years old, he can do it." Chenle says crossing his arms, Jisung beside him was slowly tearing up.

"And you're sixteen, Lele. You should know about this too, use it to show Jisung the importance of it. Be a role model to your brother." Jeno argues back.

He tries not explode as per usual. The hand reaching out to squeeze his own really helped him, honestly.

Because this is the first time someone he loves has stood by his side, supported him throughout the situation.

Since it's usually just him alone, against his said lover and kids.

"We can't eat if you two don't say it..." Jaemin lilts a bit, trying not to go too far that would cause Jisung to shed a tear or more.

Jisung whines at his elder brother until finally, Chenle grunts and shakes his hands off his arm. "It's please, Jisung." Biting back an insult when he sees Jaemin staring at him carefully.

God, I hate him.

Gasping, Jisung's face lightens up and almost bounces on his seat. Chenle mutters along with his little brother's cheery voice, "can we please eat dinner now?"

"Why yes we can." Jeno practically sighs happily, almost shaking from being overwhelmed.

It's such a small step, yet it has a big impact on him.

"I'm very proud of you two," he doesn't miss to say. Wanting his kids to know and hopefully encourage them to continue.

"Let's eat, enjoy your food everyone!" Jaemin ends their little test as they all dig in.

𖢻

Thoughts??

Questions??

I just dreamt of my dog coming back to life– but as a zombie (like Pet Cemetery).

Like apparently in my dream, my dad was holding up the dog like how he used to back then.

But the dog was drooling and her tail was kinda long, and black in the middle.

My mom was warning him and it clicked to me that my dad apparently dug her out of her grave 💀

It felt so real because the scene/place was so on point.

And when I woke up, my dad was wearing the exact same shirt like the one in my dream.