Of All The First Times
Title: Of All The First Times
Pairing: Sehun/Kai, slight!Kris/Suho, slight!Luhan/Minseok
Rating: PG-15
Word Count: 12,085 words
Warnings: none
Summary: It’s usually peaceful and quiet at the 9th floor. But there are occasional baby cries resonating in the hallway for the past few weeks. What’s weird that it’s coming from the apartment 94, where the only bachelor on that floor lives.
A/N: Crossposted from exoparents!! And happy birthday to Milla, I'm also writing this for you! (A bday gift, kind of haha <3)
Everybody living on the 9th floor of the apartment knows the young man living in the unit 94 is not married. He moves there about two years ago and lives alone since the beginning. He doesn’t seem to have a lover either, and the neighbors never see him bringing any woman home. But maybe he has a boyfriend, but the neighbors really don’t know that part.
His friends usually come to his apartment, bringing bottles of beer and takeouts and stay overnight, typical young lads. But it usually happens on weekend, or holidays when the young man is not going home to spend it with his parents. Now that the neighbors remember, there is this man’s friend who often drops by, alone or together with the others, even on weekdays. The friend is tall, probably taller. He’s lanky and his hair color often changes, the last time the neighbors saw him was a week ago and this man’s friend’s hair color was blonde, after a month before supporting black hair. The guy usually brings beers (what else can you expect from two young man in their 20s), and Chinese food takeouts. But, this guy sometimes brings bags of groceries too. He might be a friend, or a lover, the neighbors cannot guess.
Well, whether the he blonde guy is the young man’s lover or not, everybody in the world, especially the 9th floor occupants know for sure that man definitely cannot get pregnant.
It’s usually quiet and peaceful on the 9th floor. The families living there are relatively calm. The only usual noises are the conversations between the fathers and mothers of the family when they meet at the hallway. There aren’t babies or toddlers, as far as the neighbors know, so there aren’t cries or sound of children throwing fits. The youngest at their floor is Do Jongdae, son from the Do’s family living at the unit by the end of the hall. He’s in junior high already and he won’t cry every now and then, it will hurt his pride.
But there is something unusual for the past few weeks. There are occasional baby cries resonating in the hallway every morning and sometimes every night. The cries never last for long, but still questionable for the neighbors. At first they thought it was a baby ghost or something but they discovered that it wasn’t. What they find is even weirder because the cries…
It's coming from the apartment 94.
**
"Taeoh, Taeoh" Jongin coos at the crying baby previously sleeping peacefully for about half an hour in the kangaroo baby carrier hanging in front of his body. The crying baby wrestles inside the carrier, trying to get away. The soft pat Jongin gives, which usually makes him calmer, is no use today.
Jongin rocks his body to the left and to the right slowly, trying to lull the baby back to sleep. The baby slept fewer hours than he usually was for the past two nights, the sounds from the late night construction near Jongin's apartment building keep him restless and awake. The sounds aren’t not that loud, but probably too loud for Taeoh's little ears.
"Taeoh.... Ah!" Jongin is suddenly being reminded of his attempt of making breakfast earlier when a smell of burnt food invading his nostrils. He immediately rushes to the kitchen to turn off the stove. The previously strips of bacon and sausages, now become unidentifiable black objects. Jongin sighs.
There goes his breakfast.
As if his misery is not enough, the sudden movement and loud voice from Jongin apparently surprising Taeoh, and the little boy cries even harder. At that moment, Jongin really, really, really wants to cry along.
"Taeoh...." Jongin pleads with thin voice, on the verge of crying himself. He only stares at the crying baby, feeling clueless and helpless. His mind working so fast, thinking the way how to solve this problem quickly so that he can get to work, maybe not too late. He is pretty sure his boss won’t tolerate any of his excuses this time.
Damn, his boss doesn’t even know Jongin has a baby to take care of now.
Can he ask Joonmyeon hyung? He has experienced with kid since he adopted one too with Yifan hyung, his husband. Ah, but they live at the other side of the city and they're both really busy. Yixing, their child, is probably already in the day-care right now and since his parents are at work.
Can he ask Luhan hyung? Ah but he's on a holiday at Thailand with Minseok hyung...
Jongin is clawing his face in frustration; he never encounters this kind of situation with Taeoh before. He is usually calm in the morning and never throws a fit whenever Jongin tries to feed him his milk and drops him at the day-care. He doesn't have much knowledge about baby because he is the only child; he is always being taken care of, not the other way around. Unlike Sehun, his best friend, who has two baby sisters and one baby brother and always on the task of babysitting every time his mother is busy.
A lamp goes on inside Jongin’s brain.
Sehun.
Jongin takes his phone out in a flash, and dials Sehun's number from the speed dial. Few seconds passed filled with Taeoh's cries mixed with the waiting ringtone from the phone. A newest song from a girl group Jongin can't really identify what. It's always Sehun who likes to catch up with the entertainment scene.
Jongin? Not so much. He is always too busy with his paperwork or maybe he doesn’t have any other interest other than watching his favorite actor, D.O, acting in a drama or a movie.
After a second of agonizing waiting, Sehun finally picks up. "Hello?" Sehun greets him groggily.
Definitely just wake up.
"Am I imagining things or am I really hearing a baby crying?" Sehun groans, and mutters something close to 'I must have drank too much last night'.
"Eum..." Jongin starts, hesitating a little. Even if he is close with Sehun, like.. ‘Really Close’. Capital R, capital C, bold, italic, underline. They are practically glued to the hip since they met on the last year of junior high. But, Sehun still doesn't know about his Take A Kid Home plan. The older had wanted to tell Sehun long ago, but he always feel scared that Sehun would be mad at his brash action, looking that Sehun is usually the one to knock sense into Jongin's head and clean up the mess he makes. So he usually backs off without even trying.
But, when Jongin found Taeoh inside a box at a nearby park on his way home from work the other day, abandoned and lonely, crying and feeling cold, he didn't have the heart to just pass and pretend that it was nothing.
"Kim Jongin. If you don't say anything within five fuckin’ seconds I will hung up and you will never know anyone named Oh Sehun anymore." Oops, someone is in a foul mood, Jongin grimaces. Jongin knows there isn’t any real threat on Sehun’s words, but he has learnt not to mess with Oh Sehun’s bad drunken side.
Jongin finally takes a deep breath, one hand patting Taeoh's soft messy bed hair, the baby is still crying, but now turning down into sniffles. "First, you're not imagining things..."
Sehun doesn't say anything on the other line, waiting for Jongin to continue, "...help"
There's no answer other than the rustling of bed sheets, and sounds of what Jongin guesses as Sehun's Krong bedroom sandals scrapping on the tiled floor. And there’s a sound of a door opening, Jongin can only guesses it’s the bathroom door. Jongin is familiar since Sehun’s apartment is like his second home, crashing there now and then if he doesn’t feel like being at his own.
"I'll be there in ten." And then the call disconnects.
**
Jongin is busy making warm milk in a bottle for Taeoh when he hears the sound of front door opens. He unknowingly sighs in relief, he is sure that must be Sehun, since the only other person who knows the code for his house beside his parents is Sehun. His guess is proved right when there's a tuft of blonde hair peeking out from behind the living room wall, hand holding a plastic bag from a convenience store just right on the first floor of Jongin's apartment.
Sehun's mouth goes open in a shock as soon as he spots the whiny and struggling Taeoh in the carrier Jongin is supporting.
"Holy s--"
"Ya!" Jongin shouts, palms quickly covering Taeoh's little ears. "Mind your words around my son!"
To say Sehun is surprised is clearly an understatement; he is just completely gone blank at the situation. Taeoh's cries, the burnt smell still lingering in the air that don't help much to his hangover headache, and now the statement from his best friend saying that he can’t swear around his, son.
"Son....?"
Jongin feels a little bit of regret forming for calling his best friend to help him without explaining this whole thing to Sehun first. Sehun only stares at him with a questioning looks and they are focusing on their own thoughts for a few minutes until Taeoh wails again, louder this time and Jongin is snapped out of his thoughts, pleading eyes looking up at Sehun.
"Please help me first? He didn't sleep much last night and when I tried to put him to sleep this morning he kept crying. I don't--"
Sehun quickly rushes to Jongin to calm him down before Jongin is wailing alongside the little baby in the carrier, "Jongin, relax, okay?"
"--know what to do. You have sisters and brothers’ right please help me. I'm sorry I didn't tell you about this earlier but I promise you I will explain please don't delete me from your list of friends--"
"Jongin.."
"--first please help me first Taeoh is crying and my heart can't handle this, please you can be mad at me but not at Taeo--"
"JONGIN!" Sehun finally snaps. Jongin immediately shuts up and looks up at his best friend, eyes wide and lips quivering. Sehun sighs.
"Jongin, I will help you. Relax, okay? Let's get him," Sehun gestures to the baby, "Taeoh?" Kai nods. "Let's get Taeoh calm down first and then you will tell me what happened and explain."
"How long has he been in the carrier?"
Jongin goes silent for a while, thinking back. "Since I tried to put him to sleep? He slept about half an hour in this carrier, while I was making breakfast. I don't want to leave him alone in my bed."
Sehun only nods, taking in the info. "I think I know what will do. Let’s go to your bedroom. Don't forget to bring his bottle of milk"
They walk down the hall to the apartment's main bedroom, where Jongin's four poster bed is in the middle of the room, clearly too big for someone who's living alone. There are only a few pillows; there is a small blanket next to a small pillow. The comforter is on the floor next to the bed.
"You put the comforter away?" Sehun asks as he lifts Taeoh from the carrier, the baby struggles a bit in his hold, not used to him yet. But the little kicks and sobs stop immediately when Sehun lays him gently on the bed, soft pillow under his head, and put the blanket on top of him. Taeoh closes his eyes as Sehun starts to pat him softly on the stomach, lulling him with soft hum of a children song. It's not long until Taeoh's breathe evens out, a sign that he's asleep.
Jongin who is standing on the side with a bottle of warm milk in hand only watches in fascination, an indescribable warm feeling form in his chest as he looks at the scene in front of him.
"Oh my God, how did you do that?" He asks in wonder, walking to the bed and sitting at the other side of sleeping Taeoh carefully. Taeoh sleeping is one of the cutest things Jongin has ever seen, mouth slightly open and his hands will form a small fist, sometimes there are some strands of Taeoh's hair falling just right on top of his eyes.
A sound of camera shutter brings Jongin out of his thoughts about Taeoh and he looks at his side to find Sehun holding out his phone, angling it to capture Taeoh. "He is so cute! I'm going to make his photo as my wallpaper."
Jongin feels a surge of pride hearing the praise from his best friend. His best friend just called his son cute! "I know right." Jongin says as he caresses Taeoh's hair, the baby squirms a bit on his sleep but continue sleeping peacefully.
"And Sehun, about the previous question, I took the comforter away because, when Taeoh sleeps on my bed he will not get buried in it. I saw it on the internet they said thick comforter will be dangerous for babies because they can get asphyxiation from it..." Jongin trails off, eyeing Sehun worriedly. "Is it right? Or am I doing the wrong thing? Oh my God I'm such a--"
"--good father." Sehun cuts his sentence before Jongin finishes them.
"Uh?"
"You're such a good father. What you did was right, you learned from the right source" Jongin lets out a breath that he didn't know he was holding before. He looks up shyly at Sehun, one hand scratching his neck in embarrassment. "Really? By the way, how did you know how to stop Taeoh's cries just now? He doesn't like his carrier? He used to like it..."
"You said he didn't get much sleep last night right? He was tired, and sleeping in the carrier didn't provide him the most comfortable position to sleep. He couldn't say it directly to you so he could only cry."
"My brother, Jinki, was like that when he was a baby. Every time mom went to work I would put him in the same kind of carrier and brought him anywhere, every time. Once, he cried a lot. I panicked but then my aunt told me to lay him down on his cot. He stopped." Sehun laughs a little, remembering his memories taking care of his brother.
"You called the right guy, Jong."
Jongin lowers his head, slightly upset, neither to Taeoh nor Sehun, but at himself. He is upset at himself for making Taeoh uncomfortable, even if it's not his intention.
Sehun notices the sudden gloomy atmosphere inside the room, and he throws his arm around his best friend’s shoulder, pulling him into a side hug, "Hey, everyone makes mistakes. Everyone learns. Parenthood is all about experience. Cheer up dude. And how about you explain to me right now what this is all about?"
Jongin takes a look at his watch and sighs, he's tired already and it's still half past 8 in the morning, "But I have to clock in to work. And take Taeoh to day-care."
Sehun seems to be thinking for a while. "You know, I don't have any work right now so I think I can babysit Taeoh for today" he proposes. Sehun is a freelance writer/editor so he works on his own schedule; Jongin envies that about Sehun the most. Don’t get Jongin wrong, he loves his architect job. It pays good money and now that Taeoh comes into his life, he has enough money to support the baby. But the work time is sometimes unbearable.
"Really?"
Sehun nods, "I want to know a lot more about him too, because certain someone just had to hide him from me all this time"
The wide grin on Jongin's face is fast replaced with a frown, "I thought I said sorry..."
Sehun can't help but laugh at Jongin's sulky tone. His friend is really like a child sometimes. "I'm just kidding with you!" Sehun throws a light punch on Jongin's shoulder, "I guess having a baby turned you into those boring and sensitive sleep deprived new Appa. Now go to work. Shu shu~"
I am indeed sleep deprived and hungry. Jongin says to himself as he walks to the door, getting his blazer and suitcase in the way. As if Sehun has the power hearing his internal thought, Sehun calls him, "Ya! Bring that sandwich on the counter I bought downstairs! I bet you burned your breakfast"
Jongin's ears perk up at the mention of breakfast and sandwich so he doesn't mind with Sehun's insult.
"And there's canned coffee! Your favorite is that brand that tastes sucks but you like it because D.O promotes it, right?"
Sehun can insult him all the way he wants (he does it every day anyway so Jongin is immune with that), all day all night but what Jongin really cares right now is only his sandwich.
And, Jongin can't live without Sehun anyway. He doesn't have a plan to get rid of the said guy in the near future.
**
The day passes by rather quickly for Jongin. One time he is in his office working on papers drawing blueprints and signing some papers about the construction his firm is handling. One time he found himself in the middle of a meeting with the higher ups, trying hard to reply Sehun's text about bringing Taeoh with him to his apartment because of the construction noise, without getting caught by his hawk-eyed boss.
By the end of the day, he is standing in front of Sehun's apartment door, one hand holding a plastic of take-outs and one hand reaching out for the bell to press it. Jongin can hear the faint muffled sound of the bell and the soft patters towards the other side of the door.
Not too long after, the door clicks open and Sehun pops his head out, grinning, "Ah, it's you. Come in" Jongin holds the door open to let him in, and he is greeted by baby Taeoh smiling at him from his place in Sehun's hold.
It’s the first time for Jongin, he usually picks up Taeoh after work at the day-care and then coming back to his empty apartment after buying some food or groceries for dinner.
It feels oddly great, coming back from work to something, someone, and greeted at the door like that.
Jongin wonder if he’s married, would it be like this every day.
Taeoh lets out his whinny sound and reaching his tiny arms out to Jongin, wanting to be picked up. Jongin wastes no time to put the plastic bag aside and complies with Taeoh's wish.
"You miss daddy that much?" Taeoh erupts in laughter when his dad blows at his stomach, the gesture the little one seems to like lately.
Sehun, who only watches quietly from aside, grabs the plastic bag from the Jongin's hold and trudges to the kitchen to prepare the food. Jongin follows a few minutes after that with Taeoh who is dozing off, arms circling around his neck.
"He's tired already?"
Jongin moves a bit to position Taeoh's head better on his shoulder, the baby scoots closer to Jongin in response, eyes closing and tiny fists moves to clutch at his work shirt, "I guess laughing tires him out"
Sehun lets out soft giggles from behind the counter, sound reverberating in the small kitchen. He arranges the food in the small table before he walks to Jongin, getting Taeoh’s out of Jongin’s hold to his. "Let me put Taeoh to sleep. There is my brother's old baby bed that I found"
Jongin looks like he's about to say something but Sehun beats him to it, "I already cleaned the bed, Jong Jong. Don't worry, okay. Just eat first; you need all the energy because you won’t get any sleep before you give me your explanation. I will join you after this" Sehun smiles as he squeezes his hand, for assurance.
As soon as Sehun disappears behind the living room wall, Jongin immediately sits down on one of the dining chair, not wanting his legs to give up first because of the recent skin-ship. All of the pent up feelings after all this years, hidden behind the secret glances, touch that lingers a bit too long, and sleepless nights thinking about the other. Jongin has been careful all this time, not to reignite the feelings he has for Sehun to not break their friendship. He tries to feel enough to have Sehun as his best friedn, he doesn’t want his greedy side put them on the strangers term. But, sometimes he just yearns. For the younger’s touch, for the younger’s attention. And this time, Sehun is the one who initiates it. His hidden feelings coming out in waves and washes over him, breaking down the wall he has built around his heart to keep it safe and not showing.
"Why are you not eating?"
Sehun's voice startles Jongin and he tries so hard not to show his nervousness. He just hopes Sehun doesn't notice the pink tint on both of his cheeks.
"I’m waiting for you, of course." Jongin answers. Sehun rolls his eyes as he sits down on the chair across Jongin.
"Now that I'm here, now eat." Sehun scoops some rice and puts in into his plate, before putting some on Jongin’s plate. "And spill it to me. Who puts you in charge of a tiny human being?"
Myself, Jongin answers inside his head. "You promise not to get mad at me?"
“Did you make someone pregnant and then she doesn’t want the baby and puts the custody on you instead?” Sehun says as if he’s telling the last Saturday latest makjang drama, which makes Jongin snorts at his accusation. “I did not!!”
"Teehee, I’m kidding. And, I think Taeoh makes me forgive you in a way. His cuteness plays a big role in my decision"
Jongin takes a deep breath before starting, "I was walking home from work last week and I passed through a park. It was nearing midnight, around eleven or twelve. When I passed by the bench near the lake, you know that one where we used to sit and drink beer together?" Sehun nods, "That one. There was a box there, I didn't care at first and I would've left it there if only it didn't start crying"
Jongin feels Sehun’s hand on his and that time he realizes that his hands already formed fists because of the growing anger inside of him. Sehun’s fingers delicately straightening Jongin’s fingers, thumb moving in a slow calming circle on the veins. Jongin feels himself relax a little bit.
"I went to the box and found him, found Taeoh."
"There was a letter along with him. They said his name is Taeoh. He is ten months old. They are sorry for leaving Taeoh on the bench because they aren't able to support Taeoh anymore because of financial problems. On the letter, they said they love him. But how could they leave him there, if they loved him?"
Jongin takes in a deep breath; his eyes feels like burning, tears threaten to pour out at the memories of that night. It was cold, nearing winter, and Taeoh was left alone clad with nothing but his onesies and a blanket over him.
"I brought him home. I bathed him. I fed him the baby milk I could find at that hour that night. He look so tired, so so.." Delicate. Sehun tightens his grip on Jongin's hand when he hears the latter's voice starting to shake, I'm here, "I thought, he was even too tired to cry he only whined”
They are sitting in silence for a few minutes, only their breathings are heard. Sehun keeps his eyes on Jongin who has his head down, but Sehun knows that he's biting his lips, trying to keep in the sobs. His shoulder shakes slightly overtime, but it disappears after a while. For all the years that Sehun knows Jongin, there's hardly thing that makes him angry, or sad to the extent of crying. Sehun can only remember Jongin crying once, that is when his grandmother died a few years ago. Both of them are not that soft hearted or sensitive. So it’s a rare occurrence for them to cry.
And here Jongin is, talking about Taeoh and crying as he tells Sehun.
"It's late." Sehun breaks the silence, his another way to say you want to stay for the night?
There’s no way Sehun would leave Jongin alone right now, not when he’s in his weakest state and in no condition to drive back.
Jongin doesn't say anything, only looking up at Sehun with red eyes and a palm over Sehun’s warm hands. Thank you.
**
Jongin looks up at the bathroom mirror in front of him, his face is red like he just ran miles and his eyes are puffy because of the crying earlier, but his heart feels a lot lighter to the fact that he already shared about Taeoh to his best friend. Jongin is thankful that Sehun doesn't get angry at him, or yell at him, or even ask him to get out from his house. He isn't ready to the idea of losing Sehun. Not like he will be ready someday.
And somehow, Jongin feels a new surge of confidence inside of him. He feels… supported, he feels like he's not alone. The willingness of Sehun to take care of Taeoh earlier this day must've meant that Jongin can ask him for help, right?
Jongin is about to get out from the bathroom, clad in Sehun's boxers and loose t-shirt the other had given him before to borrow for sleeping, when he hears Taeoh's cries. Jongin quickly goes out and makes his way past the living room, down the hall to Sehun's room.
"Taeoh, what--"
"Sshhh," there's a whisper coming from the room and Jongin lets his eyes adjust with the dimness to see who it is. The voice is no other than Sehun, sitting on the bed with Taeoh in his arms, one hand supporting the bottle that fed Taeoh.
"He's hungry" Sehun whispers while smiling as Jongin makes his way to the both of them, he takes the space next to Sehun and leans down to land a kiss on Taeoh's forehead. He is silent for a while, only staring at Taeoh with adoration clear in his eyes.
“Jongin” Sehun breaks the silent. “There is something I’ve been thinking about this situation. And I want to ask you about this”
“What is it?” Jongin sits straight up, eyes following Sehun who is putting Taeoh back to his baby bed. After making sure that the baby is tucked safe and sound inside the baby bed, Sehun leads Jongin outside to the couch.
“Are you planning to adopt him, Jongin?”
The answer is a nod immediately, without any second of hesitation and Sehun is smiling at the answer. “Do you know how it works?”
Jongin shakes his head, now realizing that he’s clueless about this.
“So, you have to report that you found Taeoh to the police first. And then the nearest foster home will take him-“
“But they can’t take him, he’s small! He will cry all day!”
Sehun knows Jongin would react like this at the information. When Jongin was at work, Sehun went on the internet and searched for how adoption works for cases like Jongin. He was worried about telling Jongin because he knew how Jongin would react, and he is proven right just now. Sehun sighs.
“But, Jongin-“
“Can we just not report it to the police?”
“And then someday you can be accused of kidnapping?”
Jongin goes silent. Sehun notices the way he plays with his fingers, the sign that he’s nervous and thinking. For the past few days since Jongin found Taeoh, he never went outside with the baby except for the trip to the day-care and a few run to the groceries. But, Taeoh will grow, he will need to go to the doctor someday, he will need to go to school someday or even he will need to go to the park to meet his friends. And Jongin, as his parent now, will have to show Taeoh how the world outside their home is like.
Going out will mean Taeoh will be out there, for everyone to see and recognize. There is no guarantee there will be no friends or acquaintances of Taeoh’s real parents, or even his families, seeing him one day and wondering why Taeoh is with Jongin, a person they don’t know who. When it is them who doesn’t know what happened for real.
Jongin knows Sehun is right, and there is no other choice, but that doesn’t stop him from asking Sehun, “Is there any other way?”
Sehun shakes his head sadly before looking at Jongin, his eyes look as sad and lost in this. Somehow, Jongin feels relieved he’s not the only one who feels like this. Sehun might be sad, but he at least has the tendency to put some sense into Jongin’s mind, like he always does.
“Let’s get you into bed and we will talk about it later? You’ve had a rough day” Jongin lets himself being guided to the room by Sehun.
**
Jongin dreams that it wasn’t him who took Taeoh home that night, instead, a gang that Seoul police department has been searching for years. They have long sheet of crime that they did and dark business they are involved in. Jongin comes home at night and watches the TV and sees news about a boy who is sold into a black market, the boy is already a teenager, and he is forced into doing things unexplainable to human morals. Jongin looks at the corner of the screen only to realize the boy’s name is Taeoh.
Jumping into another scene, Jongin is on his way to save Taeoh but one of the gang members sees him first and kicks him on the stomach. Jongin falls to the ground, he can feel blood coming out from his nose, but he doesn’t give up. He immediately stands up to walk again but the number of the gang members keep growing and growing. Jongin tries to walk forward again but the gang member keeps hitting him in the chest, in the stomach..
“NYAH!”
Nyah? Why does a gang member sounds like a baby?
Jongin feels himself rise into consciousness and he tries to move but there’s weight on his stomach preventing him to do so. His eyes are still blurry and the bright sunrays coming from between the curtain is blinding he closes his eyes again. The source of weight lost for a moment before it is back again, with the same “NYAH!” and two lighter weights planted on his chest.
He pops one eyes open, now his sight is clearer, and greeted with the sight of grinning Taeoh sitting on his stomach, two arms supporting his body on Jongin’s chest. Taeoh looks so excited for Saturday morning and looks even more so when he notices that his father is awake.
“Good job on waking up your daddy, Taeoh” Jongin hears Sehun says from the other side of the room. He wants to tilt his head to see Sehun but Taeoh places his hands on both of Jongin’s cheeks each, mashing them together and holding Jongin’s face in place. Taeoh giggles at his duck face.
“Yweou likwet iwt?” Taeoh only giggles more.
Jongin places his hand on Taeoh’s sides and lifts him as he sits up. The baby lets out an excited squeal when Jongin pecks him a good morning kiss.
“Did you get a good sleep?”
“NYAH!” Jongin smiles proudly. Taeoh is starting to show efforts to talk, even if what he said are still incoherent and all baby mumbles. But it’s a step. Jongin can’t wait until he can hear Taeoh calls him ‘dad’. Or maybe his first word can be 'Jongin'. Or maybe it will only be ‘Jong’ or ‘In’ he won’t mind it at all.
“Now, Taeoh, say ‘Appa’?”
Jongin is in the middle of teaching Taeoh to call him dad when Sehun barges into the room once again, clad in apron and spatula in one hand.
“Attention boys! Breakfast is ready! Now who wants pancakes?”
PART 2
Pairing: Sehun/Kai, slight!Kris/Suho, slight!Luhan/Minseok
Rating: PG-15
Word Count: 12,085 words
Warnings: none
Summary: It’s usually peaceful and quiet at the 9th floor. But there are occasional baby cries resonating in the hallway for the past few weeks. What’s weird that it’s coming from the apartment 94, where the only bachelor on that floor lives.
A/N: Crossposted from exoparents!! And happy birthday to Milla, I'm also writing this for you! (A bday gift, kind of haha <3)
Everybody living on the 9th floor of the apartment knows the young man living in the unit 94 is not married. He moves there about two years ago and lives alone since the beginning. He doesn’t seem to have a lover either, and the neighbors never see him bringing any woman home. But maybe he has a boyfriend, but the neighbors really don’t know that part.
His friends usually come to his apartment, bringing bottles of beer and takeouts and stay overnight, typical young lads. But it usually happens on weekend, or holidays when the young man is not going home to spend it with his parents. Now that the neighbors remember, there is this man’s friend who often drops by, alone or together with the others, even on weekdays. The friend is tall, probably taller. He’s lanky and his hair color often changes, the last time the neighbors saw him was a week ago and this man’s friend’s hair color was blonde, after a month before supporting black hair. The guy usually brings beers (what else can you expect from two young man in their 20s), and Chinese food takeouts. But, this guy sometimes brings bags of groceries too. He might be a friend, or a lover, the neighbors cannot guess.
Well, whether the he blonde guy is the young man’s lover or not, everybody in the world, especially the 9th floor occupants know for sure that man definitely cannot get pregnant.
It’s usually quiet and peaceful on the 9th floor. The families living there are relatively calm. The only usual noises are the conversations between the fathers and mothers of the family when they meet at the hallway. There aren’t babies or toddlers, as far as the neighbors know, so there aren’t cries or sound of children throwing fits. The youngest at their floor is Do Jongdae, son from the Do’s family living at the unit by the end of the hall. He’s in junior high already and he won’t cry every now and then, it will hurt his pride.
But there is something unusual for the past few weeks. There are occasional baby cries resonating in the hallway every morning and sometimes every night. The cries never last for long, but still questionable for the neighbors. At first they thought it was a baby ghost or something but they discovered that it wasn’t. What they find is even weirder because the cries…
It's coming from the apartment 94.
**
"Taeoh, Taeoh" Jongin coos at the crying baby previously sleeping peacefully for about half an hour in the kangaroo baby carrier hanging in front of his body. The crying baby wrestles inside the carrier, trying to get away. The soft pat Jongin gives, which usually makes him calmer, is no use today.
Jongin rocks his body to the left and to the right slowly, trying to lull the baby back to sleep. The baby slept fewer hours than he usually was for the past two nights, the sounds from the late night construction near Jongin's apartment building keep him restless and awake. The sounds aren’t not that loud, but probably too loud for Taeoh's little ears.
"Taeoh.... Ah!" Jongin is suddenly being reminded of his attempt of making breakfast earlier when a smell of burnt food invading his nostrils. He immediately rushes to the kitchen to turn off the stove. The previously strips of bacon and sausages, now become unidentifiable black objects. Jongin sighs.
There goes his breakfast.
As if his misery is not enough, the sudden movement and loud voice from Jongin apparently surprising Taeoh, and the little boy cries even harder. At that moment, Jongin really, really, really wants to cry along.
"Taeoh...." Jongin pleads with thin voice, on the verge of crying himself. He only stares at the crying baby, feeling clueless and helpless. His mind working so fast, thinking the way how to solve this problem quickly so that he can get to work, maybe not too late. He is pretty sure his boss won’t tolerate any of his excuses this time.
Damn, his boss doesn’t even know Jongin has a baby to take care of now.
Can he ask Joonmyeon hyung? He has experienced with kid since he adopted one too with Yifan hyung, his husband. Ah, but they live at the other side of the city and they're both really busy. Yixing, their child, is probably already in the day-care right now and since his parents are at work.
Can he ask Luhan hyung? Ah but he's on a holiday at Thailand with Minseok hyung...
Jongin is clawing his face in frustration; he never encounters this kind of situation with Taeoh before. He is usually calm in the morning and never throws a fit whenever Jongin tries to feed him his milk and drops him at the day-care. He doesn't have much knowledge about baby because he is the only child; he is always being taken care of, not the other way around. Unlike Sehun, his best friend, who has two baby sisters and one baby brother and always on the task of babysitting every time his mother is busy.
A lamp goes on inside Jongin’s brain.
Sehun.
Jongin takes his phone out in a flash, and dials Sehun's number from the speed dial. Few seconds passed filled with Taeoh's cries mixed with the waiting ringtone from the phone. A newest song from a girl group Jongin can't really identify what. It's always Sehun who likes to catch up with the entertainment scene.
Jongin? Not so much. He is always too busy with his paperwork or maybe he doesn’t have any other interest other than watching his favorite actor, D.O, acting in a drama or a movie.
After a second of agonizing waiting, Sehun finally picks up. "Hello?" Sehun greets him groggily.
Definitely just wake up.
"Am I imagining things or am I really hearing a baby crying?" Sehun groans, and mutters something close to 'I must have drank too much last night'.
"Eum..." Jongin starts, hesitating a little. Even if he is close with Sehun, like.. ‘Really Close’. Capital R, capital C, bold, italic, underline. They are practically glued to the hip since they met on the last year of junior high. But, Sehun still doesn't know about his Take A Kid Home plan. The older had wanted to tell Sehun long ago, but he always feel scared that Sehun would be mad at his brash action, looking that Sehun is usually the one to knock sense into Jongin's head and clean up the mess he makes. So he usually backs off without even trying.
But, when Jongin found Taeoh inside a box at a nearby park on his way home from work the other day, abandoned and lonely, crying and feeling cold, he didn't have the heart to just pass and pretend that it was nothing.
"Kim Jongin. If you don't say anything within five fuckin’ seconds I will hung up and you will never know anyone named Oh Sehun anymore." Oops, someone is in a foul mood, Jongin grimaces. Jongin knows there isn’t any real threat on Sehun’s words, but he has learnt not to mess with Oh Sehun’s bad drunken side.
Jongin finally takes a deep breath, one hand patting Taeoh's soft messy bed hair, the baby is still crying, but now turning down into sniffles. "First, you're not imagining things..."
Sehun doesn't say anything on the other line, waiting for Jongin to continue, "...help"
There's no answer other than the rustling of bed sheets, and sounds of what Jongin guesses as Sehun's Krong bedroom sandals scrapping on the tiled floor. And there’s a sound of a door opening, Jongin can only guesses it’s the bathroom door. Jongin is familiar since Sehun’s apartment is like his second home, crashing there now and then if he doesn’t feel like being at his own.
"I'll be there in ten." And then the call disconnects.
**
Jongin is busy making warm milk in a bottle for Taeoh when he hears the sound of front door opens. He unknowingly sighs in relief, he is sure that must be Sehun, since the only other person who knows the code for his house beside his parents is Sehun. His guess is proved right when there's a tuft of blonde hair peeking out from behind the living room wall, hand holding a plastic bag from a convenience store just right on the first floor of Jongin's apartment.
Sehun's mouth goes open in a shock as soon as he spots the whiny and struggling Taeoh in the carrier Jongin is supporting.
"Holy s--"
"Ya!" Jongin shouts, palms quickly covering Taeoh's little ears. "Mind your words around my son!"
To say Sehun is surprised is clearly an understatement; he is just completely gone blank at the situation. Taeoh's cries, the burnt smell still lingering in the air that don't help much to his hangover headache, and now the statement from his best friend saying that he can’t swear around his, son.
"Son....?"
Jongin feels a little bit of regret forming for calling his best friend to help him without explaining this whole thing to Sehun first. Sehun only stares at him with a questioning looks and they are focusing on their own thoughts for a few minutes until Taeoh wails again, louder this time and Jongin is snapped out of his thoughts, pleading eyes looking up at Sehun.
"Please help me first? He didn't sleep much last night and when I tried to put him to sleep this morning he kept crying. I don't--"
Sehun quickly rushes to Jongin to calm him down before Jongin is wailing alongside the little baby in the carrier, "Jongin, relax, okay?"
"--know what to do. You have sisters and brothers’ right please help me. I'm sorry I didn't tell you about this earlier but I promise you I will explain please don't delete me from your list of friends--"
"Jongin.."
"--first please help me first Taeoh is crying and my heart can't handle this, please you can be mad at me but not at Taeo--"
"JONGIN!" Sehun finally snaps. Jongin immediately shuts up and looks up at his best friend, eyes wide and lips quivering. Sehun sighs.
"Jongin, I will help you. Relax, okay? Let's get him," Sehun gestures to the baby, "Taeoh?" Kai nods. "Let's get Taeoh calm down first and then you will tell me what happened and explain."
"How long has he been in the carrier?"
Jongin goes silent for a while, thinking back. "Since I tried to put him to sleep? He slept about half an hour in this carrier, while I was making breakfast. I don't want to leave him alone in my bed."
Sehun only nods, taking in the info. "I think I know what will do. Let’s go to your bedroom. Don't forget to bring his bottle of milk"
They walk down the hall to the apartment's main bedroom, where Jongin's four poster bed is in the middle of the room, clearly too big for someone who's living alone. There are only a few pillows; there is a small blanket next to a small pillow. The comforter is on the floor next to the bed.
"You put the comforter away?" Sehun asks as he lifts Taeoh from the carrier, the baby struggles a bit in his hold, not used to him yet. But the little kicks and sobs stop immediately when Sehun lays him gently on the bed, soft pillow under his head, and put the blanket on top of him. Taeoh closes his eyes as Sehun starts to pat him softly on the stomach, lulling him with soft hum of a children song. It's not long until Taeoh's breathe evens out, a sign that he's asleep.
Jongin who is standing on the side with a bottle of warm milk in hand only watches in fascination, an indescribable warm feeling form in his chest as he looks at the scene in front of him.
"Oh my God, how did you do that?" He asks in wonder, walking to the bed and sitting at the other side of sleeping Taeoh carefully. Taeoh sleeping is one of the cutest things Jongin has ever seen, mouth slightly open and his hands will form a small fist, sometimes there are some strands of Taeoh's hair falling just right on top of his eyes.
A sound of camera shutter brings Jongin out of his thoughts about Taeoh and he looks at his side to find Sehun holding out his phone, angling it to capture Taeoh. "He is so cute! I'm going to make his photo as my wallpaper."
Jongin feels a surge of pride hearing the praise from his best friend. His best friend just called his son cute! "I know right." Jongin says as he caresses Taeoh's hair, the baby squirms a bit on his sleep but continue sleeping peacefully.
"And Sehun, about the previous question, I took the comforter away because, when Taeoh sleeps on my bed he will not get buried in it. I saw it on the internet they said thick comforter will be dangerous for babies because they can get asphyxiation from it..." Jongin trails off, eyeing Sehun worriedly. "Is it right? Or am I doing the wrong thing? Oh my God I'm such a--"
"--good father." Sehun cuts his sentence before Jongin finishes them.
"Uh?"
"You're such a good father. What you did was right, you learned from the right source" Jongin lets out a breath that he didn't know he was holding before. He looks up shyly at Sehun, one hand scratching his neck in embarrassment. "Really? By the way, how did you know how to stop Taeoh's cries just now? He doesn't like his carrier? He used to like it..."
"You said he didn't get much sleep last night right? He was tired, and sleeping in the carrier didn't provide him the most comfortable position to sleep. He couldn't say it directly to you so he could only cry."
"My brother, Jinki, was like that when he was a baby. Every time mom went to work I would put him in the same kind of carrier and brought him anywhere, every time. Once, he cried a lot. I panicked but then my aunt told me to lay him down on his cot. He stopped." Sehun laughs a little, remembering his memories taking care of his brother.
"You called the right guy, Jong."
Jongin lowers his head, slightly upset, neither to Taeoh nor Sehun, but at himself. He is upset at himself for making Taeoh uncomfortable, even if it's not his intention.
Sehun notices the sudden gloomy atmosphere inside the room, and he throws his arm around his best friend’s shoulder, pulling him into a side hug, "Hey, everyone makes mistakes. Everyone learns. Parenthood is all about experience. Cheer up dude. And how about you explain to me right now what this is all about?"
Jongin takes a look at his watch and sighs, he's tired already and it's still half past 8 in the morning, "But I have to clock in to work. And take Taeoh to day-care."
Sehun seems to be thinking for a while. "You know, I don't have any work right now so I think I can babysit Taeoh for today" he proposes. Sehun is a freelance writer/editor so he works on his own schedule; Jongin envies that about Sehun the most. Don’t get Jongin wrong, he loves his architect job. It pays good money and now that Taeoh comes into his life, he has enough money to support the baby. But the work time is sometimes unbearable.
"Really?"
Sehun nods, "I want to know a lot more about him too, because certain someone just had to hide him from me all this time"
The wide grin on Jongin's face is fast replaced with a frown, "I thought I said sorry..."
Sehun can't help but laugh at Jongin's sulky tone. His friend is really like a child sometimes. "I'm just kidding with you!" Sehun throws a light punch on Jongin's shoulder, "I guess having a baby turned you into those boring and sensitive sleep deprived new Appa. Now go to work. Shu shu~"
I am indeed sleep deprived and hungry. Jongin says to himself as he walks to the door, getting his blazer and suitcase in the way. As if Sehun has the power hearing his internal thought, Sehun calls him, "Ya! Bring that sandwich on the counter I bought downstairs! I bet you burned your breakfast"
Jongin's ears perk up at the mention of breakfast and sandwich so he doesn't mind with Sehun's insult.
"And there's canned coffee! Your favorite is that brand that tastes sucks but you like it because D.O promotes it, right?"
Sehun can insult him all the way he wants (he does it every day anyway so Jongin is immune with that), all day all night but what Jongin really cares right now is only his sandwich.
And, Jongin can't live without Sehun anyway. He doesn't have a plan to get rid of the said guy in the near future.
**
The day passes by rather quickly for Jongin. One time he is in his office working on papers drawing blueprints and signing some papers about the construction his firm is handling. One time he found himself in the middle of a meeting with the higher ups, trying hard to reply Sehun's text about bringing Taeoh with him to his apartment because of the construction noise, without getting caught by his hawk-eyed boss.
By the end of the day, he is standing in front of Sehun's apartment door, one hand holding a plastic of take-outs and one hand reaching out for the bell to press it. Jongin can hear the faint muffled sound of the bell and the soft patters towards the other side of the door.
Not too long after, the door clicks open and Sehun pops his head out, grinning, "Ah, it's you. Come in" Jongin holds the door open to let him in, and he is greeted by baby Taeoh smiling at him from his place in Sehun's hold.
It’s the first time for Jongin, he usually picks up Taeoh after work at the day-care and then coming back to his empty apartment after buying some food or groceries for dinner.
It feels oddly great, coming back from work to something, someone, and greeted at the door like that.
Jongin wonder if he’s married, would it be like this every day.
Taeoh lets out his whinny sound and reaching his tiny arms out to Jongin, wanting to be picked up. Jongin wastes no time to put the plastic bag aside and complies with Taeoh's wish.
"You miss daddy that much?" Taeoh erupts in laughter when his dad blows at his stomach, the gesture the little one seems to like lately.
Sehun, who only watches quietly from aside, grabs the plastic bag from the Jongin's hold and trudges to the kitchen to prepare the food. Jongin follows a few minutes after that with Taeoh who is dozing off, arms circling around his neck.
"He's tired already?"
Jongin moves a bit to position Taeoh's head better on his shoulder, the baby scoots closer to Jongin in response, eyes closing and tiny fists moves to clutch at his work shirt, "I guess laughing tires him out"
Sehun lets out soft giggles from behind the counter, sound reverberating in the small kitchen. He arranges the food in the small table before he walks to Jongin, getting Taeoh’s out of Jongin’s hold to his. "Let me put Taeoh to sleep. There is my brother's old baby bed that I found"
Jongin looks like he's about to say something but Sehun beats him to it, "I already cleaned the bed, Jong Jong. Don't worry, okay. Just eat first; you need all the energy because you won’t get any sleep before you give me your explanation. I will join you after this" Sehun smiles as he squeezes his hand, for assurance.
As soon as Sehun disappears behind the living room wall, Jongin immediately sits down on one of the dining chair, not wanting his legs to give up first because of the recent skin-ship. All of the pent up feelings after all this years, hidden behind the secret glances, touch that lingers a bit too long, and sleepless nights thinking about the other. Jongin has been careful all this time, not to reignite the feelings he has for Sehun to not break their friendship. He tries to feel enough to have Sehun as his best friedn, he doesn’t want his greedy side put them on the strangers term. But, sometimes he just yearns. For the younger’s touch, for the younger’s attention. And this time, Sehun is the one who initiates it. His hidden feelings coming out in waves and washes over him, breaking down the wall he has built around his heart to keep it safe and not showing.
"Why are you not eating?"
Sehun's voice startles Jongin and he tries so hard not to show his nervousness. He just hopes Sehun doesn't notice the pink tint on both of his cheeks.
"I’m waiting for you, of course." Jongin answers. Sehun rolls his eyes as he sits down on the chair across Jongin.
"Now that I'm here, now eat." Sehun scoops some rice and puts in into his plate, before putting some on Jongin’s plate. "And spill it to me. Who puts you in charge of a tiny human being?"
Myself, Jongin answers inside his head. "You promise not to get mad at me?"
“Did you make someone pregnant and then she doesn’t want the baby and puts the custody on you instead?” Sehun says as if he’s telling the last Saturday latest makjang drama, which makes Jongin snorts at his accusation. “I did not!!”
"Teehee, I’m kidding. And, I think Taeoh makes me forgive you in a way. His cuteness plays a big role in my decision"
Jongin takes a deep breath before starting, "I was walking home from work last week and I passed through a park. It was nearing midnight, around eleven or twelve. When I passed by the bench near the lake, you know that one where we used to sit and drink beer together?" Sehun nods, "That one. There was a box there, I didn't care at first and I would've left it there if only it didn't start crying"
Jongin feels Sehun’s hand on his and that time he realizes that his hands already formed fists because of the growing anger inside of him. Sehun’s fingers delicately straightening Jongin’s fingers, thumb moving in a slow calming circle on the veins. Jongin feels himself relax a little bit.
"I went to the box and found him, found Taeoh."
"There was a letter along with him. They said his name is Taeoh. He is ten months old. They are sorry for leaving Taeoh on the bench because they aren't able to support Taeoh anymore because of financial problems. On the letter, they said they love him. But how could they leave him there, if they loved him?"
Jongin takes in a deep breath; his eyes feels like burning, tears threaten to pour out at the memories of that night. It was cold, nearing winter, and Taeoh was left alone clad with nothing but his onesies and a blanket over him.
"I brought him home. I bathed him. I fed him the baby milk I could find at that hour that night. He look so tired, so so.." Delicate. Sehun tightens his grip on Jongin's hand when he hears the latter's voice starting to shake, I'm here, "I thought, he was even too tired to cry he only whined”
They are sitting in silence for a few minutes, only their breathings are heard. Sehun keeps his eyes on Jongin who has his head down, but Sehun knows that he's biting his lips, trying to keep in the sobs. His shoulder shakes slightly overtime, but it disappears after a while. For all the years that Sehun knows Jongin, there's hardly thing that makes him angry, or sad to the extent of crying. Sehun can only remember Jongin crying once, that is when his grandmother died a few years ago. Both of them are not that soft hearted or sensitive. So it’s a rare occurrence for them to cry.
And here Jongin is, talking about Taeoh and crying as he tells Sehun.
"It's late." Sehun breaks the silence, his another way to say you want to stay for the night?
There’s no way Sehun would leave Jongin alone right now, not when he’s in his weakest state and in no condition to drive back.
Jongin doesn't say anything, only looking up at Sehun with red eyes and a palm over Sehun’s warm hands. Thank you.
**
Jongin looks up at the bathroom mirror in front of him, his face is red like he just ran miles and his eyes are puffy because of the crying earlier, but his heart feels a lot lighter to the fact that he already shared about Taeoh to his best friend. Jongin is thankful that Sehun doesn't get angry at him, or yell at him, or even ask him to get out from his house. He isn't ready to the idea of losing Sehun. Not like he will be ready someday.
And somehow, Jongin feels a new surge of confidence inside of him. He feels… supported, he feels like he's not alone. The willingness of Sehun to take care of Taeoh earlier this day must've meant that Jongin can ask him for help, right?
Jongin is about to get out from the bathroom, clad in Sehun's boxers and loose t-shirt the other had given him before to borrow for sleeping, when he hears Taeoh's cries. Jongin quickly goes out and makes his way past the living room, down the hall to Sehun's room.
"Taeoh, what--"
"Sshhh," there's a whisper coming from the room and Jongin lets his eyes adjust with the dimness to see who it is. The voice is no other than Sehun, sitting on the bed with Taeoh in his arms, one hand supporting the bottle that fed Taeoh.
"He's hungry" Sehun whispers while smiling as Jongin makes his way to the both of them, he takes the space next to Sehun and leans down to land a kiss on Taeoh's forehead. He is silent for a while, only staring at Taeoh with adoration clear in his eyes.
“Jongin” Sehun breaks the silent. “There is something I’ve been thinking about this situation. And I want to ask you about this”
“What is it?” Jongin sits straight up, eyes following Sehun who is putting Taeoh back to his baby bed. After making sure that the baby is tucked safe and sound inside the baby bed, Sehun leads Jongin outside to the couch.
“Are you planning to adopt him, Jongin?”
The answer is a nod immediately, without any second of hesitation and Sehun is smiling at the answer. “Do you know how it works?”
Jongin shakes his head, now realizing that he’s clueless about this.
“So, you have to report that you found Taeoh to the police first. And then the nearest foster home will take him-“
“But they can’t take him, he’s small! He will cry all day!”
Sehun knows Jongin would react like this at the information. When Jongin was at work, Sehun went on the internet and searched for how adoption works for cases like Jongin. He was worried about telling Jongin because he knew how Jongin would react, and he is proven right just now. Sehun sighs.
“But, Jongin-“
“Can we just not report it to the police?”
“And then someday you can be accused of kidnapping?”
Jongin goes silent. Sehun notices the way he plays with his fingers, the sign that he’s nervous and thinking. For the past few days since Jongin found Taeoh, he never went outside with the baby except for the trip to the day-care and a few run to the groceries. But, Taeoh will grow, he will need to go to the doctor someday, he will need to go to school someday or even he will need to go to the park to meet his friends. And Jongin, as his parent now, will have to show Taeoh how the world outside their home is like.
Going out will mean Taeoh will be out there, for everyone to see and recognize. There is no guarantee there will be no friends or acquaintances of Taeoh’s real parents, or even his families, seeing him one day and wondering why Taeoh is with Jongin, a person they don’t know who. When it is them who doesn’t know what happened for real.
Jongin knows Sehun is right, and there is no other choice, but that doesn’t stop him from asking Sehun, “Is there any other way?”
Sehun shakes his head sadly before looking at Jongin, his eyes look as sad and lost in this. Somehow, Jongin feels relieved he’s not the only one who feels like this. Sehun might be sad, but he at least has the tendency to put some sense into Jongin’s mind, like he always does.
“Let’s get you into bed and we will talk about it later? You’ve had a rough day” Jongin lets himself being guided to the room by Sehun.
**
Jongin dreams that it wasn’t him who took Taeoh home that night, instead, a gang that Seoul police department has been searching for years. They have long sheet of crime that they did and dark business they are involved in. Jongin comes home at night and watches the TV and sees news about a boy who is sold into a black market, the boy is already a teenager, and he is forced into doing things unexplainable to human morals. Jongin looks at the corner of the screen only to realize the boy’s name is Taeoh.
Jumping into another scene, Jongin is on his way to save Taeoh but one of the gang members sees him first and kicks him on the stomach. Jongin falls to the ground, he can feel blood coming out from his nose, but he doesn’t give up. He immediately stands up to walk again but the number of the gang members keep growing and growing. Jongin tries to walk forward again but the gang member keeps hitting him in the chest, in the stomach..
“NYAH!”
Nyah? Why does a gang member sounds like a baby?
Jongin feels himself rise into consciousness and he tries to move but there’s weight on his stomach preventing him to do so. His eyes are still blurry and the bright sunrays coming from between the curtain is blinding he closes his eyes again. The source of weight lost for a moment before it is back again, with the same “NYAH!” and two lighter weights planted on his chest.
He pops one eyes open, now his sight is clearer, and greeted with the sight of grinning Taeoh sitting on his stomach, two arms supporting his body on Jongin’s chest. Taeoh looks so excited for Saturday morning and looks even more so when he notices that his father is awake.
“Good job on waking up your daddy, Taeoh” Jongin hears Sehun says from the other side of the room. He wants to tilt his head to see Sehun but Taeoh places his hands on both of Jongin’s cheeks each, mashing them together and holding Jongin’s face in place. Taeoh giggles at his duck face.
“Yweou likwet iwt?” Taeoh only giggles more.
Jongin places his hand on Taeoh’s sides and lifts him as he sits up. The baby lets out an excited squeal when Jongin pecks him a good morning kiss.
“Did you get a good sleep?”
“NYAH!” Jongin smiles proudly. Taeoh is starting to show efforts to talk, even if what he said are still incoherent and all baby mumbles. But it’s a step. Jongin can’t wait until he can hear Taeoh calls him ‘dad’. Or maybe his first word can be 'Jongin'. Or maybe it will only be ‘Jong’ or ‘In’ he won’t mind it at all.
“Now, Taeoh, say ‘Appa’?”
Jongin is in the middle of teaching Taeoh to call him dad when Sehun barges into the room once again, clad in apron and spatula in one hand.
“Attention boys! Breakfast is ready! Now who wants pancakes?”
PART 2