Complete

12: Garden

"How come you all are here?"

Gulf entered the dining hall, surprised by the sight of his seven brothers sitting amongst the children.

"We heard about the mysterious person who is coming to the orphanage. Lin Yi, Weizhou and I recognised him. So our interests perked and we came here." Jaebeom smirked, sitting back in his chair.

"We have to see if he will hurt you baby boy." Sung Hoon pretended to clean his nails, cracking his knuckles.

Tom smacked his husband. "Don't be so menacing."

"But our Gulfie~"

"Gulf will always be our baby boy." Huang Jingyu and Jaebeom nodded, their arms folded across their chest.

"Let the man sit down already. You all are frightening him." Jackson, Jaebeom's husband, laughed at Mew's stunned expression.

"Well he deserves it. He hugged Gulf while they slept." Weizhou, Jingyu's husband, threw daggers at Mew with his eyes.

"Better than the time we caught you making out with Jingyu on the bed at the pet clinic." Lin Yi smirked.

Thank goodness we are sitting at a separate table from the kids. This is so inappropriate. Gulf mentally face-palmed.

"Language Lin Yi!" The rest of the brothers retorted, Lin Yi putting his hands with an apologetic smile.

"I need my daily dose of my husband! If not, how do you think I can survive under Jaebeom's hellish training?" Weizhou shamelessly justified himself.

"Looks like you want your training to be even tougher?" Jaebeom stared at Weizhou coldly, causing Weizhou to seek shelter behind Jingyu.

"Jaebeom, let's eat! I am so hungry!" Jackson exclaimed excitedly, dishing out the pasta onto his and Jaebeom's bowl.

"Okay love." Jaebeom smiled lovingly at Jackson before taking over and scooping more pasta for Jackson.

Jackson winked at Weizhou who silently thanked him, kowtowing a few times.

Mew sat beside Gulf, smiling amusedly at the scene before him.

"Welcome to my crazy family Mew." Gulf gestured to his brothers.

"Well it is interesting." Mew laughed, dishing out some pasta for Gulf.

"Other than our other brother who has urgent work, we welcome you to the family Mew!" Tom smiled, stuffing Sung Hoon's (his husband) mouth with more pasta to save everyone from listening to Sung Hoon's protests.

Sung Hoon quickly chewed his food before he could finally talk. "But if you hurt our Gulf, just know that you wouldn't be dealing with only us." Sung Hoon growled, coldly gazing at Mew.

"I will never do that. Gulf is precious to me too." Mew smiled at Sung Hoon, unfazed.

Trapped in between Sung Hoon and Mew, Gulf shivered under the cold atmosphere.

These alpha males...

Not being able to stand it a second longer, Gulf stuffed Mew's mouth with a spoon full of pasta, Mew's eyes widening. Nodding to Tom, Gulf gestured for Tom to stuff Sung Hoon with more pasta.

"I cooked this pasta so you all better finish it before it turns cold. Understand?" Sung Hoon and Mew nodded their mouths full of pasta, like hamsters.

Sung Hoon and Mew had their heads cast down as they whimpered.

Gulf swore he could see two wolves with their ears drooped down.

He could only sigh at their childish antics. Shaking his head, Gulf smiled and patted their heads.

"Good. Don't quarrel and eat."

Mew and Sung Hoon brightened and nodded eagerly, digging into the pasta.

The rest of the brothers just laughed at how Gulf easily bossed the two around.

---

After Mew toured the orphanage, he was captured by the children to go and play with them.

Gulf sat back and let the happiness soak right into his bones. He wanted the feeling to still be there when he was old. Gazing tenderly at the scene of Mew playing with the children, Gulf savoured the moment.

"Gulf! What are you doing sitting down? Come play with us!"

Mew flopped down on the grass beside him, propping his elbow up as he faced Gulf.

"You guys go ahead. The cooling shade under the tree is too nice to pass up." Gulf retorted, folding his arms and resting his head on them.

"What do you think guys? Do you think we should leave Gulf here?" Mew winked at the children cheekily.

"No!" The children smiled back mischievously. Heather, Jayden and Noah gesticulated silently with their little arms, motioning for Mew to lift Gulf up.

Mew nodded. Saluting the children, he put his finger to his lips to quieten them down.

Gulf peeked open one of his eyes, wondering why it is so quiet. His questions were so answered as Mew hoisted Gulf over his shoulder.

Gulf found himself upside-down, face to face with the children who crowded around him. Their cheeky faces came into his view, peppering Gulf's face with kisses.

Gulf burst out in laughter, pretending to fend off the incoming kisses. With Gulf flailing around, Mew lost his grip on Gulf for a split second.

With his fast reflexes, Mew swept Gulf onto him, Gulf landing on top of him while his back landed on the grass.

Opening his eyes, Mew found himself inches away from Gulf's face.

Both felt each other's erratic heartbeats, their breaths mingling, their eyes only reflecting each other.

"Kiss! Kiss!"

The children's chants broke Mew and Gulf out of their daze.

Getting up quickly, they swept the grass off themselves, looking everywhere except each other.

"Who taught you what is a kiss?" Gulf tickled Colten who chanted the loudest.

"Big brother Jaebeom! We saw him kiss big brother Jackson.

When we wanted to do that to big brother Jackson, big brother Jaebeom didn't allow us.

He said that only he can kiss big brother Jackson because him and big brother Jackson are lovers." Jayden chirped, sitting on the grass.

"But big brother Mew and I aren't lovers." Gulf tilted his head, confused.

"Not yet Gulf. But we will soon." Mew smiled teasingly.

Jayden and Noah high-fived Mew at his guts.

The children surrounded Gulf with oohs and aahs, applauding loudly. Gulf stood in the middle, his face buried in his hands, his ears tinted red.

"Aww are you shy baby?" Mew whispered into Gulf's ear, loud enough for the children to hear.

"Mew!" Gulf chased Mew around the garden, Mew laughing as the children ran after them.