𝐧𝐲𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐚 ✓ | ˢᵉᵘˡʳᵉⁿᵉ

41

(Orphanage - an hour ago)

"Unnie, I'm hungry. When will Seulgi unnie come?" Yujin tugged the tip of Shuhua's sleeve who was busy surfing through channels. The older turned to face the younger and pat her head gently. "She will be here soon, just wait. There are crackers on the table if you're already hungry." The innocent girl flashed a smile before moving her tiny feet to the snack.

"JENO, STOP TELLING SEONGMIN IT'S OKAY TO BE NAKED AFTER HIS SHOWER! HE'S SEVEN!"

Yiren put her palms on her face to cover her holy eyes. The called boy fetched a towel and chased after Seongmin, guess Dongpyo had to mop the floor again today. With Sunmi not being around, they were being chaotic all evening, well even if their caretaker was there nothing drastic would change anyway.

The older ones were internally hoping Seulgi would knock at the door any minute now, bringing maybe a few boxes of fresh pizzas. Besides the sole reason that they were starving, the children had been rummaging all the shelves for any sign of food. Minutes passed by and still no Seulgi, at least Yujin had fallen asleep and Seongmin was fully dressed by now.

'Knock knock'

As usual, Beomgyu would be the first kid to stand by the door followed by Hyunjin to give a helping hand. He turned the doorknob open.

"Hey kids."

The others perked up at the sound, their unnie never talked. Beomgyu scanned the two suspicious men standing outside wearing baseball caps and black hoodies. Hyunjin pulled him back instinctively before asking, "Who are you?" The tall figures intimidatingly barged in without permission making them walked back joining the others.

All of them went silent, only hearing their own pumping heart. The tensed air didn't last as one of the men stepped on a lego and winced in pain. His cap fell over showing the swaying pinkish hair. The taller had to elbow him, coughing awkwardly. "Baekhyun! Stop failing our entrance."

"Bitch, I'm trying." He paid no attention and tried his best to act tough again which anyone would know it failed miserably. He gave up and walked outside, letting the bigger man, Chanyeol, watched over the kids while twirling the small button in his hand giving a clear signal of 'try-anything-stupid-and-kaboom'.

"Gather everyone here."

The kids felt helpless at the threat, where were Seulgi and Sunmi when they need them. It was no coincidence; it was a detailed evil plan well executed. Once they all stood together – sleeping Yujin on Shuhua's arm – Chanyeol collected their phones then lead them outside. They had no choice but to follow.

Two vans or more like cargo cars were parked there, one had a large ice cream and cake poster on the sides while cookie jars filled the other's wall. A perfect disguise. By now, Yujin had woken up and Baekhyun had returned to the group dragging a wobbling woman in his clutch. "Sunmi unnie!" The kids called and called her name repeatedly, some even tried to make a run. Of course, Chanyeol easily blocked them, waving the button in front of their pitiful faces if he would describe them.

"You wanna see her go boom boom pow?"

They realized what he meant and became silent. Those children were like newborn hatchlings in the cruel world, ready to watch their mommy hen get chopped off by heartless butchers, well in this case, explode into chunks. They burst out in tears the moment Baekhyun pointed a knife at her neck. Sunmi lifted her head with her last bit of energy and gave a small smile with thousands of meanings.

The sky turned gloomy all of a sudden, as if God knew all about the sorrowful event. Drizzling rain fell becoming one with tears that flowed down like a stream of river, she couldn't see them grew up, she couldn't see them achieve their dreams, she couldn't be a motherly figure for them and let them go when they became adults, living their own happy lives. That was it, she failed. Sunmi gathered her courage, looking at them one by one for the last time.

"Don't cry kids, you've grown up well. Always stay together and listen to Seulgi unnie 'kay."

Chanyeol told Baekhyun to bring her elsewhere and started hurdling the kids into the vans, separating the boys and girls. Bystanders and the neighbors who had been too scared to do anything silently tapped on their phones. Once all of their tasks were finished, Chanyeol messaged someone.

'Orphanage team done.'