Somebody Take Me Home

III

Seonghwa set another bunch of meat skewers to cook, and looked briefly behind his back where his boys were eating their fill on the kitchen table. He liked the new dynamism that the children had developed together now that Yeosang had come into their lives.

The new kid was still very quiet but Seonghwa had noticed new face expressions - new types of enthusiastic nods, little smiles and, once, a soft chuckle. They were indeed making progress, although Yeosang's starting high school had somehow stressed him out a bit, it seemed.

"San-ah, plate," Yunho asked with a hand motion, as he was in charge of serving food at dinner that night. "Do you also want vegetables?"

"You know I hate vegetables."

"You'll take some anyway," Seonghwa said without turning around. "Everybody eats vegetables in my house."

Yunho giggled and added French beans onto the young man's plate. San grimaced and looked with an air of disgust at his food, crossing his arms on his chest. Yeosang was eating silently, intently watching Jongho feeding baby Mingi. He was eating mash potato, or, rather, he was spreading mash potato all over his face.

Seonghwa finally brought the cooked skewers to the table and San quickly dived for the meat. The adult sat with them, taking his apron off, and only just beginning to eat. He checked on Mingi, who was eating well as Jongho was very serious about his feeding the baby, and then asked Yeosang, "So, how do you find high school? You've been going for a few days already."

Yeosang stopped chewing on his food and quickly glanced at Yunho. The boy was staring at him worriedly. But Yeosang discreetly shook his head in his direction. He did not want Seonghwa to know how things were going at school, how he had been bugged from day one by older students, how everybody seemed to find him weird or to treat him like a freak.

Yunho had seen it all. He was actually quite popular at high school, being part of the basketball team and all. When Yunho had tried to intervene, they had only become harsher on Yeosang. Seonghwa did not need to worry about him more than he already did. So he put on a small smile and nodded to the adult.

Yeosang stole a glance at Yunho, who was looking quite helpless, and frowned to him. Then, San, who undoubtedly felt a bit left out, said oud lout, "I'm sure Yeosang's getting the best grades, he totally looks like a teacher's pet. With all his personal problems and his angel face. I guess girls like that too. You know, the loser type."

"Sannie, please," Seonghwa interrupted calmly. "You know it's not the way it is."

Yeosang had resumed eating, trying to ignore the smaller boy. But San would not drop the subject. "Oh it is. The problematic kids are always the most interesting. That's why you have five." Seonghwa glared at San, who smiled defiantly. "You just want us because you want to feel good about helping poor little children, that's it. That's how much you care, all of you."

Seonghwa had taken a deep breath and was pointing his finger at the boy in front of him. "Stop it, now."

San narrowed his eyes, seemingly enjoying the confrontation, and finally said, getting up, "Okay, I'll stop. I'm going to Wooyoung's anyway."

"You're not going anywhere, young man," Seonghwa replied sharply.

"Fine," San mumbled, rolling his eyes. "I apologise for telling you some home truths you're desperately trying to hide to yourself, and I'm going to Wooyoung's, I'll be back tomorrow."

"You are not."

Yunho and Jongho had stopped moving when they heard Seonghwa's harsh tone. He rarely raised his voice. But when he did, it was mainly against San and it almost never went well.