Somebody Take Me Home

VIII

Seonghwa walked Mrs Kim to the door with a bright smile. "Thank you, Mr Park," she said, turning around on the porch. "I believe Yeosang's integration in your family is going quite well. I wasn't convinced during my first two visits, but it seems he's doing perfectly okay now. Any problems to report?"

Seonghwa closed the front door and looked back at the woman from Social Services. "Nothing in the past six months, since he tried to run away."

"Good. Well, Mr Park, let's keep in touch."

They shook hands and the woman walked back to her car. Seonghwa got back inside to check on the kitchen where Yeosang was baking a cake all on his own, stealing glances from time to time to Mingi who was eating in his high chair.

"Everything okay, you two?"

The teenager nodded enthusiastically. He had just put the cake into the oven and was washing the dishes. "Oh, let me do that, darling," Seonghwa intervened, replacing the boy near the sink. "You can set the table, if you like. They'll be here any time now."

Yeosang dried his hands, gave a kiss to Mingi, and opened the cupboard where the plates were stored. The house had been unusually quiet for a few months, since Yunho and Jongho had left. Seonghwa had helped them find a small place that was not too far from his own. They only had to take the bus to visit. They had come at least once a week since they had moved out.

Seonghwa had transformed the brothers' room into a proper bedroom for Mingi who was growing faster than ever, and learning new words every day. Yeosang's bedroom had been similarly rearranged, now that only one bed was needed.

"Hongjoong-ssi and his boys will be a bit late," Seonghwa told Yeosang as he looked at a text message.

Indeed, after the incident in the supermarket and after Yeosang's crisis, Hongjoong had suggested that San come and live with him and Wooyoung, permanently. It had torn Seonghwa's heart to let one more of his boys go, but he knew that being officially adopted by Hongjoong would be the happiest thing to ever happen in San's life.

And seeing San coming out of his new home with a big smile every day of the week, hearing his laughter in the garden when he played with his best friend, that was worth more than anything else in the world to Seonghwa. Hongjoong still brought the boys over for tea time every day or so, and San was always adorably polite and lovely with him. Being away had made them closer.

The doorbell rang, and Seonghwa half ran to open it. Yunho and Jongho were standing on the porch, the former, his hair now blue, was holding flowers, the latter a box of chocolates. Each was wearing a radiant smile and a nice, clean shirt. "My boys," Seonghwa whispered happily, going immediately for a big hug.

"How are you, Seonghwa-ssi?" Yunho asked, entering the house after his once guardian. "Hi there, Yeosang-ah!"

The other teenager bowed slightly at them while putting the cutlery on the table. The boys kissed Mingi as Seonghwa fetched a vase for the flowers. "He's all grown up now!" Yunho commented. "Ain't you all grown up, Mingi-yah?"

"Yunho and Jongho back!" Mingi twittered, raising his spoon. "Mingi very happy!"

"And he talks so well," Jongho cooed, petting the baby's hair. Yeosang adjusted his bib and wiped his mouth which was full of tomato sauce. "Are you taking good care of him, hyung?"

Yeosang nodded and Mingi supplied, "Mingi love Yeosang."

They all laughed, even Yeosang. He rarely produced a sound, but ever since he had been alone with Mingi, he had begun to feel more comfortable. He had begun to want to engage with the world and people around him, to be actually noticed and loved.

The doorbell rang again and they all turned to look as Seonghwa emerged from the living-room to open the front door. Hongjoong was standing there, Wooyoung and San on each side of him, holding drinks. "Hello, beautiful," the red-haired man said with a grin.

Seonghwa naturally leaned forward to kiss him on the mouth. It made Yunho smile fondly, but the other kids grimaced out of disgust. "Ew, dad!" Wooyoung mumbled.

"Say hello to Seonghwa-ssi instead of complaining," Hongjoong said while entering the house.

Seonghwa hugged the ten-year-old boy, and remained stooping as San was jumping in his arms to embrace him tightly. "I'm so glad to see you, little man," Seonghwa said softly. "How is it at Hongjoong-ssi's?"

"Just perfect," San replied in his ear. They parted slightly and he added with a smile, "But I like to come back here from time to time. I know I can always call your place home if I feel the need to."

"Of course you can."

Seonghwa got up and led the neighbours to the kitchen where they bowed to the other children. He had everyone sit and served the delicious meal he had spent the morning cooking with Yeosang's help.

San and Wooyoung started by speaking about their school, now that they had just entered secondary school. Jongho was looking at them with big bright eyes, considering that he was still in elementary school, wishing he could grow faster and join his friends.

Yunho eventually turned towards Yeosang. "What about you? Everything good?" He displayed a kind, interested smile, masking his genuine worry. He had seen Yeosang being bullied too many times to believe everything had stopped the day Yunho had graduated.

Yeosang shrugged, but gave him a reassuring smile. "Seonghwa-ssi was telling me you brought good grades home." This had his friend blush faintly. "I'm glad you finally feel like fitting in a bit more. Apparently, you've been great here. With cooking and with Mingi-yah in particular."

Yeosang threw a look at the baby who was sitting in his high chair next to him. Mingi had become the apple of his eyes, the reason he woke up every day and the reason why he felt a tiny bit of hope for himself in the future. He wanted to give Mingi the childhood he never had. He wanted him to have that childhood for them two.

"Yeosang nice," Mingi giggled, pointing at the older boy. This made Seonghwa and Hongjoong look fondly at each other. "Yeosang cook," Mingi continued. "Yeosang love Mingi."

The boy smiled even more. He would get better. He would try. For Mingi. For Seonghwa. And for himself.

"Yes, little brother," Yeosang said in a clear, blooming voice.