a little more

chapter 16

It wasn't easy.

Taeil fixed the white ribbon on Haru's black hanbok. He takes a deep breath as he takes Haru's hands and leads her into the funeral venue, where her grandpa and grandma, whom she never saw in her whole life, cremation.

Closer to the bouquet of flowers there were pictures of Taeyong's parents smiling as if they never did anything wrong in their life. Taeyong in his black suit was looking aimlessly in front of him. His face was bloated and his eyes were red. There were few distant families who came to pay respect. Taeil asked Haru to stand by his side to pay respect to Taeil's foster parents.

Upon knowing that Politician Lee passed away, Mrs. Lee decided to take her own life because she didn't want to take responsibility for what her husband had done. It was shocking news creating even more scandal. There is a policeman waiting outside the building, Taeil, and Taeyong's account was freeze for investigation purposes.

They were given chance to take care of the funeral.

After bowing, Haru reached out for Taeil's hands immediately. Taeil take a deep breath, and walked to Taeyong's side. Mr. and Mrs. Lee is his parents too after all, and Taeyong is his best friend. Taeyong lift up his head to look at Taeil, his chin crumpling as he tried to hold on his tears.

Taeil reached out to hug Taeyong, patting his back softly. Taeyong let out a muffled tear, trembling in Taeil's hold, hiding his face in the crook of Taeil's neck.

"Shh, everything will be okay," Taeil said softly.

"Don't leave me,"

"I won't,"

Not sure how many hours had it pass, Doyoung suddenly in between them – separating his husbands from one another while carrying Haru. The big girl didn't even cry and patiently waited for Taeil and Taeyong by their side.

Taeyong's parents' death ceremony was by the side of Doyoung's father's cremation.

"Let's get something to eat," Doyoung said, putting his arm around Taeyong's waist. Taeil picked Haru off from Doyoung. The younger man questions Taeil with his eyes, but seems like Taeil doesn't understand it, "Let's eat," He repeated looking at Taeil's eyes without blinking.

"You guys can go; I'll wait here with Haru."

"Haru hasn't eaten," Doyoung told Taeil, he was so tired and his tone sounds unkind. It kind of scared Taeil a bit but he didn't to be seen in public with Taeyong and Doyoung.. Haru.. Taeil knows it's so impropriate to think about this when there is a bigger matter to think about right now but... it's just.. not easy to ignore Taeyong's statement that he is Haru's father.

"We will go after you guys,"

Doyoung takes a deep breath, his hold on Taeyong's waist tightened. He should take care of Taeyong-Taeil-Haru's matter better but he just can't think of a better way – everything is stressing him out with his father passing away and the sudden board meeting and the scandal effecting the company stock. With his in-law passing away, Taeyong knowing the truth.

Everything is so hard for Doyoung to take care of alone. He shouldn't complain because he was the one forcing marriage to Taeil and he knows, and he is well aware that Taeil felt the loss, as much as Taeyong did but Doyoung was hoping that Taeil will just ignore everything for a while. For Taeyong. At least until they are don't with the funeral and out from where everyone is watching them.

Compared to Taeyong, Taeil is stubborn; very difficult to go through. So many times, Doyoung let Taeil do his own things because he wants to give Taeil space, he tried to respect Taeil's privacy – but right now, Doyoung wishes Taeil to be more emphatic with Taeyong. It will make Taeyong sad, his parents just passed away and now his best friend is trying to put a gap between them.