Love Contract | haobin

Twenty-Seven

Hanbin puts Zhang Hao down and Hao looks at him nervously. "Is that not a good idea?"

Hanbin really didn't expect Zhang Hao to bring this up first, so he's at loss for words. "I know adopting Yujin was a part of our deal and it was a win-win situation...." Zhang Hao starts. "So I know that adopting Gunwook might be a little more serious since it won't be part of a contract anymore..." Zhang Hao feels his face heating up and doesn't know what to say. Maybe he shouldn't have brought this up. Was this even a good idea? "Sorry... maybe it wasn't a good idea."

"No, don't apologize, Hao." Hanbin takes his hand in his. "I'm just a little surprised since you brought it up first. I had been thinking about that ever since I saw Gunwook again at the park that day. I just didn't know how to bring it up."

"Really?" Hao asks, a little relieved since he was starting to worry over Hanbin's reaction. "Why didn't you just tell me? Is that why you've been so distracted these days?"

"I guess so." Hanbin nods. "I tried to hide it, but I guess it was too hard to pretend nothing was bothering me. I did want to bring it up to you, but since we just officially got together recently, I wasn't sure if you'd be okay with it."

"You've helped me out a lot with Yujin. Yeah, at first it was a win-win situation, but you really didn't have to do any of this. At first it was all part of a contract, but you've still treated Yujin like your son since you first met him. I'll always be really thankful towards you for how much you've helped us. I'd also like to help you out in a every way I can. Plus, Gunwook is your brother and he seems like a really nice boy. I think adopting him would be really good for all of us, including Yujin."

"You have no idea how happy this makes me." Hanbin can't help but smile. "I'm so relieved you're okay with all of this... But unfortunately, whether we can adopt him or not, is not up to us."

"What do you mean?" Zhang Hao frowns, but then realizes what he means. "Oh... his father, right?"

"Yeah... we can't adopt Gunwook if he doesn't give us permission to do so."

"Can't we try talking to him? If he doesn't even care about him, why can't he just let us adopt him?"

"Some people are just evil, Hao."

"Why can't everyone just be a good person?" Zhang Hao sighs. "Who do people have kids if they're not going to care about them?" He feels his eyes watering when he sees how happy Gunwook looks right now even though he's not living a good life. Hao relates a lot to Gunwook. His parents never cared about him, but he'd still pretend to be fine. He was lucky to have such a loving aunt that actually cared about him, but he doesn't know what would've happened if he didn't.

Hanbin pulls him in for a hug and rubs his back, realizing Zhang Hao is talking from experience. Zhang Hao doesn't talk about his parents at all now, but Hanbin remembers when he talked about them the first time they met for the contract.

"Yeah, you're right, Hao. Some people shouldn't be parents. Your parents don't deserve to call you their son. Even though they treated you like that, you grew up to be such a good and kindhearted person. I'm glad your aunt and her husband took you in. I'm really thankful towards them for giving my Hao a loving home."

"You still remember everything I told you about my parents?" Zhang Hao pulls away from the hug and looks at Hanbin with watery eyes.

"Of course. You thought I'd forget about it?" Hanbin smiles. "I was paying really close attention to everything you were telling me that day. We were getting married soon after all."

-

Gyuvin tries calling Ricky again, but there's no answer. He hasn't been able to reach him since the last time they talked. All Ricky told him was that he sent him a letter, but he didn't say what was written on it. He hasn't been showing up for work either and Gyuvin is really worried.