Stray kids brothers

Concert over school

Ju Won had not expected to get a call ten minutes before going to get the boys from school. He was not used to only having to get the younger boys but he was trying. Minho or Changbin sometimes drove their brothers home but on the days that they both had activities right after school, Ju Won had to get them. 

"Hello, Mrs. Lee. I was just on my way to get the boys" Ju Won grabbed his keys and walked out the door.

"Oh! Well, I was just calling to make sure that Hyunjin, Felix, Jisung and Seungmin were feeling better. I was so sorry to hear that they had gotten sick" Mrs. Lee, the school secretary, changed her tone. At first she sounded surprised but then she was just sympathetic. 

"I was not aware that they were sick. I sent them all to school this morning" Ju Won responded. It was quiet for a moment and he could hear paper rustling on the other side. Oh no.

"Mr. Bahng, we have a note from you right here saying that Bahng Hyunjin, Bahng Jisung, Bahng Felix and Bahng Seungmin were excused from school for the next two days, possibly more, due to a sudden cold" The woman repeated. 

"I assure you, Mrs. Lee, I did not write any note. Please excuse them from school today and if you don't mind, have their teachers gather any work they missed from today. I will have one of my older boys pick it up before they leave" Ju Won insisted, having no idea what she was talking about but beginning to piece it together. 

"Of course, Mr. Bahng. I am sorry for the trouble" She said hurriedly and then hung up. Ju Won slid his phone into his jacket and went to get Jeongin from school. 

"Hi dad!" Jeongin noticed right away that his brothers were not in the car so he claimed the front seat. Ju Won noticed. Normally, even if Jeongin got outside first, he never got in the front because he would get kicked to the back. 

"Did you have a good day?" Ju Won decided for the time being not to mention it. He was beginning to suspect that Jeongin knew that his older brothers had skipped school. 

"Yeah, it was amazing! Beomie and I got partnered for a project and I got to sit with the popular kid because...never mind!" Jeongin was smiling then it faded and was back again within the span of three seconds. Ju Won said nothing. 

"That sounds good. Do you need help with your project?" Ju Won questioned. Jeongin didn't get the chance to answer. 

"Maybe you can ask one of your brothers. When they get home, of course" Ju Won hinted. Jeongin was quiet again, looking at his hands in his lap.

"Are they walking home?" He tried to play it cool but his voice shook. 

"I guess so. Their still not out here so we might as well go. I'll text them that they will have to walk home or wait for one of your brothers" Ju Won nodded, driving away. It would do the boys some good to walk and have time to think about their actions. He also texted Changbin to pick up Hyunjin, Jisung, Felix and Seungmin's work from the front office before he left. 

Jeongin was sitting at the table with his homework spread out in front of him and Ju Won was preparing dinner when the door opened and the four middle kids walked in. They were laughing and talking excitedly. Ju Won caught a few words like 'concert' and 'so much fun'. He knew where they had gone. When they entered the kitchen, Jeongin motioned for them to not say anything and be careful but they missed the underlying meaning. 

"Hey boys, did you have a good day?" Ju Won tried to not let on that he knew. 

"It was good. Class was boring" Jisung sat down, crossing his hands behind his head. Jeongin laid his head on the table, giving up in trying to warn his brothers. 

"Oh really? Well, why don't you get cleaned up. Changbin should be home soon with your homework" Ju Won kept his back turned, listening to the silence that followed. Finally, after realizing it was too quiet, he turned around to face his middle sons.