Innocence Sold(Sope)

2~ A Day of Togetherness

Authors pov

Hoseok woke up groggily, the bright morning sunlight streaming through the thin curtains of their small apartment. He had spent the night beside Namjoon at the hospital, his mind racing with worries about how he would manage to pay for the bills. Exhausted from the stress, he had finally decided to leave Namjoon in the care of the hospital staff, hoping that some rest would help him think more clearly.

Today was a rare free day from work, and with no classes to attend—having dropped out of college to care for his siblings—Hoseok knew he needed to make the most of it. He shuffled through his morning routine, his movements automatic as he brushed his teeth and dressed in the cleanest clothes he had.

The apartment was quiet, the only sounds were the distant hum of the city and the soft coos of his younger siblings still sleeping. Hoseok took a deep breath, mentally preparing himself for the day ahead. He approached the nursery where Jin, Jimin, Taehyung, and Jungkook were still nestled on his bed.

“Good morning, little ones,” he murmured, his voice tender as he gently shook each of them awake.

Jin, rubbing his eyes with tiny fists, mumbled, “Hyung… why wake us up?”

Hoseok smiled softly. “We need to get ready for the day. Come on, up and at ‘em!”

Jimin, the two-year-old with a mischievous grin, protested, “No bath, Hyung! No bath!”

Taehyung and Jungkook, both barely understanding but following their older siblings’ lead, echoed Jimin’s sentiments with a chorus of whines. “No! No!”

Hoseok chuckled as he gathered them into his arms. “I know, I know. Bath time is no fun, but we have to do it.”

In the tiny bathroom, Hoseok set up the baby tub, filling it with warm water. He tried to make the experience as enjoyable as possible, adding a few floating toys and singing silly songs to lighten the mood.

“Who wants to splash?” Hoseok asked, his tone playful as he held up a small rubber duck.

Jin, still half-asleep, peeked at the duck and gave a small, hesitant smile. “Me… splash.”

Hoseok carefully placed Jin into the tub, followed by Jimin, Taehyung, and Jungkook, each one making faces at the water. He gently washed their hair, trying to distract them with stories and gentle splashes.

“Splash, splash, splash!” Jimin exclaimed, his arms flailing as he tried to catch the bubbles. “More!”

Taehyung, with his characteristic curiosity, poked at the water, his eyes wide with fascination. “Water, water!”

Hoseok tried to keep up with their chatter, his heart warmed by their innocent joy. “Yes, it’s water. Look how it makes bubbles!”

Jin’s little voice piped up from the tub. “Hyung, where’s Namjoon?”

Hoseok’s smile faltered slightly, but he quickly recovered. “Namjoon went to visit some distant relatives, but he’ll be back soon. Let’s make today special, okay?”

As he finished up the bath, Hoseok played with them, letting them splash and giggle. “All clean! Now, let’s get you dressed and ready for some fun!”

With clean, happy babies in tow, Hoseok set up a small play area in the living room. He spread out a blanket and brought out a few toys and books, trying to make the space as inviting as possible. The morning light filled the room, casting a warm glow over their makeshift play area.

The four little ones were quickly absorbed in the toys, their earlier protests forgotten. Hoseok watched them, his heart aching but also swelling with love. He played along, reading them stories and pretending to be various characters, his speech matching their own as they tried to mimic him.

“Hyung… funny!” Jimin giggled as Hoseok made a silly face, his laughter filling the room.

“Yeah, funny!” Taehyung agreed, clapping his hands.

Jin, still occasionally glancing towards the bedroom where Namjoon had been, leaned close to Hoseok. “Hyung… we make Namjoon happy?”

Hoseok nodded, brushing a stray lock of hair from Jin’s face. “Yes, we will. He’ll be happy to see us having fun.”

As the morning turned to afternoon, Hoseok continued to engage them, trying to make them forget the worries that hung over their lives. They played, laughed, and bonded in their small apartment, creating a precious sense of normalcy amidst the chaos.

By the time the sun began to set, Hoseok felt a mix of exhaustion and contentment. He had managed to give his siblings a day of joy, even if just for a little while. As he prepared to make dinner, he looked at the four little faces filled with happiness and knew that, despite everything, he was doing his best for them.

Hoseok held each of his siblings in his arms, the quiet hum of their laughter a small but significant comfort. “We’ll get through this,” he whispered, his voice filled with determination and hope.