It all started with small things barely noticeable at first. Wonwoo had always been the quieter parent, allowing Mingyu to take the lead in most decisions, especially regarding their eleven sons. Jeonghan had always required extra care and attention, and over time, the focus naturally shifted towards him. Wonwoo and Mingyu had fallen into a pattern where everything seemed to revolve around ensuring Jeonghan was happy and comfortable, leaving little space for their other children especially Joshua.
One evening, as Wonwoo sat by the living room window, a nagging thought crossed his mind. Joshua had been coming home much later than usual for the past few weeks. Wonwoo hadn't noticed it right away, but recently, Joshua's quiet presence had become even quieter. He wasn't around as much, wasn't as involved in family conversations, and had started eating dinner alone in his room.
A pang of guilt hit Wonwoo. When was the last time he had actually talked to Joshua? Asked him how he was doing? The thought unsettled him, and he realized it had been far too long. Maybe Joshua had been busy with university, or maybe there was something else going on that he hadn't noticed. Wonwoo brushed the thoughts aside initially, assuming it was just Joshua's introverted nature. But something inside him felt off.
One day, while preparing breakfast, Wonwoo caught a glimpse of Joshua leaving the house earlier than usual. His movements were hurried, as if he was trying to avoid being seen. Wonwoo thought nothing of it at first, but the seed of curiosity was planted. He watched as the rest of the family came down for breakfast, chattering away happily as if nothing was wrong. .
Wonwoo's eyes drifted to Joshua's empty chair. Why had Joshua left so early? Something didn't sit right with him, and for the first time in a long while, Wonwoo decided to pay closer attention to his youngest son.
The next few days, Wonwoo quietly observed Joshua. He began noticing things he hadn't seen before the way Joshua seemed to avoid his brothers, the way he sat at the far end of the dining table, barely speaking unless spoken to. While the other brothers laughed and chatted, Joshua stayed silent, his eyes downcast and his shoulders tense.
Wonwoo started feeling uneasy. He couldn't help but wonder if they had been so focused on Jeonghan that they had overlooked Joshua entirely. The thought made him feel sick. He decided to keep a closer eye on Joshua, not wanting to jump to conclusions without knowing the full picture.
A few days later, Wonwoo was driving back from the grocery store when he happened to pass by a small café near the university. His eyes widened in surprise when he saw Joshua through the window, standing behind the counter, serving drinks to customers. Wonwoo quickly parked the car, his heart pounding in his chest. Why was Joshua working at a part-time job? Did he need money? Why hadn't Joshua told them?
He stood outside for a few moments, watching as Joshua worked tirelessly, greeting customers with a polite smile. But Wonwoo could see the exhaustion in his son's eyes, the way his movements were slower than usual, as if he hadn't been sleeping well. Joshua had always been a hard worker, but this-this was different. Why was his son working so hard when he should have been focusing on his studies?
Confused and deeply troubled, Wonwoo decided to talk to Mingyu about it that evening.
Later that night, after the kids had gone to bed, Wonwoo sat down with Mingyu in the living room. His mind was racing with everything he had observed about Joshua.
"Mingyu," Wonwoo began cautiously, "have you noticed anything strange about Joshua lately?"
Mingyu, who was flipping through a magazine, looked up in mild confusion. "Strange? No, not really. Why?"
Wonwoo hesitated before continuing. "He's been coming home late... and I saw him working at a café today."
Mingyu frowned. "Working? Joshua? But why? He doesn't need to work. We give the kids enough pocket money, don't we?"
