The En- Hearthrob😏 Toddlers👶

~29~

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The boys’ uneasiness had been growing steadily since Ms. Hyejin’s arrival, but by the second day, their discomfort had turned into genuine fear. The moment Heeseung had left, the once-sweet babysitter had dropped her cheerful façade, revealing a stern, angry woman who seemed irritated by their very presence.

“Listen up,” she snapped on her first morning with them, standing over them with a harsh glare. “I don’t have time for whining or nonsense, so here’s the deal: you do exactly as I say, and we won’t have a problem. But if any of you step out of line, there will be consequences. Understood?”

The boys exchanged worried looks but nodded. None of them dared speak up, their spirits already crushed by her sudden change in attitude. Jake looked down, feeling the weight of the babysitter’s sharp gaze pressing down on him.

Sunoo, usually the first to make a joke or try to lighten the mood, stayed quiet, his usual glow dimmed to a worried frown. Jungwon clung tightly to his plushie, glancing nervously between his brothers. Sunghoon, who rarely showed fear, stayed close to Ni-ki and Jay, his expression stoic but tense.

For the rest of that day, Ms. Hyejin barely acknowledged them. She spent her time sprawled out on the couch, scrolling through her phone with a bored look on her face, her fingers tapping away at the screen. If any of them tried to ask her for a snack or even some water, she would snap, rolling her eyes and muttering under her breath as she got up, slamming cupboards and muttering things like, “Ugh, why are kids so needy?”

The meals she prepared were thrown together carelessly—plain bread with a single slice of cheese, or a small scoop of rice without anything else. If any of them dared to mention they were still hungry, she’d give them a long, cold look that made them instantly regret saying anything.

Jake, always the bold one, had tried to ask her politely if they could have something more for dinner the first night.

“Excuse me, Ms. Hyejin, but, um… do you think we could maybe have some more?” he asked timidly, his tone soft.

Hyejin’s eyes narrowed. She leaned down, bringing her face close to Jake’s. “You think I’m here to wait on you hand and foot, kid? You eat what I give you, and you don’t complain. Got it?”

Jake nodded quickly, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment and a tinge of anger. The other boys exchanged looks, but none of them dared to say anything.

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By the second day, the boys had learned to tiptoe around her, avoiding eye contact and speaking in hushed whispers whenever they were in her presence. They spent most of their time huddled together in their rooms, trying to comfort each other and stay out of trouble. Even Ni-ki, who was usually mischievous and fearless, had become quiet, glancing nervously toward the door whenever they heard her footsteps approaching.

Sunoo, who was usually the heart of their little group, seemed especially shaken. He clung to Jungwon, hiding behind his friend whenever Ms. Hyejin entered the room, his once-bright eyes now filled with fear.

“She’s so mean,” Sunoo whispered to Jungwon as they sat huddled in a corner of the room. “I want hyung back.”

Jungwon nodded, wrapping an arm around his friend. “Me too, Sunoo-yah. I don’t like her either.”

Jay, who was often the logical one, spoke up in a hushed tone. “Maybe… maybe we can call Heeseung-hyung,” he suggested, his voice barely above a whisper. “He said we could call him if we needed him.”

“But she’s always watching us,” Ni-ki replied, his voice tense with frustration. “And if she catches us trying to call, she’ll get even angrier.”