The En- Hearthrob😏 Toddlers👶

~30~

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Heeseung hadn’t slept well for days. The business trip to Busan was supposed to be exciting, especially with the big collaboration he was handling. But ever since he’d heard Jake’s small, tearful voice over the phone, his mind was filled with worry. He knew his boys were strong, but something was wrong—he could feel it. And even though he’d rushed through his work and left as soon as he could, the guilt gnawed at him. The sound of Jake’s quiet sobs and the tiny, heart-wrenching plea, “Hyung, please come back…” kept echoing in his mind.

Finally, he arrived at the dorm, his heart racing as he fumbled with his keys. He pushed the door open, calling out, "Boys? It’s hyung!"

There was silence. Then, slowly, the boys emerged from their rooms, looking small and fragile. Jake was the first to run to him, wrapping his arms around Heeseung’s waist, his small body shaking with relief. Heeseung knelt down, pulling each of them into a hug, feeling them press close, like they were clinging to a lifeline. They looked different—quieter, almost guarded.

"What’s going on?" Heeseung asked, his voice gentle but full of concern. "Did something happen?"

The boys exchanged nervous glances, shuffling uncomfortably. Sunoo clung to his arm, looking down, too scared to say anything. Ni-ki, usually brave and outspoken, kept his eyes downcast, his hand covering a small red mark on his arm.

It was Jake who finally spoke up, his voice wavering. "Hyung, we tried to be good… but… but she was really mean."

Heeseung’s heart dropped. He took a deep breath, trying to keep his voice steady. "What did she do?"

Sunghoon, who’d been holding back tears, finally spoke. "She yelled at us a lot… and she hurted Ni-ki and Sunoo." His voice cracked, and he looked down, ashamed that he hadn’t been able to protect them.

Heeseung’s eyes darkened, his jaw clenching as he took in their words. He noticed the faint bruises on Ni-ki’s arm, and without thinking, gently brushed his hand over the mark. Ni-ki winced slightly, and Heeseung’s anger flared even more.

"She hurted you?" His voice was barely a whisper, but the boys could hear the pain and fury in it.

Ni-ki nodded, his eyes watering as he tried to put on a brave face. "I told her you’d find out, hyung… I told her…"

Without another word, Heeseung gathered all six of them into his arms, holding them tightly as if he could protect them from everything just by being there. "I’m so sorry," he whispered, his voice breaking. "I’m so, so sorry I wasn’t here..."

For a long moment, they stayed there, wrapped in each other’s warmth. Heeseung could feel their tiny hands clutching onto him, and he knew he had to be strong for them. But inside, he felt a storm brewing.

He gently lifted Sunoo’s chin, examining his tear-streaked face. "Sunoo-yah, what did she do to you?"

Sunoo bit his lip, sniffling as he tried to explain. "She… she hit me here," he whispered, pointing to a spot on his shoulder that was still tender. "And she said I was annoying…"

Heeseung felt his heart break a little more with every word. He cupped Sunoo’s face, brushing away his tears with his thumb. "You are not annoying, Sunoo. You’re perfect, just the way you are."

Sunoo sniffled, his eyes wide with gratitude and relief as he clung to Heeseung’s shirt, feeling safe for the first time in days.

Jay, who had been quiet all this time, finally spoke up, his small voice laced with guilt. "We tried to be good, hyung… really, we did."

Heeseung pulled Jay close, hugging him tightly. "I know, Jay. None of this is your fault, alright? You’re all my brave boys."

Just then, they heard the door creak, and Ms. Hyejin stepped into the room, a fake, cheerful smile plastered on her face as she looked at Heeseung.

"Oh, Mr. Lee!" she chirped, trying to sound pleasant. "I didn’t expect you back so soon!"

Heeseung stood up, his gaze icy as he stared her down. The boys shifted nervously, feeling the tension thick in the air.

"You didn’t expect me back because you knew what you were doing," Heeseung said, his voice low and controlled, but filled with anger. "You knew you were hurting my boys."

Ms. Hyejin’s smile faltered, and she took a small step back. "I… I don’t know what you’re talking about," she stammered, trying to maintain her composure. "I was just following your instructions. Kids can be so… difficult sometimes, you know?"

Heeseung clenched his fists, struggling to keep his temper in check. "Difficult? They’re children. They’re kind, they’re sweet, and they’ve never caused anyone trouble a day in their lives."

Ms. Hyejin opened her mouth to respond, but Heeseung cut her off, his voice now shaking with barely-contained fury. "You scared them. You hurt them. Do you know what that means to me? These boys are everything to me. And you…" He took a deep breath, his voice steely. "You’re never getting near them again."

He turned to the staff members who had gathered around, watching the scene unfold. "Please see to it that she’s escorted out," he said firmly, his voice leaving no room for argument. "And make sure she never works with children again."

Ms. Hyejin, now pale and visibly shaken, tried to protest, but the staff quickly intervened, leading her out of the room. Heeseung didn’t spare her another glance, his focus solely on the boys huddled around him.

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Once she was gone, Heeseung let out a deep breath, kneeling back down to the boys’ level. "She’s gone now," he whispered, his voice soft and reassuring. "She’s not going to hurt any of you ever again. I promise."

The boys, still shaken, looked up at him with a mix of relief and lingering fear. Jake was the first to speak, his voice barely audible. "You’re really staying this time, right, hyung?"

Heeseung nodded, his heart aching at the vulnerability in Jake’s eyes. "I’m not going anywhere, Jake. I’m right here, and I’m not leaving you."

Slowly, the boys’ fear began to melt away, replaced by the comfort of Heeseung’s warmth and presence. They crowded around him, each of them wanting to be close, to feel safe again.

Heeseung smiled softly, his heart swelling with love as he held them. "I’m so proud of all of you," he murmured. "You’re all so strong and brave. And from now on, I’ll make sure nothing like this ever happens again."

The boys stayed close to him, their arms wrapped around him, feeling the security they had missed so much. In that moment, surrounded by his boys, Heeseung knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, they would face them together.

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**End.**

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