Masquerade | Johnyong

★ Chapter sixty-five

Masquerade 65

The sun is setting when Johnny arrives at Chanyeol's house. A small cheerful laugh reaches his ear before the door even opens and he smiles, already knowing who the bubbly laugh belongs too.

"Uncle Johnny!" Nahyun's high pitched voice greets him as the door opens. She bounds into his arms, giggling as he lifts her effortlessly.

"Where is uncle Taeyongie?" She asks, trying to look over his shoulder, hopeful.

Johnny frowns. "Sorry, Nahyun. He's not with me today." He tells the three year old, watching as her sweet smile turns into a disappointed pout. She wiggles, gesturing to be put down and Johnny lets her go.

Chanyeol laughs watching as his daughter drags her feet all the way back to the living room.

Johnny steps inside, greeting his brother. Nahyun comes back unexpectedly, the toddler jumping up and down. "Uncle Baekhyun said I'm taller!" She beams.

Johnny chuckles, glancing at Chanyeol. "Sure, if he knows what he's talking about." It's pure sarcasm but the clueless toddler doesn't pick up on it as fast as her father does. "You'll have to eat all your veggies first."

Nahyun scrunches her nose, looking up at her father. "Daddy, uncle Johnny says I have to eat veggies!" She whines.

Chanyeol ruffles her hair. "That's because uncle Johnny is smart." He says.

Baekhyun comes out of the kitchen, drying his hands on his shirt. He pauses momentarily, clearly not expecting Johnny to be here. He presses his lips into a thin line. "Nahyun, it's time for bed." He says, gently. Nahyun clings onto her father's leg, looking up at him with pleading eyes. "C'mon, Nahyun." He urges.

Chanyeol crouches down to her level. "C'mon, Nahyun, you have to sleep. If you don't sleep how else will you have the energy to visit Taeyong tomorrow?"

Nahyun's eyes light up at the mention of Taeyong's name, much to Baekhyun's dismay as he scoffs. "Okay!" She eagerly runs up the stairs, Baekhyun following behind.

Chanyeol pats Johnny's shoulder. "I have cold beer in the fridge." He says.

The two sit on the back porch, the crickets providing a low hum beneath their conversation. Chanyeol hands Johnny a bottle, the glass cold and slick with condescension.

"Haechan's a handful." Chanyeol sighs, deeply.

"Tell me about it," Johnny replies. "And now Taeyong is angry with me. . ."

"He said I was like my father."

Chanyeol pauses, mid drink. He sets his glass down with a firm thud and exhales. "He said that?"

Johnny nods.

Chanyeol leans back in his chair, the weight creaking under his weight. He studies Johnny for a moment, seeing the insecurities plastered all over him. "Do you believe him?" He asks.

Johnny runs a hand through his hair. He shrugs. "I don't know." His voice is raw. "I've spent so long making sure I wasn't like him. But when Taeyong said it, it. . . I don't know. It felt true." His fingers tighten around the bottle in his grasp

Chanyeol watches carefully, his eyebrows furrowing as he watches his younger brother unravel in front of him. He reaches out, placing a hand on top of his. "You're not. You're nothing like your father. Your father was a man who took and took without thinking of the people left bleeding in his wake. You? You care. You think he lost sleep over the weight of his choices?" He shakes his head. "You're nothing like him, trust me."