Annyeongz One-shots

82. Scared ( FL 5 )

Morning didn’t feel normal.

Usually, the word nursery alone would make Jiwo jump out of bed, shouting about his friends and showing off whatever toy he planned to bring. Minjae would clap and babble, excited just because his brother was excited.

But today was different.

The moment Yujin gently brushed Jiwo’s hair and whispered, “Time to wake up, buddy,” Jiwo opened his eyes… and instead of smiling, his face slowly crumpled.

“No nursery…” he muttered, voice still thick with sleep.

Wonyoung and Yujin exchanged a quick glance.

That was strange.

Yujin carried Minjae out of the crib, but the baby immediately wrapped both arms around his father’s neck, clinging tight. Not playful. Not giggly. Tight.

“Hey… what’s this?” Yujin murmured softly, rubbing Minjae’s back. “You love nursery.”

Minjae shook his head against his father’s shoulder and started whining, the sound growing louder by the second.

Jiwo sat up suddenly in bed. “Papa stay home. Mama stay home.”

His voice wasn’t loud yet — but it was firm.

Wonyoung sat beside him, stroking his cheek. “Baby… Mama and Papa have work today. You can play with your friends. You were excited last week, remember?”

Jiwo’s lips trembled. “No…”

And just like that — the crying started.

Not dramatic at first. Just tears rolling down silently. But when Minjae saw his brother cry, he followed immediately.

Within seconds the room was filled with overlapping sobs.

Yujin’s chest tightened. This wasn’t normal. Their sons loved nursery. Loved it. Something about yesterday’s meltdown had shifted something in them.

Jiwo slid off the bed and ran to hug Yujin’s legs again — just like yesterday.

“Papa don’t go work. Papa stay.”

Minjae cried harder in his arms, tiny fists gripping Yujin’s collar.

Wonyoung tried lifting Jiwo, rocking him gently. “It’s just a few hours, baby. Then we pick you up.”

“Nooooo!” Jiwo wailed, voice cracking. His breathing turned uneven, shoulders shaking.

Yujin crouched down immediately, pulling Jiwo close while still holding Minjae. “Hey. Hey. Look at me.”

Jiwo wouldn’t look.

His crying grew louder. More desperate.

Minjae started kicking, face red, full meltdown mode.

Wonyoung’s eyes widened slightly. “This is… weird.”

Yujin nodded. He felt it too.

Their sons weren’t just whining.

They were scared.

He softened his voice, rubbing Jiwo’s back in slow circles. “Listen. Papa and Mama always come back. Always.”

Jiwo shook his head violently. “You go office… you not come back.”

That sentence hit harder than expected.

Wonyoung swallowed. “Baby… yesterday Papa stayed because you needed him. But today is different. We always come back. Always.”

Minjae’s cries grew so loud he started hiccuping.