A Servant to the Princes

Chapter XIII

"Come on, Jeonghan! Let's take a family picture together!" Mingyu said, with his brothers standing behind him, smiling brightly.

Jeonghan blushed, "What? A family picture?!"

"That's right. It's about time that you officially become a member of our family." Jisoo said, looking at his brothers as they nodded, agreeing with his point.

"Look! We've prepared this party especially for you! Hurry, omma and appa are waiting for you!" Seungcheol added. Jeonghan looked around the room and saw Mr. and Mrs. were indeed waiting for him. They were standing right beside each other, looking absolutely fabulous. Jeonghan felt touched. He was so happy, he could cry.

Seungcheol and Jisoo came, standing beside him with Mingyu in front of him while reaching his hand out for Jeonghan to take. Jeonghan looked at them with his now glassy eyes.

'Mingyu..'

'Jisoo..'

'Seungcheol!'

'I can't believe I'm finally a part of this family now. This is a fantasy come true. God, I beg of you, please, if this is a dream... Don't let me wake up!'

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But the scene didn't last long until he heard a Ring Ring Ring sound. Right away, he opened his eyes wide, looking at the white ceiling.

"Oh..." Jeonghan whispered, not noticing tears streaming down his eyes. He turned his body as he hugged himself and stared into the nothingness.

'How could I have been so stupid! Even if it was a dream, there's no way something like that could happened! Why do I even bother...'

-Flashback at that night when they were gathering in the living.-

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"Officially adopt me? And then I'll truly become your son?" Jeonghan gaped, while pointing his index finger at himself.

"That's right, I should have done the paperwork for it a long time ago. I'm sorry I waited this long, Jeonghan. I've always thought of you as my very own son and I want to hear you call me omma, not auntie." Mrs. Choi said, placing her hands on Jeonghan's shoulder. Jeonghan looked up at her and blushed.

'Om- Omma!'

"Jeonghan?"

"Um..." He was lost in his thoughts that he couldn't say a single word to her.

"Anyway, we should hurry up with the whole thing and get it over wit-"

"NO!" The Choi brothers said loudly, interrupting their mother.

"Omma, we won't allow it!" Seungcheol said, placing his hand on his hip.

"We don't want Jeonghan to become a member of our family." He added. By then, both Jeonghan and Mrs Choi were too shocked to talk. Their mouths were wide opened and their eyes were on the 3 brothers.

"I'm against too. We're much too different from him. I'd consider it if he was a child or an infant but right now, he's old enough to have his own identity from his last name. If we officially adopt him into our family now, people will wonder why we haven't done so before." Jisoo said proudly, crossing his arms over his chest.

'Huh? I don't know what he's trying to say.' Jeonghan sweated.

Mrs. Choi gave him a puzzled look and cried out, 'Jisoo-yah, even your reasons for objecting is too complicated for omma to understand.'

"No way! I'm definitely not gonna let it happen! Mingyu shouted. "Why should I be his family?! Omma, if you're going to adopt him, then I'm never speaking to you again!"

"What?! Mingyu, you..!" She argued back when she saw Jeonghan's face suddenly turned dark.

"Honestly! I'm so disappointed in you boys! I never thought my own children would think that way! Since when did you boys become so selfish and thoughtless?!" She stopped, catching her breath then continued.

"Do you understand just how much you hurt Jeonghan? I never thought of him as anything but my own son. I never thought..." Mrs. Choi sighed when she saw her boys were not even listening to her.

"Anyway, I want the three of you to apologize to Jeonghan. Or else, I'll get mad."

The room went silence for a while until Mingyu broke it, "No matter what omma says, I'm still against it."

"Mingyu!!!"

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-End of the flashback-

Without thinking too much, Jeonghan called Miju, asking to meet up. And here they were now sitting in the McDonald's, having their lunch before going to the school.

"Jeonghan!" Miju called, holding a tray that was full with meal. She placed them down on the table and took a sit in front of Jeonghan.

"You might have to wait a long time for the shrimp burger. You sure you don't want to order something else instead?"

"Huh? Oh.. No, it's okay." He murmured.

"What's wrong? You look like you don't have any energy today. Are you feeling sick?" Miju asked, while sipping on her cola. "If you've got something on your mind, you can tell me. Especially if it's about love! You won't regret talking to me about it."

"I'm 100% safe, and I'll keep whatever you tell me an absolute secret! So what you say? Wanna tell me what's wrong?" Miju winked, trying to enlighten the atmosphere and it worked when she saw Jeonghan giggled.

"Miju, you... You're so funny."

"I'm being serious! I'm a good person to confide in. You know Yuju from our class? I'm the one who introduced her boyfriend to her!" Miju said, looking outside the window.

Even though they broke up within a week.." She sighed. She took a sip from her cola and turned her head to look at Jeonghan when she saw tears were dripping down his face.

"Jeong..han.."

"What's wrong, Jeonghan? Why are you crying?" Miju asked, standing up.

"Mi-ju..."

'I want to hear you call me omma.' Suddenly yesterday's flashback appeared in his mind. He rubbed his eyes furiously with the back of his eyes, but the tears were flowing endlessly.

"I..."

'I want to call you omma too. I've always thought of you as my real omma!' Jeonghan thought as he buried his face on his shaky arms that's been resting on the table and cried his heart out.

Miju's eyes were full of concern as they landed on Jeonghan and she felt a pang of hurt seeing him like this, "Jeonghan..."