Markjae Wonderland

How I Met Your Father

"Dad, how did you meet Papa?"

Mark and Youngjae began to choke on their dinner, and two kids across from them began to freak out and scrambled to get them some water. Once the refreshing liquid was downed, the parents took the time to calm their racing hearts and share a nervous look with each other.

"Um, it's a really boring story, so I don't think it's a good idea to tell it now," Mark said, trying to avoid the topic as much as possible.

"We've got time, and Uncle Jackson gave us candy, so we're pretty hyped up right now." Bambam, their oldest son, let out a squeal of pain when his younger brother elbowed him in stomach.

"We weren't supposed to tell them that! Uncle Jackson made us promise!" Yugyeom said in a not so hushed whisper.

When he realized his mistake, Bambam's eyes widened, and he began to make up excuses and deny consuming anything that Jackson gave them when their parents weren't looking. Mark and Youngjae merely laughed at his attempt to lie his way out of trouble and decided to just let the two off the hook this time.

"So, you're not mad?" Yugyeom asked quietly, his big doe-like eyes staring up at his two dads. He was always the more obedient of the two boys, and he was the one who scolded Bambam whenever the older would do something that might upset their parents. Naturally, little Yugyeom was also the one who would feel the worst whenever he was scolded, sometimes even crying.

"Of course not," Youngjae confirmed, reaching over the table to pinch Yugyeom's and Bambam's cheeks.

"The only one who's going to get a scolding is your naughty Uncle Jackson." The kids giggled and cutely whined for him to stop when Youngjae began to squish their faces together. To the side, Mark was left smiling as he watched his husband and children laughing and playing.

"Since you're not mad, can you please tell us how you and Dad met?"

"Yeah! Please, please, please?"

The two boys had their hands clasped together, their eyes gleaming with hope.

Mark sighed and gave a look to Youngjae, who looked defeated when he gave him an affirmative nod.

Mark turned to face the kids with a trouble face and took a deep breath before speaking.

"Your Papa and I first met when we were in college. I was in my third year, while your Papa was in his first." Mark's eyes were glued to Youngjae's as he began their story, and a silent signal was sent for the latter to continue on.

"We never had any classes together, so we never saw each other around the campus. I've never even heard of your Dad's name before! But, we both knew your Uncle Jackson. He was a really friendly person, and he easily made friends with almost everyone he met."

Bambam and Yugyeom awed at their uncle's friend-making ability, then turned their attention to Mark, who stared talking again.

"I used to be a lonely person, always studying and playing video games, and Uncle Jackson got frustrated with me not having a girlfriend or boyfriend. So, one day, he told that he set me up to meet with someone."

"And that someone was Papa, right?!" Yugyeom inquired excitedly, barely keeping himself still in his seat.

"That's right. At first, I didn't want to go, because I thought it would be a waste of time. Boy, was I wrong."