from zero » hyungwonho

vi

"Be careful with Hoseok, everyone. He's got a hurt rib," Hoseok's mother announced to the class as she pointed to her own rib to show the children so they would understand.

Since Hoseok had now been upgraded to just one crutch to support his weight when he walked, he had considered himself fit enough to go back to work for a bit. His mother was more hesitant to agree, but Hoseok had reassured her over and over again that he would be careful.

Despite the fact that it was summer, some parents still had to work, which led to the children being sent to his mother's nursery for the day until they were picked up.

Hoseok loved his job. Although he wasn't a trained teacher, he was the big ball of energy that every class of children needed. And he was great with the kids, on top of that. It was almost as if fate had called him.

Once his mother had finished her morning announcements, she declared it was free time until they had snack time, and Hoseok spent most of his morning cuddling this one child close to his chest after he had cried himself to sleep from separation from his mother.

And that was when he turned up.

Hyungwon's cousin had always been coming to the nursery ever since he was a little baby, and back when Hoseok worked there on weekends and during school breaks, he would often see the little boy with either his mother or father.

But never had he ever seen him turn up with Hyungwon, and Hoseok actually sighed out in annoyance when the beautiful man stepped through the doors leading to the classroom. The child in his lap stirred and Hoseok shushed him back to sleep.

Hyungwon had always known Hoseok worked alongside his mother, and of course he would come to drop his cousin off when he returned instead of his auntie or uncle.

As soon as Hyungwon looked over at Hoseok with the child in his arms, Hoseok looked down at said child just as an excuse to not look at Hyungwon.

"Hyungwon!" He heard his mother exclaim with delight as she made her way over to him.

Hoseok hadn't told his mother anything that happened with Hyungwon when he moved away. She was too much of a nice person to hate someone, let alone the man Hoseok had been in love with for so long. As far as she was concerned, he and Hyungwon were still dating.

"Hoseok!" His mother called Hoseok over, and Hoseok moved hesitantly, holding the sleeping child up with one hand while his other hand grabbed his crutch as he hobbled over to the two.

Being this close to Hyungwon was a challenge for Hoseok. He noticed the strange colour of his eyes and concluded that he had to be wearing contacts. There was no way Hyungwon had dusty blue eyes before.

Furthermore, he still looked just as gorgeous as he did three years ago. In fact, he looked even better.

He had lost some weight around his face and his skin was as clear as a summer sky with no clouds. The little mole on his bottom lip still existed, much to Hoseok's delight and the way his lips would pull back whenever he smiled made Hoseok want to cry from how beautiful he was.

Hyungwon's teeth were just as white as they had been before, and when he smiled when Hoseok's mother complimented him, Hoseok himself almost felt a smile grazing his own lips.

Hyungwon had grown, and considerably so as well. He wasn't scrawny back then, but he certainly wasn't all rock hard muscles like Hyunwoo. But it seemed that had changed, as the simple t-shirt Hyungwon was wearing fell over his shoulders gracefully and revealed part of his collarbone deliciously.

His hair had been parted in the middle and Hoseok could see his dark roots beginning to show. He loved it.

"I really need to get back to work now, but it was lovely seeing you again, dear," Hoseok's mother explained before she hurried off, leaving the two boys standing there awkwardly.