Head Down

◤twenty one◢

When Donghyuck was four years old, Youngho had told him that he didn't have a mother. But Donghyuck was a smart kid, and asked how that was possible, since he knew there had to be a mommy and daddy in order to make him.

Youngho had solemn in his voice when he told Donghyuck that, "Mommy had to go somewhere, and didn't come back." It didn't make sense to tell Donghyuck about his mother abandoning them at such a young age, but Youngho figured he should since he was getting married to Taeil in the next few months.

Donghyuck didn't really know what Youngho had meant when he said that his mother didn't come back, but it made him a little sad, to say the least. He's never seen her, and little four year old Donghyuck would've loved to see his mother.

But before he could've pondered on it for longer, a knock on the door had brought both Donghyuck and Youngho out of their thoughts.

"Dinner's ready," a soft, honey-sweet voice had called, and Donghyuck remembers how the weight in his chest was lifted at the sound and sight of Taeil peering his head around the doorframe.

Donghyuck remembers having the quietest dinner with his Daddy and his uncle Taeil that night.

Within the next five months, uncle Taeil turned into Papa, and he hasn't thought about his birth mother a day since the marriage.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

When Donghyuck was ten years old, someone moved into the house neighbouring his.

It was just a woman, and her son. At first, Donghyuck didn't pay any mind to them, he just watched the little boy, who seemed to be around his age, bustle around his room from his window. The other boy hadn't put up any curtains yet anyways, what was Donghyuck supposed to do? Not stare?

He remembers being caught one night, he remembers his eyes widening. He remembers the other boy's rosy red cheeks, and remembers how fast he had moved while putting on his shirt.

Donghyuck decided that he wasn't going to look at the other boy anymore.

Too bad his Papa made him deliver a pan of brownies next door a week later.

Making eye contact with the shy looking boy who answered the door was beyond embarrassing for ten year old Donghyuck, who in a moment of panic, simply thrust the pan into the other's arms.

"My Papa made this. They're really good so share with your Mommy," he had instructed, ready to turn around and away from the other. However, a small and soft voice prevented him
from doing so.

"Do you want to eat them with me?" The voice had asked, seeming timid and uncertain.

Donghyuck remembers spending the rest of the day in his neighbour's house.

Within the next few weeks, the other boy had acquired the name of Lee Jeno, and they hadn't left each other alone since.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

When Donghyuck was thirteen, he remembers crying into his Papa's arms one day after school.

"What's wrong baby?" His Papa had asked, running his fingers through the other's hair. Donghyuck's tears seemed like they weren't going to stop, and Taeil was eager to know what was making his son so upset.