My heart beats for you. ↬ SKZ

5.0

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And once Chan turned the key into its lock the children spilled into the house rushing to the tv remote.

All except for Jisung who was still clutching his father's hand tightly leaning his face against his forearm.

And of course Jeongin who was fast asleep against his chest.

"No one is watching tv. It's time for homework everyone to the kitchen table".

Chan orders while they all groan in unison, dragging their backpacks across the floor to their seat. Each of them copped a squat on a stool, fishing sheets of paper out of their folders. Chan leans against the doorframe,

"Hyungs, why were you using bad language today? Have I taught you guys to speak that way?".

He addresses, and they all hang their head even lower in shame, with their homework paper out front.

"No".

Changbin mutters, not being able to get in trouble and lie about it. Especially to his father.

"The same way you guys speak to me is the same way you should speak to another adult. So whenever you talk to an adult just pretend that they're me. Does that make it easier?".

Felix raises his hand eagerly,

"Yes Felix?".

"Daddy they don't look like you".

"That's not the point felix. You have to respect them is what I'm saying".

"Oh! I get it!".

The boy replies smiling way too sweet for the comfortability of his brothers.

"Good. Now I'm going to put Jeongin in his crib. I'll be back okay? No fighting remember".

Chan warns before exiting the sight of the boys who were moving their pencils slowly across their papers. While walking he oddly felt extra weight tugging on him forgetting that Jisung was still snuggled against his arm. They were well into jeongin's room at this point and Chan lifted the tiny infant out of the carrier to gently lay him on his stomach.

"Jisung? Why aren't you doing your homework?".

Jisung rested his gaze on the floor,

"I don't have any homework daddy".

"How? Seungmin and Felix has homework. Why don't you have any?".

"B-b-because jihyeok didn't give me my paper".

"What? Are you sure she just didn't see you Jisung?".

The boy remembered, how singled out he felt among the ocean of kids that she liked, that she talked to, those who she didn't look at like they were inhuman.

Jisung wished he could be apart of that ocean.

And right there in the middle of the floor, Chan could hear the crack in Jisung's voice companied by the endless river streams flowing from his eyes. He felt so insecure it tore him to shreds.

Chan crouches to his level pulling his baby into the tightest hug. He didn't know what was wrong with him, he didn't know why he was crying but all he knew was that Jisung needed his love. So he was there for him. Even as the tears sink into the shoulder of his shirt Chan ambles his hand around the younger's silky sallow strands.