Superhuman

Chapter 29

I should have known sleep wasn't going to be a thing for me. The last time I had checked my clock, it was 6 am. Everyone part of this next mission had to be up early to get everything ready which means I had only slept about 2 hours. I felt dead and full of nervousness.

"Channie, Yuta is cooking breakfast for everyone, you coming? He makes really good breakfast burritos." Mark peeks his head into my room to fetch me. I had finished getting myself ready for the day so I trudge over to where he was in my doorway, following him downstairs to where everyone else was.

The energy seemed to be really high as soon as we joined the others. They must be really excited for this mission. I, on the other hand, was ready for a nap.

"Anyone want chocolate milk while I have it out?"

I whip my head to Jaehyun, who was standing in front of the fridge and chocolate milk jug in hand. Before I could even respond, Mark speaks first.

"Haechan does. You don't even need to ask, just assume he wants some."

My face grows red as Jaehyun chuckles. "I get that. I can't go without having at least a little bit of chocolate milk."

I thank him before grabbing the glass from his outstretched hand. This is what I need to get my energy back up.

"So," I begin, finding Mark standing against one of the counters. He softly smirks at me as he finds and intertwines his hand with my free one. "Can we talk a moment?" I ask. He nods, a look of concern painting itself on his face.

I leave my finished glass on the counter and follow him to the empty living room away from everyone.

"What's up, cutie?" He asks me when we sit down on the couches.

I decide on cuddling into him, wrapping my arms around his torso and my head against his chest.

"So, this mission, do you think my dad is going to be there? I mean I think he used to attend all the banquets."

I feel him sigh before responding. "I think so. I think that's why Taeyong chose to go all out with this plan. He's never been this serious with planning. Usually it's just go in, get what we need, kill those in our way, then get out. That's kind of why there's a buzz of energy in everyone. The last time we were like this, was for a huge drug bust that Taeyong had been paid by the cops to help out with."

I turn to look up at him. "Wait, the cops? I thought they didn't like us?"

"They don't, but they know Taeyong's intentions. They despise us, but at the moment, it was putting aside differences to take down a mutual enemy."

I hum in response while placing my head back on his chest. I felt the way his chest moved up and down as he breathed slowly.

"Did you ever know your real parents? Like I know you said you were adopted after you were born, but did you have anything to remember them by?" Mark asks softly. I could feel his fingers combing through my hair in a soothing manner.

I keep quiet for a moment, trying to recall my earliest memory of my life. It was fuzzy, but there were bits and pieces. Except, they seemed like they could also be dreams and not real events that occurred.

"There was this one lab assistant I met, I think I was about 5 years old. She was nice, but old. I called her grandma and she would always laugh. She left when I was 7, though. She once told me that she was there when my mom was doing the adoption papers. I don't remember much from what she told me, but she said my mom was crying and looked terribly weak."

I pause, a tear running down my cheek, but immediately being caught by Mark's shirt.

"She left me a bracelet that I wore all the time. It was something I treasured, even being a child I understood the importance of it, but my dad found out about it and threw it out the window."

I feel Mark gasp, "What the fuck?! Are you serious? That's so wrong."

I nod.

"Channie?"

I hum in response.

"Why do you still call him dad? He's not your real dad, so why?"

I feel myself deflate and my heart drop. Why do I still call him that? He doesn't deserve that name. He was terrible to me and caused so much emotional and physical trauma.

"I guess," I pause, collecting my thoughts. "I have this unattainable hope that since he's the closest thing I have to family, maybe there could be a chance that he actually did want me as a son. It's stupid of me to think that after everything he put me through, but it's the child inside me that was ripped away from my real family, wanting for some sense of a family."

I can feel the tears rushing down my face and soaking Mark's shirt even further. Mark twists his body so that he's looking at me in the eyes.

"I want to be the first to say this. Haechan, that man is not your family. He was your guardian. You have us now. We are your family. All of us. Taeyong and Jaehyun let you stay for a reason. We may not be family by blood, but everyone here loves you and would give you the world. You matter here and you do not need that scum of a man designated to take care of you. Everyone in this household is your family."

I throw myself at Mark and hug him even tighter. The crying grew even more and turned to sobs. They weren't sad tears this time, though. This was where I was meant to be. Mark is right: I don't need that terrible excuse for a guardian. I don't need anyone at that institution. They are my enemies, not my family, like I had previously thought.