[Neo Zone] Population: 23 Kids

Grandparents

The ride to their grandparents house wasn't that long, but it was long enough for Jaehyun to fall asleep and for Mark to ask when they were going to get there twice. The three cousins had been put in the backseat of the car together, so they were eager to get out of the close quarters and stretch.

Their grandparents on their Moms' side lived out in the country on a small farm with a few goats and chickens, and they claimed they would rotate between living with their three daughters if all of them didn't live in cities.

"If they ask, you two just came here. They'd kill me if they knew they could've been seeing you this entire time." Mrs. Suh said as they pulled into the dirt driveway, both Mark and Johnny shaking Jaehyun awake.

"I think my Mom told them. We used to video call them every week in Canada."

Mrs. Suh suddenly felt like banging her head against the dashboard. Of course her sister would do something like that.

"Alright. Well, just remember your manners and don't be awkward. Jaehyun, don't be awkward."

"And don't mess with the goats. They're not very nice." Mr. Suh added in, having been attacked by one of them the first time he was going to pick up Mrs. Suh for a date back in high school.

"Stop hiding my grand babies in there and let me see 'em!" Their grandma yelled, standing out on her front porch where there was already a glass of lemonade poured for everyone.

Johnny was the first one out of the car running to give her a hug. She kissed his cheek and did the usual old person spiel on how big he had gotten, but her smile widened when she saw Mark and Jaehyun get out of the car.

"My babies! It's been so long! You were just itty bitty things last time I saw you!" She pulled both of them into a hug, tears pricking her eyes.

"You know, if your Mother would just call me once in awhile this wouldn't be so emotional." She laughed as she kissed Jaehyun's cheek then Mark's, wiping under her eyes with a finger.

"Now go say hi to your grandpa. He's out with the goats." She held up her hand to stop Mr. Suh from warning them to be careful. "Don't scare them just because the goats don't like you. Go on, kiddos."

Johnny directed them to the barn, looking around outside first before going in and spotting the old man grabbing chicken eggs from the coop. He was hard of hearing and refused to get hearing aids, so they weren't noticed until Johnny came right up beside him.

"Hi, grandpa."

"Johnny! I didn't hear you come in!" The man set down the eggs in his hands, wiped them off and pulled him into a rough hug.

"Hello!" Mark waved from the side, directing his attention over to the other two.

"Mark! I wondered where you went when you didn't show up on the screen!" He then pulled Mark into a hug before he stood there and stared at Jaehyun "And you must be the one grandchild I haven't seen in years."

"Hi, I'm Jaehyun-"

"I know who you are, come 'ere." He pulled Jaehyun into another rough hug, turning to address Johnny. "This child thinks I don't know my grandchildren."

Johnny tsked, shaking his head. He missed coming out to his grandparents' house, but he was even more glad that they weren't very obviously picking favorites.

"Now why don't you three take these inside to grandma and I'll join you in a second. I think I heard somewhere you were going to make cookies with her." He gave them a wink as he passed over the bucket of eggs to Johnny, and they carefully delivered brought them to the house.

Mrs. Suh and her Mother were now bickering in the front lawn over how long it had taken her to bring the kids over while Mr. Suh awkwardly stood to the side. Their grandma stopped as soon as she saw the kids with the bucket of eggs, and she took them from Johnny and brought them inside, motioning for the kids to follow her.

"I put the lemonade outside, but why don't you boys bring it in. I want to hear all about everything while we make some cookies for dessert."

So the boys told her all sorts of things while they helped her bake for the rest of the morning, the other two men grilling hamburgers and fruit kabobs outside while Mrs. Suh just stood around the kitchen and listened, occasionally adding into the conversation.

"You're telling me you boys made yourself a cult of kids from all around the city, and you didn't bring them here? Now why'd you do that?"

"No one has a car for eighteen kids, Ma."

"Hush child, I never said it had to be legal. When I was growing up, cars didn't even have seat belts."

"She said we were having a family outing and it would've been rude to show up with that many extra guests." Jaehyun repeated.

"Cult members are always family. Don't let her tell you otherwise."

"WinWin doesn't like it when we call it a cult." Mark piped up, and grandma sighed.

"Don't listen to him either, then."

By the end of the day the boys had shared everything they could think of sharing with their grandma, and their grandpa had taken them out for tractor rides. Nice clothes or not. And, of course, they promised to come back with everyone else soon.