[Neo Zone] Population: 23 Kids

In Search of Warmth

Mark was pretty sure he was going to freeze if he stayed like he was any longer. He wasn't literally going to freeze since the temperature wasn't even going to freeze water, but he was pretty sure he was going to freeze. 

If he got up to get another blanket then he'd survive, but that involved getting out of bed. He was also in the cafe basement and knew there were no extra blankets because Jungwoo had been searching for one earlier. Although he didn't have the extra blankets he would've had if he was at his parent's house, the cafe had something better.

Cuddles.

Knowing Johnny was generally the warmest and didn't wake up at much, Mark reluctantly got out of bed and walked over with his arms outstretched so he wouldn't bump into anything. Since Johnny was the only one who didn't have a bunkbed, Mark didn't have to worry about hitting his head as he climbed in the sheets.

It took him a minute to realize Johnny wasn't there, but even then he figured he had just gone to the bathroom and would be back soon. He was asleep faster than he could realize he'd been waiting longer than one normally would be gone to the bathroom.

Johnny was not in the bathroom, but he also wasn't kidnapped or missing. He had just gone upstairs when he couldn't sleep. He wasn't sure what going upstairs would do, but he liked the peacefulness of the empty and dark cafe. A stark contrast to what went on during the day.

Within a few minutes of standing there and enjoying the view of the empty street, he heard someone coming down the stairs and whipped his head around.

"Oh, hey Dad."

"Hey, whatcha doing up?"

Johnny suddenly felt like he was eight again instead of eighteen, sneaking upstairs to marvel at the sight of the cafe coming together when they first bought it.

"Couldn't sleep. You?"

"Same. You want tea?" Mr. Suh was already moving towards the kettle to fill it with water, and while Johnny preferred coffee, he still nodded.

Johnny grabbed two mugs from the cabinet and set them on the counter, silently watching his Dad get the tea ball and fill it with one of the teas from the cupboard. He didn't know what tea he was going to end up drinking, but he trusted his Dad's judgement.

"So what's up? What's new?" His Dad asked, and Johnny smiled.

"We were just talking after dinner. What new could've happened?"

"Literally anything with you kids. And besides, that was business."

They had been talking about ideas for new things to add to the menu since it had been awhile since it was spiced up and going over costs of things. So they really truly were doing business work.

"Well nothing's new besides the fact that I have to train Xiaojun tomorrow. Us older kids are helping him figure out what he wants to do with his life."

"Why'd he ask you guys?"

"I have no idea."

Mr. Suh took the kettle off the burner and poured the steaming tea into the mugs, adding a splash of cold water so they wouldn't have to wait to drink it. They stayed in a comfortable silence while they drank their tea, looking out the windows once more.

Mr. Suh finished his tea first, putting his mug into the sink and pulling Johnny into a side hug.

"Don't stay up too much longer."

"I won't."

Mr. Suh returned to his room as Johnny downed the last bit of his tea, placing his mug next to his Dad's and silently heading back downstairs. He wasn't sure if he was going to be able to sleep now, but at least he was warm inside.

Though when he went to climb into bed he noticed Mark and Jungwoo were cuddled up on one half. Smiling to himself he slid into the sheets without disturbing them, and Mark shifted closer to him in his sleep.

Before Johnny even fully got comfortable, he was fast asleep too.