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Having put the sleeping kid to bed, Geonhak wiped his arm with a tissue paper where she had drooled while on his lap as he had read a story to her. It was past 1 in the afternoon and most of the children had drifted off to their regular afternoon nap. A few kids, whose overflowing energy never permitted them to go to bed, played outside in the lawn. Looking around the nap room, he smiled and quietly pulled the curtains to dim the light. He tiptoed out into the brighter living room space where toys, blankets and books lay cluttered around as if a battled had been raged. Goeun was picking up the books one by one, her left arm heavy with the load already.
"Let me help," Geonhak said and started picking up the toys.
"Are they asleep?" Goeun asked in a hushed voice, "Mrs. Kang's daughter almost bit my hand while eating the chicken."
The both of them laughed silently. Geonhak put the toys in the basket and said, "Really fiesty, that one. She must have liked the stew a lot. So did the rest of the kids. Let's ask Seoho hyung to make it again in a few days."
Goeun nodded delightfully, "Who knew Seoho oppa's stew would be such a banger?"
By the time it was 3 pm, the nursery had quieted down and the kids outside had settled in the art room to draw, sculpt and do anything creative their pretty little minds desired.
Geonhak sat outside in the afternoon sun and sipped on his iced lemonade. It was about time Youngjo would arrive to collect his brother. His heart lept slightly as the thought of Youngjo crossed his mind. Geonhak wasn't the type to trip in love as a routine. In fact, he was pretty reserved when it came to emotions. The only thing that could let his soft side show were children. He loved children since they reminded him of all the good times in his childhood. Growing up, he had been the one to raise his younger brother since his parents would both work 9 to 5 jobs at corporate. Right now, he was pursuing a major in early childhood education at the university and this job was a summer holiday occupation.
Geonhak had specific thoughts about the education system. As much as he liked the curriculum, he was equally repulsed by the conduct of the bad lot of teachers in the scholastic environment. The inattentiveness, the lack of empathy, the casual discrimination based on looks and mental capacity made him want to take a banner and rebel against the system. Even children cannot escape politics in early academia. As a person, Geonhak had promised himself he would never be swayed by those sorts of backward tendencies. No matter what, he would always be empathetic.
He did not realise how much time had passed until Seoho tapped on his shoulder.
"Are you humming Make Me Happy?" Seoho's sing song voice filled the hitherto silent porch.
Geonhak smiled, "Yeah, it's a bop. Hyung, do you know the kids really liked your chicken stew today?"
"Yeah, Goeun told me," Seoho took a seat by his side and sipped at his chocolate milk, "Wanna know what the secret is?"
"Hm?" Geonhak raised his eyebrows.
"Garam masala," Seoho squeaked like a squirrel, a bright smile playing on his face as his eyes shrink in the force of it, "I improvised it at home and my niece loved it."
"That is smart."
The both of them talked a bit more until it was quarter to 4 pm. It was time to take the kids up and assemble them for their daily jamming session. The manager had seen kids' choirs at missionary day cares and he loved the concept so he had advised the workers here to insert something alike into the daily schedule. Giuk had pitched for a casual jamming session where he would play the guitar and everyone would choose a song for the day and sing along. It helped to build community spirit. For most of the part, Geonhak would be the initiator since he had formal training in music.
Geonhak and some of his colleagues gently woke the kids and carried them to the art room to join the rest of the lot. The bright golden fairy lights and other luminous decorations were put on, and the room transformed into a mini festival hall. The children cheered in delight as their eyes glowed under the merry decorations. Geonhak's heart melted. Taking off his apron, he settled himself on an empty couch.
Giuk tuned the guitar, struck a chord and smiled.
"What should we play today?"
"Make Me Happy," Seoho said and looked at Geonhak, "Come on, buff boy, make them happy."
"Very well," Geonhak said and eyed Giuk to begin but the later was lost.
"Wait, I don't know the chord progression," He scratched his head, "Someone play it on your phone first and we'll join in."
The grown ups in the room started fumbling for a phone, but before they could find one, the song started playing. Looking at the door, Geonhak's heart jumped. There he stood, the man who had managed to move the mountain named Geonhak.
Phone in his hand, Youngjo smiled, "Sorry, the door was unlocked and no one was there. You guys should be careful."
"Hyung!" Younggil waved vigorously at his brother and the latter winked at him.
As he stopped the audio for greetings, Goeun said, "Why, come in! You're just in time for the jam, Jo oppa."
"Sure," He laughed and entered the room. His eyes met Geonhak's and a new life in his smile began to bloom like flowers in spring. He sat on to the ground beside the couch.
"Do you want the couch?" Geonhak offered but Youngjo shook his head.
Getting back, they began singing, and an hour was spent with joy and energy.
At 5 pm, the guardians started coming in and one by one, they delivered the children safely to their parents. Youngjo stuck around and helped them with the job. Like this, he would sometimes drop in and stay till closing to help the people around. Lately, he had been staying for the fuzziness he felt for this one man working in the day care.
"Thank you for your hard work. Let us meet again tomorrow at the usual time," Seoho said and bowed, followed by the rest after which they started leaving for the day.
Youngjo casually talked to Geonhak as the latter packed and, Younggil waited on the chair patiently like the good kid he was.
Closing the place, they set out through the pavement. Younggil held both of his hyungs' hands as the three passed the street into another lane. The evening air felt relaxing to Geonhak. He looked sideways at Youngjo and wondered at his careless beauty at intervals.
"You've been awfully silent," Youngjo pointed out with a concerned face as they waited for the street light to turn red.
"Oh, I'm just listening," He said, "I like to listen to you talk. It is relaxing. You should definitely try making those ASMR videos."
"And the moment I tell you you're not talking, you throw three compliments at me. You're such a tease, Hak."
Geonhak laughed, the smile sticking on his face for longer and longer almost imprinting its presence on him. This was how genuine a hold this man had on him. He could make him laugh and forget everything else. Youngjo seemed to blush a little, but Geonhak dismissed it for the reflection of light on the street.
"Hey, love birds," Younggil squeaked, "We need to cross the road."
That snapped their attention and laughing at the child's adorable counter, they quickly crossed the road. As they reached the other side, they huffed from the rush.
"'Love birds'?" Youngjo repeated and taking a brief glance at Geonhak, asked, "What made you say that, you little punk?"
"Why? I might be small, but I have brains, hyung," Younggil crossed his arms at Youngjo.
Geonhak bent down to him and poked his cheek as a gesture of adoration making the other chuckle.
"No, I mean, what do you mean?" Youngjo asked again, "Do you think we might be, um?" His voice trailed.
Geonhak looked at Youngjo and something inside him glowed like a ray of hope. He had been struggling with his feeling for long and though he could make out from subtle clues that Youngjo did somewhat reciprocate, he could not bring himself to make a move lest he should lose his acquaintance.
"The both of you clearly like each other," Younggil explained, "It's so weird to see you guys hide it like some secret. You keep a secret when you do mischief, like I did when I broke the horse show piece, not when you like another person."
Youngjo raised his eyebrows, "You've become quite a sage for your age, sir, and who taught you these wise words?"
"Goeun noona, my girlfriend," Younggil breathed in triumph. That cracked the both of them up. Geonhak and Youngjo had seen how the child admired his playful Goeun noona and always said he wanted to marry her and Goeun played along.
"So, me and him, huh?" Youngjo said, still not looking at Geonhak. The latter stood there out of words to say and a sudden dark cloud seemed to pass over the hope inside his chest. What if Youngjo did not feel the same way? A part of him wanted to excuse himself and leave before anything happened, but a greater part of him urged him to to stick around.
"I wouldn't say you're wrong, Mr. Sage," Youngjo hopped up and pulled Younggil close to him, facing Geonhak as the latter still stood quite motionless, "Kim Geonhak."
That shook him up a bit and he cleared his throat, "Um, yeah?"
"Pastry date. You, me, tonight after we leave mini-me at home. Yes or no? Say no and I will cry," the last part made him a bit flustered and he added, "No, I mean, I understand if you say no so . . ." He looked at Geonhak inquisitively.
Geonhak blinked. It happened faster than he had expected, "Uh, yeah, sure. I mean, yes. Definitely."
Youngjo's eyes lit up and he grinned, "Really?"
Geonhak nodded and they walked the rest of the way glowing with a mutual sense of warmth. Dropping Younggil at home to their mother, Youngjo joined Geonhak outside again. They looked at each other but neither could gather up the courage to say anything until Geonhak cleared his throat.
"Shall we?" He asked.
"We shall," Youngjo's shoulders relaxed, "We really owe that little sparrow one, don't we?"
"We sure do," They laughed as they disappeared into the brightly lit city in the gentle summer evening.