Chapter Text
“Ning?”
No answer.
“Hueningie?”
Still none.
“Kai!”
Nothing.
Seokjin muttered a curse as he shuffled around in the kitchen. He was preparing the boys’ lunches for school and he couldn’t afford to go upstairs and waste time to wake them as it would also only result in him being late to work. Shouting will do. His neighbors would have to deal with all the noise at seven in the morning.
“Huening Kai?”
Still, no response.
Seokjin clicked his tongue and called out a different name instead.
“Jongseong!”
“Ne?”
“Ah fucking finally.” In a louder voice he called out, “Go find out what your brother’s up to! I’ve been yelling his name and he’s not answering! Is he dead? Do I need to adopt another one?”
“Okay I’ll check on him.”
“Thanks, hon.”
A few minutes later there were sounds of ruffling and shuffling. Seokjin wasn’t too worried, knowing Jay was doing as he requested.
“AAAAAAAAAA I’M AWAKE!”
Seokjin couldn’t help but laugh at his Huening Kai’s dolphin shriek, shaking his head fondly and going back to preparing meals. There were hurried footsteps coming downstairs, his head turning to see Jay quickly buttoning his school uniform.
Without taking his eyes off the wrapped kimchi he handled Seokjin said, “Your pants’ unzipped, love.”
Jay looked down and gasped sharply, the sound of the zipper heard as Huening Kai all but barreled down with a scream, knocking heads with the older and sprawling on the floor all wet. Jay grunted at the collision but also made a sound of surprise as he tried to upright the other to no avail.
“Kai what the heck?” Seokjin wiped his hands clean and hurried to Huening Kai, who groaned and laughed sheepishly. “Gosh, you’re just like Counselor Namjoon. Are you hurt anywhere? And why are you still in pajamas? Why are you soaking wet?” The answers all clicked in his head as he turned to Jay, who was avoiding his gaze and walking toward the counter where the lunch was unfinished. “Jaaay.”
“Ne?” The kid had guts to smile charmingly at him. If Seokjin didn’t love him to bits, he’d be a goner.
“You woke him up with water, right?”
Huening Kai yelled, “He didn’t even have the heart to turn on hot water! Appa, I’m wet down to my crotch!”
Seokjin (struggling to hold in his amusement) sighed and hauled the bigger boy up, ignoring Jay who giggled at his brother’s exaggerated reaction. Seokjin patted Huening Kai’s wet shoulder.
“I’ll make Jay work on breakfast so go and shower quickly.”
Huening Kai gave him a nod before making a face at Jay, who scoffed. He clambered up the stairs two at a time and was gone in a flash.
“Appa, let me finish preparing lunch.”
“No. I promised Kai I’d make you do breakfast now go whip up something delicious.” He checked his watch. The kids still had time. As Seokjin worked in a restaurant as a chef, he didn’t have a set schedule but he still wanted to show up for work at a reasonable hour. “Make it fit in the hour you have as eight’s near. I still have to take you guys to school.”
After roughly about ten minutes, Huening Kai appeared all dressed in the same school uniform as Jay. As Jay began to serve eggs and toast, Huening Kai spoke up.
“Ah. Appa, is it all right if we stop by Taehyunnie’s house? He texted me saying that Uncle V had to leave early for work.”
“Aish. Taehyung left Tyun and Jungwon by themselves again.” Seokjin clicked his tongue. “Tell Tyun we’ll be there to pick them both up so I can drop you all at school. I’ll have to give Taehyung a hit on the head for leaving his wards unattended.” He presented two separate lunchboxes with the boys’ names, both thanking him profusely for making it. Seokjin, heart warmed, ruffled both of their heads affectionately. “Eat up, boys.”
About a few minutes after half past seven, the three were out of their home and shuffling inside Seokjin’s Hyundai Santa Fe, Huening Kai saying he was reserving the passenger seat for Taehyun. Seokjin smiled at his caring behavior, driving a few streets away from their own in the neighborhood and honking once, twice, in front of the Kim household. A curtain peeked open, Jay waving at Taehyun who gave a quick wave back before disappearing. Seconds later, Jungwon ran out with Taehyun staying behind to lock the door. Jungwon, excitable and energetic, greeted Seokjin before clambering inside and squishing himself next to Huening Kai, who laughed and smiled.
“Oh? Where’s your bag?” asked Jay.
“Huh?”
The passenger side opened as Taehyun slipped in, handing the younger one his bag and giving him a flat look.
Jungwon giggled nervously. “Sorry about that, hyung.”
“Have presence of mind sometimes, Jungwonnie. Morning Huening-ah and Jay. Good morning, Uncle.”
“Good morning to you too Hyunnie.” Seokjin began to drive again.
“Thanks for letting us hitch a ride, Uncle Jin. Uncle Taehyung took off after leaving a text.”
Seokjin hummed and gave the boy a smile.
“But of course. You kids are like family now. While I am thrilled we get to spend time together, it’s still irresponsible of Tae to just up and run.” He sighed through his mouth. “Work as a photographer must be piling up now.” He shot a glance to the three kids by the rearview mirror and locked eyes for a moment with Jungwon. “Did you two eat breakfast?”
“Uncle Taehyungie left us mac n’ cheese so yeah we ate. The food was hot which meant he heated it up beforehand.”
“That’s good at least.” As he continued driving by the neighborhood, he spotted a familiar handsome face on a bicycle, which was going the opposite way. He rolled down the window to momentarily greet their favorite milk delivery boy. “Jaeyun-ah good morning!”
Jaeyun (a.k.a. Jake) lightened up and greeted back, “G’morning everyone!”
Jay and Jungwon were the ones who were waving furiously at him, Seokjin laughing along with Huening Kai and Taehyun at the adorable display.
In BWL neighborhood, Kim Seokjin was considered a bachelor as he had never married anyone and didn’t plan to anytime soon. He wanted to raise kids though and so after having help from Yoongi three years ago, Seokjin was able to adopt two unrelated boys from the same orphanage named Huening Kai and Jay, both nineteen years old with Jay being older for a few months. At first, both boys were shy and timid and were constantly apologizing for the littlest of mistakes like spilling water, making a mess, and sleeping late. It hurt Seokjin’s heart to see them acting so reserved and so took to trying to spend a few minutes every day with the boys, either alone or together. Over time, their true personalities shone through as they became more comfortable in Seokjin’s home. Seokjin found Huening Kai to be loud and bright while Jay was always soaking up new knowledge and was fun to tease. The boys were such blessings and Seokjin tried to be a good provider for them. On weekends, they’d play board games and watch movies, usually going with Huening Kai’s insistence of animated films. Jay and Huening Kai told Seokjin before they weren’t that close to each other in the orphanage but now they were under the same roof, they learned more things about each other and appreciated Seokjin for giving them this chance to bond and be closer. That was just so fucking sweet Seokjin would have diabetes.
Huening Kai’s closest friend seemed to be Taehyun, who was living with his half-brother Jungwon and uncle Taehyung. Taehyung, by coincidence, was one of Seokjin’s oldest friends and was confident his younger friend would be a great guardian to the two boys. Seokjin adored Taehyung’s wards too. Taehyun’s parents had died in a plane accident when he was sixteen. A few days later, government people came to him to inform him of the existence of a half-brother named Jungwon, who shared the same blood with his mother. Taehyun easily accepted the news but was wary of meeting the younger boy because he didn’t know what to expect. The two got along well, Taehyun being immediately taken with then fourteen-year-old Jungwon. Now Taehyun was nineteen and Jungwon seventeen, both of them under Taehyung’s care for over three years. Taehyung meanwhile had no permanent schedule but was constantly scouted as he was a freelance photographer. Lately, he was taking shifts in the local library, arranging books and directing people to the library’s sections they were asking for.
Seokjin slowed as he pulled in front of the local school, front lawn bustling with movement and chatter from kids and teens.
“All right boys this is your stop.”
“Thank you again Uncle Jin for the ride.” Jungwon smiled at him.
“Appa, thanks for the ride.” Huening Kai swung open the car door.
“Hey hey where do you think you’re going?” All four teens paused. “Where are my goodbye kisses? How am I going to get energy to deal with rude customers and not yell at them like Gordon Ramsey?”
Jay rolled his eyes. “Appa you’re so dramatic.” Still, he leaned forward to deposit a kiss on Seokjin’s cheekbone, pulling back with a blush on his face.
Huening Kai was more open, dropping his lips on Seokjin’s cheek and making a ‘muwah’ sound as he pulled back. Seokjin was the one flustered as he slapped at the younger’s chest, who laughed loudly and went out the car.
“You two are no exceptions as well so get in here.” He wagged his fingers at Taehyun and Jungwon.
Taehyun’s cheeks began to heat up as he gave a quick kiss, giving another goodbye and a bow. He fled to Huening Kai’s arms, tucking his face in the younger’s neck in embarrassment. Jungwon looked nervous for a second but surged forward anyway to also kiss Seokjin, looking very much happy and smug.
Seokjin waved at them again, watching them join their schoolmates. When the four entered school premises, only then did he drive for work.