Archive of Our Own

“Pa! Can you please lower your voice?”

Junmyeon’s eyes widen as he hears what his son has to say. “What?”

He has been lecturing his son for 10 minutes or so and it’s just 8 in the morning.

Ugh. Parents and their daily morning homily.

“So you're telling me what to do now huh?” Junmyeon pretends to be shocked, his left hand on his chest to show his son that he’s somehow offended by the impolite request.

It's nothing serious, to be honest. It’s just that Sejun, his lovely son, is supposed to wake up at 7 but rises up late because of whatever teenagers do the night prior.

“Your dad arrived here before 7. He’s been waiting for you for almost an hour.”

“I told you it’s okay, Jun.” 

Junmyeon pauses for a while, suddenly remembering that his ex-husband is with them.

It’s Saturday and Sejun is scheduled to be with his other father until the weekend ends.

“He’s just a child. Spare him.”

He sighs and walks in the direction of the kitchen. “He’s really just like you.”

He unconsciously shakes his head while he slips the food containers into the food bags he prepared early in the morning.

“Of course, Jun. He’s my son.” Sehun, his ex-husband, chuckles.

Junmyeon just rolls his eyes as he hears the father and son make a high-five.

“Don’t give him sweets.” He tells Sehun. He comes back quickly from the kitchen, holding two lunch boxes.

“Pa, what am I? A kid?” Sejun groans as he complains.

Junmyeon faces his son and pinches both of his cheeks. “Yes, and you are my kid.”

Sejun tries to escape his father’s hold but Junmyeon doesn’t let him. “Yeah, but I’m not a baby anymore. Pa, stop—”

“You’re still my baby, whether you like it or not.”

“Alright, that’s enough.” Sehun interferes. Time is running out and he wants to make the most out of it before he returns Sejun to his other dad, Junmyeon, the next day. “Sejun, let’s go.”

Junmyeon lets go of his son and fix his collar. “Be a good boy, okay?”

“I am always a good boy.” Sejun the good boy defends himself.

“I’m serious, Sejun. I will call your dad once in a while if I sense that you’re being naughty again.”

Junmyeon helps his son wear his backpack while Sehun takes the bag of snacks Junmyeon prepared earlier for their son to take with him before Sehun even arrived.

Sejun smirks and whispers to his Papa Jun. “You know I’m a good boy, Pa. You’re just finding a reason to call dad and talk to him, that’s it.”

Upon hearing his son’s teasing, he suppresses himself not to hit him. Not that he has the courage to do so. He never hit Sejun. Never. “You…” He just mutters. He wishes that Sehun didn’t hear what their son had said.

“You two, go.” He shoos the two gentlemen away.

“I’ll bring him home tomorrow evening.” 

“You better. Don’t kidnap my son.” Junmyeon jokes. 

Sehun is so used to it.

His ex-husband laughs, eyes forming crescent shapes, and Junmyeon is retracting himself from falling to it for the hundredth time since they have met.

“Well, you better say goodbye to him. You might not see him from now on.” Teases back Sehun.

Junmyeon rolls his eyes again, not really expecting that Sehun will still ride on his jokes after all that had happened to them.

“I will call the police.” He sternly says back. 

Sehun gives him a small smile. “Thank you, Jun.”

“I’m serious about calling the police, Sehun.” Sehun only laughs at him but not in a mocking way. “Just go.”

They have been doing this for the past 5 years but this kind of exchange never fails to make Junmyeon’s heart sink every time. 

What happened to us?

“Let’s go, Dad,” Sejun calls Sehun. “Before papa continues to scold us both.”

“Alright, buddy.”

Junmyeon walks them to the door. 

“Bye, Pa.”

“Where’s my kiss?” He asks his son.

He sees Sehun look at their son as if waiting for them to share their goodbye kiss. “Pa, I’m not a kid anymo—”

Junmyeon immediately places a kiss on his son’s left cheek which earns a groan from the teenager. He then chuckles when he sees Sejun wiping the cheeks he just kissed. 

“Bye, Jun.” It’s Sehun.

They stare at each other and stay like that for almost a minute, not sure of what to do next until their son interrupts their little world.

“Ehem…” Sejun fakes a cough. “Do you also want to kiss or something?”

Junmyeon withdraws from the stare first and looks at his son. “What happened to being a good boy huh? Not even 5 minutes have passed.” 

Their playful son just laughs at him. “Let’s go, Dad. I can already see the smoke coming out of Papa's nose.”

“This brat…”

Sehun is just enjoying his son’s and his ex’s banter but doesn’t let them consume any more time so he interjects. “Goodbye, Jun. Don’t stress yourself too much. I got him.”

“Please, take care of him.” There's an apparent worry in Junmyeon's voice.

“As I always do.”

Sejun walks ahead to where Sehun’s car is parked, leaving his parents behind. 

They look at their strolling son before Sehun starts to follow. “We got to go.”

“Alright.” He says. But before the duo could walk further, he left another instruction to Sehun.

“Don’t feed him sweets!”

“Pa!!!”

★★★

“How’s your Papa?”

They are lounging on Sehun’s sectional sofa while watching the new Marvel movie that for sure Junmyeon isn’t familiar with. Sejun is munching a newly opened bag of unhealthy salted chips Sehun had bought for him before they head home to the latter’s house. He will surely hear from Junmyeon once his ex-husband finds out, but at least he followed what the other father reminds him — it’s not sweet!

“He’s fine.” Answers his son, almost ignoring him because he’s too invested in what they are watching. Actually, Sehun isn’t even watching because he can’t concentrate for some reason he doesn’t know of. He just doesn’t feel the movie today. Maybe he’ll just rewatch it later when Sejun goes to sleep.

He hums as a response and does not budge any further even though he wants to know more. About what? Again, he isn’t sure.

“Drink a lot of water after you finish that, young man.” He reminds his son instead. “Your Papa will get mad at me.”

“Oh, come on.”

Thinking that his son is completely ignoring him as the kid only has his eyes on the 100-inch television and has not even given him a single glance since the film has started, and now he’s blubbering some random side comments about the movie, Sehun excuses himself and stands up from the sofa to get his son a glass of water, but immediately stops as soon as Sejun adds something.

“Papa will not get mad at you, Dad.”

“Huh?”

Finally, Sejun looks at him. “Papa. Will. Not. Get. Mad. At. You.” Repeats his son, emphasizing each word.

“Right.” Sehun nods. “We just need to make sure he won’t find out that you’re eating unhealthy snacks here in my house. Right, he will not get mad if he doesn’t know.”

Sejun picks the remote control from the coffee table and presses the pause button. He can’t skip the important parts of the movie but at the same time, he can’t let this day pass without him lecturing his dad.

“I can text him right this instant and send him pictures of me eating this junk and I promise you, Dad, he still won’t get mad.”

“At you maybe, but at me, he will.” Sehun counters. “You’re my responsibility, son.” 

Sejun exhales loudly, letting his father hear it. It sounds like the teenager is disappointed in him and curiosity is eating Sehun up now. Did he say something wrong?

“Papa doesn’t have the heart to get mad at you, okay?”

“And how can you say that? Are you your Papa’s spokesperson now? Huh?” Sehun pinches the cheeks of his son, a gesture he learned from Junmyeon whenever their son is being naughty.

“Ouch.” Sejun flinches. “You’re just like Papa.”

“No,” 

While he’s telling the truth, Sehun wishes that he and Junmyeon are just the same. With that, maybe their differences didn’t split them apart.

“Your Papa’s pinches are way more destructive than mine.”

Sejun looks at him as if judging him, while both of his thick eyebrows are raised. Sehun wonders where his son got that from. Hmmm?

“Did Papa like pinching your cheeks too whenever you say something stupid before?”

Oh Sejun, if only you know.

Sehun wants to punch something right now. Anything to let himself breathe. His son’s innocent question brings back memories he shouldn’t be thinking right in front of his kid and he can’t help himself so he just acts all strict.

“Language.”

“Why? I didn’t say anything bad.” Sejun reasons. 

“See? That’s why your Papa likes to pinch you. You’re such a naughty boy.”

“I’m not a boy anymore.”

“You’re still my boy.”

“Stop, Dad.”

“Me and your papa’s boy.”

“Dad!”

Even though he’s only able to spend time with his son during the weekends, he always makes sure to make the most out of it.

That’s why whenever Sejun is with him, he cancels all his plans to spend time with his son.

“Alright, alright.” He surrenders after his son’s protest. “You are not a boy anymore because you are a big boy now!”

As expected, Sejun doesn’t budge anymore further but he doesn’t fail to give Sehun the best eye roll that Junmyeon believed his son got from Sehun himself. 

You see, Junmyeon was married to a brat once in his life and it’s not shocking that Sejun is very much like his other father even though Junmyeon carried him for months. Life is really unfair, you know.

“I’m never coming back here.” Sejun says as he resumes watching the neglected film on the screen.

“You’ll miss me.” Sehun says confidently.

“Actually Dad,” his son starts, making sure Sehun is listening to him intently, “Papa should come here instead of me.”

Sehun acts surprised. Well, he actually is but he tries not to show it. Every time his ex-husband will be inserted into the conversation, it does things to his insides that he cannot even explain. 

“But he’s not my son.” He says instead, trying to throw a punchline but to no avail.

“Yeah,” Sejun answers while munching the chips Junmyeon always avoids him to eat, “because he’s the love of your life.”

Before Sehun could say something, the teenager beats him to it, “I don’t know what’s stopping you, Dad. Both of you actually.”

“Stopping us from what?”

Sejun sighs. For a thirteen-year-old, he’s really acting like older than both of his parents. “I don’t know.” He says. He really doesn’t know. For all he knows, his Papa and Dad are friends. They even treat each other very nicely so he doesn’t understand what stops them from maybe, getting back together? He doesn’t know.

“Sejun…”

“Dad,” Sejun stops his Dad, “I get it.”

He doesn’t.

In fact, he doesn’t know if intervening in his parents' relationship is appropriate but can they blame him? For most of his life, he always asks himself what’s wrong with him. Why does he needs to live with either of his parents and not with both of them? Why does he need to defend himself every time he gets bullied by his classmates for having just one parent every Family Day in school? And why does he need to contemplate at such a young age why he doesn’t belong to a complete family. At seven, he trusted his Papa Jun when they had to live without his Dad. He was a kid. He thought it was normal. At ten, he questioned every move his parents did. From having little to no care whenever they were together, to not kissing each other on the lips like what his classmates were seeing from their parents. Now at thirteen, he thought he would finally understand everything like what his Papa would always tell him. He guesses he needs more years to digest all of it.

“Papa told me it’s complicated.”

Sehun releases a deep sigh as he listens to their son. He doesn’t know what to say, to be honest.

“It’s really complicated, Dad.” Sejun continues. “But you know, whenever you fetch me in the house, Papa is always excited to prepare my snacks.”

“At first I thought it’s because he’s excited to get rid of me so that he could have his alone time every weekend.” The kid chuckles. “That was lame, I know. I shouldn’t have had that thought about Papa. He’s the sweetest.” 

“Then I realized that he’s excited whenever you are coming because, well, you are coming.”

Sehun doesn’t speak but he let Sejun sees that he’s kind of confused even though he’s actually assuming things based on what his son had said.

“He likes it when you visit me at home on weekdays after school. He acts tired whenever he prepares you snacks every time you’re there but he actually likes preparing those meals for you. He likes it when you stay at his house for a while every Saturday, waiting for me to finish my bath so that we can go to your house. He likes it, Dad. Papa doesn’t say those things in words but I know those are what he means every time.”

Sehun rests his head on the headrest of the sofa, eyes glued to the white ceiling above them.

He remembers how Junmyeon took cooking lessons one month into their marriage so that he could prepare meals for Sehun because he doesn’t really cook. 

He remembers how Junmyeon would always ask him if his cooking skill is improving to which Sehun always assures him that he’s doing great even though he always forgets to add salt to Sehun’s over-cooked sunny side up.

He remembers how Junmyeon hated seeing the boba when he was pregnant with Sejun every time he buys his favourite bubble tea. Sehun even cried when he couldn’t buy it for months because his then-husband couldn’t take the sight of the floating dark bobas.

He remembers how Junmyeon would always make sure that whatever they consume was the one he prepares, especially when they had Sejun because Junmyeon is that protective of them.

He then remembers the last time they ate together. It was in their small dining hall, with the food Junmeyon prepared very early in the morning. That was the moment they decided to end things.

He sighs as he closes his eyes, the white paint of the ceiling is no longer visible but instead, the face of his ex-husband appears.

He stays like that. Admiring Junmyeon from his memory, not minding the loud action scene of the abandoned Marvel movie in front of them.

“I know he still loves you, Dad.”

By the time his son ends his sentence, Sehun let it fall. The tears he has been suppressing since earlier start to stream down his cheeks. But he doesn’t let out a sob. He doesn’t want his son to see him cry. He just let it fall, not sure what is it for. 

“I’m going to my room.”

Sehun feels the sofa move a little, indicating that his son stands to leave him alone to go to his room in his house. His eyes are still closed so he cannot see Sejun but after some seconds he knows that he’s finally alone. 

After some time, he opens his eyes and there he starts to cry like a baby.

“Junmyeon…” he whispers to himself. He knows that Junmyeon will not appear in front of him by summoning him but he still tries. “Junmyeon…”

Sehun is sobbing hard while his son, who doesn’t really go straight to his room, is just watching him from above the stairs. He knows he shouldn’t be talking on behalf of his Papa Junmyeon but he’s certain that what he told his Dad was all true.

With one last glance at his Dad who’s now scrunched down like a shrimp on the sofa, he stands and goes to his room. Albeit a few meters away from Sehun, he consoles his Dad by crying with him on his bed, making an alternative universe in his head where his parents are together and where he doesn’t need to question his existence.

★★★

Sunday comes by quickly and Sehun needs to send Sejun back to Junmyeon already. It’s not that the latter restricts him from seeing their son, no. They actually agreed to co-parent Sejun without any restriction aside from them not living together. It’s just that he has an 8-hour job and he can’t afford to leave Sejun alone in his house whenever he’s not around. Junmyeon, on the other hand, is a freelancer and an online editor so he’s usually at home to be with their son. He’s also co-managing their family’s flower shop business so raising Sejun alone wouldn’t really be a problem even if Sehun doesn’t give his support. But of course, Sehun is a responsible man. A responsible father. Things may not go in his and Junmyeon’s way but they remain the responsible parents that Sejun needs. Their marriage failed but they made sure to set that aside for the sake of their son.

For the past five years, Sejun witnessed how his fathers tried not to look affected by the presence of each other. He may be a kid but he’s a very intelligent kid so he knows that something is definitely wrong with their setup.  

He still doesn’t know the reason why his parents decided to call it quits but he’s betting his trust in them that it was something worth the divorce papers.

“Is everything already in your bag?”

Sejun just nods to his Dad’s question. He's not in the mood to talk if he's going, to be honest.

Sehun is busy setting up the car so he doesn’t see the gesture Sejun did who is now approaching his car.

“Sejun,” He asks again firmly this time when he heard no answer.

“I already said yes.” The younger brat whines.

His son has been acting weird since they woke up earlier that morning.

“You didn’t answer me the first time.” 

Sejun opens the door of the shotgun seat and quickly settles himself as soon as he threw his backpack on the back seat. “Yes! Yes! Yes! Everything is in the bag!”

Sehun retreats from riding the driver’s seat and crosses his car from the front to go to Sejun who sitting on the other side. He opens the door of the passenger seat where his son is sitting and confronted the younger version of him. “What did you say?”

“I said everything is in the bag!”

Now, now, Sehun knows he’s a brat himself but he won’t tolerate this kind of behaviour. “Are you really screaming at your father?” He asks, almost mad. Almost. Because despite wanting to castigate his son, he doesn’t want Sejun to get mad at him. After all, Junmyeon is the more disciplinarian one between the two of them.

“You asked, I just answered.” Reasons Sejun. He’s avoiding Sehun’s gaze and just looking right straight at the windshield. His dad may not be as scary as his Papa Junmyeon when mad but Sehun’s intimidating aura isn’t one to take lightly despite.

“Do you do this to your Papa?” Sehun isn’t done interrogating his son. 

Sejun slowly turns his head to his right to finally look at his dad, afraid of whatever Sehun’s expression might be. But he’s not Sehun’s son for nothing so he just continues where he started. “What? Answers him too whenever he asks me something?”

“Sejun!”

“I just want to go home, Dad!”

Sehun releases a defeated sigh as he strides his way to the driver’s seat.

And as soon as he composes himself in his seat, he starts the car to drive to his ex-husband’s house. “I’m telling this to your Papa.”

★★★

When Sehun and he separated, Junmyeon thought that that was it, that they can no longer be a part of each other’s lives anymore. If not for Sejun, it will probably end like that. So, is he thankful that they have Sejun so that he still has a reason to be with Sehun? Maybe yes. But his son is more than that. Sejun is more than just his connection to Sehun.  

Sejun is the greatest thing that has ever happened to him. And he’s certain that it’s the same for Sehun. For the most part of their son’s life, he didn’t get to experience the complete family he’s been wishing for, but Junmyeon believes that they did everything for him.

It’s already thirty minutes past 7 in the evening and Junmyeon knows that Sehun and Sejun will arrive any moment soon. 

The oven ding after some minutes and he immediately goes to check the mac and cheese he made. Sejun doesn’t really like macaroni at all. Him neither.

He takes the casserole off the oven and wipes the excess on its side. 

He then hears a car parked in front of his house. 

“Finally.” He whispers to himself.

He wipes his hands off the shirt he is wearing as he approaches the door to welcome his son and his ex-husband.

“I thought you will spend another night with your Dad.”

“Sorry. There was a stream of heavy traffic on the way.” Sehun apologizes while carrying Sejun’s backpack. He hands it to Junmyeon and the latter gladly accepts it.

“But it’s Sunday?”

Sehun just shrugs. “I don’t know either.”

Junmyeon puts Sejun’s bag on the couch as his eyes follow his son who’s now marching his way to the staircase. “Sejun?”

Sejun doesn’t seem to hear him or at least tries to make it look like he doesn’t hear his Papa, but in reality, he just wants to go to his room and ignore his parents.

“Sejun!” 

Junmyeon hears as Sehun sighs behind him. “What’s wrong with him?” He asks as soon as he faces Sehun.

“We kind of argue on the way here.” Sehun admits.

Junmyeon doesn’t speak but urges his ex-husband to explain by raising both of his eyebrows.

“I scolded him.”

“Oh no, what did he do?” Junmyeon knows that Sehun wouldn’t just scold their son unprovoked. He knows that Sejun must have done something for Sehun to do that.

Sehun looks at the bag that is situated on the sofa where Junmyeon left it and after some seconds looks at Junmyeon. “Well, it was my fault.”

“Care to share what happened over dinner?” Junmyeon suggests. 

They both look at the dining table, which is by the way still a mess since Junmyeon isn’t done preparing all the dishes before the father and son duo came. 

Sehun thinks for a while. It’s almost eight in the evening and he has to drive back home for almost an hour. He usually sleeps at ten because he has to wake up early to prepare for work. But then when he looks at his ex-husband, although he doesn’t want to assume, he sees the hope in Junmyeon’s doe eyes.

“Uhm, is that, is that okay? I mean, how about Sejun?” He timidly asks.

“He’ll come around,” Junmyeon assures him. “Besides, you might stuck in another traffic on the way home. Better get your stomach full before you drive back.”

“But Sejun…”

“Just let him be. I’ll talk to him later.”

Sehun nods and follows Junmyeon into the kitchen.

“I made mac and cheese.” Junmyeon happily announces while trying to clean the dining table. Keyword: try.

Sehun’s eyes widen. “Ohh”

Junmyeon gestures for him to sit while he puts a plate in front of him, serving him the dish he proudly made. 

After all, mac and cheese is Sehun’s favourite.

“Thank you.”

Junmyeon occupies the seat across his ex-husband as soon as he’s done serving him. “Tell me what you think.” 

Sehun scoops a spoonful and quickly puts it in his mouth. “Hmmm”

In front of him, Junmyeon is anticipating his verdict. 

“Hmmm,” He’s thinking of teasing Junmyeon, telling him it’s not good, but Junmyeon might not be in the mood, so he just honestly gives his comment. “Still as good as before.”

“Really?” Junmyeon shyly asks. “I’ve never tried that for years, I thought I don’t know how to do it anymore.” He then chuckles.

“The amount of cheese is perfect, not too much,” Sehun criticizes, “Just the way I like it.”

They stare at each other for a while before Junmyeon fakes a cough. “I’m glad you still like it.” He pauses for a while before he adds something. “After all this time.” He whispers as he munches his own mac and cheese.

They almost eat in complete silence if not for Sehun telling stories about Sejun and his love for action films. 

Junmyeon tells him that as much as possible he doesn’t want Sejun to watch those kinds of movies because they portray violence. Sehun makes him choose between action films or the R-rated ones to which Junmyeon hysterically retorts with, “Do you let our son watch porn with you!?”

Sehun also discloses why he scolded Sejun and Junmyeon promise him that he will talk to their son.

They finish eating after some time and Sehun offers to wash the dishes but Junmyeon doesn’t let him, saying he’s a guest and he shouldn’t be doing that. 

A guest. Sehun feels his heart shatter in an instant.

“Junmyeon” He calls his former husband who’s busy polishing the dining table while he sits on the couch. He keeps rubbing his hands together, fidgeting with his fingers.

Junmyeon joins him in the living room in no time. “Are you going home?” Sejun’s Papa asks.

“Actually,” Sehun hesitates at first but then he continues. “Can I talk to Sejun before I go?”

Junmyeon sits beside him, making sure to add a safe distance. 

“I know he’s tired and probably still mad at me but I don’t want this day to end without us talking.”

“Okay”, Junmyeon, without hesitation, says. “His room is at the left.”

“Thank you, Jun.”

Sehun stands up and makes his way to the staircase until he reaches the only door on the left side of the house’s second floor.

He gently knocks. “Buddy?” 

No answer.

“Sejun? This is Dad. Can we talk? You still haven’t eaten.” He knocks again but he still comes to the same result. Sejun doesn’t open the door. He doesn’t even answer his Dad.

Junmyeon follows suit after realizing that Sehun is standing for too long outside their son’s room.

“Maybe he’s already asleep,” Sehun says as soon as Junmyeon joins him, but this is more of trying to console himself than making Junmyeon not worry about their son. “I guess I’ll just have to come back tomorrow after his school. I’ll trust in you that you have already talked to him by that time.”

“No.” Junmyeon quickly counters him. “We’ll talk to him. He’s being stubborn again.” He shakes his head before he opens the door to Sejun’s room without knocking.

“Pa!”

Sehun follows his ex-husband who right away invites himself inside. “What’s wrong with you?”

Sejun sits up from lying on his bed as he removes the headphones from his head. “What are you talking about, Pa?”

“Say sorry to your Dad.” 

“What the fuck?”

“Sejun!”

The command and shout from Junmyeon trigger Sehun to interrupt. He doesn’t want his son to get mad at them even more.

“Jun…”

“No, Sehun. He’s being difficult.”

“What did I do!?” The teenager frustratedly asks, almost throwing his tablet at the foot of his bed.

“Sejun,” It’s Sehun. “You know we’re just trying to discipline you.”

“Discipline me from what? What the hell did I do wrong?”

Junmyeon isn’t having it so he interjects again, making sure Sejun will listen to him by gripping his son’s wrist gently. “What is your problem?” He asks as he hunches over to meet Sejun’s eyes.

“You!” Sejun violently unleashes himself from his Papa’s hold until Junmyeon almost falls backwards. Fortunately, Sehun is behind him for support, holding both of his arms in the process.

“What—”

“You! Both of you! You are my problem!”

Sejun is on the verge of crying now but Junmyeon knows that their son is just trying to fight it because he doesn’t want to show them his weaker side.

“Sejun, what are you saying?” Sehun asks this time because he notices how shocked Junmyeon is upon hearing their son shout.

“I hate you both!”

“Son…”

“I don’t understand why you have to take turns in taking care of me.” 

This is what scares Junmyeon. Their son has been asking him about their arrangement but he never acts like this. Most of the time, Sejun would just shrug and stays silent until they forget the conversation. But this time, Sejun must have lost it.

Junmyeon composes himself. He exhales deeply while trying to absorb what his son had said. Sehun is still holding him from behind.

“Baby, your Dad and I, we’re not together anymore.”

“Then stop acting like a married couple!”

Sehun closes his eyes. He knew something is wrong when they started to talk about him and Junmyeon’s relationship last night in his house. 

He should’ve done something.

The former husbands get back on their thoughts when they hear their son sobs. 

“Dad, Papa, can you please try again?”

This is probably the biggest request Sejun asks them to do. On a normal day, Junmyeon would immediately oppose such an extensive appeal, but this time, he cannot speak, and so as Sehun.

The room remains silent for a good minute.

“Can you please leave me alone?” Sejun pleads.

Junmyeon breaks free from Sehun’s hold and tries to hug his son but Sejun shuns him. “Baby…”

“Please, Papa.”

Junmyeon wants to protest but Sehun stops him. “Come on, Jun.”

Sejun puts the headphone back in his head and scrunches down on his bed, covering himself with a blanket.

They get out and Sehun carefully closes the door, not wanting to disturb their son any further.

As soon as they’re outside, Junmyeon breaks down, and Sehun is quick to embrace his former lover, drawing big circles on his back. 

“Sehun…”

“Shhh,” Sehun is hurting too, but he knows that one of them needs to be stronger than the other. They cannot fall through together. “It’ll be all right.”

Junmyeon continues to cry to his chest and he just lets the man be. 

“Our son is smart.” Sejun does. In fact, he has been a consistent honour student since he started middle school and Junmyeon and Sehun couldn’t be any more proud. “He’ll understand it soon.”

“Y-you think?” Junmyeon asks against his chest, sniffling his white polo shirt in the process.

“We just need to make him understand and he’ll eventually get it.”

Junmyeon retracts himself from Sehun and immediately gets self-conscious when he sees how he made Sehun’s polo shirt wet. “Oh, I’m sorry.” He tries to wipe it but of course, he can’t make it disappear instantly.

“Jun, it’s okay.”

Junmyeon wipes the mixture of tears and mucus on his face and Sehun laughs at him because of that.

Using the back of his palm, he hits Sehun’s chest for giggling at him.

“You haven’t changed, Jun.”

They stay glued to where they are standing, not minding if they’re still outside of Sejun’s room. 

“Still my same old Jun.”

An awkward silence follows after Sehun’s word but Junmyeon is quick to break it. 

“Uhm, it’s already late.” 

“Yeah” Sehun agrees. He clicks his tongue and nods. “Yeah, I got to go.”

They head downstairs with Junmyeon leading the way. 

“Thank you for not kidnapping my son.” Junmyeon jokes while picking up Sejun’s backpack they had left on the couch earlier. He’s trying to remove the tension between them. 

“But I must’ve brought back a wrong son.” Sehun rebuts Junmyeon’s antic, bringing back the reason why they are in an awkward situation right now.

“I’m so sorry about him.”

“Stop saying that, it’s not your fault.”

“Did we fail, Sehun?”

For the first time in five years, Sehun reaches for Junmyeon’s fluffy cheeks, his favourite part of his former husband aside from the other parts of him that was exclusively for him and only him. He caresses the man’s face with his thumb when Junmyeon doesn’t react and the latter just leans into his touch. “Maybe we did.” He answers Junmyeon. “But we’re trying, aren’t we?”

Junmyeon doesn’t speak but Sehun knows they both understand what he means.

“I’ll talk to him, I promise.”

Sehun withdraws himself from Junmyeon and wipes his sweaty hands on his thighs.

“I’ll come back tomorrow. We’ll talk to him together.”

“Alright.”

Sehun exhales. That’s his cue to leave. 

“I need to get going,” Sehun says. “We got another week tomorrow. Need to work harder so that I could buy Sejun more chips.”

They both laugh, remembering Sehun’s admission when they had dinner together earlier about him feeding Sejun unhealthy salted chips.

“I’m never leaving my son to you again.”

“You can’t do that.”

“Just go.”

Their little banter ends quickly and Junmyeon walks Sehun outside his house.

They bid their goodbyes, with Junmyeon never forgetting to remind Sehun to drive safely.

He walks back inside and plops himself on the couch, too tired to do something. He then remembers the dishes he left in the sink after he and Sehun ate the dinner he made so he gets up to tidy up his kitchen.

And if his tears fall in concert with the running water from the tap, neither Sehun nor Sejun needs to know.

★★★

The past week has been tough for both Sehun and Junmyeon. They have been trying to talk to their son, gradually explaining to him why they are not together.

Sejun is trying. He really does. But it’s not an easy-to-swallow pill. 

When his Papa told him the reason they decided to separate, he didn’t believe him at first.

They had him when Junmyeon was in his mid 20's while Sehun was in his early 20's. Young love as they said, but they immediately clicked and from then on decided to start their own family and get married afterwards. 

But things aren't always for the young. 

It's not always sweet and joyful and easy. 

And that is the thing that Sejun is trying hard to comprehend. 

Is falling out of love really a thing? Who the fuck falls out of love?

His parents apparently.

But then he realizes, his Papa Junmyeon is right. He’s still a kid. He still has a long way to go. He might not understand everything now but he looks forward to appreciating it anytime soon.

“Baby, what do you think of this?”

Junmyeon asks his son who’s slouching on the couch, playing some action online games on his phone.

“Oh shit!”

“Sejun!”

The teenager sits up straight. He’s just as shocked as his father. “Sorry, Pa. I just got carried away— woah, don’t you think that’s too much?”

Junmyeon shakes off the non-existing dirt on his newly bought pink sequined sweater he just puts on top of his plain shirt. “You think?”

“What is that even for?”

Sejun stands up, placing his phone in his pocket. It’s Saturday morning and he’s waiting for his Dad to fetch him. 

“Do I need a reason to wear it?” Junmyeon confidently asks. “I just feel like wearing it today, that’s it.”

“Sure, Pa.”

Maybe he’s not the only one waiting for his Dad to arrive. Sejun thinks.

Ten minutes later, Sehun shows up with a box of what is supposed to be a cake in his hand.

“Morning, Dad.” Sejun greets his other father.

“Good morning, buddy.” Sehun greets back but his eyes are ogling someone else that is not his son.

“Is that for me, Dad?” Sejun teases Sehun as soon as he sees the exchange of glances taking place in front of him. 

“Uhm…” Sehun is caught off guard.

It’s a mint chocolate cake based on the clear case that covers it. Sejun never liked mint chocolate cake, but he knows someone who loves it very much.

“Papa, go get your cake.” He instructed Junmyeon whose eyes are sparkling for some reason.

Junmyeon doesn’t need to wait for Sehun to announce that it is definitely for him because his ex-husband immediately hands the box to him.

“Thank you.”

“Hello,” Sejun interrupts. “I’m here.”

“Right.” Sehun shifts his gaze to their son and ruffles his hair. “You ready, buddy?”

The younger brat rolls his eyes. “I’ve been waiting for you since six in the morning.” That’s an exaggeration but Sehun will take it. “You’re late.”

“Sorry, bud.” The older brat apologizes. “I passed by your Papa and I’s favourite bakery and decided to buy some—”

“Yeah, okay, okay, I get it, love birds.”

“What?” Junmyeon questions their son, still holding the box of cake.

“What?” Sehun also asks.

“What?” Sejun pretends he didn’t say something and plays along with them. “I didn’t say anything.” 

His parents look at each other before he interrupts again. “Alright, alright, that’s enough. Come on, Dad, I want to try the PS5 already.”

Junmyeon smiles as they follow Sejun’s retracting image towards Sehun’s car.

“Don’t spoil him too much.” Junmyeon surely always has something to remind Sehun about Sejun.

“Actually, the PS5 was for me,” Sehun confesses playfully. “But since he’s my son, I’ll let him touch it for a little while.”

They exchange a burst of quick laughter before they hear Sejun from the outside.

“Dad, let’s go!”

Sehun shakes his head. “That brat.”

“It’s your genes,” Junmyeon pronounces. “Blame yourself.”

Instead of retorting, Sehun just flirts at his former husband.

“You look great, Jun.”

Junmyeon blushes.

“Really. I mean it.”

His cheeks are now the same colour as his sequined sweater. Thankfully, Sejun is outside, or else, his son will tease him non-stop.

“Just go.” He airily pushes Sehun away.

At that moment, Sehun realizes that after all this time, he still loves a flustered Junmyeon.

“Goodbye, Jun.”

Sejun shouts again, complaining something along the lines of, “It’s still very early to make me a sibling”, or something like that.

“I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Junmyeon doesn’t want to get his hopes high. Sehun will just return Sejun to his house, that’s it.

“With Sejun.”

They both nod.

“With Sejun.”

★★★

A few weeks have passed and Sejun’s parents remain what they are for the past five years — friends. 

But now with a lot of flirting at that.

Sejun finally accepts that his Papa and Dad will carry on like that, but he’s still hopeful. After all, both of them are still single for all Sejun knows.

Flowers continue to bloom as the month of May enters.

It’s Sejun's favourite month since school is finally over. He can easily ace his exams, and do all his papers without him cramming and crying to his parents about how school sucks. But he’s a no saint. 

School really sucks.

It’s also Junmyeon’s favourite month. Although he turns a little older every May, it’s a reminder to him of how beautiful his life is. With their family business continues to prosper, to him having Sejun in his life. He couldn’t really ask for more. 

Or he does do?

As for Sehun, it’s also actually his favourite month. Although his birthday falls every April, May is a very special month for him. Not because he can finally have Sejun for a longer period of time because he doesn’t have to go to school, or not because it’s his ex-husband’s birth month. Well, that’s one of the reasons, but his most reasonable reason why he loves the month of May is because of their anniversary. 

He and Junmyeon decided to get married on the 2nd of May nearly 15 years ago. That’s the midpoint between their birthdays. It’s 20 days after his birthday and 20 days before Junmyeon’s, that’s why it’s very special to them.

But that was before.

Before when they were still happy.

Before when everything went downhill.

It’s the first day of the month and Junmyeon is currently in the garden, watering the plants when a car parks outside their gate.

He knows the sound of that engine. Only one person, or car for that matter, could make Junmyeon stops at whatever he is doing.

He turns off the hose and wipes his hand on his favourite loose pink t-shirt that he loves wearing and tramps to the gate to welcome the man he has been waiting for since… actually, he couldn’t count how long.

“Sehun.” He greets his son’s other father.

“Morning, Jun.”

He gestures towards the door and Sehun instantly follows. 

“Sejun is probably still asleep,” Junmyeon announces as they approach the kitchen. “That kid. I don’t know what he’s doing every night. He didn’t even drink his milk last night, can you believe that!” He shakes his head, wanting Sehun to take pity on him because the milk he put his heart out making last night was ignored by their very good son.

“Have you had your breakfast already?” He adds instead when Sehun just smiles at his story.

Sehun unconsciously pulls one chair from the dining table and suits himself uninvited while Junmyeon cuts oranges and directs them to the juicer on the counter.

“What do you have here?”

Junmyeon stops squeezing for a while to think. What does his little kitchen have?

“Uhm, let’s see.” He roams his eyes around the room and Sehun just watches him. “There’s pancake over there, and there are boxes of cereals there, but you can’t touch that if you still want your son to respect you,” He jokes, reminding Sehun how their son loves cereals in the morning. “And then we have eggs here,” He points to his left where the tray of eggs is located. “And then what else, hmmm?”

“You.”

“What?”

“And then there’s you.” Sehun clarifies.

“Sehun...”

“I already ate, Jun.” His former husband puts an end to the awkwardness he started.

Junmyeon swallows the lump in his throat. He suddenly feels hot. He knows he’s red as a tomato right now so he swiftly averted his gaze from his ex’s.

“Alright,” He goes back to where he had left off, turning his back to continue squeezing the oranges. “Just have this juice.”

He then hears the chair move, Sehun must’ve stood from his seat.

“But I wouldn’t mind feasting more.”

Junmyeon turns his head to see that Sehun does indeed stands up to come close to his direction.

He moves double time in squeezing the orange before Sehun could come near him and rapidly pour the poor juice into the glass.

“Here.” He quickly turns around to hand Sehun the glass of massacred orange juice. 

“Thank you.” Sehun gratefully takes the glass, it’s leaking but he doesn’t care.

He takes a quick gulp before putting the glass down on the counter where Junmyeon is leaning his back, looking nervous for some reason. And when he says some, it means Sehun.

“You really look good on pink, do you know that?” Sehun seriously says.

They’re just inches apart now and Junmyeon can feel his heart pumps blood faster than usual.

“Stop.” He whispers to himself before Sehun can hear how loud his heart is beating.

He wants to move away from Sehun, run away even, but his body betrays him. Suddenly, he can’t move.

Sehun starts to lean toward him. Being the taller between them really has an advantage to the point that Junmyeon feels caged even though Sehun’s hands are yet to trap him between the counter and himself.

As Sehun moves closer, Junmyeon closes his eyes anticipating what he thinks his former husband is going to do. But instead of lips pressed against his own, a loud cackle from Sehun made him open his eyes.

“You’re so cute, Jun.”

Junmyeon opens his eyes. He’s not having it. Sehun surely has a special place in hell waiting for him.

He walks away, ready to leave Sehun inside the kitchen alone when the latter pulls his wrist.

Now they’re face to face for the second time that morning alone and Junmyeon’s heart is betraying him again.

“Sehun, what is this?” He bravely asks Sehun this time.

Sehun is still holding his wrist, not too tight, but also not too gentle.  

“If you’re just going to laugh at me for hoping something between us, just let go of me.”

“What if I tell you you’re not the only one hoping for a second chance?”

Sehun, for the second time, leans toward Junmyeon, but this time, the smaller father doesn’t close his eyes. 

They try to outstare their gazes, hearts beating synchronously with each other. 

“Sehun…”

Upon hearing his name, Sehun responds differently and finally presses his lips to the pair he has been longing for years.

Junmyeon doesn’t react at first but when Sehun starts to move his tongue, he follows.

The kiss tastes like fresh yellow tulips on the 1st of May; it’s as sweet as newly-picked orange in the morning. It’s more than just a kiss to relieve the craving for something that all those years have taken away from them; it tastes like years of yearning, of pining, of love. 

Sehun’s hands slowly travel down Junmyeon’s back, pausing between his ex-lover’s lower back and buttocks, while Junmyeon’s hands are on his nape, clasping them together, to which Sehun won’t be able to escape.

They kiss like that for minutes, and once in a while will stop for some seconds to inhale some air.

When they part a little longer, they open their eyes and smile at each other. 

“I missed that.” Sehun tells Junmyeon.

They’re panting lightly, foreheads glued together as they hold each other closely in the middle of Junmyeon’s kitchen.

“Me too.”

Sehun bites his lower lip. Junmyeon loves it when he does that.

“How do you manage to do that?” Junmyeon whispers against their lips.

“What, baby?”

“Drives me crazy every time.”

They claim each other's lips again but this time with more intensity. 

It’s now torrid, wet, and luscious. 

It’s loud.

It’s roaring.

The only sound they can hear are themselves panting, puffing.

It seems like they do not care about their surroundings. 

They pay no attention around them that even the footsteps that are coming from the staircase aren’t able to stop them from devouring each other.

“Pa, is Dad coming over— WHAT THE HELL!?”

★★★

Junmyeon wakes up a little groggy. He isn’t able to open his eyes fully because the sunray from the window is dazzling him. He never likes it like that. He loves mornings but not when his problematic eyes are being affected. 

And then he remembers. 

Someone he used to love loves opening the curtain every morning. 

“Sehun?”

He receives no answer. He tries to stand but his hips won’t let him. It's hurting, alright.

“Sehun?” Now he’s starting to panic when no one answers. “Sehun!”

The door to his bathroom then springs open, revealing the man he has been calling.

“Honey?”

Sehun walks closer to him, a toothbrush in his mouth.

Junmyeon doesn’t remember having a spare toothbrush in his bathroom.

“Is that my toothbrush?”

“What?” Sehun innocently asks as he continues to brush his teeth in front of Junmyeon who has now successfully sat himself up from the bed.

“That’s my toothbrush, you punk!” He throws one pillow in Sehun’s direction and the latter’s quick to avoid it by running back to the bathroom.

He gargles immediately and goes back to where his soon-to-be-husband is laying.

He joins Junmyeon on the bed as if no throwing of pillow happens.

"You used my toothbrush, you—" 

“We already shared liquid from our bodies, baby, what’s the difference?”

“Sehun!”

Sehun cages Junmyeon in his arms before the smaller man can throw another pillow at him and laughs at him for being flustered every time the conversation will lead to those things.

“Let me go— awww!” Junmyeon cries as he tries to move his lower body to somehow escape Sehun's hold but to no avail because he’s sore, sore.

“Are you hurt?” Sehun asks worriedly.

“Are you hurt?” Junmyeon repeats the question, mocking himself. “Of course, it hurts. This is all your fault!” He hits Sehun in the chest.

“But you did like it, don’t you?” Sehun teases him, winking in the process.

“Oh Sehun, I’m telling you…”

Sehun shushes him by kissing him on the lips as he now lies on his back again, with the former hovering above him.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know you can’t take me anymore.” Sehun says after withdrawing from the kiss.

“Hey,” Junmyeon rebuts, “What are you saying, huh? I can still take you!” He can’t let his pride down. “It’s you who can’t take another round, not my fault.”

Sehun smiles as Junmyeon rolls his eyes. “Well, that makes the both of us.”

He puts another peck on Junmyeon’s lips before they continue their silly pillow talk.

“I can’t believe I’m close to 40, Sehun.”

In 20 days, Junmyeon will celebrate his 39th birthday.

Another peck.

“Then you will be the most beautiful and wonderful 40 years old to exist when that happens.”

“Stop.”

“It’s true, baby.”

Sehun continues to hover above him, not minding if his arms are hurting now for supporting his weight.

They aren’t getting any younger and Junmyeon can’t help but overthink.

“Do you think Sejun will be happy?”

When Sejun caught them yesterday in the kitchen, they aren’t expecting their son to accept them that quick.

Sure, Sejun has been hoping and praying for a complete family but he’s just starting to understand things now.

So when they asked him his thoughts about them possibly getting back together, their son just shrugged. 

The kid’s not mad, though. He’s just a little confused and skeptical.

“I know he will.”

Junmyeon’s eyes are hopeful. 

"Don't think too much, honey."

The man below just stares at Sehun.

“Don’t tell me you think of rejecting my proposal last night?” Nervously, Sehun asks.

Junmyeon rolls his eyes. “You didn’t even have a ring.” 

“How would I know? I just woke up feeling light yesterday, ready to fetch my son and have a date with him but I didn’t even think that my ex-husband would invite me to have sex with him after—”

“Shut up!” Junmyeon almost slaps Sehun in the face.

“Then make me, baby.”

Junmyeon doesn't think twice. 

They share another kiss that Junmyeon initiates before he stops them from going any further. He’s still tired from last night, and besides, they now have a lifetime to do whatever they want.

The second time’s a charm, they said.

“You said yes already. You can’t run away from me again, Jun.” Sehun says to which Junmyeon agrees, smiling at his lover. 

They start laughing when they remember how Sehun proposed to him last night while they were literally in their post-orgasm state. 

"Ugh faster, Sehun! Why are you slowing down?"

You see, it's really Junmyeon's fault why he's so sore. 

His head is plastered on the pillow but he still manages to reprimand Sehun who's kneeling behind him, taking his precious time admiring Junmyeon's bare back while slowly thrusting his hips. 

"My lower back is hurting, Jun. I think I need to go to the doctor." Sehun casually says as if his dick isn't going in and out of his ex's equally precious hole. 

He's 36, alright. His stamina is a lot different now compared to when they made Sejun 13 years ago. 

"I told you to stop eating nuts, that's not healthy— ah fuck, yes right there. Oh my god, there!"

"Language, Jun. Language." Sehun teases Junmyeon as if he's talking to their son. He knows he hit the right spot. 

"Fuck you!" 

"No, honey. I'm fucking you." 

Sehun's dirty talk makes Junmyeon clench. "Fuck, Junmyeon! So tight." He growls. 

He continues thrusting, not minding his aching lower back anymore. He has been waiting for this for years. For him to hold Junmyeon again in his arms. For him to feel complete again that only his ex-husband could satisfy. 

Junmyeon is gripping the blanket and pillow below him, screaming Sehun's name in between his moaning and cursing. He hasn't felt this way for the past five years and he missed the feeling of Sehun being inside him, not only physically but in all the aspects that would complement his whole being. 

They both reached their orgasms in no time and Sehun plops down to join Junmyeon on the bed. 

Their bodies are still sticky from sweat and tears and cum they released but they don't care. 

They did it again after five years and that's what matters most. 

Of course. 

"I love you, Jun." 

Sehun is still panting as he whispers to Junmyeon, whose eyes are still closed as he tries to recover from his high. His face is also still on the pillow and although he's having a hard time shifting his body to a comfortable position, he faces Sehun for his much-needed reply. 

"I love you, too, Sehun. Very much." 

Sehun caresses his face using his thumb, from his cheeks to his nose, and then to his lips. 

"Marry me, Junmyeon." 

Junmyeon opens his eyes. He is greeted by Sehun's hopeful ones. 

"Please. Marry me for the second time." 

"Are you really proposing right now?"

"If I don't do it now, when is the right time?" 

Junmyeon suppresses his laugh. "Maybe when your cock is not inside me?"

Oh right. Sehun is yet to pull out. 

"Well, that's the only thing I can insert right now." 

Junmyeon laughs and it makes his hole clench again. 

"Ugh, fuck, Jun, stop. Yes or no?" 

"Hmm, let me think about it." It's now Junmyeon's time to tease. 

But before he could laugh any further, Sehun beats him to it by pushing his dick to the hilt. 

"Ahhhh! Yes, Sehun, I'll marry you!" 

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how you propose. 

“Happy anniversary, my love.”

Junmyeon smiles.

“I want us to marry as soon as possible, but let’s make May 2nd our anniversary ‘till we die, alright? I don't want to wait another year and I don’t want to memorize another date.”

“Dumbass.”

Sehun helps him stand from the bed. He knows he’s going to limp so he massages his thighs.

“I’ll go out first. Sejun might think of something if we stay longer here.” He tells Sehun.

“And what’s wrong with that?” Sehun says while he tidies the comforter. Junmyeon is shocked at the sight. Sehun never fixes the bed.

“Do you think he knows?”

“Honey,” Sehun comes closer to him, “Our son is thirteen.”

“And?”

“He knows things.”

“No way.” Junmyeon shakes his head.

“Yes, way,” Sehun counters. “He probably even heard you scream my name last night.”

Junmyeon continues to hysterically shake his head. “No, no. That's impossible. He’s still my baby.”

“He’s a young man now, honey.”

“My baby is a young man now?” Junmyeon whispers to himself as he asks no one. He’s almost close to crying and Sehun can’t help but laughs at him.

“Alright, stop that, Jun.” He holds both Junmyeon's hands and makes the man look at him.

"No, my baby..."

“We need to accept it, my love. Our baby is now a grown-up man.”

Junmyeon sobs. 

“But I have a plan.” Sehun says, determined.

Junmyeon looks hopeful. Sehun is really the light to his darkness. Why did he wait for five years?

“Let’s just make another baby. How does that sound?” 

Maybe Junmyeon needs to rethink his decision. 

"OH SEHUN!" 

A smirk, a wink, a hard-on. 

And another pillow was thrown.

The End