Work Text:
Sanghyeok arrives at home and finds Hyeokgyu sitting at the sofa of their living room with his hands at his chin, and must be worried about their son. He joins him and engulfs him in a hug that Hyeokgyu needs.
Sanghyeok and Hyeokgyu have been married for quite a long now, and Minseok is the fruit of their marriage. Like Sanghyeok said to Hyeokgyu, he knows how his husband gives so much care to minseok. he once remembered how Hyeokgyu told him that he wanted their son to grow with much love and kindness in his heart. Sanghyeok and Hyeokgyu never fail to be at Minseok's side.
“Dad” Sanghyeok initiates. “Kumain ka na ba?”
“Kanina pero kaunti lang, pa. para may makain pa kayo ni minseok mamaya” hyeokgyu replies.
“Okay lang naman ako. para na lang kay minseok yan”
“Pa naman. uso ang mga sakit ngayon'' hyeokgyu says as sanghyeok removes his hug to his husband and diverts his hand to holding Hyeokgyu’s.
“I'm fine, dad. I promise.” Sanghyeok responses. “I am more worried of you and minseok. kumain na ba siya?”
“Hindi pa rin eh. it’s been hours after he arrived. hindi pa rin siya bumababa para kumain.”
“Hhmm. what if samahan natin siya matulog ngayon sa kwarto nya, dad? let us have our family time there. would it be okay with you?” sanghyeok asks. hyeokgyu thought that his husband’s idea is gorgeous so he nods. hays, what can i do without this man. hyeokgyu whispers in his mind.
Both of them stand at their seats and walk through their son’s room. Sanghyeok nods, waiting for their son to open the door but no one responds. good thing that Hyeokgyu tries to rotate the door knob and it is open so they silently and respectfully enters the room, finds Minseok to be sleeping at his bed but also is awake to the light that slips as his parents open the door.
“Papa? Dada? bakit po?'' Minseok questions with his groggy voice.
“Wala lang, anak. We just want to know how you are today. seems you are resting na. we are sorry." Sanghyeok replies. “Pwede ba kami matulog ng dada mo dito? we want to be on the side of our minseok.”
Minseok releases a small smile, permitting his parents to join him in his bed. Sanghyeok and Hyeokgyu make sure that in their middle is their son. Hyeokgyu combs the hair of Minseok with the use of his hand, while Sanghyeok faces his son and gives him a smile, reassuring smile that satisfy the need of Minseok to validate that he is fine, he is okay, and everything is fine and okay because he has his parents by his side.
"Anak, you are loved by dada and papa. your worth is not based sa kung ano ang ranking mo sa school o sa kahit na anong bagay." Sanghyeok opens the conversation. "I understand your pain, anak because you did your best. and for me and kay dada mo, hindi nasusukat ng kung anumang ranking ang pagod at pawis na lumabas para lang mapatunayan mong kaya mo. that is why we are very proud of you for pushing yourself to what you can do and release the best of you."
"Tama si papa mo, anak" Hyeokgyu continues. "You as our son is much more important to us. yes, we are happy for your success pero mas may mahalaga sa amin yung pangangatawan at kung ano ikaw, anak kaya stop being hard on yourself. hindi namin kailanman isusukat yung halaga mo sa mga nabibigay mo sa amin at sa sarili mo na ranking o kung anuman ang naa-achieve mo. pinaghirapan mo ang lahat para makatapos ka ngayong taon kaya masaya na kami doon."
Upon hearing the words of his parents, minseok's tears silently falls within his cheeks, resulting for Sanghyeok to pat his head like how he always do it with his son. hyeokgyu on the other hand, initiates to hug him that is followed by Sanghyeok to hug both of his husband and son. Minseok knows how caring and loving his two fathers are, as both of them demonstrated such understanding of love as he grows up. It always feels so surreal to experience a love that is longed for by many, that is why he always treasures these moments and calls himself a privileged one as he has parents who relatively grow with bigger hearts.
"Thank you Dada at Papa, kasi lagi kayong nandyan. Thank you po kasi you still choose to understand me." Minseok says.
"Lagi, anak. lagi. Pipiliin naming intindihin ka at pipiliin ka namin kahit ano ang mangyari." Hyeokgyu replies that results for sanghyeok to nod, assumes to agree with what his husband is saying. "Tahan na, anak. Magpahinga na tayo, okay? At baka may klase ka pa bukas."
"Wala naman po, Dada. Nagkataon po na may urgent meeting po yung university kaya sabi po sa amin wala po munang pasok."
"So, are you free tomorrow?" Sanghyeok asks, and Minseok answers him through nodding. "Then, let us have a family day. Saan mo gusto, Minseok anak?"
Minseok can't help but to smile. to see his papa with all smiles whenever family day is planned and set up. He always finds it so fondly. "Kahit ano po at saan, papa. basta po kasama ko po kayo."
Hyeokgyu butts in as he thinks of an idea. “What if punta ulit tayo amusement park or sa mga museum, since mahilig si Minseok sa mga painting?” Minseok’s eyes lighten up and Sanghyeok notices it.
“Okay. Museum day for family day.”
Their son’s smiles continue to widen. Minseok can’t stop thanking his parents. “Thank you po ulit, Papa at Dada. I love you po”
Hyeokgyu smiles and ruffles Minseok’s head. “Anything for you, anak.”
Minseok smiles and gives a kiss on the cheeks of his parents, showing his affection and nonstop gladness to this moment. He positions himself to a comfortable sleeping position and naps. Sanghyeok and Hyeokgyu observe with fondness in their eyes of their son. They can’t still believe and fathom about how Minseok grows easily. They had watched him his first bicycle ride down to getting wounds due to bicycle problems. They saw him achieving academic ribbons down to this moment, a weakness that both the parents have noticed. But gladness and easiness have conquered their hearts, knowing their son is at peace.
Sanghyeok looks at Hyeokgyu and the other does the same.
“I love you”, Sanghyeok mouths to him with a smile on his face.
Heyokgyu also smiles and replies. “I love you too. Thank you.”
As both of them head to sleep beside their son, Hyeokgyu can’t help himself but be thankful to what he has at this moment. An understanding husband who would do anything to keep him and Minseok in a better, cared, and loved family environment, and a son who is raised as a good man for himself and for others. This is something that some would ask for, a healthy family.
Hyeokgyu never fails to be amazed at time. From him to be Sanghyeok's boyfriend until today as his husband with an amazing son. He never fails to be thankful and wakes up in the next days to come, knowing great things are ahead and life will flow with kindness and love with his family, his Lá Fámilia, his home.