Chapter Text
“Mr. Cheng Is it true you live with Mr. Lu?”
The entire class burst into whispers and giggles, surprised that the student decided to confront the rumour head-first.
The black-haired man, standing tall in front of the whiteboard, grins widely. “That’s a secret,” he smiles while placing a finger over his mouth. The class only got louder, realizing the implications of his phrasing.
“Alright, let’s go back to the 20-60-20 rule. When looking for the perfect shot, you have to get some safe ones first. This can guarantee…”
—-
Lu Guang was bent over a large stack of papers, red pen in hand. His wrist flew across each test sheet like clockwork, efficiently marking the incorrect answers with a wide X mark. Of course, a class taught by Lu Guang is a class that does not fall behind when it comes to grades.
Another slender figure was seen in the seat across from him, typing away at his laptop. His face quickly contorted into something full of sadness, despair seeping through his expressions.
“Cheng Xiaoshi.”
“...Yeah?”
Lu Guang replied by tilting his head to the side.
“Well…it’s this kid in my class. He’s a great student n’ all, but-”
Cheng Xiaoshi cuts himself off, looking for the right words. “I just think he's having some problems at home. Comes to school with bandages all over.
He glances back at his screen, displaying a photo of a knife on a plain, white desk. The image is beautiful, the composition put together all too well. The negative space highlights the subject in the center, a singular blade. Cheng Xiaoshi can’t admire the work of his student alone, for worry overtakes him as well.
Lu Guang noticed the other’s worry and placed a hand on top of his. “You tend to come to conclusions too fast.”
Exasperated, Cheng Xiaoshi pulled his hand away. “Yeah, yeah. You doubt me too much, you know? I’m just worried.”
His partner sighed. There was no point in warning him, Lu Guang realized quite a while ago. When Cheng Xiaoshi sets his sights on something, he simply can’t look away until the matter is settled.
“Okay. What’s his name?”
—
There he was.
Standing in the empty corridor, peering into a classroom, stood a lanky teen with ash-colored hair. His appearance was unkempt and messy, tie crooked and collar askew.
That wasn’t the most noticeable part of his appearance, Lu Guang noted, for the large bandage stuck on his forehead stood out the most. If someone looked close enough, a few scratches, although light, could be spotted along his collarbone.
“…Till.”
The boy slightly jumped, turning away from the window to face Lu Guang who held a few binders in his arms.
He didn’t say anything, but Till looked nervous enough for Lu Guang to let it slide. “Shouldn’t you be in class?”
“…”
Still nothing. Before Lu Guang could ask where his class was, the teen murmured something almost inaudible.
“…How do you know my name?”
Of course, Lu Guang realizes. This kid wasn’t in any of his calculus classes, nor did they ever even interact before.
He can’t just tell him that it was Xiaoshi who told him to keep an eye out for Till, that would end horribly.
“I’ve seen you around,” he finally replied.
Without a word, Till gives the man a strange look before walking off.
…. Huh.
—
“Where did I put my keys?” a voice rang out from the kitchen. “The kids are gonna be late .” The bite in his words echoed all the way upstairs, where two very guilty siblings winced at each other (stopping in the middle of their cat fight over their switched socks) and quickly hurried downstairs.
“This is all your fault,” Sua glared at her brother. “Not only am I going to be late, but I won’t be able to talk to Mizi before class starts.”
Ivan rolled his eyes, the two of them making their way down to the living room. Yoo Joonghyuk stood tall, carrying two bentos with a look of death on his face. He handed them both their respective lunches before pointing to the door.
“Get. In. The. Car.”
Horror couldn't even begin to describe the siblings’ faces, especially after learning new dad lore the year beforehand. Sometimes it’s a strange feeling when realizing a former terrorist makes your lunch every day.
Ivan and Sua marched off to the car and slid into the backseat, not bothering to fight over shotgun. The mood was dampened and eerie, the feeling enhancing when Yoo Joonghyuk stomped towards the car and slammed the door shut. It wasn’t harsh, but the strange softness of the thud made Ivan jump in his seat a little.
“Biyoo isn’t coming..?” Sua pointed at the empty car seat, trying to ease the awkward tension in the car.
Yoo Joonghyuk started the car and replied with a short hum. “Your father took her to ‘bring-your-kid-to-work’ day.’ He adjusted his seat to a more upright position and began the drive.
“And I couldn’t come..?” Ivan huffed, looking out the window.
His dad let out a small chuckle. “Of course not, you’re 16.”
Yoo Joonghyuk was not a strong man. He had to be honest, it was extremely difficult to stay mad at your kids.
***
He looked down at the baby, currently cradled in his arms.
Was he really ready for this?
Her eyes, shimmering a beautiful shade of amethyst, looked up and met Yoo Joonghyuk’s. They blinked up at him, once, twice, three times.
She wrapped her hand, no bigger than the length of his finger, around his pinkie, a smile wrinkling around her eyes. A gurgled “bah” came out, the sound resonating not just through Joonghyuk’s ears, but his heart.
Kim Dokja appeared from the living room, holding their precious Ivan. “I finally got him to calm down,” he sighed. “Is Sua ready for bed yet?”
“Yeah, almost.” Joonghyuk tucked Sua into the crib, sandwiching her between two pillows. He took Ivan from his husband and did the same with him, laying him next to Sua.
Yoo Joonghyuk stood there, admiring the babies. His babies.
“...Joonghyuk-ah,” a voice chimed softly. Kim Dokja brought his hand up to Joonghyuk’s cheek, brushing it with his thumb. “You’ll do great.”
The man leaned into his touch and closed his eyes, soothed by his actions. “I love you.”
The shorter leaned forward to place a gentle kiss on his lips. “I love you too, my Joonghyuk-ah-”
“APPA!!! HIT THE BRAKE, THE BRAKE-”
“Hmm…what?”
Daydream cut short, Yoo Joonghyuk had barely a split second to swerve his car to the side before he ran into the car driving directly in his direction in front of him.
Yes, he accidently started driving on the wrong side of the road.
“What do you- FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK”
He simultaneously swerved onto the side, into the sidewalk, and hit the brakes until his foot reached the floor. All three of them were shrieking, trying to get a hold of something so they didn’t die.
Crashing them straight into a tree.
Airbags flew out from each side of the car, smacking Yoo Joonghyuk whose hands were gripped tight on the steering wheel. The kids in the back were gripping at each other, catching their breath.
“...Are you okay,” their father immediately turned to check on them.
Ivan clutched at his chest and heaved heavily. “I think I almost pissed myself.”
The car went dead silent, which had let the information soak in. Joonghyuk didn’t know who he wanted to kill more at that moment, himself or his husband for being so pretty he started driving on the wrong side of the road at the mere thought of him.
And now the kids are about to be late. I’m such a great fucking dad.
In the midst of everyone’s internal crisis, the other car that almost smashed into theirs was also pulled over. Two tall figures appeared from the driver and passenger seats, who looked concerningly familiar to Ivan and Sua.
“Mr. Lu...?”
—-
“There’s no fucking way,” Cheng Xiaoshi half whispered, because once pulling over to curse out the guy who tried to commit double homicide from his car, he saw two recognizable faces.
Ivan, who was in his homeroom, and Sua, Lu Guang’s student.
Lu Guang made his way to the other car with pure, unbridled fury dripping from his clenched fists. “Let me have a word.”
As he approached the car, Lu Guang’s purposeful steps slowed to a halt outside their window. The man in the driver’s seat was banging his head on the steering wheel.
So this is their father…?
Lu Guang cleared his throat before swiftly knocking on the glass. He saw the siblings in the corner of his eye, trying to cover their faces after realizing exactly who their dad almost accidentally murdered.
“Sir. You do know you were driving on the wrong side of the road..?”
The man rolled down his window and looked at him strangely, a mix of stoic and pissed. Lu Guang could only think of the nerve of this guy to be the one who was angry in this situation.
“...Yes.”
“Listen, we-”
“What the fuck is wrong with you?!”
Cut off by his stupid-ass boyfriend, Lu Guang freezes mid-sentence and only prays to whatever higher being there was that he didn’t screw it up with both of their students sitting in the back.
He continued, raising his voice high enough for everyone else on the street to hear what was going on. “Me and my boyfriend are broke, high school teachers who just want to get some fucking coffee in the morning. Is that too much to ask?? We can’t even afford to get the good kind either, what makes you think we could afford a new car??? I’d normally be nicer about this kind of thing but this car has stuck with me since high school, my precious Camry will never……um…”
Cheng Xiaoshi made eye contact with the teens in the back staring daggers at him. This guy just outed their whole relationship to two of the most popular kids at school.
“...Ivan! What’s up, my dude?”
Lu Guang knew he had to intervene, because if this lasted any longer then all of them would be late. He shoved Cheng Xiaoshi aside and took over once again. “Please give me your contact information and insurance. This incident will not go overlooked.”
He noticed Sua stifle a laugh, and he had never felt more embarrassed.
The man, Yoo Joonghyuk, noticing the name from him silently typing his name and number into Lu Guang’s phone, looked as angry as ever and maybe a little constipated. As much as Lu Guang’s anger was directed at him, he also had to deal with the fuck-ass handsome man standing beside him, sweating bullets.
Lu Guang nodded at Yoo Joonghyuk before facing Ivan and Sua. “Sorry,” is all that comes out before he grabs Cheng Xiaoshi and dragged him over to their car.
Ivan was a simple guy.
He never asked for much. As long as he was given a roof over his head, clothes over his back, and food on his plate, he truly couldn’t be happier.
When it comes to grades, he was (almost) the top of the school (curse you, Sua), and people basically flocked to him like moths to a flame.
Of course, following popularity was the occasional rumour, spreading like wildfire for a week or two before the next juicy rumor was the talk of the school.
Exhibit A: everyone forgetting the rumour that he was gay for Till!
Did he accidentally speak too loudly when relaying the morning’s events to Mizi after class? Possibly, but he swears it wasn’t him who spread the rumour about Mr. Cheng and Mr. Lu. Ivan truly hopes the two would understand that he would never want to get rid of dating rumors surrounding him and Till.
“Good luck telling that to Mr. Cheng,” Till murmured while taking a bite out of Ivan’s lunch, right after Ivan had explained himself. “At least that stupid rumour about us is gone.”
The rest of the group turned to look at him. “...Not in a homophobic way,” he sighs. “I’m not into guys. And not into guys like him. ”
Ivan didn’t really take it to heart, because he was satisfied with this for now. Ivan was a simple guy, after all. The only thing he could really yearn for was the boy at his side, sneaking bites of his fried rice.
“You know I can ask my dad to make an extra bento, right? it’s like you want me to starve,” Ivan jokingly leans his shoulder into Till’s.
Of course, it was just an exaggeration, Ivan thinks. Till’s excuses about falling from his bike, accidentally falling face-first into a concrete floor, or any other conveniently strange situation that made Till show up to school with bruises and badly hidden scratch marks were not as convincing as they used to be.
Sua was the one to point it out at first. “So…was it that neighborhood cat again?” She nods her head at Till, indicating the strange scratch marks on his collarbone.
“And…did your bike fall apart again too?” This time, it was Mizi who glanced at the fading purplish-black colors that stuck out from under the bandage on Till’s head. “I know a guy, by the way. Since this keeps happening, I’m sure he’d be happy to help out with your bike-”
“I’m fine,” the gray-haired man barks out. “Just…hey- about that rumour, I swear I caught Mr. Lu and Mr. Cheng making out on campus. Not too long ago.”
Sua dropped her chopsticks. “Are you fucking kidding?”