(she-her, '98) β‘ hi! my name is chel and sometimes i write but mostly just reading or reblogging. i love to interact with people so pls don't be shy to talk ππ
hi! since i'm getting busier these days and being mentally unstable, i'll be taking hiatus again... so for time being please reach me through kkt: winterlxnd or instagram: (@)rafaela.___.a ; i hope you guys will always be healthy and happy~ π₯°
with love,
chel / daeunhye β‘
p.s: i'll wandering around sometimes if i'm on pc π
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I am firmly convinced Loid could come home and see Yor putting a blood-soaked dress into the washing machine and he would just think (as sheβs stuttering out excuses)Β βWow, civil servants have it rougher than I realized.β and Loid casually pulls out and unloads a gun while telling Yor about his day as the washing machine clunks and Yor, not even thinking about how easily he does it, would equally think βWow, doctors have it rougher than I realizedβ and Anya is in the back thinkingΒ βMomma and Papa are Dumb.β bc NONE OF THEM HAVE EVER SEEN A NORMAL HUMAN IN THEIR ENTIRE GODDAMN LIVES
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hi cheltuals! been a long time since i've properly write something in here. actually, i have a Chani drabble that i haven't finished. but i'm feeling like i want to write for LUCY. at the same time, i know not many people knows LUCY so it become a worry for me... π
κ° synopsis κ± changmin always believed he was never fond of children, especially when he took the job at your daycare. little did he know the child in him was playing hide and seek, finally revealing itself after growing to love the kids. oh, and you too
κ° pairing κ± daycareworker!changmin x genderneutral!reader
κ° genre κ± strangers to lovers, daycare au, slow burn, fluff, angst, features hyunjae and the rest of the boyz as children
κ° warnings κ± children, car accident, major character death, descriptions of blood, sprinkled bits of profanity and capitalization, and an overall merry bad ending
κ° word count κ± 14.3k+
κ° perspective κ± 2nd person omniscient
β playlist two βΊβΊ spotify, youtube
β author's note!! π β this fic is for @junjungsunwoo 's merry bad ending collab!! biggest thanks to @pjmaparty , @fullsunfluff , @bbanghoonie , and @heejojo for beta reading!! this is the second part out of two <3
The jingle from the front doors makes your ears perk, rushing out the playroom and into the entrance. The sight of Changmin never fails to bring a smile to your face, and you immediately wrap your arms around his waist, greeting him with a kiss on his nose.
βYouβre here later than usual.β
He sets down his umbrella after closing it and returns the kiss by pressing one onto your cheek. βItβs only 6:10am, dummy. I was struggling to find my umbrella.β
βIt just felt way longer since Hyunjae has been here for an hour.β
The statement causes Changminβs smile to vanish, his lips being slightly parted due to the shock.
But before you allow him to speak, you release him from your hold, dragging him inside the playroom to say hi to the eight-year-old.
βTeacher Changmin!!β the boy squeals, dropping his pencil onto the table before running over to the taller male, engulfing him in a life threatening hug. βI was so bored.β
The statement makes you scoff loudly, standing by your desk as you watch the two. βI said we could watch a movie if you wanted to.β
Hyunjae happily allows himself to be brought into Changminβs arms, giggling at how heβs now taller than you. βWe canβt watch a movie without popcorn.β
Changmin nods, shifting his gaze from Hyunjae over to you. βHeβs right, you know. No movie is ever good without popcorn.β
All of a sudden, the male gasps loudly, remembering the plan he had for the day. βHyunjae, want to go shopping with me? Letβs get some popcorn.β
βShopping?β Hyunjaeβs eyes light up, struggling to remain still in Changminβs arms after hearing the suggestion. βShopping??β he repeats.
βYes, shopping.β Changmin laughs at Hyunjaeβs enthusiasm, the corner of his lips tugging slightly upwards. βTeacher Y/N canβt come though.β
He looks over at you, fully expecting your eyebrows furrowing at his response.
βWhy canβt I come?β
βThe daycareβs opened, remember?β He sets Hyunjae on the ground, urging him to clean up his belongings. βWeβre going to be gone for a while.β
βIβm assuming youβre not just going to buy popcorn, are you?β A frown makes its way to your face, slowing your breathing in the process.
βPerhaps.β
You sigh, not wanting to question him any further. You know Changmin has his reasons; he always does, and regardless of what explanation he gives you, youβll still have to stay within the daycare to look after the other boys.
βYouβre going to miss what I have planned for this morning, thoughβ¦β Your words trail off, your gaze falling to the ground. Itβs an understatement to say that you were excited for what you had planned, especially since it relates to one of your βdatesβ in the past.
βWe wonβt be gone for long, okay? Iβm just going to be stealing him for a few hours.β He cracks a smile and goes to stand in front of you, taking your hand in his. Changmin easily reassures you with a kiss on the lips while his thumb unconsciously rubs the back of your hand. βWeβll be back before you know it.β
Feeling his plump lips gently pressed against your fingers is what convinces you to let him go for the time being, nodding. β...Okay okay, donβt take too long. Iβm going to miss the two of my favorite boys.β
βWe wonβt.β A cheeky smile is brought to his face when he goes back in to kiss you once more, subtly linking his pinky with yours. βWeβll miss you more.β
The kiss wouldβve lasted longer if Hyunjae didnβt finish cleaning as fast, running over to Changmin with a loud βIβm done!β.
βHave fun, okay?β You wave Hyunjae goodbye as Changmin picks him up again, walking the two outside the daycare.
//
βMy butt hurts,β Hyunjae whines, desperate to leave the car.
βA thirty minute ride is not that long,β Changmin mumbles, unbuckling the boy out of his seat.
βYes it is!β he counters, stretching his limbs. βIf my butt hurts, that means the car ride was long!β
βYour butt is fine.β Changmin gives Hyunjaeβs butt a gentle pat after helping him out of the car, closing the door shut behind him.
βWe couldβve just walked to get popcorn,β he huffs.
Changmin looks up at the sky, glad they no longer need an umbrella due to the rain lessening immensely. He takes Hyunjaeβs hand into his, tightly holding onto it as they cross the street over to the line of stores. βWeβre not only here for popcorn, you know.β
βThen why are we here?β Hyunjae asks, looking up at the male.
βTo buy a special something for a special someone.β A smile grows onto Changminβs lips when he gives the explanation, not including any more hints for the sole purpose of wanting the boy to figure it out himself.
It finally clicks when Hyunjae is brought to the outside of a jewelry store, shaking Changminβs hand aggressively while jumping up and down. βAre you buying a ring for Teacher Y/N??β
Changmin laughs, pushing the door open for the two to enter. βBingo.β
Hyunjae bites back a squeal, letting go of Changminβs hand to run over to the shelves of rings displayed behind glass panels.
Changmin heads over to the counter, greeting the worker with a warm smile before explaining his situation. Meanwhile, Hyunjae is busy roaming around the store in awe at the amount of diamonds he was seeing. Constant oohs and aahs are heard from the child while the two adults are conversing about the upcoming planned proposal.
βWhen do you plan on proposing?β the young worker asks, resting her chin in the palm of her hand as she looks at Changmin dreamily.
βSoon, actually. Maybe next week? This kidβs birthday is soon, and I want it to be sort of a gift to him, you know?β Changmin gestures over to Hyunjae before peeking over his shoulder, seeing the eight-year-old on his tippy toes with his face pressed up against the glass.
βThat is soon! I hope you find your special ring here, then.β She follows his gaze and spots the boy, her lips forming into an βoβ. βIs that your son?β she asks, her gaze flickering between Hyunjae and Changmin to see if she could spot any resemblance.
The layer of pink forming on Changminβs cheeks show how much the question caught him off guard, stutters falling past his lips. βOh- uh, uhm, n-no, no he isnβt.β
βTeacher Changmin!!β Hyunjae exclaims immediately after, waving to the teacher to come over.
The worker is able to connect the dots after hearing the call and nods, the smile on her lips never faltering.
Changmin goes over to Hyunjae and crouches down by his side, peering into the glass. βWhatβs up, Hyunjae?β
βLook! That ring reminds me of Teacher Y/N!β
The worker behind the counter joins the two boys, checking to see what the little boy was referring to.
βThat one?β Changmin asks, pointing to one of the rings.
Hyunjae shakes his head, adjusting Changminβs finger by taking it into his own fingers and pointing to the one he was talking about. βThat one! The one with the twisty thing.β
Changmin lets out an βahβ at the sight of it, admiring the ring for a few seconds before speaking.
βItβs simple. I like that.β
βThatβs our twisted halo ring,β the worker introduces, grabbing the two boysβ attention. βIβd love to bring an extra out to show you if youβd like.β
Changmin puts his hands on his thighs and stands up, nodding. βThatβd be wonderful, thank you.β
Hyunjae begins to tug on Changminβs hand, pulling the teacher back down to his height. βHalo ring??β he whispers.
When Changmin shows his confusion by tilting his head, Hyunjae moves to reach for the paper in Changminβs back pocket, knowing that it would be there. Ever since he received Hyunjaeβs painting from you, he makes sure to always bring it everywhere with him, considering it good luck. Hyunjae only found out about it recently when Changmin flaunted it off one night, saying that the painting is why he won a certain carnival game.
Considering itβs been two years since Hyunjae has painted it, some of the paint has definitely chipped off, but the halo continues to remain on the top of your head, always managing to bring a smile to everyoneβs faces at the sight of it.
Hyunjae unfolds it and points to the halo, shoving the painting in front of Changminβs face. βSee? Halo!!β
βSome things are just meant to be, arenβt they?β Changmin sighs, taking the paper into his own hands. He admires it and the little details Hyunjae has managed to add, reminiscing the day he saw it for the first time ever. Little did he know he would actually get to be with you. βDang, Hyunjae. I canβt believe you painted this when you were six.β
βCan I paint a better one?β he offers. βWith a brush? That one looks terrible because I used my finger.β
Changmin ponders the idea, tucking the piece of paper back into his pocket after refolding it. He decides to mess around with the boy, patting his head. βI donβt know, Hyunjae,β he murmurs, cupping his cheek. βThis one means a lot to meβ¦β
It hurts his heart when he sees Hyunjaeβs face fall, but he keeps up his act, grazing his thumb over his skin.
Shortly after, the worker returns with a box in her hands, placing it onto the counter, and before it could drag Changminβs attention away, the teacher goes to lean into Hyunjaeβs ear.
βA new painting would make a great wedding present, by the way,β he whispers.
And with a wink, he leaves the boy to head over to the counter, unable to stop smiling after seeing Hyunjaeβs happy demeanor return.
//
βWeβre back!!β
Although Changmin announces it to the class, his eyes are strictly locked onto you. Youβre sitting by the teacherβs desk, writing something. You donβt pay attention to him whatsoever, the pen still moving in your hand.
Hyunjae greets the other boys and runs over to Juyeonβs table, joining him and Hyungseo to see what they are doing.
Changmin frowns at the lack of a reaction from you and makes his way over to your desk, but by then, you are hidden, doing something fairly quickly below the desk before revealing yourself to him.
βItβs about time you noticed my presence,β he huffs, setting the grocery bag on the table.
βI was doing something, Jichang.β You roll your eyes and sit up from your seat, eyeing the bag Changmin just sat down. All it has is a box of popcorn packs inside, making you raise a brow. βIt took you five hours to only buy popcorn?β
βLetβs just say we got distracted.β He grins, turning his head to face the other children only to realize the amount of flowers within the playroom.
The counters with sinks are decorated with flowers in vases while the rounded tables are full of scattered petals and leaves. The boys are playing with the flowers, some of them making flower crowns while the other ones are sorting the petals into piles by their colors.
Younghoon grins at his finished product and rises from his seat, walking over to Changmin. βI made this for you,β he explains. He brings the linked daisies up into the air, revealing a flower crown with the heads tucked into the stems.
βYou made one for Changmin and not me?β you gasp, dramatically throwing a playful fit that Younghoon was surely used to.
βChanhee is making yours right now, Teacher Y/N. He broke it, so heβs restarting.β
Changmin leans down and tilts his head forward, allowing Younghoon to crown him with the daisies. He gives Younghoon a tight hug and whispers a thank you before waving him off.
βStill canβt believe you got yours first,β you mumble, and Changmin chortles. He leans in to kiss the top of your head, unable to go ten minutes without showering you with affection.
βYouβll get yours soon. Donβt worry, honey.β He tucks a strand of hair behind your ear, humming.
βHoney? Thatβs a new one.β
βItβs cute. Iβll try to use it more for you.β
You smile, resting your head against his shoulder as you gaze at the boys, all ten of them doing something completely different.
βYou know, I was going to have them clean up for lunch, but they all wanted another half hour to finish.β You reach to wrap your fingers around his pinky, holding onto it. βThey wanted to wait for you and Hyunjae.β
βWhat did you have them do? Make flower crowns?β He uses his free hand to play with your hair.
βKind of.β You look up at Changmin while wearing a crooked smile, one that made his heart burst. βSee the vases of flowers on the counters? The boys made those themselves. I actually got a majority of the flowers from the field a few miles away, remember?β
He raises a brow, letting his hand drop to the side. βThe one where I got stung?β
βPrecisely. Also!!-β You remove your head from his shoulder and move behind your desk, bending down just like you were earlier. You take out a white vase with purple flowers shoved into it, and the sight almost makes Changmin laugh.
βI may or may not have cheated a bit and bought a few extra purple flowers from a nearby flower shop, but Iβd say itβs worth it, don't you think?β You smile at the assortment of flowers, but when you turn to look at Changmin, he has a hand over his mouth, truly trying his best to contain his laughter.
βYou can laugh, you know,β you sigh, setting the vase onto the table. You fully expected this response from him, especially with how messy the assortment came out to be, so you arenβt at all offended.
βIβm sorry it just- Y/N did you make that?β
βKind of? The other boys helped me with it, and we all kind of struggled, but purple is your favorite color, right?β
He nods, bringing the vase into his own hands.
βIn all honesty, I wouldβve fixed it, but the messiness is kind of what makes it- special. It reminds me of how we met too.β
Your sheepish tone softens Changmin immediately, gazing at the flowers. βHow so?β
βWell,β you begin, βif you think about it- our first impression of each other wasnβt the best. I thought you were incompetent.β
He shoots his head up to look at you, snorting at the comment. βThen why did you hire me?β
βI was desperate, but thatβs not the point,β you grumble, taking the vase from him. βItβs justβ¦.the way we met- itβs like, well, it wasnβt perfect, but it...it was real, nonetheless.β You started playing with the petals, running your fingers across the smooth surfaces. βJust like these flowers. Theyβre not the best looking bunch out there, but theyβre real.β
You set the vase aside. βI considered buying fake ones so they would last longer, but I decided against it.β You then look at him. βThey look pretty regardless, donβt you think?β
He looks at them and smiles. βThey do.β
βBut, all that aside, what had you gone for five hours, Mr. Ji?β You look at him skeptically, teasing him through your tone.
He grins, playing along with your words by teasing you in return. βNothing in particular. Why do you ask?β
βYouβre not keeping something from me, are you?β You cross your arms over your chest, pouting.
βHm...maaaaybe.β He has his arms behind his back, looking at you like a kid thatβs hiding a secret from their parents.
βTeacher Y/N!!β Chanhee interrupts, erupting from his seat. He waves the chained daisies in the air. βI finished your crown!!β he yells.
Changmin urges you over to the boy, forcing you to forget your previous conversation.
βDonβt think Iβll forget about this,β you mutter.
βIβll tell you in a few days, okay? Now go over to him to be crowned the love of my life.β
//
The day has finally arrived, and Changminβs worry is constantly bubbling up within him, unable to stay in one spot.
While the rest of the kids are in the parking lot, you, Changmin, and Hyunjae are in the playroom to gather last minute items.
Well, only you are doing so.
Changmin is busy pacing around behind you, gaze constantly shifting between the box in his hands and your back turned to him. Heβs always been confident in whatever he did, but to be proposing was just on another level Changmin wasnβt used to.
Thoughts flooded his head, clearing his throat every few seconds. You would turn around to see if he was alright, but he would shrug it off, saying that he was just excited for Hyunjaeβs birthday.
Hyunjae snorts loudly when hearing Changminβs lame excuse, leaving the round tables to grab Changminβs hand. He pulls Changmin away from you and to the other side of the room, explaining that he needed help with putting on the party hat.
He brings Changmin over to your desk, making him crouch down before asking him the question he refused to stop pestering Changmin about.
βYou have the ring, right?β he asks, furiously shaking his hand. The excitement radiating off of Hyunjae causes his whisper to be way louder than intended, making Changminβs eyes widen.
The teacher hushes him, praying that you hadnβt heard what Hyunjae ever so carelessly asked.
He looks at you standing by the sinks, and thankfully you havenβt reacted whatsoever. You are too busy moving around the playroom to even care about what the two were talking about, much less doing, taking the utensils out of the plastic bags you put them in.
βI do, Hyunjae, and no, Iβm not showing you for the nth time.β He rolls his eyes, tightening his grip around the navy blue box.
Hyunjae frowns, taking note of the fist Changminβs creating in his right hand. The teacher grabs one of the party hats off of your desk and snaps it onto the birthday boyβs head, eliciting an βowβ out of him.
βItβs your birthday,β Changmin reminds, booping his nose with his finger.
βYeah, but-....but still!!β Hyunjae begins to whine, throwing an unnecessary fit.
Throughout the two and a half years of knowing Hyunjae, Changmin learned that Hyunjae doesnβt really make a fit out of anything unnecessary. It was a change from the other boys you two watched over, but it didnβt settle correctly within him.
So despite how loud Hyunjae got with his whines, Changmin could only smile, glad that the boy is comfortable enough to throw a playful fit over something that doesnβt even have to do with him.
He sets the box onto the ground to cup both of Hyunjaeβs cheeks, leaning in to press a kiss to his forehead. Being with the young boy really calmed his nerves, especially when he takes the box back into his fingers with ease.
βCβmon Hyunjae, letβs go outside. The other boys have been waiting for you for a while now.β Changmin extends his left hand, wiggling his fingers.
Hyunjae grabs it after sniffing loudly, adjusting the hat on top of his head as the two begin to make their way to the door.
Changmin peeks over his shoulder to look at you, his eyes becoming locked onto your figure. His heart is pounding against his chest as heβs reminded of how today is the day. The day youβll become more than a tango duo that has been sharing sweet little nothings and kisses for the past two years.
Youβre dressed beautifully, as always, but your fits for special occasions never fail to make him extremely flustered, truly taken aback by your beauty.
βYou coming, Y/N?β he asks, garnering you attention by amplifying his voice.
βOne sec!β you call out, informing the two. You dump the remaining utensils into the paper plates and rush over to the boys with the stack in your hand. You reach out to hold onto Hyunjaeβs other hand, looking down at him with a warm smile that has resided on your face. βExcited?β
βMore than ever,β he responds, nodding furiously. He then resumes to pull the two of you out the playroom and outside the daycare, harshly tugging onto your hands.
βLetβs go!β the now nine-year-old commands.
With how much Hyunjae is tugging on your hand, it almost makes you drop your plates, and Changmin laughs at how cute you are when you stumble over your feet.
βCareful, Hyunjae,β Changmin warns when beginning to cross the street, constantly looking both ways before allowing the boy to walk over to the parking lot.
Hyunjae continues to lead the two teachers to the nine other boys occupying themselves by the tables in the parking lot, loud music blasting through the speakers you displayed earlier.
Hyunjae releases both of your hands when Youngjae tosses a balloon at his face, charging at the six-year-old when the younger boy cackles.
βCan you lower the music? Iβll light the candles.β You approach him with a gentle kiss to his cheek, setting the plates down by the cake Sangyeon helped you place.
Changmin does exactly as you say, and by the time the music is lowered, you have gotten all nine candles on the cake to light up. Sangyeon is the one who initiates the birthday song, singing it very loudly for others to join in.
And unlike Karaoke Sundays, you join along in the singing, clapping your hands along to the rhythm while youβre watching a bouncy Hyunjae make his way over to the cake.
He blows out the candles once the song ends, causing everyone to clap.
βShould we do cake first or presents?β you ask, letting the birthday boy decide.
βCake!!β Haknyeon shouts, bringing the attention over to him.
Youβre playfully sending a glare towards the interruption while Hyunjae smiles brightly, agreeing. βWe can do cake,β he affirms.
As youβre busy cutting the cake, Changmin has unintentionally drifted to the opposite side of the parking lot, resuming his pacing in his spot. His fingers fiddle with the box in his hand, wondering how he should come across this proposal. It doesnβt help that he hasnβt even asked you (much less anyone else) out before, so to be proposing gave him another level of anxiety.
Changmin has already celebrated Hyunjaeβs birthday twice in the past, but this one certainly proves different. This one is special. The present he has for Hyunjae is something heβd never be able to outdo in the future years to come, and even Hyunjae knows that.
So it explains why the youngster sprints over to Changmin instead of standing in line for his slice, tugging on his shirt rather aggressively.
βNow??β he whines, practically begging Changmin to get it over with.
Changmin feels his breath hitch in his throat, growing hesitant with every passing second. His mind is running with countless thoughts, unable to organize them. This causes his brain to malfunction, realizing that this maybe wasnβt a good idea after all.
βHyunjae, maybe-...maybe this isnβt a good idea. I havenβt even asked Y/N out. Itβs too early, I donβt think I can do this. Iβm- I donβt know, Iβm sorry Hyunjae. Maybe another time?β
But Hyunjae completely disregards every word that leaves Changminβs mouth and reaches for the maleβs closed fist. He pulls the teacherβs fingers open to retrieve the box, running away with it in his hold.
Changmin stares at him in disbelief, his arm still being extended outwards with his hand empty of the box. Changmin has been holding onto that box ever since he arrived at the daycare, and for it to be taken from his grasp for more than ten seconds made his heart plummet. He wants to chase after Hyunjae, to take it back, and never show his face again due to the embarrassment shooting up his neck.
Hyunjaeβs party hat falls off his head when he reaches you, but he doesnβt care, panting as he reaches to poke your side.
βHyunjae!!β you yell, flinching at the touch. βYou canβt surprise me when I have a knife in my hand,β you frown, setting it aside after handing Haknyeon his rather large slice of cake.
Without saying a word, Hyunjae raises the box into your view by presenting it in the palm of his hands, looking at you with wide eyes.
Meanwhile, Changminβs suffering in the background, his feet unable to move as he bites on his fist. His mind is constantly running with thoughts of grabbing Hyunjae and tossing him across the world for doing such a thing. He wants to reverse time and never have bought the ring in the first place, the idea of rejection stabbing at his heart repeatedly.
You raise a brow at the sight of the unfamiliar navy box, bringing it into your hold.
Changmin starts to sob internally when seeing you open the box, moving to hide behind one of the set out unfoldable chairs. And just like a kid, he brings his hands over his ears, preparing himself for the worst possible outcome with his knees pressed up against his chest.
But his self-deprecating state doesnβt falter Hyunjaeβs smile in the process; if anything, it only made it grow impossibly wider, bright eyes anticipating your reaction.
All the boys have stopped whatever they were doing to look at you, only now realizing what was happening.
Your eyes finally fall onto the ring in the box, and your heart nearly stops in your chest. Although your lips are parted, youβre left with no words to speak.
You have no clue what to feel.
But you know your answer. Your mind is chanting βyesβ repeatedly in your head as you think of the future the diamond ring holds, but the most important man is missing from the scene.
You scan the parking lot for Changmin and spot him instantly behind one of the chairs.
If it wasnβt for his white shirt flowing through the breeze, Sunwoo and Youngjae pointing at him definitely gave it away.
With shaky fingers, you close the box. Youβre nervous yourself; hell, this is the last thing you were expecting on a day like this. You make your way over to the chair with slow steps, Hyunjae quick to tail after you.
Youβre finally able to bring the entirety of Changmin into your view when you approach him. His eyes are closed incredibly shut with his arms wrapped tightly around his legs, slowly rocking back and forth in his spot.
The sight makes you melt in your spot, and seeing him only confirms the fact you want to be with him. You want to be with him until the end, until your very last dying breath, and you need him to cooperate with you. Just like the day Changmin confessed, you are now basically begging for a response from him, wanting to hear that he does want to get married to you.
He senses your presence and peeks an eye open at you, closing it immediately after at the sight of you holding the box.
βPeek-a-boo,β you whisper, removing the chair so you could see him clearer.
You can hear Sunwoo snickering in the background, but it quickly turns into wheezes when Chanhee elbows him in the chest.
Changmin opens his eyes again at the sound of your voice, slowly allowing his gaze to meet yours. He smiles warmly, slightly waving his hand up towards you. βHi.β
βWhat are you doing here?β you laugh, grabbing one of his arms to pull him up onto his feet.
He immediately breaks out into incoherent rambles, fixing his dress shirt. βI- uh, well Y/N, heh, you see, uhm...funny story, actually-β
You cut him off by waving the box in his face, handing it to him. βIβm assuming this is yours.β
Changmin drops it like itβs fire, raising his hands up in the air defensively. Hyunjae groans at the teacherβs stupidity, and Youngjae is giggling in the background, shortly joined by Sunwoo and Juyeon.
βI have no clue what youβre talking about!! That- that isnβt mine, uhm, yeah. Who-...who told you it was mine?β His nervous laughter trails off when he scratches the back of his neck, his cheeks being completely flushed with a bright shade of pink.
βWho knew Teacher Changmin could be this embarrassing?β Haknyeon grumbles, shoving a forkful of cake into his mouth. Sangyeon reaches over the table to slap the blonde boyβs head, telling him to shut up.
Youβre sending daggers towards Changminβs way through your gaze, bending down to pick up the box. Thankfully, youβre easily calmed down by Haknyeonβs comment, laughing to yourself.
Changmin has his hands dropped to his sides, bottom lip caught between his teeth as he eyes the box in your hands. He doesnβt say anything else, knowing the situation will only turn out worse if he utters another word.
Because of this, you understood that this wonβt be going anywhere. Changmin will continue to deny his possession being his, and it would be no use just standing there, trying to hand the engagement ring back to him.
So you take matters into your own hands, heart racing as your mind impulsively makes you move down onto one knee.
You certainly werenβt expecting to propose on Hyunjaeβs birthday, but regardless of that fact, your hands move on their own accord, opening the box to present the ring to him.
Hyunjae is holding back squeals in the background, you could tell, and heβs grabbing onto Juyeonβs hand, holding it tightly as he anticipates whatβs going to happen next.
And with a whisper, you finally ask the awaited question.
βChangmin, will you marry me?β
He, along with the other boys, gapes at your response, and Hyunjae screams βYESβ, shaking Juyeon by his shoulders.
The smile lingering on your lips shows Changmin that you already know his answer, but you continue to stay on one knee, waiting for a reply.
Changmin feels like screaming, wanting to say βyesβ instantly just to reassure you. He wants to pull you up onto your feet and press his lips against yours, keeping you in his arms until the world ends. He wants to scream βweβre getting marriedβ and show you off to the world, but he does none of it as he stands there in shock, growing weak at the ever so pretty sight of your smile.
βOh brother,β Hyunjae mutters, letting go of Juyeonβs shoulder to run over to the two of you.
He pulls the ring out of the box and knees Changminβs thighs, getting him to react. βSay yes,β he demands, grabbing his hand to shove the ring onto his finger.
Changmin wheezes out a βyesβ in pain, rubbing his thigh as Hyunjae figures out how to get it to fit. The ring was too small for all of his fingers. Well, all but one.
So he slips it onto his pinky finger, giving you a tight hug once you thank him.
He runs back to where he was previously standing, and you get onto your feet, brushing off any dirt that remained on your knee.
You finally look at Changmin and notice the way heβs gazing at the ring. It was meant for you, so to see the ring on his finger only made his mind go dizzier.
Before you could say anything, Changmin looks up and doesnβt hesitate to bring you close against him, linking the pinky with one of yours.
βIβd say yes a million times. Yes, Iβll marry you. Yes, Iβll be your husband. Yes, Iβm yours.β He uses his other hand to cup your cheek, making your eyes lock with his. βHoly fuck, Iβm yours.β
You laugh loudly, happiness filling up your lungs. You swing your arms around his neck, pulling him in for a quick kiss.
βYouβre real,β you whisper against his lips, half hooded eyes looking into his. βYouβre real, and youβre mine.β
βIβm forever yours,β he murmurs, βand youβre forever mine.β
Thatβs the last thing you hear from him before he pulls you into another kiss, pressing a hand up against your back.
//
You have a book in your hands when Changmin exits your bathroom, purposely having his entrance to your bedroom go unnoticed as you continue to βreadβ.
Heβs about to flaunt how good he looks after moisturizing when you donβt even spare him a glare, sending him into a pout when he reaches your bed. βYouβre not even reading that,β he mumbles.
βWhat makes you say that?β
βYouβre reading it backwards,β Changmin points out, referring to how you keep flipping the pages into the opposite direction. He adjusts his flannel pajamas before joining you on your bed, letting out a content sigh at the fluffiness of your blankets.
βI have powers youβre not aware of,β you hum matter-of-factly.
A βhey!β escapes you when Changmin snatches the book from your grasp, confiscating it for the time being.
He reaches over you to set the book on the nightstand, taking note of the time displayed on the alarm clock.
βItβs-...nine pm, Y/N,β he states before looking back at you. βItβs our first time together in your apartment at this time. Iβm not letting you ignore me with a book.β
When you think about his words, he isnβt wrong. For the past year, youβve been inviting Changmin to stay the night in your apartment whenever it got too late (an example being Hyunjae being picked up in the middle of the night). But otherwise, heβs never been here earlier than 11pm.
The crack of thunder accompanies the silence that washes through the atmosphere, and Changmin moves to bring the blankets over both of your torsos, making sure youβre comfortable. He doesnβt even question your lack of words, knowing youβre thinking about something whenever creases form on your forehead.
He rests on his side with his head propped up onto his hand, waiting for you to notice him staring at you while the rain patters against the windows.
It takes a few minutes before you finally notice him, heat shooting up to your ears when your eyes unintentionally lock with his. He smiles at your shyness, pulling you to lie down with him.
βWhat are you thinking about, honey?β Changmin has you close to him when he runs his fingers through your hair, fluffing it up.
The pet name never fails to calm you.
βAbout us,β you respond simply.
βUs?β He helps to untangle the knots in your hair, gently loosening them.
The room is dimly lit, but that changes only for a mere second when the lightning decides to be present. Though, it only adds to your comfort, knowing youβre safe in Changminβs embrace.
βWe entirely skipped the dating stage, didnβt we?β
His movements stutter at your question. β...Kind of? I mean yeah, basically, but I donβt mind.β Changmin pauses, shifting his gaze from your hair and down to your eyes. βDo you?β
You shake your head, pulling his hand out of your hair. βThe thing is- I just never really got a chance to call youβ¦.my boyfriend.β The last part becomes a whisper, focusing on interlacing your fingers with his.
He gives your hand a gentle squeeze, the sounds of the rain eventually drowning out as he makes you his focal point.
And out of nowhere, he sighs dramatically, letting go of your hand to look at the ceiling. βAlas, itβs a loss.β
You slap his chest for talking like that, a throaty cackle escaping him shortly after. He brings an arm over his forehead, continuing to stare at the ceiling and the shadows of the window panel.
You giggle at how heβs always managed to be so smooth, rolling your eyes. He goes back to turning his entire body to have it face yours, sticking out his pinky. βCan you believe weβre engaged?β
The question makes you scoff, laughing. βCan you believe weβre going to be married?β you counterattacked, linking your pinky with his. βUs?β
He raises his brows. βWow, Iβm hurt. Personally, I think I look stunning in a suit.β
Your toothy smile shines through the dark when you look at him. βI actually donβt doubt that one bit.β
The playful atmosphere seems to fade when youβre given time to just get lost in each otherβs eyes, slowly retracting your pinky from his.
He looks down at his fingers, and reality finally settles in.
βWeβre going to get married,β he whispers.
Changmin then realizes thereβs something heβs planned on doing yet never did earlier that day, so he gets you to sit up with him. Youβre confused, as expected, but you slowly start to understand when he wiggles the ring off of his finger.
He asks for your hand and slowly slips it onto your ring finger, and the added weight takes a toll on your heart. It stops beating in your chest, and only now do you understand why Changmin was looking at his finger ever so lovingly earlier at Hyunjaeβs party. This time, youβre the one thatβs finally able to admire the diamond and the curves of the ring, finding it absolutely gorgeous.
βWhen are we going to get married?β you ask, looking up at him. βWhere? And our honeymoon? Thereβs so many things we need to plan-β you pause. βWeβre making Hyunjae our best man, no exceptions.β
βDefinitely,β Changmin affirms, clicking his tongue. βThe boy is one hundred percent mature enough to make an entire speech about our relationship.β
You laugh, agreeing with the nod of your head. βOkay, but seriously, Changmin. How are we going to plan all of this? Weβre just- two losers working at a daycare.β
βTwo soon-to-be-married losers,β he corrects. He brings you into his lap, allowing you to rest your forearms on his shoulders while he rests his hands by your sides. He then lowers his tone, whispering. βLetβs worry about everything another time, okay? We have so many years ahead of us.β
He continues his rant while his fingers play with the fabric of your shirt. βWe donβt have to get married this year or the next. Hell, we donβt have to get married the year after that. As long as youβre always by my side, weβll be together forever.β He leans in to press a fluttering kiss against your jaw.
The comfortable silence returns, and all you two do is hold each other while the storm crashes down onto your windows. But no single clash of thunder makes either of you two flinch, too lost in each otherβs touch to even notice.
βY/N?β Changmin croaks, voice lower than usual.
βYes?β
He hesitates, his words coming out breathy.
βY/N?β he repeats.
βWhatβs wrong, my love?β
The name causes a smile to bloom onto his face, laughing as he shakes his head. βNothingβs wrong.β
βSo you just like saying my name for fun now?β you tease, squishing his cheeks with your fingers.
The playfulness dials down eventually, and you rest your head against his shoulder with your eyes fallen shut. The tranquility wrapped around the two of you brings Changmin confidence once again, repeating your name for the third time.
βY/N?β
βHm?β
β...I lov-β
Heβs cut off by your ringtone blaring throughout the bedroom, causing both of your heads to turn to the direction of the noise. You apologize through a murmur after rubbing your eyes, leaving Changminβs lap to check your phone. Youβre immediately kicked out of your tiresome state when you see the caller id, accepting the call.
Changmin watches you curiously, and he doesnβt get a chance to hear a single word from the other line since you brought your phone up to your ear. He shrugs it off as a personal matter but notices how you donβt speak a single word into the call, making him confused when it ends.
Your face is now far from the cheerfulness you were feeling earlier, standing up from the edge of your bed.
βWho was that?β he questions, crawling over to the edge of the bed. βWhy were they calling at this hour?β
You toss your phone into his lap and make your way over to the closet in hurried steps, taking out your raincoat.
Changmin grows worried at your silence, and it isnβt until he notices the bright light illuminating from your phone, taking a glance at the caller id.
Hyunjaeβs mother.
//
βThere he is,β you whisper, freeing yourself from the buckle in Changminβs passenger seat before exiting the car.
Throughout the entire drive to the daycare, Changminβs face remained completely void of emotions, his jaw clenched as he sped through the storm.
He slams the car door shut when leaving, and the two of you run across the street without sparing a glance to oncoming cars, racing to the entrance of the daycare.
Usually, Changmin would be complaining about the storm being ever so heavy in the middle of autumn, but with how focused he is on the situation at hand, he doesnβt give one single damn about the rain crashing down onto the two of you.
The boom of thunder doesnβt startle either of you in the slightest; if anything, it was the sight of Hyunjae sitting under the roof of the entrance that makes your heart drop, the boy trying to gain warmth by hugging his legs.
Heβs facing the ground until he hears the sound of running footsteps his way, his heart pounding hard against his chest. Maybe itβs a sense of a relief that washes over him when he sees you two, but the tears that were pooling up in his eyes finally rush down his cheeks in streams, breaking the dam that heβs been holding up for so long.
He sobs when you crouch down to his level, quick to pull him into your embrace.
βWeβre here, Hyunjae, weβre here,β you murmur.
The warmth of being in someone elseβs embrace only makes him cry hard, little fingers clutching onto your wet coat.
After pulling out his keys and unlocking the doors, Changmin nearly breaks the glass doors down when shoving them open, ushering the two of you inside.
Heβs the first one to enter the playroom after flicking on the lights, and you pull Hyunjae to the side, making him look at you.
The boy is breaking down in front of you, having his tears fall into the palm of your hands when you cup his cheeks. Heβs holding onto your wrists, fingernails digging into your skin as he continues to sob. Heβs growing weaker each second, unsure if heβll be able to stand for any longer.
The sight of seeing your favorite boy like this rips you apart, choking up on your own tears as you do your best to reassure him, reminding him that both you and Changmin are here and that heβs okay.
Through his tears, Hyunjae is looking at you like youβre completely unreal, and his tearful, broken gaze pierces your heart.
Changmin returns with a roll of paper towels and sets them aside before taking Hyunjae from you, one knee on the ground as he makes the crying boy look at him.
βWhat happened?β he interrogates, showing no sense of pain as he stares at him. Fury continues to boil up within his chest when Hyunjae doesnβt respond, amplifying his voice throughout the daycare.
βWhat happened, Hyunjae?β he repeats. The question is more of a hostile demand with his fingers wrapping tightly around the boyβs wrist. His tone only makes Hyunjae cry even more, unable to keep himself up for any longer.
You rush over to Hyunjae and take him back into your arms, letting him curl up against your torso while you stare at Changmin.
Changmin doesnβt ease up in the slightest, only growing even more furious as he allows his hands to ball up into fists. His eyes are constantly flickering between Hyunjae and the storm outside, mind running with possibilities of what couldβve happened if you two didnβt get to him sooner.
βM-my m-mommy-β Hyunjae croaks, trying to get words out of his throat before falling right back into his sobs, burying his face in your chest with his fingers bunching up your shirt into a fist.
βThatβs it,β Changmin spits, not regretting a single ounce of hatred he has for Hyunjaeβs mother.
βChangmin,β you say sternly in hopes of calming him down, knowing how out of control he could become when unsupervised.
Changmin rises from the ground and makes his way behind the front desk, yanking the drawer open. He flips through the files and comes across the one he wished he never thought heβd have to take out, slapping it onto the desk so hard that it makes your nerves jump.
βChangmin,β you repeat, raising your voice this time.
βNo, donβt say another word,β he orders. Just like the storm outside, his voice is thunderous, stinging you with how cold his demeanor had become.
βEnough is enough. How can a mother be so heartless? How could someone leave their son outside an empty building in the middle of a storm?β He flips the file open, scowling. βOn his fucking birthday too,β he mutters, pulling out his phone.
He scans the list of phone numbers on the paper before finally catching sight of the one heβs been seeking. Changmin begins dialing in the number, mumbling βI shouldβve done this two years agoβ under his breath.
You know exactly what heβs doing, and you let go of Hyunjae to stop him from calling Child Protection Services by grabbing his wrist, taking the phone away from him.
βPlease,β you beg, desperation present in your tone.
Youβre looking at him with eyes heβs never seen before, trying to convince him through your gaze.
But it doesnβt work, and Changmin yanks your arm away just to take the phone back from you. He fails as you continue to hide it from him, eyes frantically searching for a way to have him do otherwise.
Then you give in, remembering all the scoldings heβs given you in the past.
βIβll talk to her!β you blurted, freezing his actions. βIβll say something to her, okay? I promise.β You set the phone face down onto the surface of the table, allowing yourself to breathe before continuing. βIβll work this out with her when she returns. Iβll tell her how this isnβt right, and that we will call if she ever does something like this again. Just for now, letβs just focus on Hyunjae.β
You slip in another βpleaseβ after your rant, and it makes him look back at the crying boy in the corner. He looks back at you, and youβre brought to tears yourself, letting one slip down your cheek as you look at him.
So Changmin gives in, finally understanding that Hyunjae deserves to be their first priority at the moment.
The sounds of Hyunjae continuously sobbing is something Changmin has never wished to hear. He allows his shield to lower before rushing back over to him, bringing the trembling boy into his hold. Hyunjae rests his head against his shoulder, having his tears fall onto Changminβs flannel.
βItβs okay, Hyunjae. Weβre here,β he whispers, rubbing his back.
Youβve disappeared into the playroom and come back with a blanket, wrapping it around the two boys after joining them. The warmth and attention brings Hyunjae to ease, his tears lessening as he calms himself down.
Changmin is looking at him with a weak, gentle smile, staying silent when you start whispering little nothings to the boy.
Hyunjae becomes mentally capable of explaining whatβs happened after an hour of you two holding onto him.
βM-mommy, she-...she-β he stops when his voice cracks, and Changmin reassures him with a kiss on his forehead, telling him to take it slow.
Hyunjae has a bit of trouble breathing while explaining, but he manages to sort his thoughts. βI-I had a nightmare, and the storm s-scared meβ¦β He flinches at the rumble of the thunder, working up the courage to continue.
βSheβshe yelled at me,β he whispers, sniffing loudly.
Changmin stiffens with every word that Hyunjae stutters, but he remains quiet, letting him go on.
βShe yelled at m-me when I told her I was s-scared, a-and she-β The boy starts choking on his tears again at the memory, and Changmin helps him through it.
Everything clicks for the two of you after that. Hyunjae doesnβt need to say another word for you two to understand what happened, so you convince Hyunjae to take deep breaths.
Another hour passes, but this time youβre with Hyunjae in the bean bags, reading him his favorite book as he dozes off to sleep beside you.
Changminβs left to clean up the water outside the playroom, tossing all the paper towels into a nearby trash can. He eyes the paper on his desk, staring at it. Youβd be too busy to even notice if he calls, but he fights against his own beliefs.
He trusts you. He trusts you and your word, so he shoves the paper away back into its file, putting it back into the drawer.
Youβll finally talk it out with his mother, and things will be better.
//
The playroom is filled with silence once the storm has subsided. The dark clouds still remained in the sky and the winds were still causing the trees to trash around, but the rain had stopped and you could no longer hear any bursts of thunder.
You look over at the two sleeping boys in the bean bags, smiling warmly at them. Although the playroom is dimly lit, you could see Hyunjae snuggling up against Changminβs chest, holding onto his arms. They looked comfortable, but you havenβt gotten an ounce of sleep.
For the past few hours, your mind has been constantly thinking of things to say to Hyunjaeβs mother when she arrives. Youβre thinking of the anger sheβs given Changmin and the pain she inflicted on Hyunjae, but youβre still left with no words to say.
You hate to admit it, but you came to terms with the fact youβre scared. Youβre scared for whatβs to come, knowing that she could lash you out at any minute. Sheβs done it before, and sheβll certainly do it again.
It doesnβt help that she reminds you of your own parents, feeling the balance in power when she stands in front of you. Although she manages to muster up sweet words to you with that warm smile of hers, you knew she was anything but. She is manipulative and easily has you wrapped around her finger.
Hell, she knows she does. It came as no surprise when she called you, stating that sheβll be dropping Hyunjae off at the daycare. She doesnβt ask you because she knows youβll drop everything for her son.
She knows how much you love him, and she holds that over your head like youβre a little kitty, enjoying the way you try to take away whatβs hers.
Your face is buried into the palm of your hands as you try thinking of ways to confront her, but youβre given no more time when you hear her car pull up into the parking lot. Your eyes shoot up to the only clock in the room, acknowledging how it was 3 in the morning. With sluggish steps (and a defeated sigh), you remove yourself from the chair and make your way over to the two boys.
βWake up,β you whisper, gently shaking the two boys awake.
Hyunjae is the first one to react, rubbing his eyes open with a confused expression worn on his face. βHuh?β
βYour mother is here,β you explain, bringing the small boy to his feet.
Changmin stretches his limbs before standing up. He shoots a look towards you when hearing the jingle from the entrance.
It hurts to see Changmin ever so expressionless, especially when you know whatβs about to come; itβs why you prevent him from leaving the doorway of the playroom.
βDonβt- donβt say anything, okay? Just stand here. Iβll work this out on my own.β
He tries going against your words but you shoot your gaze to the ground, avoiding all eye contact with him. βT-trust me for once. Fighting with her will only makes things worse.β
His eyes soften at the sight of you, and he gives in with a nod. He does as he was told, standing by the doorway when you go to approach Mrs. Lee with Hyunjae.
She looks exhausted, but it doesnβt cover up how her eyes are darting into her sonβs skull when he walks over to her, showing no remorse for what she had done.
The lady clears her throat and faces you, plastering the same kind smile sheβs shown you ever since day one.
βThank you, Y/N, for watching over him.β She glances over at Changmin, clearly noticing the other teacher in the room, but says nothing.
βYeah, o-of course,β you whisper, peeking over at Changmin. Youβre unsure how to continue, and he could easily tell, but he doesnβt make a single attempt to step in, repeating your words in his head.
βMrs. Lee!!β you call out, stopping Hyunjaeβs mother from leaving. Not only donβt you want to disappoint Changmin, but you know Hyunjaeβs well-being is also on the line.
She turns around on her heels, furrowing her brows ever so innocently at you. βWhatβs the matter, Y/N?β
The question serenades you, making your mind run blank.
Changmin stares at you, breath caught up in his throat as he waits.
βI-....I never got to hug your son goodbye.β Your voice turns into a squeak, and you could feel Changminβs eyes burning into the back of your head.
She looks down at her son, visibly holding back a scowl. βWell thenβ¦.you heard them, Jaehyun. Go give Teacher Y/N a goodbye hug.β
Hyunjae stumbles over his feet as he makes his way over to you, hugging you tight. βGoodbye,β he whispers.
βGoodbye, Hyu-...J-Jaehyun.β You pull away from the hug to look at him, brushing your thumb over his cheek. βIβll see you tomorrow, alright?β
He nods, repeating you through a murmur. βTomorrow.β
Mrs. Leeβs phone begins to ring, and she picks it up, glaring at her son. βLetβs go, Jaehyun. Itβs late.β Sheβs the first one to exit the doors, leaving while Hyunjae struggles to follow after.
When the door shuts, Changmin moves to reveal himself to you, and saying that he was fuming would be an understatement.
βWhat was that?β
You turn to him with your teeth latching onto your lower lip, not daring to meet his gaze.
βLook, Changmin-β
βNo, donβt βlook, Changminβ me. You said youβll tell her. You promised youβll do something about it this time.β His voice breaks at the end of his sentence, disbelief washed over his features. βI-I trusted you, Y/N. I fucking trusted you to fix this for us, and you just let her go.β
He shakes off your apologies, pushing you away from him as he goes to pull the glass doors open.
βAn βIβm sorryβ means nothing, Y/N. I thought youβd learn that by now,β he scoffs, gritting his teeth. He mutters a βpatheticβ before leaving you alone in the entrance, exiting the daycare.
The word takes a stab to your heart, and you feel your entire world crashing down on you. You follow him out, ready to beg for him to come back, but heβs already chasing after Hyunjaeβs mother, taking matters into his own hands.
But you two stop in your steps when you see what was happening.
Mrs. Lee is talking on the phone, completely oblivious to how Hyunjae was falling behind her.
The boy is yelling out for her and telling his mother to slow down, but she doesnβt listen.
Changmin spots the car racing towards Hyunjae on the road, and he runs. You tail his steps, sprinting over onto the street to save Hyunjae from the car.
Changmin is faster when it comes to running, reaching Hyunjae in a quicker amount of time. He picks the boy up and tries to run, but itβs already too late.
The sound of the horn blaring fills up his ears, and the headlights blind Changminβs vision.
He shuts his eyes and holds onto Hyunjae with his life, but nothing happens.
The car had swerved, and it struck you instead.
The vehicle comes to a halt, and the sound of your head colliding with the pavement fills the air.
Everything has gone silent, including Mrs. Leeβs voice when she sees what happened. Hyunjae is left in too much shock to process anything that he just witnessed, causing him to be handed over to his mother shortly after. Changmin no longer cares about what Mrs. Lee does with her son, rushing to the scene with pleas falling past his lips.
The driver has left their car, countless apologies pouring out of them as they stumble to call for emergency.
All Changmin could see was blood covering your figure. The liquid continuously pours out of you and into the puddles left by the storm, coloring the water a dark shade of red.
βNo no no, Y/N.β He frantically pulls you into his hold, hugging you close against him with his hand patting your cheek. βY/N, please talk to me.β
But youβre not moving. He feels for a pulse and finds it wavering, unsure if you were still with him. He begs for you to wake up, and the driver only watches with a hand over their mouth, in complete disbelief at what they had just done while informing the dispatcher.
Changmin is screaming your name, shaking you repeatedly as he sobs into your chest. Heβs hugging onto the hand he kissed only hours ago, trying to not only reassure you but himself as well.
βWeβllβweβll get through this together, o-okay? C-come on, Y/N, stayβ¦.s-stay with me. I know youβre thereβI know-....I know youβre holding on. I-I believe in you.β His voice croaks as he utters the last sentence, his tears filling up his vision.
He doesnβt curse when blood seeps into his pajamas, praying as he tightly squeezes your hand. βS-stay with me, Y/N.β
//
One of the nurses gives him a fresh set of clothes when he enters the hospital, telling him theyβll do all they can to save you.
He nods and takes the clothes, going over to the bathroom. He locks himself inside and turns on the lights. He refuses to look at himself in the mirror, and he couldnβt tell if itβs because he would see his tear-stained cheeks or your blood drying up in the fabric of his pajamas.
The clothes he was given were nothing too special. Itβs just a pair of jeans and a white t-shirt, and surprisingly they somewhat fitted him. He takes one last glance at the pajamas before tossing them into the trash can provided within the bathroom.
Changmin tries to calm his anxiety by setting the toilet lid down, sitting on it. Unfortunately for him, his mind refuses to stop racing with possible outcomes of the situation, leaving him irritated.
He stops thinking when realizing he left something in his pajamas, taking them out of the trash. He searches his pocket to find the thing that appeared in his mind, letting out a sigh of relief at the sight of the paper. He takes it out and drops the pajamas back into the can, sitting back down on top of the lid.
With shaky fingers, he unfolds the blood-stained painting. He doesnβt shed a tear at the sight, only praying that youβll be okay with the luck the painting has always given him.
It always brought him the most luck out of any scenario, and he knows he needs it now more than ever.
After minutes of staring at it, he tucks it back into his pocket. He looks into the mirror and tells himself that everything will be okay. He forces himself to ignore any other signs telling him otherwise, clearing his mind before leaving the bathroom.
His footsteps echo throughout the hallway as he walks past the doors, hating how quiet the hospital seemed to be in the middle of the night.
Earlier, he was told not to enter your door, so when he came across the door numbered two, he sat down in the chair opposite from it.
He rests his elbows on his legs, closing his eyes as he tries to block out any sounds of the incident that wouldnβt stop ringing in his ears.
The sounds go silent at the click of the door in front of him, making him rise to his feet.
The nurse quickly shuts the door behind her, standing in front of it as sheβs met with Changminβs presence. A saddened, solemn expression takes over her features, but Changmin dismisses it when approaching her.
βHowβs Y/N?β he asks, desperate to know about his loverβs condition. His eyes have a glint of hope in them, one that the nurse knows will vanish.
She hesitates to speak, fumbling with her fingers as she avoids all contact with Changmin. βYouβre-...youβre the one whoβs engaged to Y/N, correct?β
He nods, confirming his identity, and her eyes start to fill with sorrow. She parts her lips as if to say something but closes them shortly after to process her thoughts.
βSir,β she begins. βY/N-...in the incident, Y/Nβ¦.Y/N lost a lot of blood.β
Changmin doesnβt hesitate to cut her off from continuing any further. βI can donate mine,β he offers. βWe share the same blood type! AB, right?β He thinks back to when you found out about sharing the same blood type, jokingly declaring the two of you destined with fate after squealing about it.
The nurse pauses, and then shakes her head. βIβm afraid thatβs not the case, sir-β
βDoes Y/N need surgery?β Changmin asks, frantically pushing out his words. βI have the funds for everything, and Iβll pay anything just to make sure Y/N is alr-β
βSir,β she says sternly, forcing him to cut off. After minutes of avoiding Changmin, she brings herself to have her gaze meet his, and only does Changmin now notice the tears prickling at her eyes. He shuts up, allowing the nurse to speak.
She looks down while digging for something through the pocket of her coat, slowly pulling the item out. βI-I came to return this to you,β she whispers.
β...What?β
The nurse hands the item to the male, and Changmin is finally able to tell what it is.
β...No. No, no thereβs no way. Why-...would you give me the ring...Y/N-β
βWe lost a pulse, sir,β she whispers, hanging her head as she drops the information.
Changminβs entire body freezes and the ring in his hands falls, filling the empty hallway with the sound it makes when it hits the ground.
In complete denial, Changmin pushes past the nurse and pulls the door open, bursting into the room. His eyes search the room, and thatβs when his gaze settles on the flat line presented on the monitor.
He stumbles back a few steps, and the only doctor in the room turns to look at him. Sheβs just as speechless as Changmin is, and she steps away from your bed to walk over to him.
βIβm so sorry for your loss,β she murmurs, leaving him alone with your lifeless body in the room
Although youβre covered head to toe with a white sheet, Changmin manages to get a glimpse of the blood dripping from your fingers, your now empty fingers, noticing the puddle that has been created on the ground.
The scene makes Changmin dizzy, and he feels like passing out as he uses the door frame as support. Too much is going on in his mind to have him fully comprehend what he is seeing; that itβs your body heβs looking at.
The nurse remains with him in the hallway, picking up the ring he dropped seconds earlier to hand it to him.
Just like the doctor, she apologizes as well, but Changmin doesnβt get to hear the end of it when he leaves with the ring. He storms past the staff walking through the hallways and leaves the hospital, not willing to have strangers witnessing his tears.
All Changmin does is get in his car and drive.
He drives to the daycare, refusing to let the reality dawn on him because when he reaches the daycare, heβll be able to see you.
Heβll see you working at your desk, planning the activity for a day with a smile on your lips as you think about Hyunjae. Heβll see you twirling around in your swivel chair, telling him to join you.
But none of that happens when he enters the daycare, turning on the lights to the playroom. All he is met with is the vacancy of the room and your raincoat tossed onto one of the round tables.
And for the first time that night, Changmin realizes heβll never see you again.
//
Growing up, people have always told Changmin to think about what he has rather than what he doesnβt have.
But how could he think about what he has when he no longer has you?
He doesnβt have you sitting in the passenger seat of his car, rating each song in his playlist or your smile that would wish him good morning whenever he enters the daycare. He doesnβt have your hand to hold and caress or your forehead to kiss.
He doesnβt have a reason to smile, so what was there to think about?
He didnβt even get a chance to say I love you.
It was such a foolish mistake to not say it to you everyday. If he had the chance, he would say it whenever you drift off to sleep and wake up beside him. He would say it after you slap him on the back for saying something stupid and kiss him on the cheek to make up for it.
But he never did. He never once uttered those cursed three words to you.
He was too lost in love to even acknowledge the lack of the three words being shared in the first place, and it doesnβt help that the world has taken you from him shortly after.
Changmin walks around the playroom in order to calm down the inferno burning up his insides, but that all fails when he drives his fist in the wall, wishing that the pain will replace the emptiness in his chest. He tosses all of the childrenβs paintings into the trash, along with the purple flowers you arranged for him a week ago.
With the only light in the playroom being the moonlight, he pulls out Hyunjaeβs painting without thinking and tears it into pieces, ripping it until it could no longer be torn. The pieces fall onto one of the round tables like confetti, and his hands meet the table, letting out the sobs heβs been holding in ever since heβs heard the news from the nurse.
This place became his home in only two years, and he blames the stupid smile that would always reside on your face when you greeted him into the daycare. You and the kids were always the reason why he looked forward to waking up everyday, creating memories that would bring comfort to everyone in the room.
He sits down in one of the chairs, wiping away his tears as he pulls the ring out from his pockets, watching the way it glistens under the light illuminating from the moon. Carelessly, he tosses it onto the paper heβs ripped apart, pushing the table away from him.
You didnβt even get to wear it for a day.
Through his tears, he sees a paper on the ground, one that hadnβt been there when Changmin had entered the room. He quickly realizes that it fell out of the vase when he trashed the flowers away, picking it up between his fingers.
He hesitates to read what it says. Heβs already dealing with too much pain that his heart is unable to handle anymore, but his fingers canβt help but move on their own, opening the paper to reveal the purple ink written all over.
Dear my (second) favorite person on earth,
I know youβll throw these flowers away when they die. After all, thatβs the classic Changmin Iβve grown to love so when you do, when you find this letter, I hope you read every single word Iβm about to write.
I love yow.
I didnβt think my letter would get that fucked easily. Hyungseo tried peeking over my shoulder to see what I was writing, and I accidentally wrote a βwβ instead of a βuβ because of him. Honestly speaking, I hate it here. (No I donβt).
That reminds me. Did I ever tell you how much I love writing? We should write each other notes while we have the kids do an activity. You know, like highschoolers in love. I think itβll be cute seeing you get caught writing mid-sentence by Hyunjae.
I should really stop rambling because Haknyeonβs starting to eat the petals from the flowers and Youngjae and Sunwoo refuse to stop hyping him up. Can you believe these boys? This is what you and Hyunjae are missing out on. I canβt believe youβve been gone for hours now with him,, whyβd you have to steal him from me >:( kidding, by the way. I hope you two are having fun without me. (Yes, Iβm still petty).
I love you, Changmin. Two years with you, and Iβve never gotten to say it. Itβs not like it matters because our love language is anything but, but it wouldnβt hurt to say it every now and then because I truly do mean it when I say I love you. I would say it to your face if I wasnβt such a wuss about it so here I am, expressing my feelings through a stupid letter. You better enjoy reading after this, by the way. Iβm not going to write essays about how much I love you just for you to not read them.
Anyways, I bought this purple pen yesterday! Itβs pretty, isnβt it? It isnβt the exact shade of purple you like, but the same could honestly be said about the assortment of flowers the boys and I made for you.
β¦.Okay listen, I know youβre going to laugh when I show them to you. I swore the flowers looked beautiful when I bought them, but somehow when I gave them to the kids, they all managed to fuck them up and have them all bent in all the wrong places. So as an apology, Iβm hoping this note makes up for it. Shit, I went off topic again.
I love you, Jichang. I love you more than words can do any justice, so instead of writing I love you a thousand different timesβ¦
Changmin, would you like the honor of being my boyfriend?
Shut up, I know youβll say yes regardless, but Iβll still be expecting you to pick me up and twirl me around in the air, declaring yourself as my official boyfriend. Itβd be nice, wouldnβt it?
Changmin sees how your handwriting trails off, figuring that was when he entered the playroom with Hyunjae and the popcorn. He wishes there was more to read, more to hear from you, but this is the most heβs ever going to get.
His sobs return, and heβs crying like Hyunjae except Changmin is in the arms of no one; no one to hold him, no one to tell him theyβre there for him.
His mind is flashing images of you, reminding him of the memories heβs shared with you.
Heβs reminded of the roll of your eyes when he would make a snarky remark and of your cuddles whenever all the kids have finally left the daycare. He remembers the way you would smile at him whenever heβs playing with the kids and how you always manage to unintentionally daydream about him when heβs sitting right beside you.
All those moments that made him fall in love with you are now memories that took turns taking a stab at his heart, crushing the organ until there was no more.
He wanted to scream at the world for taking you away from him so soon, but his throat is raw and heβs barely able to whisper. Heβs craving your touch, your lips against his, and heβs wishing he could hear the jingle from the glass doors, signifying that you have arrived.
He wishes he had the chance to dance with you at least once in the middle of the empty playroom, maybe even practice the one youβll share at your wedding.
The idea of the wedding makes Changmin look at the ring on the table, bringing it back between his fingers.
βI feel so lost,β he whispers, his voice breaking as he clutches onto the ring. βY/N, what-...what do I do without you?β
He has no one to guide him, no one to tell him to believe in himself, and no one to love.
//
Changmin carries the last box into the trunk of his car, stacking it on top of the others. He wipes the sweat off his forehead, looking up at the sun shining bright in the sky despite it nearing winter. He pulls out his phone to check the time, realizing he has another thirty minutes before he has to leave.
In the past two months, Changmin has closed the daycare and called the dance academy. It took a few paperworks to be filled out before heβs officially accepted, and today is finally the day heβll be leaving.
Changmin hears a car pulling up next to his in the parking lot, looking over to see who it was.
He regrets doing so, especially when Mrs. Lee leaves the driverβs seat.
βCh-β
βThe daycareβs closing, Mrs. Lee,β Changmin states, closing his trunk shut. βI have to leave soon too.β
His tone wouldβve been more bitter if it wasnβt for the fact that Changmin is drained. For the past two months, Changmin has been drained of his tears and pain, causing him to be left with only soreness and a throbbing heartache.
βI know, I know, but Changmin, please listen to me.β She follows him across the street, tailing after his steps to the daycare. βMy son keeps getting constant nightmares, and all I ask for is for you to give him all your time before you leave.β
βYour son?β he scoffs, stopping when he reaches the glass doors. βI owe you nothing.β
He wraps his fingers around the handle of the door, ready to push it open before hearing Mrs. Lee.
βJaehy- Hyunjae. Hyunjae wants to see you. He wants to say goodbye.β
Changmin shuts his eyes at the name heβs been avoiding for so long, turning around in his spot to face his mother.
βPlease, Changmin, talk to him one last time, I beg of you.β Sheβs distraught, not knowing how else to get her desperation across.
His mind runs over the idea of talking to Hyunjae for the last time, heart wrenching at the thought.
βAlright. Tell him to enter alone and make it quick. I donβt have all day.β Changminβs just about to enter the daycare before realizing something, turning back around to look at the lady.
βOh, and Mrs. Lee? Donβt bother ever stepping foot into this building ever again. I mean it. Youβve already inflicted enough pain.β
He pushes the door open and makes his way into the playroom.
The emptiness of the room engulfs him as he enters, looking at how lifeless the walls looked after taking down the colored posters that had the abcs written all over them. Truly nothing remained in the room except for the counters with sinks. The bookshelves have been donated along with all of the books, and the bean bags have been given to Sunwoo and Youngjaeβs families. He looks around the room one last time, unable to pinpoint how he used to call this dinky place βhomeβ.
A few minutes after roaming around the place with a hollow heart, Changmin hears the front two doors jingle, tiny footsteps making their way into the daycare.
Hyunjae peeks into the playroom and when he catches sight of Changmin, tears begin to fall down his face. He runs over to the male, wrapping his arms tightly around his waist as he breaks out into full-on sobs.
Changmin hesitantly crouches down so Hyunjae is able to hug him better, remaining emotionless as the young boy wets his shirt with his tears. His little fingers desperately cling onto his sleeves, and no words are exchanged between the two boys for minutes. Though, to Changmin, it feels like hours, holding the boy in his arms as he stares off into the void.
Hyunjae is the first to speak up, voice quivering. βDonβt leave,β he whispers.
Changmin struggles to find the right words to use in the moment but gives up, deciding to just be blatantly honest with the boy. βI have to, Hyunjae. I canβt stay. Iβm leaving.β
Hyunjae looks up at him, redness tinting his puffy eyes while tears continuously pour down his face. βYou canβt- you just canβt-β he sobs, going back to hiding his face in the teacherβs chest. βWhat w-would I do without you?β
Changmin pats the back of his head and thinks, smiling back at a memory. βHyunjae, do you remember that book you always liked? The one Y/N bought for you two years ago?β
The nine-year-old stiffles his cries for only a second, nodding.
βThe main character...He dies in the end, right?β
Again, Hyunjae nods.
βBut youβve read that book how many times?β
The boy frowns. βWhat does this have to do with anything?β he hiccups, wiping his tears away.
Changmin sighs. βLife is kind of like, well, a storybook. Whatever is written is permanent, and thereβs nothing you can change. You can keep flipping the pages back and forth, wishing that youβll be able to change the outcome, but you canβt because the ink has already seeped into the paper.
So itβs hard to, you know, turn the page when you know someone you loved ever so dearly wonβt be in the next chapter, but you do it regardless. You come to accept the fact theyβre gone because youβll have to move on with the story, and eventually youβre able to turn that page.β
He cups Hyunjaeβs cheeks in his hands, reassuring him. βYouβll move on, Hyunjae. Just like how youβve gotten over the boyβs death in the book a trillion times. Trust me.β
βBut thatβs different,β Hyunjae reasons, removing Changminβs hands from his face. βI-In the book, they still get their happy ending. In the book, the people still live happily ever after, even with the death of the boy.β
βYes, βin the bookβ, Hyunjae. This is real life.β He looks at the ground. βNot all couples get happy endings.β
βBut we could get ours.β Hyunjae makes Changmin look at him, tears being brought back into his eyes. βYouβre here with me right now, and you can stay. You can stay with me, and we could write our own story with a happy ending.β
βIβm afraid itβs not that easy, Hyunjae,β the male whispers.
βTeacher Y/N already left,β Hyunjae mumbles. βI canβt-...I donβt want to lose you too.β
With shaky hands, Hyunjae reaches up to cup Changminβs cheeks, tears cascading down his cheeks as he tries to speak. βP-please, please donβt leave me,β he hiccups through his tears.
Changmin closes his eyes, preventing himself from falling vulnerable into the hands of a nine-year-old. βI donβt make promises I canβt keep.β
βB-but weβre family, and family....family sticks together, right?β
βWeβre not family, Hyunjae.β
Changminβs words pierces into Hyunjaeβs heart, and the boy no longer says anything else, the two allowing the young boyβs sobs to fill up the room.
Changmin opens his eyes to look at Hyunjae, and he knows this image of Hyunjae will forever be engraved into his mind.
And out of nowhere, Changmin smiles. He smiles because he knows theyβll be okay.
βThank you.β
Hyunjae sniffs loudly, still holding onto Changminβs cheeks. βF-for what?β The boy is biting back his upcoming batch of tears, but it fails when Changmin starts to speak.
βThank you, Hyunjae, for being the sunshine that always brightens the daycareβs day and being the shooting star that glitters the dark skies at night. Thank you for your little surprise hellos and your comforting goodbyes. Thank you for the happiness youβve brought to not only me, but Teacher Y/N as well.β Changmin finally allows his tears to fall, not breaking eye contact with Hyunjae. βThank you for being so fucking strong for the both of us and growing up to be the angel Y/N will always love and cherish.β
Hyunjaeβs sobs even harder after hearing Changmin, unable to contain himself. βPlease-...donβt go.β
But the male continues. He removes his face from Hyunjaeβs palms and moves to rest his forehead against the boyβs, working his words through his own tears.
βThank you for being your bestest self in front of everyone. Thank you for bringing a smile to everyoneβs faces every single day, and thank you for always giving me a reason to wake up. Thank you for being the first person to give me hugs and loving me when no one else would. Thank you for making me feel like a kid again these past two years. Thank you, Hyunjae, for being the gift in my life.β
Changmin pulls away from the young boy and presses a sweet, gentle kiss to his nose, hugging him tightly afterwards. βI love you,β he whispers.
The teacher then stands up and doesnβt take another glance at the boy he had only broken further, leaving the playroom. He walks out the glass doors of the daycare and heads for his car, looking ahead towards the path he was always meant to take.
The kid inside him once played hide and seek for twenty three years, and during those twenty three years, Changmin refused to play along.
Now, the only person that remains inside the vacant daycare is the kid Changmin grew to love and eventually left behind; the boy that led him to his inner kidult.
Maybe, just like in Hyunjaeβs painting, Changmin was the devil after all.
As always, youβre reading a book despite how late it is at night. Your legs are sprawled out on top of the blankets, waiting for Changmin to exit the bathroom as usual.
Heβs dressed in his usual flannel pajamas, a bright smile on his face. You close your book and set it aside before spotting a piece of paper peeking out from the pockets in his pants.
βYou bring that thing everywhere, donβt you?β
βHuh? This?β Changmin pulls it out of his pocket and waves it in the air, making you confirm his words with a nod.
βWhy wouldnβt I?β he snorts, raising his brows. βIf you had this gem, youβd bring it everywhere too.β
You roll your eyes and grab a pillow, tossing it at his face. βYeah sure, but I wouldnβt shower with it, dummy.β
He stumbles back due to the hit and picks it up from the ground, tossing the pillow right back at you. βI donβt shower with it!β he exclaims.
Changmin joins you on your bed after setting Hyunjaeβs painting down onto the nightstand, yawning loudly.
βWhatever you say, Jichang.β
You put the pillow back into its spot and bring the blankets over both of your bodies after turning off the lamp, leaving the two of you in complete darkness. Though, the lack of light doesnβt stop Changmin from bringing you close against him, snuggling up to you.
Itβs silent, and you would think heβs asleep until he shifts in his spot.
βY/N?β
βHm?β
βIsnβt it crazy how like...Hyunjae painted that thing when we only knew each other for, what? Two days?β He scrunches his nose at the memory before turning to look at you to see what you thought.
βIt is,β you respond. βKids do the darndest things.β
Changmin laughs at your word choice but agrees nonetheless. βDonβt you think it somehow links with fate? The two of us ending up together?β
βMmm, perhaps. Depends on how you put it.β You shift in your spot, turning to face him. βHyunjaeβs special like that.β
You reach to hold one of his hands, playing with his fingers. βTogether forever,β you sigh, pressing a kiss against his knuckles.
βThat includes Hyunjae, right?β Changmin asks, lazy eyes watching your every movement as a cheeky smile makes its way to his lips.
You laugh, nodding. βYes, that includes Hyunjae. All three of us...together forever....Oh my god, Changmin, remember that pinky promise you had the three of us do before you left?β
He grins at the memory, remembering how grim that day turned out to be until he asked you out. βYeah, yeah I do.β
He pulls his hand away from you to tuck his nose into the crook of your neck, growing drowsier with each hum that escapes you.
βThe three of us and our happy little ending,β Changmin murmurs, that being the last thing he says before drifting off to sleep.
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hi there! congrats for reaching 500 followers π₯°π§‘ for your event, i want to request fluff F and K with Jaeyoon. no need to rush it~ i'll be waiting patiently for your β¨masterpieceβ¨ hehehe
Hii Chel! Finally got to your request π₯Ίπ Hope you like it.
Warnings: Fluff. Soft soft shit.
F - Family (At what point in the relationship does he introduce you to his family)
I think he will tell his sister about you while you both are in the talking stage. Once you start dating properly, maybe around a month or so till the new spreads to his parents.
His sister already knows you so you've definitely spoken to her on video call a few times when your were over at the dorm. Of course she loves you and thinks you're too good for her brother lmao
His parents know about you (mainly cause his sister was very excited to spill the beans π), but like anyone, you were scared to talk to them. When you do meet them in person, they all love you so much y'all will probably ignore Jae ππππ
K - Kisses (How does he like to kiss you)
A total tease! So annoying πππ
Everytime he wants to he playful with you, he brings his lips so close to yours, almost touching them, but also not. You can feel his breathy laugh on your lips. Of course when you huff and pull him close he gives in.
If you aren't in the playful mood, our sweet sweet hubby lovingly cradles your cheeks in his warm palms, gives you an eskimo kiss first, then a small peck on your nose, your cheeks and finally a very long cavity inducing kiss on your lips π₯Ί
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
β Live Streamingβ Interactive Chatβ Private Showsβ HD Quality
Anya is LIVE right now
FREE
Free to watch β’ No registration required β’ HD streaming