"jeongguk-oppa!" sooyun called out, "she's crying again."

the boy was currently talking with taehyung and a couple of his childhood friends the older introduced to him. the little girl seemed to cry quite often and only seemed to calm down under jeongguk's touch.

"coming," he replied, saying goodbye and running to the nursery.

"hey, do you know where i can find bang shihyuk-sshi?" he asked the young boys. taehyung had seen them grow up since they were little, but seemed to have missed out a little on their high school life. he could've given them so much advice, but it's not too late now.

"hmm, well he should be somewhere ar—"

"is someone looking for me?" they heard a voice say, startling all of them. taehyung quickly turned to see the owner of the voice. he knew who it was immediately, he didn't even have to look.

"shuk-sshi!" taehyung screamed with a smile.

"you've been the talk of the day between the caretakers gossips, came to see if it really was my little taehyungie."

taehyung couldn't stop smiling, and didn't know what to say either. he just walked up and engulfed the man in a big hug.

"woah there buddy. look how you've grown, but you still want hugs from me?" the older chuckled, hugging the other back just as tight.

"i've missed your hugs," taehyung said pulling away.

"wow, you don't look a day over twenty!" the younger teased.

"oh stop it you, you definitely look twenty though. I remember you this small," he said bringing his hand all the way down to his knees. bang shihyuk then brought it up to ruffle the boy's hair. "and now your as tall as me."

"how's our tree doing?" taehyung questioned fixing his hair.

"why don't you come and see for yourself?" he said. he lead the boy to the garden, where a few tall trees stood. taehyung instantly recognized the apple tree they both picked apples from since he was six. a little swing was attached to it, that was new. taehyung ran to test out this new addition, it was quite fun.

"you're still a little child, huh?" shihyuk laughed.

taehyung laughed.

"i saw a boy come with you," the older trailed off, lifting his eyebrows. bang shihyuk was the first person taehyung came out to, knowing he would be the only one to accept him.

the boy laughed a little. "it's complicated."

"well i'm here to listen."

taehyung explained the entire story to the person he's always considered he was closest with.

bang shihyuk nodded. "what if something happened to the boy that day. did you ask jeongguk-sshi why?"

taehyung shook his head. "that's what my co-worker said too. his voice was shaking, like he had run a marathon or... even crying. i asked what wrong but he wouldn't tell me."

"well then you should first ask what happened."

taehyung nodded, already writing out a script in his head to how it should be played out.

they caught up a little more before shihyuk remembered he had a job to do. they exchanged numbers and promised to talk more often, and they both knew this was a promise that they'd keep. taehyung went back to find jeongguk, who was still in the nursery. he found jeongguk feeding the little girl as sooyun held the bowl of baby food.

"hey there," taehyung said entering the room. jeongguk looked up with his wide smile, bunny teeth and all.

"sit, hyung. you want to try feeding her?"

"sure."

jeongguk handed the spoon over the older, who carefully scooped an appropriate amount of food.

"good luck, she wouldn't eat when i tried feeding her," sooyun said with a frown.

taehyung smiled and carefully brought the spoon to her mouth. surprisingly, she didn't spit it out.

"she ate it!" taehyung squealed, already scooping more.

"maybe i should just hand her over to you two, she definitely seems to like both of you," sooyun commented.

"what's her name?" jeongguk questioned, he's been wondering it for a while.

"well, we haven't decided yet. we might as well settle for kim sooyun junior." she laughed.

"she doesn't even like you, why would you name her after you," taehyung teased, earning a a glare for the younger girl.

"the director usually let's the caretakers name new children, as we spend time with them the most. since she's gotten so attached to you, why don't you think of a good name?"

"really?" jeongguk asked with stars in his eyes.

taehyung immediately started brainstorming ideas, which were all put down by both jeongguk and sooyun.

"well, let's think about this. she's a little rowdy, but still has this graceful aura. she has this glow and sparkle in her eyes, like this little supernova ready to explode. when she smiles, she lights the whole room up, like a star." jeongguk laughed quietly as he rambled in, "she truly is a graceful star."

taehyung and jeongguk looked at each other, eyes widening at the last few words the younger had said.

"eunbyul!" they exclaimed together, breaking into a fit of laughter.

"eun...byul" sooyun repeated, "combining both grace and star. what a nice name. then it's decided! kim eunbyul! i'll let the director and other caretakers know as soon as i can."

all the kids who grew up at sunny care orphanage had kim as their last name, as the place was run by a family of kims.

hours went by as they played with the little eunbyul and the other kids at the orphanage. both boys had lost track of time.

"so do you guys have extra clothes?" sooyun asked as they were all washing dishes after dinner together.

"what? of course not," taehyung replied thinking it was a joke.

"well, you guys can borrow some."

"why would we need extra-clothes? are we going to have a water fight?" jeongguk asked confused.

sooyun laughed. "have you looked at the time, who would have a water fight at night?"

"night?" the two exclaimed, searching for the closest window around.

taehyung rushes over to one and opened the curtain to reveal that it was truly night. jeongguk fished out his phone after drying his hands. it was a little over nine.

"shit," taehyung mumbled. "has the bus system changed?"

sooyun shook her head. only local busses would come around at this time, none of which would get the two boys home.

"wait, what?" jeongguk screamed once taehyung explained the situation.

"there's no taxis that are really going to come here either. so, this means, sleepover!" sooyun yelled.

jeongguk groaned. "sorry, i have to make a quick call." he left the kitchen as he ringed to the shop.

a few seconds later, his father answered.

"hello?" a voice answered.

"hey appa, have you eaten yet?"

"of course i have, it was delicious! what about you ggukkie?"

"i ate. hey, um, i don't think i can come home today. there's some leftover in the fridge, eat it up well for breakfast, okay? i'll be home by lunch. god, i'm sorry, i shouldn't be leaving you alone at a time like this."

"goodness, boy! i'm perfect! don't worry about me. have fun wherever you are."

"are you sure..?

"yes. i hear people chattering in the background, you should go join them. i'll call you if i need anything, don't worry."

"and don't forget to—"

"take my tablets, i know. goodnight gguk-ah."

"sweet dreams, appa."

jeongguk smiled as he hung up the call. he returned to taehyung and sooyun who seemed to be playing with bubbles. they looked very nice together, goofing around like little kids. taehyung had talked about sooyun a lot throughout the day. he told him how although thy weren't born from the same mother, they were raised as a family. all the kids here were his brothers and sisters, and that he must have the largest family in town.

"so, where are we going to be sleeping?" jeongguk asked.

"you two could share the spare bunk bed in the third boys room. i'll go find you two some clothes." she rushed off after washing the soap out of her hands.

the boys finished drying all the dishes, and stacked them away. just as they finished, sooyun brought in two pairs of pyjamas. she also lead them to the room where a group of boys were talking. they were all older, high school students, so no one was jumping on beds or yelling.

"you take the bottom, i'll take the top?" taehyung asked the younger, who agreed. taehyung always slept on the top bunk, and he knew jeongguk rolled around quite often.

of course there was a bed time, and all the boys had already gone to bed by the time they finished washing up and changing. taehyung and jeongguk silently got into their beds, not wanting to awake the other boys.

once they got comfortable, the shuffling stopped.

"goodnight, jeongguk." taehyung whispered.

"goodnight."

—•
okay so i didn't realize how much jeongguk has grown until i saw him enter namjoon's studio today during the vlive (which i was able to watch during class woop woop) like he's a man now.

like what happened to fetus kookie?? someone tell jeongguk to stop growing!

also namjoon is  g l o w i n g.

bye<3