We're going to find out a little more about the gentleman...

This is a short chapter, the long ones are coming do not worry.

Enjoy your reading  ☼

Pistanthrophobia: (n.) Fear of trusting people because of past experiences of relationships gone wrong.

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After putting the children to bed, especially Wooyoung, he reassured him that neither his teacher nor his father were angry with him. He was careful to explain as simply as possible, insisting that Mr Park was a very nice person and that it was normal for the little boy to be 'different'.

"- You know, Dad, I like my new teacher. I like him better than the ones before, he never yells at me."

Hongjoong smiled, tucking his son in, gently stroking his hair to soothe him. To tell the truth, he'd never liked the ones before either.

"- He seems like a good person anyway. He's worried about you.

- Worried? Wondered the youngest.

- Well, let's just say he's afraid you won't be happy."

Wooyoung seemed to think for a moment, but his eyes closed on their own.

"- Daddy? Why don't I have a mum?"

The question caught Hongjoong off guard as he searched for words to answer his son.

"- Dad doesn't really like girls, darling...

- I know! Wooyoung exclaimed. But I want a mum too."

The man frowned, not really sure he understood what the boy was trying to say.

"- It's not a question of wanting, but of being able, darling."

Despite the boy's almost closed eyes, Hongjoong saw him sulk slightly and kissed his forehead to make amends. It was then that he turned his back to his father before mumbling, sleep getting the better of him:

"- I wish I had a mum like Master Park."

The father left the room, leaving the door ajar to give Wooyoung some light until he fell into a deep sleep. He was definitely going to hear a lot about this Mister Park. Going down the stairs of his triplex flat to the small living room, he stopped at the second landing, where Yeosang's bedroom and Mingi's were. Through the half-open door of the older man's room, he saw that they were both sitting on the bed, in front of their respective phones. He knocked lightly on the door three times, waiting for their permission to come in.

"- Come in, Dad! Yeosang exclaimed."

Hongjoong finally entered, arching an eyebrow at the mischievous smile on his two sons' faces. He came face to face with the phone his son was holding out to him; on the screen was an Instagram profile where the father had been able to read "Mars", followed by an emoji representing Saturn. As Mingi and Yeosang were originally meant to be sleeping in their respective bedrooms, Hongjoong quickly became annoyed.

"- What's all this Yeosang? You're supposed to be in bed. He said bluntly.

- He's Woo's teacher! He's got Insta. He defended himself.

- You just looked up the Instagram profile of your little brother's teacher ?

- We did. He corrected, pointing at his brother. And it's okay, he's cute, I'm sure he's your age, and he's got a nice name too.

- I don't need my sons to become marriage counsellors. I'm doing fine on my own."

A small laugh escaped Mingi, which earned him a glance that could best be described as "threatening" from Hongjoong, who immediately silenced him. The father then went on the hunt for Yeosang's phone, which he clearly didn't want to let go out of his hands.

"- Yeosang. growled his father.

- I thought you weren't interested dear father?

- I'm not interested, Yeosang, it's only time you went to bed, there's school tomorrow.

- Anyway, at least I know my father-in-law's first name. Sang the teenager.

- In your dreams, sweetheart. Now Mingi, go back to your room and go to sleep, both of you!"

They both burst out laughing as their father threw himself on top of his sons to tickle them unexpectedly. Mingi finally got up after placing a kiss on his father's cheek, and went to bed, while Yeosang did the same, snuggling under his blankets and putting his phone on his bedside table. After wishing him goodnight, Hongjoong turned off the light and closed the door gently, before checking that his other teenager was in bed. After making sure everyone was in their bed, he finally made his way down the last flight of stairs to join Kyung-Moon, who was watching TV on the Kim family's modest sofa, its only fantasy was that it could become a bed, which in their opinion was not bad. 

"- I hope you don't mind me coming in during the middle of the week? Asked the man, looking away from the screen.

- No, it's good to see you. And no kidding, the talk with Wooyoung's teacher really shook me up."

Hongjoong sat down on the white sofa, putting one of the cushions behind his back.

"- What exactly did you two talk about?"

- You already know that he thought I was abusing Woo. I explained to him that the signs he'd described to me were more to do with the signs of ADHD he had, and that the complications I'd had with my ex-girlfriend probably hadn't helped at all.

- You've never had a woman in your life, Joong. Interjected the older man.

- No kidding, Kyung-Moon. Said the respondent sarcastically. I didn't want to tell my son's teacher that I'm gay, that's a pretty intimate information.

- I can understand that, especially with the way our society is, but that's another debate.

- Can you imagine me telling him all this: "I'll explain, it's just that since my ex-boyfriend tried to abuse him several times without me knowing, he's been traumatised and needs a father figure to stop him having anxiety attacks when he's ten". Poor guy isn't a psychologist.

- At the same time, didn't he force you to say all that ? 

- No, I was pleased to see him being so indulgent. In fact, I think he understood that things hadn't gone well, and he didn't force me to say more.

- So as well as being handsome, he's also kind. Attempted Maddox.

- Oh really, Kyung-Moon? What's your problem with this guy, seriously? Grumbled Hongjoong. He's got kids, he probably has a wife.

- Your view is pretty heteronormative for a guy who's the very antonym of the word.

- I get that a lot. He said sarcastically. Still, I'm probably right."

Maddox rolled his eyes playfully, and his best friend suddenly remembered Mister Park's Instagram name. He was immediately tempted to go and look at his phone on the armrest, to which he glanced hesitantly. He bit his lip, and many questions flashed through his mind, while the older man went into the kitchen to pour himself a cup of coffee.

Do children really need another parent figure that badly? Has it been too long since I've met someone? Am I even ready to meet someone? Is it really a good idea to flirt with my son's teacher? But I'm fine on my own with the kids, aren't I ??? What if I make a fool of myself??? Are his children ready to have a stepfather ??? What if they've already got a mum or dad???

"- Stop it Hongie, your brain is smoking. Don't think too much about it, I'm teasing you, but if you're not ready, you're not ready, full stop."

The latter nodded. He didn't think his anxiety was that apparent. His best friend placed a cup of coffee in front of him, and as he tried to calm his sudden emotions, he sighed. He wished he were a little better off financially, at least so that he could see a psychologist, for himself as well as for Wooyoung. If Hongjoong wasn't at peace with himself, it was certain that he wasn't going to get very far in finding someone in life, especially with the worry that this someone might resemble his old someone. And he couldn't help being afraid of that. He took a sip of coffee as the silence and ambience of the flat soothed him, until Maddox broke the stillness by saying softly:

"- We should go to bed. I'll take you to work tomorrow, I've decided to take a few days off.

- And Beomjoong, he was supposed to help us this week.

- I've warned him, don't worry, I'll manage for you miniHong. Go to bed now.

- Thank you, Maddox. Hongjoong replied sincerely."

Having someone help him like that had two effects on him, the discomfort of feeling like a nuisance, but also the relief of not having to take care of everything any more. And as tiredness weighed down his eyelids, he could only relax at having a friend present by his side for the moment. So he put the cup in the dishwasher, wished Kyung-Moon good night as he unfolded the sofa/bed, and went to bed without asking for anything else, telling himself that he'd have a better day the next day.

It was then, wrapped up in his blankets, that his mind automatically wandered back to the professor's Instagram profile, and overcome with curiosity, he unlocked his phone, opened the application and typed into the search bar: "Mars", followed by the Saturn emoji. Honjoong found the account quickly and easily when he saw the profile photo of the blond-haired man he had taken in the mirror, without his glasses. His first name immediately jumped out at him; at the same time, it was hard to ignore a username on someone's Instagram profile, especially when it was what you were looking for in the first place. And Hongjoong had to admit that Yeosang was right, because the professor did indeed have a beautiful name. 

Park Seonghwa.

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Well, I hope you enjoyed it!

See you soon ☼