Mina's POV - Early 2013

At first I thought he was joking, or at the very least trying to pull an early April Fools, but the look on his face was serious.

"Dad, you're what?"

I asked, to make sure I heard him clearly.

"I'm going to Japan for a bit for work," He looked kind of excited about going back to his home country, but where did that leave me and the babies? Were we going with him? "It's only for a few months but it might take longer depending on the new idols. I would love to take you and the kids but unfortunately only I can go. Mina I hope you understand, this job will get us lots of money!"

But I don't money... I wanted to say but instead I just smiled. He looked excited, so I should be too right? I was happy for him, I truly was, but lately all I can express are the fake pearly smiles that always seem to fool people. To make them believe that I am happy.

"What about me and the kids?" I asked, fumbling with the hem of my shirt nervously. "You aren't sending us with mom are you?"

"Lord no," My breathing became easier. "I'm sending your cousin, Himchan, to watch you. He'll be moving into the house next door to keep an eye on you, and I know what you're thinking, but you're friends are reliable, they just can't watch over all three of you."

I opened my mouth to protest but slowly closed it, realizing he was right.

"But isn't Himchan in a group?" I furrowed my brows. "Wouldn't he be busy?"

My father gave a small smile. "He will be, but after last year we can't let Yukwon watch you. Plus Himchan's older, so he would be able to take care of you easier."

"Yeah but dad... Chan-chan still acts like a kid." I tried to reason with him but he immediately shot my rebuttle down. He was right, I shouldn't complain too much, but what could I do? He was sending the most adult-child like person to watch over me.

I could watch over myself. I'm a grown 17 year old with two kids, I think I can do just fine.

My dad went to go pack his things, leaving me in the main room of our house to think. Apparently he was leaving as soon as possible.

He couldn't just leave after telling me all this... It wasn't right...

But then again, nothing's ever right.

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Mina stared out the window as her counselor continued talking. He was going on and on about stuff she already knew about herself, making her feel even worse. Dr. Kurosawa, her counselor, and supposedly the best therapist South Korea had to offer made Mina wish her dad hadn't found out about what happened to her in the past. She balled her hands into fists as the counselor kept talking, but she distracted herself by looking in the parking lot of the building where a familiar red convertable was stationed. She watched, amused as two people were dancing along with the beats of music blaring from the car. A smile rose to her face, but was soon short lived as the Doctor snapped his fingers in front of her face.

"Mina," He spoke sternly. "How do you expect me to help you if all you do during our session is daydream?"

"I don't need help," she muttered quietly, avoiding his gaze. "I'm perfectly fine."

"Fine? Pfft, look at you-" The doctor cut himself off before he said something he regretted.

Mina crossed her arms against her chest.

"What's wrong with me." She asked, but it seemed more like a statement than a question.

The doctor pulled out a long list of things previous counselors had said in the past. He read off each and every word, not even stopping when he saw a tear escape her eye.

"How do you expect to be a good mother with records like this?"

"Excuse me?" Mina snapped, her eyes watery. "I am a great mother and I don't need any of this therapy bullshit. I am just fine, whether you shrinks think so or not."

When she was done, he looked at her point blankly and said, "Session over."

Mina rolled her eyes, grabbing her bag and wiping the stray tears away as she left. She walked out of the building, to the familiar red car, and got in, not saying a word. Kai, her best friend, smiled when he saw her, but turned off the music when he noticed her frown.

"Did that asshole make you cry again?"

Mina shrugged her shoulders, looking out the window. "....No."

"You can't lie to us Mina," said Luhan, Kai's bandmate. Mina bit her lip, then stared at the two.

"Did you know that the shrinks have a gigantic list of things that is wrong with me? And some aren't even related to why I'm going there in the first place?"

The two kept quiet, not knowing what to say.

"He even questioned my parenting." Mina muttered, staring at her hands. "My dad hasn't been in town in days. Why are you making me see this guy?"

Kai sighed, running his fingers through his hair. "I promised him, remember? Mikki and I are looking after you until your cousin comes to watch over you."

Mina huffed, pouting her lips as she sighed. Luhan jumped into the back seat with her and wrapped his arm around her shoulder, trying to cheer her up. He pinched her cheek lightly, cooing.

"You're acting like a baby, Mimi." He spoke, using his nickname for her as Kai drove to her house. Luhan loved teasing her, even though she told him to knock it off every chance she got.

"I'm not a baby," She said nonchalantly. "I take care of them."

When Kai pulled up to Mina's house, the three of them came face to face with ten struggling faces.

"Mina!! Mina, they won't stop!" The boys shouted as Mina got out of the car. Kai's bandmates each had their hands clamped over their ears as the wailing grew louder. Mina dropped her things, checking on the noise, but it immediately stopped once she stepped inside. She giggled.

"Awww did you two miss me?" Mina cooed as she picked up each of them into her arms. The two little ones snuggled their faces into their mother's chest and stopped crying. As if the very touch was enough for them to stop crying. Jaeyeon, the younger of the two looked like the spitting image of her mother, while Hyoseok looked a bit more like his father.

Mina laid the two down onto her bed, cooing at them when Luhan walked in. He wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her towards him.

"Not now," She tried to shoo him off but he merely chuckled.

"C'mon, how long will it take for you to fall for me?" He asked, sliding his hands to her hips. She tried prying his hands away, but instead had to swat at him.

"Not in front of the babies." Mina smiled, then looked out the window glumly. "I'm not ready for a relationship."

"Mina..." Luhan spoke softly. "I'm not going to hurt you like he did, I promise. Until you're ready for my love, then I'll wait. I'll wait for you."

Mina glanced at his eyes, they looked so sincere, but then she tore her eyes away from his. "Don't make promises you can't keep."

Mina stuck out her hand to her children, admiring how innocent they were. Luhan looked at them too, smiling as Hyoseok grabbed onto his mother's hand.

"You see now? I can't. Luhan, I'm not ready because what if I go bad again? If I get sent back to the hospital, I wouldn't be here for them. They need me." Mina sat on the bed, placing Hyoseok in her arms. "Plus with their father....--"

"-he still doesn't know?" Luhan cut in, looking at her concerned. She looked to the ground.

"Mina, I can help out. With me, you won't go bad. And if you go, I'll be here for them," He placed Jaeyeon into his arms, sitting beside her. He grabbed Mina's hand with his free one, looking into her eyes with pure honesty. "I'll love them just as much as I love you."

A knock sounded at the door, followed by 12 curious faces.

"What's going on in here?" Kai asked, interrupting the moment. The rest of the EXO members and Mikki filed into the room, causing Mina to pull a smile.

"Oh nothing, we were just talking is all."

"Hyung wasn't trying to corrupt you was he?" Sehun, the maknae, chimed in.

"Yeah, if he's bothering you, we can get Kai to beat his ass," Kris smirked.

"Hey!" Luhan interjected. "What did I do?!"

"What did you do Hyung?" Kai interrogated.

"Nothing!"

Mina laughed as the boys were bickering. You see, Kai is really protective of Mina, and since Luhan came back from China, he's been the main target.

"Seriously guys, nothing happened." Mina smiled, standing up. Hyoseok was resting on her shoulder when she walked out of the room. She placed him down in his crib, then went to get Jaeyeon to do the same. "Seriously guys, lighten up."

"It's just, we don't want to see you hurt again," Baekhyun said quietly. The guys soon grew quiet, making Mina give a small sad smile.

"No ones gonna hurt me," She muttered. "Not anymore."

Mina walked out of the room leaving the guys and Mikki to think about what she said. Mina grabbed her coat, making her way to take a walk and get some fresh air. She didn't want to cry, she told herself she was done with petty things like that whenever she left him. Her eyes were watching the ground as she walked, but then she came in contact with something soft, something human like, bumping into the figure causing him to drop all his stuff.

"S-sorry," Mina sputtered when she realized what had happened. She dropped immediately to help pick up the items but the boy merely glared when she gave it to him.

"Watch where you're going." He spat bitterly, shoving past her.

Mina scoffed, staring at the stranger.

"I said I was sorry, no need to be rude."

The stranger spun on his heel, walking back towards her.

"Me? Rude? Pfft." He chuckled humorlessly. "You bumped into me. God I don't understand you people, is everyone in the neighbourhood so insufferable?" He asked rhetorically but Mina still answered.

"No, asshole, we aren't." Mina turned to leave, flicking her hair over her shoulder as she walked past him.

"By the way, my name's not asshole!" The stranger shouted. "It's Zelo!"

Mina flipped him off, causing the stranger to smirk.

"Asshole," Mina muttered under her breath.

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Mina groaned as she made her way back to the house. Today wasn't her day, first with her counselor, then with some complete stranger, she just wished this day would come to an end. When she stepped back into the house, the kids were asleep and everyone was huddled into the main room.

"What's going on?" She asked, hanging her coat over the back of the couch.

"We've been talking." Mikki announced, "And we think it would be a good idea if you went to school with Kai and Sehun."

"What about homeschooling? Couldn't I just do that??" Mina practically shouts, her eyes wide.

"No," Kai deadpans, placing his hands on her shoulders, making her take a seat. "You already took a year off, but it's our last year. After this, then do whatever, but at least go to an actual school."

"And what better school than Seoul East High?" Sehun pipes in, giving a small smile to Mina.

Luhan placed his hand on top of hers reassuringly.

"It'll be good for you."

Mina stayed silent, biting her lip. "But what about the kids? How can I juggle school and watch over Yoona and Seokie?"

"I'll watch them."

Mikki says seriously, eyes never leaving Mina's.

"I can take care of them. I can watch them for you everyday. Mina, you need get out there and actually make some friends other than us."

Mina stared at all of them, eyeing each and everyone before scoffing.

"You guys are sick of me already?"

"No! Idiot." Kai rolls his eyes. "We want you to act your age for once. Ever since last year happened, you haven't been the same. We miss the old you, the one who truly smiled... the one who truly cared."

"I do care--"

"We know, but it'll be good for you." Kris interrupted, staring at her intently.

The guys exchanged glances when Mikki finally spoke up.

"Just... Just think about it. School starts next week."

"Why are you just now telling me about this?"

"Because Kai over here didn't say anything until 30 minutes ago."

Mina bit her lip again, it was something she did out of habit.

"You promise you'll take care of them?"

Mikki nods.

"I promise on my soul, they will be okay."

"Will I be able to see them?"

Mikki smiles. "You can come visit them anytime you want."

Mina stared at the 13 expecting faces and sighed.

"If it's what you guys really want... then I guess it'll be okay?"

13 smiles and 13 cheers is what she recieved.

"We're going out tonight!" Kai and the guys cheered.

"What for?"

"To celebrate, duh? My best friend is finally going to school with me!"

"We have to situate the kids over to Mikki's first," Sehun, the maknae rolled his eyes. "Stop getting excited."

Kai gave Sehun a pointed look, then wriggled his eyebrows, throwing an arm over the younger's shoulders.

"You know you're excited too~"

"Can I go?" Luhan interrupted the bro-fest, smiling.

"No." The maknae line deadpanned. "You have to work on the new song with the hyungs."

Mina giggled as Luhan pouted childishly, but nodded nonetheless, following the rest of EXO out the door.

Maybe agreeing was a good thing?
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A/N:

Hey guys! Was chapter 1 okay? Comment what you think? Or if I should continue it or not? I'm sorry the sequel took so long, with the issues with EXO and B.A.P, I wasn't sure if I was even going to make the sequel or not.... But I hope it's okay, and I hope you enjoy it. Thank you for reading :)

Oh, and Happy Birthday Ahn Jaehyo! I kinda purposely updated on his birthday, and if you read the first book, you would know why x) haha.