chapter 1

Kim Namjoon is not a man famous for making irrational decisions, but it always seems to happen when he’s drunk. Especially when he’s had a bit too much alcohol in his veins and proceeds to forget about everything he’s done.

See, a perfect example of this was that time in college, when some long-lost friend of his took him to a beer drinking competition. Namjoon won, but the price was that he woke up the next day, sweaty and exhausted, then finding he had taken a run through the campus at four am.

*****.

He was (usually) the rational guy among his friends, but he’d landed a big job, and it was worth celebrating enough to let loose for a while, so he bought at least a hundred bottles of beer, and drank for god knows how long until he lost memory of what he was doing.

Contrary to the rumours later that week, it wasn’t his idea. Social butterfly and perfect face supreme, Kim Seokjin had been the one to land the beer as well as the horde of friends at the party.

And with his luck, Kim Seokjin was Namjoon’s boyfriend at the time.

Ah, yes. That night, where Namjoon vandalised a building, broke a few cars, got caught in the act, arrested, went on headlines for the first time in his little life, and received an email from the company that morning, telling him that he was fired. On his first day. Before, even so.

So it was acceptable in Namjoon’s worth million brain when he dumped Seokjin thereafter and disappeared completely from his life.

Namjoon had shredded the harsh feelings and memories quite well, and kept it that way nicely for three years. But it was all coming back to him now, because there, in an aisle at a supermarket on sale, stands Seokjin, glowing and standing out in the hordes of middle aged ladies, arm frozen midair from where he was putting frozen meat into his cart, and two kids at his hip.

Then time unfreezes and one of the toddlers grab the other, furiously whispering until they’re both nodding, tugging at Seokjin’s jacket until he looks down at the kids, shook out of his daze.

Seokjin kneels down, and the toddlers whisper something into his ear. Seokjin nods, and scoops up one into his arms, the meat returned to the shelves, while the other hides behind Seokjin’s legs.

The toddler in Seokjin’s arms peeks cautiously at Namjoon, extending an arm towards him. Namjoon can only stare at the chubby little arm before looking up at Seokjin, who nodded, as if telling him to go on.

Slowly, almost dramatically, Namjoon takes the little hand in his, his own palm almost swallowing the toddler’s soft one. The toddler tugs a bit in their handshake pose, and Namjoon staggers forward almost immediately, distance between him and Seokjin closing so quickly it was borderline dangerous.

The toddler opens his mouth, chubby cheeks moving to form yet to be familiar words. “‘m Jimin, and daddy tells me you’re my papa.”

Namjoon chokes right then and there, in the middle of the frozen food aisle, with a new weight bearing on his shoulders.

Out of all the not-so-wonderful and wonderful things he is, he’s suddenly a father, which he has no idea in how to be one.

Scratch that, he’s never even seen the toddlers.

“T-those are your kids?” Namjoon gapes, eyes flicking to Seokjin and the other toddler by his feet.

“Yes. Technically no, but they are mine.” Jimin is kicking at Seokjin to let him down, and once Jimin’s feet touch the floor, he’s running off to join his brother.

Namjoon looks at the toddlers, who are off and away in their little world. Wait. If they’re his kids... then-?

“You’re married?”

“I did say they technically weren’t mine.” Seokjin sighs, and the unknown toddler kicks at him lightly, frowning. “Ah, sorry, Taehyungie.” Seokjin shoots Taehyung a charming smile, and he turns away with small huff, paying attention to Jimin once again.

“Ah, they’re adopted, and you’re the other guardian, though I’m sure you don’t have any remaining knowledge in this manner.” This time, the charming smile is directed at Namjoon, and Seokjin picks out bacon while Namjoon tries to process the information.

“But I never-” Namjoon is cut off when Seokjin smiles sadly at him. “I know. but the newspaper didn’t tell you the full story about what happened that night, did it?”

It hits Namjoon then, and though he still can’t make a sense out of his own actions, nor can he remember, he must’ve done a lot more than vandalising.

Seokjin glances over at him, patting the toddlers’ fluffy hair to get their attention. “Are you free after?”

“Y-yeah.” Namjoon nods, relieved that today was a Sunday and not any other.

“Great. I can tell you the details.” Seokjin scoops up the toddlers one by one into the cart, Taehyung yelling, “daddy’s going to buy us!” whereas Jimin kicks at his brother, telling him, “our papa is here! don’t be dumb!” and Taehyung whispers (a bit too loudly) back, “if he’s our papa, then he must already know we’re dumb!” which leaves Jimin quiet, thinking earnestly about his brother’s words all the way to the cashier.

-

Seokjin’s car is a normal family sized one, the kinds with seven seats. Namjoon realises he can’t leave his car in a parking lot, so he mutters, “I’ll follow your car,” and hurries off in that direction, not thinking about the words that came out of his mouth.

As soon as Namjoon’s butt is planted on the worn out seat of his own car, he slumps immediately, groaning at his own hot-headedness. Why would Seokjin let him in his home, out of all places? And, really, this is the most important question, where is his life going to afterwards?

Namjoon groans once more, and he hears strained knocking on his window. No, that’s pounding. Really, really soft pounding.

He glances to the side, but there was no one, not even a shadow. Luckily, the whole suddenness of the issue had Namjoon’s brain finally turning, and he opens the window, looking downwards.

And there is Jimin, blushing nervously as he holds his brother’s hand. “Daddy wants to ask...” Jimin falters, trying to remember what Seokjin said. Taehyung butts in at this fine moment, “Do you like taeow?”

Namjoon has a glimpse of Taehyung’s brain at that moment, pure and precious in all ways possible. But pure and precious didn’t really go well with a toddler’s brain. “Huh?”

“Taeow! Be’cuz dadda is too lazy to chook.” Taehyung is slowly warming up to Namjoon, grinning and showing his little teeth.

“Chook.” Namjoon echoes slowly, “Oh, cook.”

He looks at Taehyung and Jimin, the two looking back at Namjoon expectantly. “Taeow? Ohh, takeout.”

“Yes!” Jimin nods happily, “Taehow.”

Namjoon can’t help the grin raising on his face. “Jimin, Taehyung, follow me. Ta-ke-out.”

“Takow.”

“Takot.”

“That’s about right.” Seokjin appears out of nowhere, spooking Namjoon. “So.” Seokjin tilts his head lightly. “Like you heard the boys, I do not want to waste time cooking. So it’s either takeout or no dinner.”

Namjoon gulps, evening out his breath. “Takeout.”

“Great!” Seokjin beams, and the toddlers copy their father’s expression. “Don’t lose track of my car.”

-

“Seokjin, I- you- you don’t have to.” Namjoon follows Seokjin into his home, a comfy one large enough to accommodate two energetic toddlers and all their daily needs.

“Please. It’s not like I can leave the boys at home, and they don’t like restaurants.” Seokjin lugs a bag of groceries into the kitchen, placing them on the counter as he unpacks.

Something tugs at the hem of Namjoon’s shirt, and there stands Taehyung, rubbing his eyes as he clutches on to Namjoon. Once Taehyung is aware of Namjoon looking at him, he raises his arms, yawning so widely Namjoon was tempted to put a finger inside.

Seokjin looks back from his groceries and smiles. “Taehyung has decided to like you after all. If you don’t pick him up now, he’s going to throw a tantrum that will also throw Jimin into one, and it’s not going to be pretty.” The last part is called out, for Seokjin’s back was turned to Namjoon as he busies himself with the groceries.

Namjoon looks from the small child by his feet to Seokjin’s back. Seokjin would actually trust Namjoon with his own child? Namjoon takes one last look at Taehyung, and his heart softened like cotton candy clouds.

He lifts Taehyung by his armpits, the toddler not even protesting once as he immediately clings to Namjoon’s shoulder. A minute later he’s sure Taehyung is fast asleep, and tiptoes over to Seokjin, already joined by sweet Jimin who helping him put the milk inside the fridge. “Where’s their room?” Namjoon asks, Taehyung’s short puffs of breath warm on his neck.

“Second room down the hall. -Yes, Jimin?” Jimin has returned from his little escapade to the fridge, and is rubbing his eyes just the same way his brother has done moments ago.

Seokjin looks awkwardly at his hands, coated with sauce from marinating meat. “Ah,” He smiles apologetically at Jimin, then gestures to Namjoon. “I really can’t leave right now, but you can ask papa to tuck you into bed.”

Namjoon hopes Taehyung can’t feel his thumping heartbeat, or rather, his loud beats wouldn’t wake him up. Because he was almost sure the whole room could hear it if it weren’t theoretically impossible at this distance.

“Sure.” Namjoon calms his heartbeat and smiles warmingly at Jimin, freeing an arm and outstretching it, kneeling at Jimin’s eye level.

Jimin climbs into Namjoon’s embrace and snuggles into it, letting out a small sigh as he gives in to slumber.

Seokjin’s eyes scan over his children and Namjoon, giggling. “I wish my hands weren’t coated with sauce, so I could take a picture. Anyways,” He starts mixing the meat, “Second room down the hall.”

Namjoon knows it’s his cue to leave, before things get awkward. Except it should have been, meeting his ex and his children three years since then.

Jimin and Taehyung’s shared bedroom is a large one, with Jimin’s yellow bed and Taehyung’s red one separated by a little nightstand. Little name signs hang from the bedposts, and Namjoon sets Jimin down first, tucking his blanket over him as Jimin kicks it off immediately.

Namjoon can’t tuck Jimin in further with Taehyung still clinging tight, so he turns around, Taehyung rolling into his bed as he hands grab unconsciously for his blanket.

Taehyung is relatively tamer when he’s asleep, and Namjoon finds no trouble at keeping Taehyung warm. But as his hands move the blanket further up Taehyung’s small body, his own little hand shoots out and grabs at Namjoon’s index finger.

He’s surprisingly strong, and Namjoon doesn’t have the heart to unhook Taehyung’s hand. So he climbs into Taehyung’s bed, the wooden furniture holding them up steadily, as Namjoon reaches over to cover Jimin properly. The toddler turns a bit in his sleep, but settles down quickly, bunching up his blanket and cuddling it like a teddy bear.

Namjoon glances at the floor, and there it is, a teddy bear perfect for a toddler to hug. With an arm still around Taehyung, he reaches down, taking a hold of the teddy bear and placing it in Jimin’s embrace. The toddler immediately lets go of his blanket, holding onto the stuffed toy tightly.

Once Taehyung can feel Namjoon’s warmth returning to him, he snuggles in, face smushed in Namjoon’s side. He pats Taehyung slowly, lulling him into a deeper sleep.

As Namjoon begins to feel sleepy himself, the door to the toddlers’ room is pushed open, Seokjin’s hands washed and he smiles at the little sight in front of him.

“Hey,” He gently calls for Namjoon. Namjoon looks up, hand still patting Taehyung lightly.

“Hey.” Namjoon replies, ruffling Taehyung’s hair to make him let go. As he slowly moves away, the side of his shirt still warm and fragrant with baby powder.

“I need your help in ordering takeout,” Seokjin whispers as he turns away, a silver of a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

They both know it’s a shitty excuse, but they’d buy it anyway.

-

Namjoon sets down the phone quietly, having finished ordering their dinner. Seokjin sits awkwardly across him, piling up the many menus.

The atmosphere was so intense Namjoon believed sparks would dance across the air if they stayed here for another second.

“So,” he begins quietly, and Seokjin flinches. “Mind telling me the full story?”

Seokjin glances to the toddlers’ bedroom. “That night, we passed an orphanage. It was still early, nine pm or so, but you were already drunk, and we exactly ran into a girl placing two babies on the orphanage’s doorstep.”

“Jimin and Taehyung.” Namjoon breathes, and Seokjin nods. “You went up and asked the girl what she was doing, and she told us the babies were hers, but she’s only seventeen, and her family can’t keep them for financial reasons, so you said we could adopt them, you said you already had a great job, those kids would be fine, and...”

Namjoon eyes meet Seokjin’s, and they both know this conversation should be held three years ago, discussing over the boys’ fate.

“I’m sorry.” Namjoon breaks the silence again, eyes never leaving him. “I should’ve come back, should’ve actually cared. I can’t believe I’ve left you alone for this long, with two kids that never saw the other half of their parents...” His gazes lowers, but he can feel Seokjin shaking his head.

“No, I shouldn’t have gotten the booze in the first place. I caused all this, where you could have an impressive job, where we-” Seokjin catches himself quickly, swallowing like he always does when he’s nervous. But Namjoon, bless him, could grasp the latter part of the sentence. Where we could still be together.

“Think about them, Seokjin.” Namjoon’s eyes divert towards the children’s door, “Who knows where they will be now if you hadn’t taken them in?”

Seokjin’s eyelashes flutter gently, and it’s at that moment when Jimin opens the door, waddling towards the dining table. He stretches out instinctively for Seokjin, who takes Jimin into his arms immediately.

“I’ve got to stop spoiling you,” Seokjin mutters into Jimin’s hair, tickling his scalp. The toddler laughs and thrashes a bit in Seokjin’s grip, before the door opens once again to show a disturbed Taehyung, woken up by Jimin’s noises.

“Aw,” Namjoon coos, as Taehyung attempts to climb into his lap. Namjoon lifts him up by the armpits, cuddling Taehyung to the warmth of his torso.

Taehyung looks like he’s about to fall asleep again, but Namjoon nudges him awake. “Dinner is on the way, Tae. Don’t fall asleep. Or else I’ll eat all the fried ice-cream.”

Taehyung was whining until Namjoon mentioned “fried ice-cream”, and the toddler sits up excitedly, his brother mirroring his motions. “You have fried ice-cream?!” Taehyung yells, mouth wide with happiness.

Namjoon bumps Taehyung on the nose affectionately, “It’s a first present. But you can’t fall asleep anymore.”

“I’m not sleepy!” Taehyung leaps off Namjoon’s lap with extreme litheness, tugging at Namjoon’s hand, “Come on! I want to play!” And leads him off into the living room, showing Namjoon all his favourite robots and cars.

Jimin looks up at Seokjin and the adult smiles. “Do you want to join them, baby?”

The boy nods, and slides down Seokjin’s leg, showing a bright smile as Jimin takes Seokjin’s hand.

Seokjin looks into the living room, where a 6 feet tall man plays a melody to his, their son with the toddler’s six-note toy piano, who hums along enthusiastically, and Seokjin can tell, it should all have happened years ago, but better late than never.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***