Little Zhang || Exo

CHENLU:
"Was buying all these goodies really necessary Chanyeol asked as I shoved the bag into his hands.

"Yes, the kids don't have any allergies..right?" I asked as we walked out of the store.

"My aunt has never said anything about her demonic children having allergies." He shrugged nonchalantly.

"Demonic children?" I snorted, covering my mouth. "What is it that makes these kids so demonic?"

"They hate me." He stated as if it was obvious. "I'm Park fucking Chanyeol, nobody hates me."

"You're not 'Park fucking Chanyeol.' to everyone you know," I replied shaking my head "to these kids you're probably just their boring cousin."

"And what makes you such an expert on kids?"

I shrugged, shoving my hands in my pockets, not wanting to reply. I liked children, they're so carefree and easy going, nothing to worry about. They were naive and didn't know a thing about the real world, Their biggest problem probably their early bedtime. The crazy things that they said and did that could put smiles on everyone's faces. I loved how they aspired to be such crazy things, like astronauts and firefighters.

I'd do anything to return to those days. When Yixing wanted to be a policeman and I wanted to be a mermaid. When Yixing was just my big brother. When we'd stay up late and have midnight feasts or how we'd spend hours on end playing hide and seek. I'd do anything to return to the days when he'd run all the way to my class when I left my bag at home or how he'd make me breakfast in the morning when Mum and dad had left early for work.

Yixing basically raised me. When he became a trainee, I had a lot of growing up too.

Growing up.

One day, all those innocent kids would learn that growing up isn't what they thought it would be. They would learn the struggles and hardships that their parents went through and how hard they worked to make sure that they wouldn't have to go through the same. They would learn how fucked up people can be. They would learn about heartbreak. There might even be a point in their life, where they learn what it feels like to be completely alone what it's like to feel like your drowning in their own darkness and despair.

And then they'd miss it all. They'd miss when their parents would read them bedtime stories. They'd miss their stuffed animal that they would never be able to sleep without. They'd miss the dress up costume that they wore everywhere, every day, without fail.

And that broke my heart beyond words.

"Chenlu?"  Chanyeol asked, shaking me slightly. I blinked and flinched still slightly dazed after he'd snapped me out of my thoughts. "Are you okay? I called you at least 4 times and you just stared at me and blinked."

"Yeah I'm fine I just...zoned out a little I guess," I replied sheepishly, scratching the back of my neck.

"Well, we're here." He started pressing the doorbell "and these kids are hard work so no zoning out until we leave."

I laughed, shaking my head. I mean, how hard could it be to watch a few 3-year-olds?

"You ready?" He asked as he grabbed hold of the doorknob, twisting it slightly.

"The real question is, are you ready?"

He pursed his lips and shook his head, replying with a quick 'definitely not' before turning the doorknob fully and walking into the house anyway.

"Yeolda!" A high pitched childlike voice shouted I could hear their footsteps "Eunha! Jisung! Yeolda's here!"

"Yeolda?!" I guffawed, snorting unattractively "that's amazing, why did I never think of that?"