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?"
"Hi, Minhyun." Chanyeol sighed, ruffling his hair.
Minhyun paused and looked up at me blinking slightly "Is she your girlfriend?" He asked Chanyeol, raising an eyebrow. Chanyeol's eyes widened as he opened and closed his mouth, sputtering out a quick no before I explaining who I was.
Minhyun giggled walking up to Chanyeol before ushering him to bend down. Chanyeol did as he was told and Minhyun tiptoed a bit to reach his pointy ears and whispered a very loud "she's pretty."
Chanyeol looked up at me before looking back at him and shaking his head "I know she is and guess what? She's Lay's little sister."
Minhyun gasped loudly before pushing Chanyeol away from him, making him land on the floor with a grunt before running over to me and hugging my legs. "You're Lays little sister?!" He asked jumping excitedly "he's like my role model can you call him for me? Please! Pleaseee!"
I chuckled, a wide grin spread across my face. He was so cute. "If you, your brother and your sister are good for Yeolda and me then sure, Big brother would love to speak to a fan!" He squealed excitedly wrapping his small arms around my neck tightly, mumbling that I was the best.
"Eunha! Jisung! Come to meet Yeoldas friend!" He shouted, running down the corridor to tell his brother and sister about me.
"Don't call me Yeolda."
"Aww, why not? It's cute?"
"I don't like you."
We stared at each other, both trying our best to keep a straight face before we both burst out into fits of laughter. I sighed and he wiped a fake tear from his eye.
He left, telling me that I should stay where I was whilst he went to go talk to his aunt and uncle. He was probably trying to save me from yet another awkward encounter.
As sad as it sounded. I was better at making friends with little kids then people my own age.
It was like my awkwardness was a constant reminder everywhere I went. It haunted me.
I looked up when a tall middle-aged woman walked into the room. Her heels banging against the ground rhythmically and a small girl on her hip who clung to her neck.
She told me she was the triplets mum and chanyeol's aunt and thanked me for coming to help Chanyeol, calling him a nuisance. I chuckled and waved at Eunha, who buried her face in her mum's neck.
"Eunha is a sweet girl, she just finds a difficult to make friends."
I smiled, "that's okay! I did too growing up."
You liar. You still do.
But I wouldn't let them know that. I wouldn't let them know how pathetic I was.
She placed Eunha down on the couch and called for the boys, making everyone come into the living room. Chanyeol and I said Goodbye to her and the kids all showered her a hug before she walked out of the house.
We all stood in an awkward silence. The boys watching Eunha intensely as she played with her fingers. Minhyun and Jisung sitting next to her, patting her back softly. I looked at Chanyeol, who was biting his lip nervously as he clutched onto a pastel pink stuffed elephant.
Did I miss something?
I glanced back to the triplets and my heart stopped when Eunha's bottom lip quivered and she wiped her eyes quickly before letting out a loud wail.
Chanyeol cursed under his breath as he shuffled around, looking for something. The boys rubbing her back in comfort as she cried for her Mum.
My heart dropped.
I walked up to her slowly, brushing her short brown hair out of her face. "Hey, no tears from a princess like you."
"But- But Eunha wants her mummy!" She cried, throwing her hands around my neck. I sighed picking her up and rubbing her back softly.
"You want your elephant? Some sweeties?" I asked, gesturing to Chanyeol. She nodded making grabby hands towards the elephant. By the time it was in her hands, her loud cries had been reduced to frequent sniffles and a few hiccups.
"What's its name?" I asked, playing with the elephants ear, rubbing the soft material between my thumb and index finger.
"His name is Spot." She mumbled bringing it to her chest. "He's my best friend."
"Nice to meet you spot, I'm Chenlu." I asked, shaking one of his feet.
"Spot only speaks to Eunha silly!" She giggled. She brought the stuffed animal to her ears. Nodding every few seconds before looking back up at me. "Spot said he likes you, Chen Chen!"
"I like Spot too." I giggled, tickling her slightly. "I like Eunha as well,"
"Eunha likes Chen Chen too!"
I put her down, back next to her brothers and Chanyeol looked at me in disbelief. He pulled away leading me to a corridor.
"How the fuck did you do that? She normally cries until she falls asleep and then when she wakes up, she cries some more!" He whisper-shouted, scratching his ear.
"Well, I guess kids just love me." I chuckled in response. "Yeolda."
I skipped off and he chased after me, telling me not to call him that and I laughed.
Boy, was I going to enjoy the hell out of this.