Chapter Text
— Triplets... triplets... Tri... plets. — Doyoung murmured to himself, as if trying to absorb the gravity of the situation, while sitting on the hard chair in the hospital waiting room. His eyes were fixed on the wall in front of him, and his distant expression revealed an overwhelmed mind.
— Please, Doyoung, don’t make a scene here at the hospital. — Jaehyun, sitting next to him, tried to calm his boyfriend, though his own anxiety was noticeable. He kept tapping his fingers repeatedly on the edge of the chair while watching the nurse prepare a swab for the DNA test.
— How can you stay so calm!? — Doyoung exclaimed, abruptly turning to Jaehyun, his eyes nearly popping out with nerves. — Suddenly, her friend shows up at our door saying she had triplets and that one of us three might be the father. — He took a deep breath and continued with a trembling voice — In four days, I could become the father of three boys! I can barely take care of a cat; how am I supposed to handle three little human beings? — Doyoung concluded, throwing himself back into the chair and anxiously watching the nurse approaching with the swab.
— You won’t be able to handle them if you break down now. — Jaehyun said, standing up and adjusting the bag on his shoulder. His statement elicited a nervous laugh from the nurses present, as it was unusual to see three handsome men at the hospital for a DNA test, especially for triplets.
— And we’re not alone in this. It’s three against three. — Jungwoo asserted, with a calm confidence that contrasted with the others' unease. Although he was quite nervous, his serenity offered relief to Doyoung’s despair and Jaehyun’s tense calm.
— That’s what worries me. — Doyoung replied, grimacing as he noticed the container collecting his saliva. — How are we going to handle this situation without knowing who the father is?
— We’ll wait for the results and then decide what to do. — Jaehyun said as the three of them left the examination room. — And as Jungwoo mentioned, we’re all in this together. Regardless of who the father is, we’ll support raising the children. — It was evident how, even amidst such a complicated situation, the three supported and comforted each other.
Discovering that the three had been involved with the same girl and hadn’t shared that information among themselves was quite a surprise. However, the initial shock gave way to a more immediate concern about the future, leaving past resentments behind. The situation had been a fleeting adventure, and it made no sense to hold grudges after so long.
Moreover, they were more concerned with other immediate priorities than with old disputes.
— Should we tell our parents? — Jungwoo asked as they walked down the streets. The fresh morning air filled their lungs and offered a sense of calm.
— If I tell my mom, I think she might faint. — Doyoung responded with a smile, imagining the shock his parents would have upon discovering he had three grandchildren, especially since he hadn’t known about their existence until now.
— I think my mom will give me a beating and then run to a toy store, coming back with about ten bags full of presents. — Jungwoo’s comment elicited laughter among them. Although Jungwoo’s mother could be demanding at times, she was extremely affectionate and loving, like all mothers. After all, they had been friends for years.
Regardless of who the father was, they would all come together to spoil the children as if they were their own grandchildren.
— I believe the first thing they’ll do is contact each other. — Doyoung and Jungwoo smiled in agreement.
This was probably one of the rare calm moments in the past two days, where they could dream about the future. However, with the arrival of three big surprises in their lives, it would take time for everything to become clear.
— Do we need to go shopping? The kids need a lot of things. — Jungwoo asked, pointing to a store window full of clothes and imagining what mini versions of those clothes would look like. He was known for asking many questions, especially when it came to new experiences.
If the children were Jungwoo’s, they weren’t sure how they would handle mini versions of him asking a thousand questions.
— We don’t know the result yet. Maybe none of us is the father. — Doyoung commented in a low tone, causing the others to look at him with concern. — She said she was sure it was one of us, but if it didn’t come up all these years, how can we be sure she’s not lying?
— That’s true... — Jaehyun added. The group fell into silence, and a sense of uncertainty took over the atmosphere.
It should be a relief to feel a weight being lifted off their shoulders, but none of the three felt prepared for such a responsibility. Yet, the thought of losing the chance to have adorable little ones running around the house and calling them daddy brought deep sadness and disappointment.
After walking to the apartment, they exchanged ideas and reflected on the situation, finding some comfort in moments of silence. They finally arrived home.
Jaehyun went to the kitchen, while Jungwoo settled on the sofa and turned on the TV, resisting the temptation to grab his phone and start filling a virtual cart with items they might not need.
Meanwhile, Doyoung stood in the center of the spacious apartment, hands on his hips, alternating his gaze between the kitchen and the living room.
— Our table is pointy — He commented more to himself than to the others.
Jaehyun and Jungwoo stopped what they were doing and looked at the dining table Doyoung mentioned.
Jaehyun blinked as he finished drinking a glass of water. Jungwoo laughed as he turned off the TV.
— You almost had a breakdown at the hospital; on the way home, you asked us not to make hasty decisions, but you’re already thinking about the changes the kids will bring. Come on, Doyoung, admit that you’re excited about becoming a father.
— What? — Doyoung shot a nervous look at them. — No way. I’m just worried, acting normally. I don’t want a child to be missing an eye, that’s all. — His nervous way of expressing himself caused laughter to erupt again.
— But how should we proceed? Will we need to talk to a lawyer or something like that? — Jungwoo’s curiosity attracted the others’ attention, especially since his family had lawyers and judges.
— I’m not sure. I’m a nutritionist, not a lawyer! — Doyoung was frustrated with the assumption that he had full knowledge of the law. He had learned a few things, but he was not an expert. — And Gaon said he would take care of everything.
— They’re going to investigate our entire lives to see if we’re capable of taking care of the children, right? — Jungwoo asked, receiving affirmative nods. — And what about the fact that we’re together? — After this last question, the atmosphere became tense, with worried expressions.
It was no secret that the three had known each other for a long time and had an intimate relationship. However, no one knew the true nature of their relationship.
They hadn’t told their parents yet. There was no issue with the children being involved with a man, especially if he was the child of their best friend, but three men?
They still argued that it was something recent. It hadn’t even been three months since everything started.
— Anyway, one of us has the right to parenthood. If we were married, maybe that would be a point in their favor. — Jaehyun finally replied, with a slight irritation in his voice.
It was undeniable that this affected them. Being a father without the mother was complicated enough. And having people observing three men taking care of children made everything even more challenging.
The three weren’t facing legal issues; they had degrees and stable jobs. Taking away their rights over a detail like this would be a mistake.
— Regardless of the outcome and the difficulty, we’ll be good parents. — Doyoung said unexpectedly, with a smile, making the others smile as well. Soon, they gathered on the sofa, hugging each other, perhaps making some early plans. But it’s never too early to start imagining.