Archive of Our Own

Lately, the twins aren't eating much during dinner.

Jihoon brings this up to Sanghyeok in the middle of their bedtime routine. The older omega looks up from his novel—a story about a valiant knight and a self-sacrificing king—and blinks slowly, letting Jihoon’s words sink into his head. His eyelashes flutter on his cheeks in a delicate manner and the mere sight of it tugs on the alpha’s heartstrings.

Sanghyeok sets his book on the nightstand when Jihoon shimmies under the covers.

“Maybe they’re eating more snacks when we aren’t looking?” Sanghyeok offers cautiously. “Or hm… they’re going through that appetite phase our pediatrician told us…?”

Jihoon looks up from the bustling GEN group chat. “The phase thing they said about kids eating less? But that happens when babies reach two years old.” His face pinches, recalling the information told to them years before. “And they aren’t two. They’re five.”

“But they’re our two year olds.” Sanghyeok expression softens. “They’ll always be two…”

Jihoon reaches forward to cup Sanghyeok’s face into a gentle grip. He runs his thumb over his cheekbone, lets his warmth simmer into his skin, before exhaling a sigh. It’s not one made out of exhaustion and rather, he also thinks their kids will always be two in his eyes too.

He continues caressing the omega’s cheek. “We do have a two year old though.”

Sanghyeok rolls his eyes at this.

“Seo-Ah is barely a whole two.” Sanghyeok’s eyes never seem less fond when mentioning their pups. “She eats just as much as her brothers do. If not less, then more. Which is concerning.” The older pauses, lips pursing in thought. “Do you think we should have a check-up in the coming weekend?”

“That’d calm my nerves a bit. Let’s go, just to be sure?”

Jihoon’s hand moves down to squeeze Sanghyeok’s waist.

The sensation makes Sanghyeok sigh. They stare at one another in silence, Jihoon continuing to rub circles of reassurance into the omega’s waist. The latter can only sink into his touch, a purr on the edge of his lips, only then lulling back into another exhale.

“Just to be sure.”

When morning comes, they step into routine as most days let them. Jihoon lets the cold chill of morning air flow into the room, quietly sliding open the door to the garden. He keeps a keen eye over the triplets as they scuttle and bustle on their hands and knees. Their energy seemingly upping in each second Seo-Ah converses with them through sleepy babbling.

In the kitchen, Sanghyeok makes himself busy by mixing a new batch of pound cake for the twins.

There’s a 2 week-long baking sale that’s currently happening in the twins’ school. Right now, Sanghyeok has been coerced by their children’s honed begging skills to bake for their little Grade 1 stand; he strongly believes they got the knack for it due to their father.

The moment Sanghyeok brings up the stand in question, the twins’ faces flinch together.

He rests a hand on his hip. “Is there something wrong?” Sanghyeok asks gently, observing the subtle twitch in their expressions. “Having trouble with the bake sale?”

Sangwook’s lips draw into a familiar pout. “No. We just remembered that we uhm…” he looks to his twin for help.

“That we won’t see you and Dada until later!” Jiwon follows closely. He elbows his brother, careful not to shake Sangwook’s dinosaur mug out of his grip. “We’re bummed that we’ll only meet up after uhm… the work you guys have today.”

Sanghyeok doesn’t exactly believe this.

They lie just like their father.

But he hums instead, offering a grin. “We’ll see you two after school won’t we?” He continues, face ever so patient. “I’ll even cook your favorite for dinner today. It’ll be your father’s turn for this week's dessert night too.”

Nearby, Jihoon lets out a thundering sneeze. His arms are currently preoccupied with giving the youngest children their morning cuddles. The triplets in question fuss away from the snot that dribbles down his nostril, already disgusted with the green goo that appears on his usually handsome face. 

Thankfully, seeing that her father is about to drop snot on her baby siblings, Seo-Ah toddles over and makes a great effort to press a tissue on his snot.

“Thank you, dear.” Jihoon answers, voice a nasally sound. “Do you want to join the hug?”

Seo-Ah shakes her head. Her bangs fluffed up and bedhair messy. “Nuh-uh. Seo-Ah eats yummy first. Hug later!” She thinks for a short moment. There’s a cute pout on her lips as she articulates her coming words. “Mama and Dada work, bring Seo-Ah and babies?”

Jihoon grins. “Of course. We’re going to say a quick hi to your uncles then we’ll go meet with your brothers after. Also Seo-Ah, dear,” a look of amusement crosses his features. “Aren’t you also a baby?”

Her pout deepens a smidge. “Seo-Ah big baby.” That is very much true. “Babies are little babies.”

“You hear that Mama?”

“Hm?”

Sangwook jabs a thumb at where the rest of their family is. “If Seo-Ah is a big baby and our baby siblings are little babies, then what are Wookie and Wonnie?”

Sanghyeok crouches down, a knowing look on his face. He wipes his hand on his apron, in favor of cupping their faces with his palms. They were so little back then—is that thought that crosses his mind and makes his chest feel a bit tighter; so small years ago, so, so dear to Jihoon and him.

The omega reels his sweetening scent in. “You’re the biggest babies your father and I will ever have.” He says this, enduring the wave of nostalgia that fills his heart. “You’ll always be our babies. You and your smaller siblings.”

He sees the way their eyes sparkle at his words. Their heads instinctively snuggle into the warmth he holds them with, letting his thumbs brush over their cheeks in a manner only loving parents like Sanghyeok would know. He easily brings the two into a hug and firmly squeezes.

The twins bury into the crook of his neck, nuzzling into him, giggles falling from their lips in delight at their mother’s affection. Their reactions are simply because Sanghyeok’s arms around them are wound tight. He feels how big they’ve grown, how their laughter is similar to theirs, and how they shyly press kisses onto his cheeks.

“We’re babies!” Sangwook cheers merrily, close to his ear. 

He feels Jiwon nod, his fluffed hair brushing against his skin. “Uhuh. It’s nice to hear that we’ll always be your babies.”

Sanghyeok presses more kisses on their heads. “Mhm. So don’t worry too much on things that are making your eyebrows furrow.” He laughs softly seeing their surprise at his observation. “You got your father’s eyebrows. You don’t have much to work with when you look upset.”

“Hey! That’s not nice, hyung!”

Sanghyeok turns his head to show an amused grin.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t ask for your opinion, Jihoon-ah.” His cheeks only rise further up when Jihoon gasps in offense. “Anyway, let’s eat breakfast and get you two ready for school, hm?”

The twins nod in agreement and he can only hope their faces remain sunny throughout the day.

RIOT likes making players participate in content within the small breaks they get between big tournaments and season enders. After being involved in multiple things on multiple occasions in the many years of their profession, Sanghyeok shouldn’t be surprised anymore that he sees everyone again for the nth time in the week.

“We just saw each other yesterday.” Giin dryly voices upon seeing the Jeong-Lee family usher in—stroller and toddler accompanying the gleeful couple. “For anyone else that thinks we should enact Plan B on Jihoon, say I. I’m talking about Section 2 Plan B, and not Section 1 by the way."

“We had a Section 1?” Jaehyuk asks in his apparent confusion.

Somewhere in the room, Lehends manages to snort. Loud enough for the bespectacled alpha to hear.

“Section 1 is for the ogs. You aren’t an og, Jaehyuk.” Siwoo says with a yawn. “So let’s all raise our hand in agreement instead, yeah?”

Multiple hands raise up and Jihoon sticks out his tongue at all of them.

Funnily enough, Seo-Ah joins in, trying to match her father’s silliness. She only manages to make a small fart sound that immediately distracts the entire uncle populace LoL Park currently has. If the clicking of cameras is one thing, their cooing is another—that is towards their daughter and the triplets curiously watching from their stroller.

Minkyu swoops in, hand still raised, to peer at the little pups. “Oh my gosh, you guys brought the triplets too! Can I carry Hajun?”

Before Jihoon is able to give a big fat no, Sanghyeok gladly smiles. “I don’t see why not. All of you talking to them helps them understand things better.”

Minseok pipes up, hand waving from his seat. “For baby development!”

“If it’s for baby development, then even when I say goo-goo gaga it’ll work?” Minkyu asks.

Jihoon sharply pokes the support’s side, reprimanding him for even considering the thought. There’s a grin of satisfaction on his face when Minkyu collapses and writhes in pain on the floor. And like any other person that’d see a worm, Jihoon nudges Minkyu’s side with the edge of his sneaker.

Seo-Ah is in disapproval of this.

The pup smacks her father’s arm, as if she wasn’t already dangling from the hold he has on her waist. “Dada no! Seo-Ah favorite sam is Minkyu-sam! Put down!”

Jihoon is utterly devastated with this information. If his face going pale is one sign, him dejectedly turning to Sanghyeok for a hug is another. Said latter indulges his big baby of an alpha and lets the man sniffle into his neck.

Everyone is used to this sight.

But the sight they aren’t used to is Seo-Ah trying, using her bestest strength, to pull Minkyu up by the sleeve of his jacket. She’s dressed in all yellow, sparkles paired with a chick themed headband her uncles bought for her the month before. 

One of these uncles in question is the one she’s valiantly trying to save—her Minkyu-sam.

“I regret letting Minkyu spoil our daughter with dresses.” Jihoon mutters darkly, squeezing Sanghyeok’s waist out of displeasure. “He has her wrapped around his finger. Over me?!” Jihoon loudly bemoans his luck. “Over her own father?! I can’t believe this hyung. We need to arrest Minkyu and send him to the boonies.”

“No!” Seo-Ah shakes her head, her little hands still helping Minkyu up. “Dada meanie!”

Jihoon goes pale.

“You heard that, dear?” Sanghyeok only needs to turn his head to kiss Jihoon’s cheek to appease the alpha’s huffing and puffing. “Our daughter called you a meanie. Rightfully so.”

Jihoon whines for a second longer before begrudgingly releasing Sanghyeok from his clutches. He decidedly trudges over to check the triplets, making sure to send a pointed glare to Minkyu as he passes by. Sanghyeok sighs inwardly at his husband’s antics.

He cannot seem to blame the man, for even the gods can’t stop Jeong-Lee Jihoon from sticking close to his family.

The stroller shakes as the triplets flip onto their bums. Seonyeong, the second eldest daughter and 4th child if they are to go by birth time, strings along both of her brothers by the palm of her hands. She doesn’t flinch when both brothers whine—already rather ruthless for a 9-month old—and makes them sit properly.

Sanghyeok wonders if it’s Jihoon’s genes shining through or his. After having 6 pups be born to their family name, he thinks he’s lost a majority of the fabled Jeong-Lee gene wars everyone in the forums bring up every now and then.

Jihoon strategically lifts each baby up.

He looks at his mate when he lifts up Hajun. Even testingly patting the pup’s bottom just to be sure. “We’re in the clear for now, hyung.”

“What the heck did bro just do?”

“He’s checking if their diapers are heavy. Anyway,” he redirects his attention to the rest of the room. “Does anyone know what we’re doing today?”

“Filming, I think. Also hyung, can you take a look at this play I made the other day?” Hyeonjun perks up from where he sat. “Everyone else is telling me I did the combo wrong when I’m pretty sure I pulled it off.”

Hearing the chorus of disagreements surrounding his team’s jungler, Sanghyeok walks over to survey what’s causing all the fuss.

In the background, Seo-Ah, with the strength of a hundred men and women, drags Minkyu to the bean bag. It’s quite obvious that her uncle is entertaining her whimsy. For someone that’s much bigger than the pup, the support makes a great effort to sneakily crawl to where Seo-Ah wishes without making her notice.

Yet even in the midst of everyone’s chatter, Sanghyeok can’t help but wonder how the twins are doing.

Sangwook and Jiwon are aware that they’re not from a normal family.

Because it’s not everyday other mothers see a dedicated alpha happily bring and fetch his pups from school, kissing his kids on the chub of their cheeks and handing them a tall lunch bag for them to eat. Especially when said alpha is often discussed within forums to be a workaholic like his mate, revered as one of the greatest players to grace the current Esports scene, and many others things they don’t quite understand yet. 

They think the ones saying mean things to their parents are jealous. Because it’s also not everyday your parents are Jeong “Chovy” Jihoon and Lee “Faker” Sanghyeok.

Though they’re well-known and very… famoos? Famous? Sangwook and Jiwon think their parents are silly and full of love.

Which is why they think they’re very lucky that their Dada and Mama are in fact like other loving dads and moms.

“What are you guys selling?”

Sangwook and Jiwon perk up from their stools.

Jiwon gives a nice smile just like how his Mama taught them and gestures at their display. “Uhm! Hello! We have pound cakes for sale! We know they look a bit dry, but they’re really yummy with a nice glass of juice! Right, Wookie?”

“Yeah! We even got nice drinks today.” Sangwook scrambles to show the juice packets they asked their parents to buy. “Would you like one?”

Their customer is suddenly pushed back by another hand. A look of shock crosses both their faces when another student starts to insistently market their stand. Their classmate starts listing all the goodies they have in front of their eyes.

“And yep! We even have…” they send a side-eye to the humble set-up they have. “... colder drinks for you to take. What do you say?”

An apologetic smile is given to them as their customer is stolen in front of their very eyes.

This is a thing that has been happening since the bake sale started. Whenever a customer goes over to curiously look at their booth, their classmates take advantage of the attention they’re getting and steal them away. And well, it’s kind of hard… Sangwook’s lips jut out from frustration.

“Wonnie, are we going to have to walk to the teachers again?”

Jiwon mirrors the pout his twin has. “Yeah.” Their spirits may be down but they’ll thankfully see their family really soon. “At least Miss Kim is really strong and she can fend off the meanies so she could buy cake from us. That’s a good thing, isn’t it?”

“Uhuh. And since Mama didn’t make a lot, we don’t need to eat a lot later either!”

The twins, you see, don’t have many secrets because their parents know everything about them. They think it’s magic, or maybe it’s because their parents are their Dada and Mama, and those reasons make a lot of sense to them.

The twins think their parents know everything because they have magic in the love they give them. They think it's found in the hugs and kisses they always give. Their parents' arms are too warm and too magnetic for there to be no spell after all.

Maybe they’re made from magic too?

“Do you think we’re made from magic?” Jiwon wonders aloud. He straightens the sign they painted and stuck stickers on. “Mama and Dada love us so much. Do you think my theory is true?”

Sangwook enthusiastically agrees from his side of the stand. What Jiwon means by Sangwook’s side is the space behind him, right where the cooler was. His brother’s head cutely bobbles up and down as he sorts through the humble stock of juice packets they have.

“I also think it’s true! Mama and Dada are so smart and they know everything! And, and uhm…”

Their happy chatter gets rudely interrupted as a shadow abruptly looms over their stand. Jiwon switches his attention to the towering 5th graders that’s come to disturb their space again.

Yes. Again.

He can’t exactly count how many times they’ve visited but they’re the weirdest meanies out of all the people they’ve met so far. They always say things about how their parents are oober rich and how being rich means they should move schools, somewhere far away from the normal people. There are other words but they don’t really get the rest.

Since their words don’t make any sense, they’ve been ignoring their attempts at being mean. Even their uncles can be meaner—Jiwon swears he’s heard Siwoo-samchon cuss out Jaehyuk-samchon, and that was scary!

“Look at these punks! For being so rich, they sell the same stuff everyday!”

“Maybe their parents don’t spend their money on them?” One of them snorts obnoxiously. “Maybe they’re illegitimate!?”

“Pfft! Maybe! Also Mama and Dada? What are you five?”

Sangwook’s eyes narrow and cheeks puff out. “Yeah, we’re five! What’s that got to do with you?” His twin then smirks all cheekily. “Unless you guys are five too! Haha!”

Their expressions grow irked. What his brother said must’ve hit a nerve, because Jiwon finds himself holding back laughter as he sees their faces turn a bright red. They look like the strawberries their Dada tried growing for the Mama to eat.

Instead of ripe and tasty strawberries, they looked too upset to be called one. Maybe a tomato would work? If Jiwon were to ask them, would they get even redder like a chili pepper?

Their faces are red.

Their arms raise, about to swing, when a much taller and nicer shadow towers over them all. The twins beam in thanks when their class advisor—Miss Kim—stomps over on worn sneakers and a wallet in hand. She pointedly gestures towards the 5th graders, a scolding tone already on her lips.

“You three again! I’ve already warned you to stop!” Miss Kim frowns, voice going stern. “I’m sure I’ve already told you the consequences, hm? Please expect to get an email from your advisor for a parent-teacher meeting." She pauses for a slight moment. “And a long note on student behavior.”

“But!” They sputter.

Miss Kim’s expression remains firm. “No buts! No words! Leave! Git!”

Jiwon and Sangwook watch as the 5th graders run away with a tail between their legs. They both let out giggles, high-fiving each other, upon noticing that their faces are still red and still ugly with anger.

Their advisor makes sure to glare at the retreating figures before sharply turning back to them. Her sternness melts away and what replaces it instead is an apologetic stare, a softer and much more suitable expression on her usually cheery demeanor. 

She kneels down and gently pats their heads. Her face is sorry and voice caring.

“Are you two okay? Didn’t I tell you to call the number I gave you if ever someone was bothering you again?”

They shake their heads. Sangwook is especially energetic as always.

“We didn’t find them scary.” Jiwon says, shrugging. “They’re like those puppies that bark at us whenever we go on a walk in a park.”

“Oh! Or those kitties we see in our neighbor’s garden. Our cat Moomin’s been babysitting them and we help her sometimes.” Sangwook’s face becomes worried. “But uhm, please don’t tell Mama we do that! I swear our shirts don’t become that dirty.”

“Oh and Miss Kim, you see, our cat Moomin meows at us when we start getting too muddy. Actually, Wookie,” he turns to his brother. Somehow, the same idea pops into their minds. “Can’t we make Snufkin stop Moomin from getting mad at us?”

“That’ll work but I think Moomin will scold us more!”

Miss Kim’s eyes observe them with fondness filling her chest. She briefly clears her throat and holds up 4 fingers.

“I’m sorry to interrupt your conversation about Moomin and Snufkin. I’m sure she gets mad at you so your parents don’t scold you too much.” She then gives a smile. “Would it be okay if I could have four slices of cake today? Your Mama’s baking is really good.”

Jiwon and Sangwook share happy smiles.

“Of course!” They giddily reply.

It’s not long until school ends. Sangwook and Jiwon get help from Miss Kim in tidying up their stand. She helps them put the remaining cake slices into their Mama’s tupperware, a nice beige and rectangular item their great-granny passed down for their family to use. The cooler gets put onto a trolley and tupperware placed on top, secured with a rope.

Miss Kim makes sure to guide them outside. Jiwon is the one carrying their signs under his armpit. While Sangwook takes it upon himself in pulling the trolley along, humming a tune as they go.

They wave goodbye to their teacher and take off down the road.

Their home is nearby, just a measly 10 minute walk away that doesn’t make their parents' joints ache after they come back from working. Jiwon heard that their Mama and Dada were looking really hard for somewhere to live before. That it got to the point where even their Dada cried from how stressed he was between practice and missing kisses from Mama.

Their Minhyung-samchon told them this. Even funnily winked at them before being pinched at the ear by their Mama for telling silly old stories.

Sangwook pulls the trolley to settle between them as they plop onto a park bench.

“We have less cake to eat today!” Jiwon pries open the tupperware to count the slices they have left. “It’s because Miss Kim got four so we only need to split it by uhm… one… two… we get three each!”

Sangwook lets out a whistle (it’s a cute attempt at whistling). “We won’t be too full for dinner later!” Then his face draws into a sulky pout. “I felt bad when Mama had to tell us that we’re still their babies… he looked so worried…”

“It makes sense cus Mama and Dada think we’re probably anxious and not eating a lot cus of it. But like, the truth is that we’re just eating cake.” He distributes one piece of said cake between them. “We’re eating lots of it cus we don’t want to see Mama sad.”

“Uhuh.” Sangwook takes a big bite and mumbles messily. “And uhm, the fact that our classmates and other people aren’t buying his yummy cake. Our plan is always so good, Wonnie!”

They fistbump.

Before they can continue, they hear a familiar squeal from around the bench’s corner. Jiwon finds both of them instinctively looking at the source where it’s coming from, bodies slumping forward to see. And sure enough, they spot the familiar face of their sister speedily walking to where they are.

Her chubby hands reach out towards the cake they both held.

“Cake time? Seo-Ah help!”

This is how Jiwon and Sangwook find themselves squished in the humble bench as their sister sits between them. They’re legs swing in sync, pleased looks on their faces as they make conversation through the amount of cake they have to eat before their parents come looking for them.

It does make Jiwon wonder though.

How did Seo-Ah run from their home to the park all by herself?

It’s because Seo-Ah didn’t go by herself.

Presently, Jihoon is hiding behind a bush, his back bent awkwardly and head buried in his hands. He feels his heart hammering up his throat, keenly listening to the twins converse about how they don’t want their Mama to be sad. And how, more likely than not and terrifyingly so, other kids are making fun of them for having only pound cake.

Truthfully, after becoming mated and married, and having kids with Sanghyeok, most would think Jihoon is a man that’s set from the get-go. Which isn’t the case at all. Because Jihoon continues to find himself stumbling under the weight of his wife and their 6 pups with varying personalities.

How do fathers deal with their kids being so kind? Being so selfless to even think about their mother feeling sad since they aren’t selling much of the pound cake their family loves so much?

Are their children okay? Does Jihoon need to raze the school grounds with his anger and promptly demand a meeting with the principal for the injustice the twins are facing? He’ll definitely do it, definitely tell Sanghyeok that their sweet baby boys don’t want them to worry too much.

Somehow, Jihoon is reminded of when Sanghyeok was admiring the twins’ faces.

“They look so much like you. Look at their little faces.” The omega laughs as he traces their pups cheeks. “They even have that face you make when you sleep.”

Jihoon knows he was unimpressed with his mate’s words at the time. But he remembers how Sanghyeok glowed with love that he only ever thought would grow between them.

“Jihoon-ah. Promise me. You need to beat up anyone that dares mess with our kids. It sounds like a tall order but I’m sure they won’t mind because they’ll love you the way I do. I know they will… so please watch over them when I can’t, okay?”

Sanghyeok’s wish has come true.

Their kids love them the way they do for each other.

Jihoon wants to cry, feels the way his hands habitually tremble, tears growing in the corners of his eyes. But he sucks it up—he takes a deep breath and a steady hand on his chest to calm down for a short moment. After he stabilizes, Jihoon makes his way to where their pups are.

Indeed, they’re their pups—wholly looking like him in their faces and moles that spread like constellations on their skin. Even so, Jihoon finds traces of his mate continue to pierce through in the way they smile and talk. He figures this is what happens when you raise children in an environment that aims to nurture and love in more ways than saying “I love you”.

He crouches in front of them, meets their earnest eyes, before letting out a heavy sigh.

He starts. “You two have been eating the remaining cake so Mama doesn’t feel bad hm?” It doesn’t help Jihoon’s heart when the twins nod, not entirely frightened that they’re caught by their big alpha of a dad. “And how about school? Are there kids being mean towards you two?”

Seo-Ah innocently looks at her brothers as they pause in sync.

“Well, a little… yeah they’re a little mean.” Jiwon’s head droops down in admission. “They say things we don’t understand sometimes.”

“Like illjeetimate.” Sangwook clumsily pronounces the word. “They like using that word a lot and we haven’t asked what it means cus we know it’s something mean. It’s mean isn’t it, Dada?”

Jiwon comfortingly pats his twin’s leg. “They say lots of other stuff too. Wonnie hasn’t read a lot to understand any of them. But I have a feeling it’s mean.” The twins look like kicked kittens as their faces turn sad. “Are you mad at us for keeping it a secret?”

Jihoon feels his heart ripping out of his chest.

“No, no, no! Why would you think I’d be mad?” Jihoon furiously shakes his head at them. He gently takes their hands into his hold, running his thumb over their knuckles. “I’m more worried and scared than mad. It’s okay to ask for help when something you don’t like happens. Not telling your mother and I will…” his face falters. “... we’ll be even sadder than what you thought.”

The twins’ eyes widen in unison. They abandon their cake eating, placing them to the side, in favor of jumping into his arms.

They cling onto him. Apologies start making its way into his ears as they start tearfully recounting the steps of this magnificent plan in making sure their parents aren’t sad. Jihoon makes sure to support their bottoms and starts swaying them as he did when they were little; he litters kisses on the crown of their heads as the twins start wriggling.

“Uwa! Dada hngh! Are you sure you’re not mad?” Sangwook fists his shirt. His tears profusely spills out in comparison to Jiwon’s silent sobbing. “Are you sure? Really sure?”

“I am one thousand percent sure that I’m not mad at you two. Instead, I’m sad that you didn’t want to make your Mama and I worry. It’s our job to worry because we love you two, okay?” Jihoon locks his eyes with two puffy-eyed toddlers. He wipes their tears with the collar of his shirt. “Don’t worry. Since Mama and I are big, we’ll take all your sadness away by hugging you like this.

“And by giving all the kisses you’ll ever want on your cheeks. So the meanies will know you aren’t all those bad words they said, yeah?”

Jihoon lets the twins cry in his arms for a while longer. Their sister, Seo-Ah, continues to happily munch on the half-piece of cake that was given to her.

Before they go home, Jihoon makes sure to gobble all the slices in quick succession. He was never one for sweets, but if they were made by his beautiful wife then he reconsiders the risk of diabetes and takes a full dive head first. He finishes and licks the tinfoil clean, the kids then being carried into his arms.

As much as his strength—having been boosted in the military just recently—enables him to.

It’s quite a humorous sight for onlooking neighbors as they see the young father “easily” carry 3 pups and their small bags along the road. The twins continue to sniffle into his neck, legs hanging limply as Jihoon expertly maneuvers his way around the afternoon bustle.

Seo-Ah merely burps from between her brothers. She digs her cheek into his chest and patiently waits until their home comes into view.

For a place that’s conveniently in a neighborhood near their workplace, Jihoon wonders why they haven’t bought an e-bike yet. Even a golf cart would suffice.

He carefully sets the kids down and opens the gate for them to walk in.

As expected, Sanghyeok is already waiting by the door with a triumphant smile on his face. He figures the older omega must’ve finished making their children’s favorite dish, having voiced a few hours prior that he hopes the twins would eat more this coming dinner.

His mate’s smile is a radiating sight that easily takes Jihoon’s wariness away, his heart feeling lighter as their kids stumble in a little line following Jihoon. The twins have noticeably puffier faces than the last time their mother saw them.

Sanghyeok is sitting on the floor as he listens to the twins tearfully confess that they’ve been eating his cake in secret. In fear and worry that he’ll be sad that they weren’t selling it much in their school’s baking event. But this isn’t the part that breaks his heart, what breaks his heart is the fact the twins are being called names and they barely think twice to tell them about it.

He finds a few tears slip down his face as Sanghyeok cradles his pups near his body.

“You two, it’s okay if Mama gets sad because I can always just make a new recipe for you two and laugh about how I only know how to make pound cake.” Sanghyeok squeezes them, feeling them sniffling into his shirt. “My dear pups, it’s not about the cake. You’ll always be more important than cake and bake sales.”

Jiwon looks up from his embrace. “Even when…” a pout embeds into his child’s lips. “Even when people don’t like your cake?”

Sanghyeok nuzzles his nose into their cheeks. “Yes. Even when they don’t like my cake. There’ll be more for us and less for them.” The twins nod along to each word he says. Always attentive and patiently listening, always there just how Jihoon and he are for each other and their family. “Your uncles can hardly say no if you told them you’re selling something. I’m sure Miss Kim won’t reject the idea of you two earning money outside school grounds.”

Sangwook’s pout mirrors his brother’s.

“They made it stricter, Mama. It’s cus the 6th graders were caught cheating.”

“Then I’ll just ask all the people that you love to come visit you on your last day.” Sanghyeok says this steadily. He rubs a comforting hand on both their backs, soothing their crying into sniffles on his chest. “There’ll be tons of them. Can you two give me an accurate number on how many they are?”

“Two!” Sangwook confidently raises his hand.

Jiwon shakes his head in denial. “Plus four!”

“Why so little?”

The twins look at each other in confusion. Their faces may be puffy but they manage to be in sync with one another, then giving a giggle at Sanghyeok’s question.

“Cus Mama, you and Dada are the first two.” Sangwook points to his fingers, all giddy. As if he wasn’t sobbing moments before. “Uncles and aunties can always come after. But you and Dada will forever be at the front.”

“Then Seo-Ah, then Seonyeong, then Hajun, and Yejun…” Jiwon continues listing each of them down on his fingers. The twins’ eyes twinkle as they turn to him. “There’s actually a lot isn’t there, Mama?”

Sanghyeok’s arms loosen as he nods in agreement. “Yeah there is.” His heart grows when he sees their faces light up. “I’m so glad there’s so many that love you, hm?”

“Of course! It’s cus of you—” “—and Dada. There’s so many that love us cus of you two.”

No. Sanghyeok thinks as the twins move on to excitedly tell him about the things they’ve learnt at school today. Everyone loves you because you two shine bright in simply the way you exist. He leans forward to press precious kisses on the crowns of their heads. You two are living proof that being full of love is the greatest thing a parent can give to their child.

Sanghyeok then moves to gently rub both of their chubby bellies. “C’mon you two, I made your favorite. Beef and lots of egg rolls. I know you’re starving after eating all that dessert.”

The twins loudly cheer and somehow Sanghyeok’s worry lessens for now.

“Jihoon-ah…”

“Hm?”

Sanghyeok buries himself into the younger’s arms. He traces a finger on his husband’s shoulder, his other hand focused on lulling their pups to sleep. They’re dressed in dinosaur patterns and pink frills from Seo-Ah’s part; just by their bed, the triplets are huddled against each other for their nth hour of sleeping for the day.

“Do you think… Do you think we’re doing everything right for them?”

Jihoon doesn’t hesitate to reply. The alpha leans forward, his pheromones slowly spreading and entangling into his, something warm, something silky, something their children have been bathed in since the day they were born. His lips sink into his with a feeling of reverence—of love Jihoon has only been giving him since their first meeting years back.

His mate pulls back and rests his forehead against his. Jihoon’s breath fans just shy over the plush of his bottom lip.

“We’re doing everything right.” Jihoon nuzzles the side of Sanghyeok’s head. “And if we make mistakes, then we make up for it. We say sorry and do better, hope that they don’t carry it on when they get older. That’s what we said to one another when the twins came to us, hm?”

Sanghyeok glances down when said pups instinctively burrow closer to where they were. A habit that’s formed since they were newborns, a habit that’s formed when Sanghyeok and Jihoon settled on co-sleeping with them. Done out of fear and the protectiveness that overwhelms their chests whenever they yawned and cried.

The twins are much bigger but old habits die hard in this family.

Sanghyeok sighs through his nostrils. “What do we do? I feel like my chest is going to explode because they’re so…” His grip tightens ever so slightly on the alpha’s shoulder. “How did we get children that are the best and worst parts of both of us? Tell me, Jihoon-ah.”

The alpha’s shoulders shake with soft laughter.

“Hyung, you wished for it.” Jihoon’s eyes crinkle at the edges. “We both wished for it.”

The following last days of the bake sale have a few tweaks here and there. For one, the pound cake gets 3 new flavors and designs to attract more customers. Jihoon painstakingly, as dramatic as it sounds he tries his best, topped each cake with fruit and various flavored buttercream Sanghyeok prepared an hour before. The flavors being strawberry, lemon, and vanilla—types of cake that’d attract the tastebuds of 5 year olds all around.

Jihoon makes sure to take out another tub of tupperware that was given by his own mother. A nice yellow color that’s been subjected to Seo-Ah’s sticker streak.

“When you get to school, tell them your Dada bought me a Louis Vuitton suit because he’d think I would look good in it.” Sanghyeok wags his finger as he lists everything down to the twins. “I’ve worn it once and I will be wearing it again when your father and I go to school to have a meeting with your teacher.”

“You’re coming to school?” “Why are you coming to school?”

Jihoon slides into Sanghyeok’s side, arm smoothly circling around the omega’s waist. “Because I’ll be going to Brazil for a competition soon. Your Mama and I want to tackle this bully problem immediately so we can spend lots of time together before I leave.”

The twins let out chipper yells.

“Yippie! The meanies won’t bother us anymore!” “And Miss Kim doesn’t need to run around protecting us all the time!”

Secretly, Sanghyeok and Jihoon whisper to one another to buy their children’s advisor Hanwoo meat for diligently doing her job as advisor.

Sure enough, the twins gain more attention by surrounding students as they set their booth up with the assistance of their Dada. Their Mama, true to his word, stalked down the school halls with a murderous glint in his eye and a stroller rolling in front of him; dressed in his sleek Louis Vuitton suit bought by yours truly.

Their Dada spends more time making sure nobody disturbs their children, glaring at any kid that looks a bit annoyed, before setting off to where his mate was.

Sangwook and Jiwon patiently go through the motions of their bake sale, their little sister Seo-Ah sitting on the cooler, when a tall shadow approaches them. Their eyes light up when they recognize the cheery faces in front of them.

Their usually uniformed uncles are visiting them in nicer clothes!

“One slice for me please!” Siwoo orders, smiling at both of them. “If you two keep feeding me cake, I’ll make sure the bullies don’t reach you anymore.”

Jaehyuk jokingly elbows the omega. “You’re holding up the line, babe. Ehem. May I order two slices?”

“Okay!” “Uhm, three slices coming right up!”

Seo-Ah, seeing that her brothers are busy tending to everyone’s orders, gets up from her spot on the cooler. She opens the container with her nimble strength and starts giving everyone random juice packets. Her adorable charm makes the big line of uncles barely object to the juice being given to them.

Hyeonjoon is the one that spots the pair returning from their voyage.

“Hyung! Jihoon-ah! How’d it go?” He asks loudly, admittedly worried that the teachers won’t be able to do anything.

“Great.” Sanghyeok gracefully settles the triplets by the booth and watches as Jihoon starts fussing over the large crowd that surrounded their children’s spot. “All I had to do was do a bit of stern talking to the advisors of older grades until they folded. We’ll have another meeting with the bullies parents tomorrow-ish.”

“I’m the one that did all the intimidating though?” 

Jihoon points to himself and receives approving slaps on the back from T1.

The bake sale will eventually conclude with the twins towering over the rest with a whopping $1xxx in sales. Classmates and 5th graders be damned, the family celebrates their win with a late night out, filled with food, museum visits, and sharing a tub of ice cream in a quiet park. Their happiness tripling in size when Sanghyeok receives a call that all students and families involved will be sanctioned with cleaning until their senior year in high school.

The only problem for the time being is probably Jihoon leaving for Brazil.

Ah… but that’s a story for another time!