⤬ DAYCARE.

@Lee Chan Mingyu wasn't really a big fan of gossip, especially when it came to badmouthing a person's personality. It was inevitable to come across a few parents the second he sends Minjae into the daycare, and Mingyu had to sacrifice at least that for his son, despite him having the worst experience in trying to make acquaintances, let alone, friends. Though he is much more used to it now, and he's learn a few things or two about parenting as well whenever he has a short conversation with one of the mothers he met. He also learned how easy it was to find so many cynical people in the world, thus leaving his trust issues to build up even more higher.

Usually, Mingyu doesn't really pay attention much to what people say, especially if it does not concern him or his son at all. However, Mingyu caught what the lady said before, and he couldn't help but feel wary all of the sudden. Mingyu glanced at the few ladies by the side, and he wondered if what they were talking about were true. He looked back at the smaller male before him, and he sees no sign of it being true through his expression, just signs of pain and patience at the same time.

He didn't even know he was staring too hard until Minjae reached out for something inside Mingyu's jacket pocket, taking out the plastic card ID that Mingyu was supposed to show to the previous male before. "Here!" Minjae smiled happily as he showed the latter the ID. "Can I go home now?"

Mingyu furrowed his eyebrows, glancing at Minjae to see if there were any signs of discomfort or whatsoever, but there was none. He could only see him looking quite impatient, and Mingyu wondered if Minjae was very good at lying, or just simply wanted to get home. Looking back at the shorter male before him, Mingyu could only clear his throat as he asked, reluctantly. "What - What's your name?"

@Kim Mingyu Chan was in the middle of ignoring everyone in the world. It happened too often nowadays. It wasn't his choice though. Chan hadn't had the pleasure of listening lately because he didn't like what he heard around the daycare anymore. The place didn't produce the same melody that Chan grew familiar with so ignoring it all was in his best interest.

For the most part, the daycare was only filled with laughter and giggles. Children loved playing tag or movie days. Nemo and Pororo always did take gold for entertainment. Sometimes silence reigned over too, especially when it was nap time or story time. Kids loved it when Chan's co-workers acted roles out. Occasionally, crying and whining were present here and there. But even if those did happen on a regular basis, they were still more bearable than the whispers.

Parents' whispers were always the painful ones. The hushed chatters were enough to weigh Chan down. They were just as exhausting as taking care of the little rugrats. And it pained Chan to hear that the whispers were about himself. It was like listening to static: dull and monotonous but definitely deafening. Surely it wasn't the same melody he used to hear in the daycare at all.

He was so engulfed in his own bubble of isolation that he almost missed a child being fetched. He immediately picked himself up and walked to the child and his father.

"Excuse me, you must show your fetcher's ID before taking your child home." Chan said with a scripted smile. It was hard to smile instinctively when he heard scoffs and disapproving remarks from the sides.

A sharp lady was quick to notice that Chan had almost let a child be released without confirmation of the fetcher's identity. "See that? The child is already in the arms of a man. That careless boy failed to do his job yet again. Who says it wasn't him that bruised Mrs. Choi's daughter? It's clearly him." The other parent's seemed to agree to that.

@Lee Chan Mingyu was always known to be quite diligent since other than being dedicated to his one and only family, Minjae, he was also dedicated to work. Even though his line of work wasn't the best work he was destined to do, he had a clean and good job during the day. Being an artist sure was difficult for Mingyu from the start, but as soon as he opened up his new gallery, he was more than grateful to have gone with it. The money he earns from it were always used for Minjae and Minjae alone, often spoiling him with it as the years go by. His son grew up fast, too fast that Mingyu had to do the things he was uncomfortable with. Such as sending Minjae to daycare, a public place where everyone has access to.

To be honest, Mingyu doesn't even really like the idea of letting Minjae out in the open without him being always there for him. He was protective father, and after what happened the years before Minjae was borned, he would very much like to avoid it at all costs. But he knew it was inevitable, his son was always the stubborn child he is, just like his father so he knew he couldn't get past the day when Minjae suddenly comes up to him and fully requests on having a nice childhood like the rest of the kids were having outside of the house. Mingyu had no choice but to oblige, since he did have so many work and he couldn't possibly stay with Minjae twenty-four seven.

But the second he gets the call from the daycare regarding about his son, Mingyu knew that maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea after all. He walks inside the daycare, pushing past the strong transparent doors as his eyes scanned the whole place, searching for his son. "Daddy!" Mingyu turned around almost immediately, and went on his knees just in time to pick Minjae up from the ground into his arms, letting out a sigh of relief afterwards.