chapter eighteen

"remember a month ago when i left for a week? it's actually ten and johnny hyung's wedding and ten hyung's coronation day." haechan said as the two of them were walking.

on their way to the south portal.

"chan, i don't think i can meet them closer." taeyong said. "can i just watch from... afar?"

haechan looked at his hyung, taeyong didn't look excited or anything. well, who would though. the person you love had to marry someone just to have the crown.

who would be happy and excited about it.

"okay, hyung. just don't go far away, okay? you're pregnant." haechan said and clung to his arm.

"yeah..." taeyong nodded.

they didn’t even take long to arrive, they already didn’t waste the time to enter the portal and that's how fast they came in the neo universe.

their clothes were completely changed, but their things were still in their pockets. that's why taeyong didn’t freak out. they actually arrived at the garden and something made taeyong miss about the garden.

jaehyun.

"hyung, this is the south kingdom's huge ass garden. jaehyun hyung once took care of this." haechan said, giggling.

"yeah, he loves taking care of those." taeyong said, couldn't help not to smile.

"we still need to walk a bit, hyung." haechan said.

"it's fine, chan. let's just walk a little slower, is it fine?" taeyong asked.

"duh, of course!" haechan said and rolled his eyes.

taeyong let out a chuckle, he doesn't want to tire himself out that fast. at least, he still had time to enjoy the south kingdom.

the place that is jaehyun's home.

it looked like ten and others were saying the truth that this place is more beautiful, taeyong felt the fresh air again. there's finally a building, some people. this place doesn't even have any difference from their world.

"hyung, you can just wait here." haechan said as they stopped at the bench which is under the tree.

this bench is too hidden but taeyong could clearly see the kingdom, there's already many people coming inside, wearing royal gowns, suits, etc.

but he only want to see someone,

and that is jaehyun.

"i'm fine here, chan." he smiled.

"i will just finish the ceremony before i send you home," haechan said.

"duh, i could even go home by myself." taeyong said.

"no, you're not. and you are pregnant." he pouted. "wait for me here, hyung. okay?" he smiled.

"fine, fine." taeyong sighed.

"don't go far away, okay?" haechan said.

taeyong just pushed haechan away before gently sitting down on the bench. haechan even waved his hands like a kid before making his way somewhere. maybe he needs to change his clothes into a formal one or he will meet mark first.

while peacefully resting at the bench, he suddenly heard a dog bark that made him look down. but his eyes suddenly widened when he realized who it was.

"ruby!" he called happily.

the dog also jumps and barks nonstop, her tail is wiggling. taeyong immediately carried her and hugged her. he can't even help not to tear up. taeyong was already emotional when he got pregnant.

"daddy is now going to be a king and we will finally have our new baby!" he said in a cute tone of voice. "but dada had to raise the kid alone... what if i bring you home, hmm?" he giggled.

the dog was just looking at him. taeyong couldn't even help not to smile and put the dog on his thigh. he looked up and there he saw a familiar person just arrived in front of the kingdom.

it was his friends.

haechan also arrived a minute after together with mark, ten and others happily greeted him but they looked like they were looking for someone.

they didn't even take long outside and went inside the kingdom, the ceremony is now going to start in a few minutes that's why.

"ruby, daddy is there!" he giggled, talking to the dog as if she would answer him.

the ceremony took almost an hour and taeyong witnessed it. he was now watching the man that he loves, standing with her queen who is from the west kingdom.

looks like taeyong can't give the complete family to his child.

there's clearly no chance, if he just knew, he should not have come here.

"i'm going now, ruby..." taeyong said when he saw haechan going towards him.

"i hope we will meet again, baby..." he whispered, wiping his tears away.

putting the dog down, she also ran away when taeyong waved at her. after that, haechan just arrived and taeyong didn’t waste the time to tell him to go home.

"don't forget that we're still here, hyung..." haechan said and hugged him, they were now in front of the portal.

"yes, chan. enjoy the party, hmm?" and he brushed his hair.

"take care..." he pouted.

taeyong didn’t respond anymore and just left, as much as haechan wants to go with him so he would make sure that taeyong would get home safely, he can't. he was even having a hard time to excuse himself earlier.

going back inside the kingdom, jaehyun is currently talking with others now.

"congratulations, your majesty." haechan said, taking a bow.

"thank you, donghyuck." he smiled.

and haechan clearly saw how jaehyun glance to his back,

probably looking for someone.

"you're just alone?" jaehyun asked.

"yes, your majesty," he nodded. "i just came here by myself."

and luckily his mind cooperates, geez, this king can read his mind. if his mind didn’t cooperate with him, everything would be fucked up.

"i'm happy that you didn’t miss this day," jaehyun said calmly. "by the way, guys. have you guys perhaps seen ruby? geez, she was missing the whole morning." and he scratched his head.

"what the fuck, jae? you're now a king, act like one." johnny said when jaehyun suddenly changed his tone of voice from formal to normal.

"shut up, johnny." he hissed and rolled his eyes. "come on, help me to find ruby." he whined.

but they stopped when they heard a bark.

"oh, there you are, my pretty baby!" he whined and bent down to carry her.

watching him baby the dog, haechan wonders what would jaehyun look like if the one that he was holding is his and taeyong's child?

what would they look like being a complete family?

"i know you want to go home," mark said softly as he wrapped his arm around haechan's waist.

"i'm worried about taeyong hyung..." haechan said.

they were now at the venue, the others were currently having fun but haechan and mark stayed on their seats. mark can't even have fun without haechan. this guy is the only one who can boost his mood.

"you don't even need to stay here long though," mark said. "we're still going to see each other and the ceremony is the only important thing you need to attend."

"but i promised to them, it's rude to break it, love." he pouted.

"but promises were always meant to be broken," mark said. "look jaehyun hyung, he promised that he will wait but he still married someone for the throne."

"love, that's a different case." he pouted and rolled his eyes.

"come on, let's go home." mark said and rubbed his back.

"love, do you think jaehyun hyung really loved taeyong hyung?" haechan asked softly and leaned closer to his boyfriend.

"of course, love." mark said.

"but why did he marry someone?"

mark looked at his boyfriend. he should not say this to anyone because it's strictly forbidden but he trusts haechan.

"don't tell this to anyone, can you?" mark asked.

"don't you trust me?!" he hissed, mark let out a chuckle and kissed his forehead before leaning closer to his ears.

"jaehyun hyung wasn't actually married," he whispered. "do you even attend his wedding? no, it's just because there's really no wedding happening. it's just a show off so people won't ask why jaehyun got the throne without having a wife."

"the princess actually has a girlfriend, she was a close friend of jaehyun hyung and she agreed to this setup because she's also going to replace her dad's position." he explained.

"they planned it that fast?" haechan asked.

mark nodded, the situation is kinda messy right now but the one thing they were sure of is jaehyun isn't married. he will never wait at the aisle for someone that he doesn't even love.

it was still him,

and that will never change.