[ ✓ ] 𝐏𝐇𝐈𝐋𝐎𝐏𝐇𝐎𝐁𝐈𝐀 , seho .

seven

seven

As odd as it felt, Sehun couldn't help but be excited to spend more time with Junmyeon. It not only meant that he'd have an excuse not to go out with Yixing and the others, but he got to see Junmyeon even longer than he had been every day.

"So how long have you been with your foster family?" Junmyeon asked Sehun as the two made their way down a quiet street in the neighborhood.

"About seven months. They're great though, definitely better than the others. I hope I can stay with them longer," Sehun explained. Junmyeon just nodded in response.

"How'd you become a foster kid? Just curious." Junmyeon scratched the back of his neck, realizing his question was personal, and he just shouldn't have asked. He suddenly felt bad.

Sehun stayed quiet for a moment before speaking. He tried not to feel so pressed, for he had explained this millions of times before. It wouldn't hurt to share with Junmyeon. "My mom just wasn't fit to be a mother. So my brother, sister and I were put into the system. But we've all been separated, so they don't really feel like family anymore."

"But wasn't your sister with you the other day?" Junmyeon asked as the two turned the corner.

"I always take her to therapy. It's our 'bonding' time, as odd as it is." Sehun let out a sigh, pointing to a house that stood right before them. "Here it is."

The boys walked up to the door, Junmyeon growing more and more nervous. He didn't know what to expect out of a foster home. But, Sehun had told him they were a good family, so he assumed they would be like any other family.

They walked inside where the sound of plates and water running filled their ears. In the kitchen next door, Sehun's foster mother had been doing dishes as she stared out the window above the sink.

"Hey, Eunmi," Sehun greeted as he set his backpack on the ground next to the door. The woman turned around, a smile then growing upon her face.

"Sehun, how was your day?" she greeted as the two hugged. Sehun nodded towards Junmyeon as a motion for the boy to join them in the kitchen.

"It was alright. Anyway, this is Junmyeon," Sehun introduced, grabbing Junmyeon's arm and pulling him closer. Junmyeon let out a nervous laugh as he smiled as Sehun's foster mother, more properly named Eunmi.

"Welcome, Junmyeon. I've heard lovely things about you." Junmyeon smiled at that comment, trying to think of exactly what Sehun could tell her. They had only known each other for a little over a month—the thought of Sehun thinking positively of Junmyeon made him excited, though. Nobody had really felt that way about him.

Sehun led Junmyeon upstairs into his temporary bedroom. Junmyeon couldn't help but be envious of it, though. It may have been a foster home, but for a foster home, it was quite nice. The walls were a deep turquoise and the furniture just so happened to complement the color. To Junmyeon's surprise, he found a framed picture on the table next to Sehun's bed. The picture was of what Junmyeon assumed was Sehun and his siblings. The other boy looked a lot like Sehun, but the girl didn't as much. The older boy had his arms around both Sehun and his sister. Sehun was smiling, and Junmyeon could tell it was genuine. The sister was kissing Sehun on the cheek as the boy grinned from ear to ear. "Is this your family?" Junmyeon asked as he picked up the picture frame.

Sehun walked over to where Junmyeon stood, the two now examining the photo. "Yep," was all Sehun replied with. Junmyeon felt bad, not only for bringing up the fact, but just in general. Thinking about Sehun—who Junmyeon had begun to care greatly about—being yanked out of several foster homes made him feel sympathetic.

"So, Junmyeon," Sehun questioned as he lay himself down on his bed, crossing his legs and letting out a sigh. "What do you do with your life?"

Junmyeon laughed, sitting next to Sehun. "Wake up, school, roof, therapy, sleep, repeat."

Sehun chuckled as he stared at the ceiling. Junmyeon liked it when he smiled. It made him look a million times happier than he did when he wasn't wearing the contagious grin he had.

"Other than that, do you do sports or anything? Or just sit around and listen to music like I do?" Sehun continued, trying to get a conversation going.

"I really don't do anything. I think. That's my hobby."

"What do you think about?"

Junmyeon sighed. "A better life."

Sehun sat up, resting his head on his hand. He looked at Junmyeon with sympathy. "Don't think like that."

Junmyeon crossed his arms. "Why not?"

"If you continue to wish for a better life, that's just wasting the time you could use to actually make it better."

*

Sehun almost never thought of his brother. Imagining what Sehyeon had to go through in jail had made Sehun sick to his stomach. He had heard from Yixing what it's like in there—the cold cells where you would have to let each day pass over the other, not knowing exactly what day it is, or exactly how long it would be until you would get out. That's what Yixing had told Sehun, anyway. He was never in jail for very long—three months at the most. But that was just juvenile detention. Sehyeon was in prison. He was a felon.

But as Sehun stared at the ceiling above him, unable to sleep, his thoughts surrounded around Sehyeon and what it'd be like if he'd ever seen him again. He'd probably ask why exactly Sehyeon felt the need to commit such crimes. Sehyeon being the smartass he is, would more than likely make a comment about how it wouldn't matter anyway—they were all still foster kids. They'd eventually be taken from their current home and be placed in the next. It was pointless. All of it.

Sehun quickly paced down the stairs, entering the more open space of the house once again. He could hear Eunmi, along with his foster father, Dongchul, discussing whatever their first world problem was currently. It was almost always something that had to do with Sehun, for he was their only foster kid at the moment.

"Hi, Sehun. What's up?" Dongchul asked, welcoming the boy into the living room where they had been resting.

Sehun sat on the leather sofa next to Eunmi. He tried to think of an easy way to address to them what he had been thinking. He figured the best way to get his point across was to just say it straight.

"Do you think I could possibly see my brother? Sehyeon?" Sehun bit his fingernails out of nervousness. He watched as Dongchul and Eunmi exchanged looks. This was obviously a matter they would have to discuss, but Sehun had still anticipated an answer of some sort.

"That could be arranged," Eunmi gave a small smile. Sehun looked at his hands as he thought more about possibly seeing his brother. Whether or not they'd have a civil conversation, Sehun just wanted to see Sehyeon to make sure he was okay.

"When do you think?"

Dongchul rested a hand on Sehun's knee. "Soon."