Aoto

Mr. Yoon curls a hand into a fist and grumbles, “Yu-jun lied to me when I asked if Aoto was Sota’s relative because they share the same last name, and he said no.”

Although taken aback that Yu-jun went as far as denying to his dad that I’m Sota’s brother—probably because that stupid Alpha really couldn’t care less about me—I take the opportunity to assure the Yoon couple that it only proves Yu-jun and I have nothing going on, and they shouldn’t worry about my twins’ existence, to which they surprisingly nod in agreement.

“I’m sure now you, Mr. and Mrs. Yoon, understand why Aoto-kun has vehemently refused to be in your daughter’s next music video,” Marina states, her expression and posture businesslike. “I hope you won’t insist on this matter anymore, and if you do have anything else to say to him regarding his streams, please tell me instead of seeking him out personally. As his agent, it’s my job to deal with this kind of thing.”

“Oh, so you are Aoto’s agent,” Mr. Yoon mumbles, looking and sounding even more displeased.

“I introduced myself at the door, and I’m sure I told you I was his agent then,” Marina retorts, incredulous. “I guess you were too busy barging in here to listen to a word I said,” she snorts.

“Regardless, are we done here? You can send me the contract in the mail, and I’ll make sure to sign it and send it back to you the moment I receive it,” I tell the couple before gesturing at the twins nodding off on my lap. “My sons are tired, and I want to put them in their cribs so they can sleep more comfortably.”

Mr. Yoon tilts his head to the side, reminding me of Yu-jun for a second. He frowns and asks, “What contract? If you’re not participating in my daughter’s next music video, I see no reason to send you a contract.”

I sigh. “I meant the contract about my twins and me never seeking any compensation or recognition from your family.”

After staring at me intensely for a moment too long, Mr. Yoon walks to his wife’s side and replies, “There’s no need for that, Aoto. If you really wanted something from my family, you would have asked or revealed your sons’ existence to the world already. Besides, I know you are aware of the consequences if you go back on your word and do something stupid.” Even though his tone is cool, the warning behind his words doesn’t go unnoticed.

“We will tell Ji-yeon that working with you won’t be possible, and we will make sure not to bother you again,” Mrs. Yoon remarks, her expression softening as she looks at the twins. “Thank you for not telling Yu-jun about them and…” She trails off.

“I’ll carry one of them, Aoto-kun,” Marina says, reaching for Genkei. However, before she can even touch him, he opens his eyes, dodges her hands, and starts crying with his head on my shoulder.

“Here, carry Gaku instead.” I chuckle, though silently wondering why Genkei asked for Mr. and Mrs. Yoon when he won’t let Marina near him.

Marina takes Gaku into her arms, who remains asleep.

“Oh, so that child’s name is Gaku? How about the one you are carrying, Aoto? What’s his name?” Mrs. Yoon asks out of the blue.

Frowning slightly, I respond, “Their names are Gaku Kikuchi and Genkei Kikuchi.” I emphasize ‘Kikuchi’ to make it clear they have my last name.

“Gaku and Genkei,” Mrs. Yoon murmurs, her lips curling into a soft smile.

“How can you tell them apart, Aoto? They are identical twins and look exactly the same to me,” Mr. Yoon comments.

Irritated beyond salvation at this point, I grumble, “I usually dress Gaku in lighter colors and Genkei in darker ones because my mom and my two best friends always mistake them for each other.”

Mr. Yoon nods, as though approving of my method. “I see. That’s a smart move on your part. How old are they?”

Wait. Are these people seriously questioning me about my buns?

Suspicious, I reply, “They’re eighteen months old.”

“They really are the spitting image of Yu-jun,” Mrs. Yoon remarks, her smile widening. “They will grow up to be as handsome and perfect as him, won’t they?”

Mr. Yoon shakes his head. “What a shame, Aoto. If you were from a powerful family and a Dominant Omega, I wouldn’t mind you becoming Yu-jun’s wife and accepting the children into the Yoon family as his legitimate sons. But since you are literally a nobody, I could never dissolve his engagement with Ai Sato and jeopardize his brilliant future with her. I’m sorry that things are this way.”

Stunned that Mr. Yoon, who is one of the most powerful men in the world, has just apologized to me, I stammer, “Yo-Yo-You don’t have to apologize for anything, Mr. Yoon. As I said before, I pro-promise I’ll never tell Yu-jun about the twins, so please, forget they exist and never harm them or take them away from me. I genuinely wish your son and Ai Sato a happy, healthy, and long marriage… and many exceptional children.” I force a smile as I blurt out the marriage part.

“What about your brother? Isn’t he Yu-jun’s lover?” Mrs. Yoon smirks.

I shrug and scoff, “I don’t know, and I don’t care because my brother’s love life has nothing to do with me. He knows who the twins’ dad is, but he also knows it was a dumb mistake that will never be repeated. If you have anything to say to him, please do so directly, like you did to me today.”

Meanwhile, Mr. and Mrs. Yoon watch Genkei finally fall asleep again in my arms, the what-looks-like “fond” look in their eyes making me wonder if I’m imagining things, as they would never regard my sons in a loving manner.

“I can tell that Gaku is calmer than Genkei, isn’t he?” Mrs. Yoon points at Gaku in Marina’s arms. “He hasn’t made a fuss once since we came here, even though we argued, raised our voices, acted hostile toward each other, and even threatened you. What a sweet child.”

“Well, what impressed me the most was Genkei’s behavior toward you, Mr. and Mrs. Yoon.” I kiss Genkei on the forehead before continuing, “This child doesn’t like strangers at all and always makes a fuss whenever he’s around someone he doesn’t know. Yet, he asked for you two right away, even though you pretty much ignored him completely from the get-go to the end.”

“That’s—” Mr. Yoon begins, but his smartphone rings loudly, cutting him off. After glancing at the screen, he scowls and answers the call. “What do you want?” he dryly asks whoever is on the other end. “Ji-yeon and Ai want to have lunch with my wife, Hye-won, Yu-jun, and me? What? They’re already at the mansion?” He sighs, visibly displeased. “Do you know where Yu-jun is? He isn’t answering his phone?”

I feel a pang of pain in my chest upon hearing that Yu-jun isn’t answering his phone, which confirms he’s still going at it with my brother.

Mr. Yoon cringes, sighs again, and ends the call without uttering another word. He then turns to his wife and tells her they should head back to their mansion because their youngest daughter and Yu-jun’s fiancée—I feel like he made sure to refer to Ai Sato specifically as Yu-jun’s fiancée to prove to me he’ll never accept me as his son’s partner—are waiting for them.

“All right, then. Let’s go home,” Mrs. Yoon replies before glancing at me. “I’m sorry for barging into your apartment like this, Aoto. Let us never have any contact with each other ever again.”

“I agree, Mrs. Yoon. Let’s forget everything that happened today and never see each other again.” I nod, relieved that everything seems resolved for now. Although I’d rather sign a contract to protect my twins, I’m satisfied that the Yoons aren’t threatening us and don’t seem interested in killing us to secure their precious son’s future with Ai Sato.

“I will talk to my daughter about her obsession with you and make sure she forgets you. As my wife said, let us never contact each other again, and I would like you to keep your distance from Yu-jun despite his relationship with your brother.” Mr. Yoon nods back, looking equally satisfied with how we’ve resolved everything.

“We are leaving now. There’s no need for you to see us off.” Mrs. Yoon shoots the twins one last look before turning on her heels and heading to the front door.

Mr. Yoon glances at the twins and opens his mouth to say something, but closes it before a word comes out and silently follows his wife, finally leaving me alone with my buns and Marina.

I sink down onto the couch and close my eyes, letting out a long, deep breath of relief.

“Jeez, that was exhausting. Thank God they finally left,” I exclaim.

“I never thought they’d come here personally to talk to you, Aoto-kun. They must really spoil their daughter if they’ve gone that far just because she wants you in her music video,” Marina says, sounding as relieved as I feel.

“At least they won’t bother me about it anymore.” I pause, frowning. “But I’m still worried they’ve found out about the twins. I really hope they’ll forget they exist altogether and leave us alone.”

“Let’s just count the fact that they left you alone today as a victory, but do be careful from now on. I believe they won’t bother you or the twins, though you never know. Still, no matter what, I’ll help protect our angels,” she assures me, grinning.

I rise to my feet and start walking to my bedroom, where the twins’ cribs are. “Thank you, Marina. Let’s put the twins in their cribs, and then I want to tell you about how I met Min-ji Kim the day before yesterday. Guess what? She wants to play video games and stream with me.”

“Min-ji Kim? That famous, beautiful Alpha with powerful parents at the Yoon Group? One of the most promising young Alphas in Asia?” Marina gasps, staring at me in disbelief.

“Yep. That’s her.” I carefully place Genkei into his crib and kiss him on the cheek, smiling.

Marina places Gaku in the crib next to Genkei’s and giggles. “They’re so cute that I can’t get enough of watching them sleep.”

“I know, right?” I chuckle. “Let’s go back to the living room and talk there,” I add after kissing Gaku on the cheek and grabbing the baby monitor.

“Okay, Mama. Let’s do that,” Marina teases as we leave my bedroom.

What a freaking day. I just hope the Yoons will leave my buns and me alone after this. I should also tell my parents what happened and ask them for advice on how to protect the twins from now on. As for Yu-jun and Sota…

I suddenly blurt out, “Screw you, Yu-jun Yoon. Go to hell, you freaking piece of shit.”

Marina blinks a couple of times, dumbfounded. “What was that?”

I wave her off and roll my eyes. “Nothing. So, as I was saying, Min-ji…” and just like that, the conversation shifts back to my streams and Min-ji’s interest in joining me.

Thankfully, Marina and I soon find ourselves goofing around, recording silly songs to set as Kenzo and Junko’s ringtones, and making fun of each other, which helps distract me from the unpleasant and unwanted visit from the Yoons.

* * *