Chapter 57 - Family

Yul snapped his head to look at the crowd at the back and sure enough, there was Zeng, waving at him with a huge smile. Yul waved back but froze when he saw two more people looking his way. One his mother and the other his father.

His family was there to see him!

He swore he was going to cry that instant but he looked ahead to take a deep breath as his name was announced. He gave a tug to the coat of his uniform and stood up with practised stridor. He marched up on stage and saluted the commissioner, eyes looking straight ahead and chin up.

The commissioner hooked a badge on the left side of his coat and offered him a certificate. Photos were clicked and the audience clapped with Zeng recording the entire event and cheering for him along with Yul's parents.

Yul swept a look over them as he looked ahead for a picture, the corners of his life curving to give a small smile. After the ceremony, he quickly greeted his seniors and excused himself to run back to where Zeng had said they were waiting for him.

He reached the garden of the precinct, huffing. He saw three of the most important people in his life waiting for him. He walked up to them. Zeng smiled at him and looked at his parents, stepping aside so that Yul could talk to them.

"You both are here," Yul said, his smile barely contained.

"Yes, we are here. For you," Mr Wang responded. Yul hugged his father without another word, who hugged him back with tears in his eyes.

"Sorry, I was late," Mr Wang whispered as he patted his son's back. He apologized for his heart both the delays. Yul just hugged him tightly, "It's alright, dad. You are finally here."

Mrs Wang and Zeng saw their heartfelt moment, glancing at each other and smiling excitedly. Just this morning Mrs Wang had called him, informing him that her husband too was coming for the ceremony. Zeng was so excited that he could hardly keep his mouth shut and had to hide it from Yul.

As soon as he was given his break, Zeng had gone to the station to pick up his boyfriend's parents, bringing them along for a sweet surprise for his Yul.

When the emotional reunion was over and Mr Wang focused his attention on Zeng, the doctor sputtered. His mouth opened and closed without forming any actual words. It looked like the older Wang too had something to say but couldn't get the words out. Yul glanced between the two from his side and his mother smiled.

Zeng mentally slapped himself for freezing like a statue and urged himself to say something, even just a single word would be fine. He abruptly bowed to the older Wang, "Hello."

The action was so sudden that everybody flinched and Zeng just wanted the earth to swallow him in the spot. It was so freaking embarrassing!

Mr Wang gave an awkward nod. None of them spoke any further and. It was too silent. Zeng was waiting for someone to snap at him or at least say something to break the tension.

"I saw a restaurant on our way here. We can have lunch together," Mr Wang said out of the blue, coming to his rescue, "Hotpot will be nice for such a day." The other two Wangs agreed.

"Actually, I can not come. You guys go ahead. I have to go back to the hospital," Zeng said in a small voice. It was a good opportunity for him to get to know Yul's family better and spend time with them but he couldn't even if he wanted.

"Aiya, why Zeng?" Mrs Wang asked with a frown. He had taken quite a liking to this boy and enjoyed his company.

"I am so sorry," Zeng apologized, feeling bad for having to decline, "I only had free time for two hours and it's nearly up. I need to go back."

The others nodded in understanding but Yul didn't look happy. Zeng briefly touched his elbow when nobody was looking and lightly smiled asking him to not let his mood down. Yul smiled back.

"You can come home and we can have dinner together," Zeng said to the Wang couple who were about to decline but Zeng insisted, "Please. I really want to spend time with you all but I will have to wait for my shift to end. Please stay for the night. I have already prepared the guest room."

The husband and wife shared a glance. They had already booked the returning tickets for the same day but they could cancel them. "Alright, we will stay," Mr Wang agreed.

Zeng smiled and nodded. He turned to Yul fishing out his car keys. "Yul, drive to the restaurant and then take them home." He gave him the keys, "You can take my car. I will take a cab. The hospital is not that far from here anyway."

Yul took the keys, squeezing his hand for a brief moment before letting go. Zeng blushed lightly and with that, he left them with a bow and wave. In his mind, he was already preparing the list of what to make for dinner tonight.

…..

"You have kept the house well, A'Zeng," Yul's mother complimented, impressed with the work put into making the house presentable, "The last time we came here it was so blank."

Yul frowned at that. It was not like he had an actual boyfriend back then to keep his house in good looks. "We did it together," he answered on behalf of Zeng who was about to say the same thing.

"Together? Like I would believe you," Mrs Wang said playfully, teasing the youngest member. Yul frowned further.

"True," Zeng added, making Yul gape at him. Mrs Wang and Zeng laughed and the doctor could help but pinch his cheek.

"Don't team up with her, Zeng ge!" He complained and his other cheek was pinched by his mother, making him wince. Swatting both the hands away, he protectively held his palms over his cheeks, making the two people laugh.

They were at the kitchen counter, waiting for the rice to cook. Mr Wang catching up on the news on the television. The man had already missed his morning dose of the daily news so now he was gathering all the information about what was happening in the world. Mrs Wang had left him to it and had come over to chat with Yul.

Almost everything was ready, rice was in the cooker, the salad would be prepared soon and then dinner would be served. It was the first time Zeng was having a meal with Yul's family. It had been a long while since he had met even his own family. And it was definitely the first time this house had so many people.

The sound of the news channel, Yul chattering away about his work life and his mother's sweet laughter made him remember his home.

Zeng liked this feeling of having a family close to him.. But was this family wholeheartedly accepting of him? Even if they didn't, it would be fine as long as they were the same as before with Yul but it would be great if he could be a part of his family too.