BELOVED BY THE TWINS

CHAPTER 7

"BELOVED BY THE TWINS"

by: Dark Flame Master

In the early morning, Ruka and Luca were getting ready to head to the hospital. The sky was still dim and the air felt cool and fresh as they both got into their car. As soon as they settled into their seats Ruka glanced at his twin with a slight frown.

"Why did you do it?" Ruka asked, his tone a mix of curiosity and irritation. He rubbed at the small mark on his neck. "It's a good thing Shin is so innocent or he might’ve noticed."

Luca sighed keeping his eyes on the road as he started the car. "Sorry, I got carried away," he admitted with a small shrug. "But yeah, you're right. Shin’s too innocent to realize what that was." After a moment, Luca handed his brother a small bandaid. "Here, use this to cover it up."

"Thanks," Ruka said, taking the bandaid and pressing it over the mark on his neck. To lighten the mood he leaned over and kissed Luca’s cheek making Luca roll his eyes though a faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

Once they arrived at the hospital the twins quickly shifted into work mode, their earlier conversation forgotten as they dove into their duties. They had a long day ahead of them but they knew they’d manage. After all they had each other.

Meanwhile, back at the apartment Shin was in full cleaning mode. The thought of bugs biting him in his sleep made him shudder. He could still picture the mark on Ruka’s neck and even though Ruka brushed it off as a simple bug bite it made Shin feel uneasy. He hated the idea of something crawling around in the house while they slept so he decided to skip school again to make sure the house was spotless.

As he scrubbed the floors and dusted the shelves Shin couldn’t help but feel a little guilty for not going to school. He knew he should’ve been there but the thought of facing reality made his stomach twist. At home, everything felt peaceful and safe. But at school, he had to deal with stress and pressure. For now, cleaning was his way of avoiding all of that at least for a little while longer.

By the time the twins got home the sun was beginning to set casting a warm glow through the windows. They stepped inside and immediately noticed how clean the apartment was. The floors were shining, the furniture was neatly arranged, and the air smelled fresh. It really shows that Shin had been busy all day.

As they walked further into the living room they saw Shin lying on the sofa sound asleep. His small frame was curled up and his chest rose and fell in steady, peaceful breaths. He looked exhausted as if he had poured all his energy into cleaning the house.

Ruka smiled softly, his gaze lingering on Shin for a moment. "He’s so cute when he’s sleeping," he whispered to Luca, who nodded in agreement.

"Yeah," Luca murmured. "It looks like he worked really hard today."

After taking a quick look around the immaculate apartment Ruka gently shook Shin’s shoulder. "Shin, wake up," he said, trying to sound as soft as possible. "We brought donuts. Let’s eat."

Shin stirred at the sound of Ruka’s voice, slowly waking up. He rubbed his eyes feeling groggy and blinked at the twins who were standing over him with smiles on their faces.

"Hmm? What time is it?" Shin mumbled sleepily, sitting up on the sofa.

"Don’t worry about the time," Ruka said with a grin. "We brought donuts! Come on, let’s eat."

Shin yawned and stretched, still feeling half-asleep. "Oh… um, welcome back," he said in a soft voice still trying to wake up.

The twins exchanged surprised looks. Both of them are touched by Shin’s simple but sweet words. It wasn’t often that someone greeted them when they came home and it made their hearts swell with warmth.

"Thanks, Shin," they said in unison, smiling at him.

The three of them sat at the dining table, each grabbing a donut from the box. The sweet smell of sugar and dough filled the air as they ate in comfortable silence for a few minutes. Shin nibbled on his donut feeling a little more awake now but still enjoying the calm atmosphere.

After a while, Luca broke the silence. "Shin, are you going to school tomorrow?" he asked, taking another bite of his donut. "You’ve been absent for two days now."

Shin froze at the question, his expression turning serious. He looked down at his half-eaten donut, unsure of what to say. "I... I don’t really know," he finally admitted. "I’m happier here. Going back to school means I have to suffer again."

Ruka leaned forward, a concern written on his face. "Aren’t you a fourth-year student?" he asked gently.

Shin nodded, his shoulders slumping slightly. "Yeah... I am."

"That means you’re graduating this year," Ruka continued, his tone encouraging. "It would be such a waste if you didn’t finish school."

Luca nodded in agreement. "Just go to school tomorrow. We’ll make sure it’s peaceful for you," he said, his voice calm but reassuring.

Shin looked up at Luca, confusion clouding his eyes. "How?" he asked, genuinely curious. He had no idea what the twins could possibly do to make school better for him.

The twins exchanged a glance, a silent conversation passing between them before they both chuckled softly.

"You’ll see tomorrow," Ruka said with a wink.

Shin felt a small sense of relief at their words but a part of him was still hesitant. School had never been a pleasant place for him and the idea of going back filled him with dread. But he trusted the twins and if they said they could make things better maybe they really could.

The next morning, Shin woke up earlier than usual determined to make the best of the day. He still wasn’t sure about going back to school but he wanted to start the day on a good note. The first thing he did was head to the kitchen to prepare breakfast for the twins. He wanted to surprise them with a nice meal especially after everything they’d done for him.

He worked quietly, careful not to make too much noise as he cooked. The smell of freshly made breakfast filled the air and Shin smiled to himself imagining how happy the twins would be when they woke up. It felt good to do something nice for them.

Once the food was ready, Shin set the table but the twins were still asleep. He didn’t want to wake them so he decided to wrap the food in the table keeping it warm for when they woke up. Before leaving he scribbled a quick note on a small piece of paper and left it next to their plates.

The note was: "Good morning! I’m at school right now. Please reheat the food and eat it."

With that, Shin grabbed his bag and quietly left the apartment still feeling a little nervous about the day ahead. As he walked to school his mind was racing with thoughts. He hadn’t been to class in two days and he wasn’t sure how his classmates or teachers would react. But he kept telling himself that the twins had his back. Somehow, that made him feel a little braver.

Back at the apartment, Ruka and Luca finally woke up groggy from their day off. As they stumbled into the kitchen they noticed the food neatly wrapped on the table and the small note Shin had left for them.

Ruka picked up the note and read it aloud, a soft smile spreading across his face. "Good morning! I’m at school right now. Please reheat the food and eat it," he repeated, chuckling. "That’s cute."

Luca smiled as well feeling a sense of warmth in his chest. "Yeah, it is," he agreed.

They both reheated the food and sat down to eat enjoying the quiet morning. It was their day off and they were grateful for the chance to relax after a long week of work. As they ate they couldn’t help but think about Shin and how far he had come since moving in with them. They were proud of him for going back to school even if it was tough for him. They had a plan to help him and they were determined to make sure he felt safe and supported from now on.