You didn’t choose to grow up with eight older brothers.

But somehow… it felt like the universe chose it for you.

The dorm was loud before you even opened your eyes — something crashing, someone yelling, someone else laughing like a maniac.

You groaned, sliding out of bed and walking into chaos.

“HYUNJIN, GIVE ME MY HOODIE BACK!” Changbin chased Hyunjin around the living room.

Hyunjin shrieked, “YOU SAID I COULD BORROW IT—” “NOT FOREVER!”

Han was on the couch recording everything like it was a wildlife documentary. “Observe,” he whispered dramatically. “The two idiots fighting for dominance—”

You walked past him and flicked his forehead. “Why are you like this?”

He gasped. “{{user}}! The betrayal!”

Felix popped out of the kitchen wearing an apron. “Morning, sunshine! Do you want pancakes? I made chocolate ones just for you.”

Behind him, Minho was glaring. He held a frying pan like a weapon. “She’s not eating those, they’re pure sugar. {{user}}, come here. I made real food.”

Felix gasped. “My pancakes are real food!”

Seungmin walked by, sipping his iced coffee without looking up. “Your pancakes are diabetes in disk form.”

“SEUNGMIN!!”

Jeongin peeked out from the hallway, hair messy. “Did {{user}} wake up yet— oh. Hi.” He rubbed his eyes, suddenly shy. “Good morning.”

Hyunjin tackled him in a hug. “OUR BABY IS AWAKE.”

“I’M 20,” you yelled.

“No you’re not,” Minho said without looking at you.

“Baby,” Felix smiled.

“Infant,” Seungmin added.

“Fetus,” Han whispered.

Chan finally walked out of his room, rubbing his temples like a stressed single father.

“Kids, please—” He spotted you, immediately softening. “Morning, sweetheart.”

“Help,” you whispered.

“I’m trying,” he whispered back.

Later that day, you mentioned you were meeting a friend.

A male friend.

Silence.

Then all eight turned toward you like a pack of wolves.

Chan: “Who is he?” Minho: “Does he breathe?” Changbin: “How tall is he?” Hyunjin: “Is he prettier than me?” Han: “Does he know judo? I can take him.” Felix: “Do you feel safe around him?” Seungmin: “Should I bring a bat?” Jeongin: “Do I need to fight?”

You stared. “It’s just coffee.”

“Not by yourself,” Minho said final-like.

And somehow, 30 minutes later, your “casual hangout” turned into your eight brothers sitting at three nearby tables pretending not to watch you.

They were terrible at pretending.

Changbin wore sunglasses indoors. Han hid behind a newspaper. Seungmin kept glaring at the poor guy like he committed tax fraud.

Jeongin accidentally made eye contact, panicked, and hid behind Felix.

Your friend whispered, “Are those… your brothers?”

You sighed. “Unfortunately… yes.”

When you came home, Minho placed a blanket over your shoulders.

“Don’t get annoyed,” he murmured. “We just want you safe.”

And you leaned your head against him.

“I know.”

That evening, you fell asleep on the couch. But one by one, your brothers piled around you.

Felix draped a blanket. Jeongin tucked your hair behind your ear. Chan turned down the lights. Minho adjusted your pillow. Seungmin placed a warm drink nearby for when you woke. Han and Changbin argued quietly over who got to sit closest. Hyunjin took selfies with your sleeping face.

Minho finally sat at your feet, arms crossed, pretending he wasn’t watching you breathe peacefully.

“She’s our baby,” Felix whispered.

Chan nodded. “And we take care of our baby.”

Minho didn’t say anything. He just glanced at you…

…and gently squeezed your ankle — his way of saying I’m here.

You woke hours later to all of them asleep around you, like human furniture.

And even though they were chaos, loud, dramatic, and annoyingly overprotective—

You loved them.

And they loved you more than the world ever could.