The first person to notice the slight change wasn't Saeran, himself.

Not his twin brother, Saeyoung, with whom he spent the most time.

Not his best friend, Yoosung, whom he spent almost as much time with as his twin brother.

Not even his mom, Ran, who loved to rub her cheek against his whenever she hugged him.

It wasn't until Jumin took him to an optometrist, alone, that Saeran got an inkling something was wrong.

"My eyes are fine? I haven't had any trouble with them like Saeyoung hyung, and mom made sure to get my eyes checked."

Jumin turned towards him, and stared directly into his eyes. To be honest. It was a little intense and made Saeran feel a little nervous.

"Your eye color is changing."

What.

Saeran hurriedly took out his phone turning on the self-camera feature. The image was a bit blurry, and the reflection of the camera made it a little difficult, but there were really flecks of teal in his normally golden eyes. It was obvious he'd panic after noticing this; with his poor health growing up and the fact Saeran had never known anyone suddenly having their eyes change colors.

Saeran turned to look at Jumin with slightly stricken eyes.

Was he okay?

Was he getting sick again?

What did changing eye colors even mean?

Jumin's voice was steady and calm. "Saeran, you should calm down. You're needlessly jumping to the worse case scenarios in your mind. We're here to find out if there is anything wrong, but it could just be genetics causing your eye color to change with age. It isn't unheard of."

Saeran started to nervously nibble on his lower lip.

He'd only ever heard of it happening to babies or some of the elderly. It was their eyes adjusting over time. It had to do with their vision.

Of course, Saeran couldn't help being nervous.

For all he knew he could be going blind.

A hand firmly grasped onto his shoulder causing Saeran to look up. Jumin had an unusual smirk on his lips, one that was becoming more common as he spent more time with the older man. "And even if there were something wrong, it isn't as if I can't just throw money at it to make it go away."

"If mom heard you, she'll probably hit you for trying to curse me by saying that."

Jumin gave a slight shrug. "Your mother would understand it is needless to worry over something that has yet to be proven. It is more productive and worthwhile to consider what can be done if there is something wrong. Cures, treatments, maintenance, or lifestyle adjustments. These are things we can control or make decisions upon; it's something to do. It could help by trying to focus on these things instead of things you have no control over and can't change."

"...I get it. It's still kind of scary."

"It is understandable, in essence it's simply the fear of the unknown, but even if it is scary, I will be here. Along with your brothers and mother."

Saeran blinked at Jumin. He hadn't thought he'd hear those kinds of words. After all, Jumin was a man of logic and finding solutions. These kinds of words weren't a solution to anything, it was very… Emotive. They wouldn't solve any real problems if there was something wrong with his eyes, but… It managed to settle his heart.

Just a bit.

.


"It doesn't seem there has been any damages to the eyes nor are there any tumors or irregularities. From what I can see it's simple genetics at work causing the eye color to change as you age. It may be uncommon for your age, but nothing to worry too much over. Give it a few months and your eye color will settle. There's no adverse effects other than your eyes will be a different color from now on."

Next to Saeran, he could practically feel Jumin let out a sigh of relief; even his shoulders became slightly slumped. Saeran realized at that point, Jumin had been really worried; even if he had looked calm and composed. It was his armor. It was something he had used to support Saeran to keep him from freaking out too much.

Saeran's nose prickled and he found himself grasping onto the sleeve of Jumin's suit.

Jumin had been slightly startled by Saeran, giving him a slightly puzzled look.

It really was comforting to have Jumin by his side.

.

.

"Thanks… Dad."

.

.

Saeran wished he had taken a picture.

He'll never forget the utter shocked look on Jumin's face after he called him that.