Cherishable | Yeonbin ✓

༉ 18 ∘

Chap 18 - "influence"

Night had fallen and the party was beginning to mellow down a little. Some of the crowd, including Yeonjun, had gone inside to take part in a little drinking and karaoke. 

Meanwhile, a few had stayed outdoors, including Soobin, to watch and supervise some of the teens who were doing a night scavenger hunt.

Reclining on a chair with a bottle of beer, the corporate manager allowed himself to relax.

It was peaceful out in the country and he could enjoy watching the stars a bit. He rarely had a chance back in Seoul, with its bright lights and loud atmosphere.

Soon after, he was joined by Dongwoo. His older cousin looked weary from running around, playing host. Nonetheless, Dongwoo looked happy and content.

They made small talk for a few minutes as they watched the teenagers' flit about. Kai even waved at them a few times but did not deter from his task.

"So, how's married life, cousin?" the older man suddenly asked, his eyes twinkling in mischief.

Soobin blushed, lightly but managed to smile. "It's....good. Great, actually." They were silent for a few moments. It must be a Choi family trait - being men of very few words, simply accepting their situation as is.

Soobin knew that Dongwoo didn't have a choice in his marriage either. And yet, he was happy. Was that possible for him and Yeonjun too? "l know you have questions," the older man said before taking a swig from his beer. "So, ask away, dongsaeng."

And apparently, the Choi family were also all easy to read. So Soobin took his cousin up on his offer.

"You and Howon-hyung..." he started, slowly. "How did you do it? Fall in love and became happy with each other?"

Dongwoo looked contemplative for a moment. Soobin wondered if he had overstepped his boundaries and was about to backtrack and apologize when his cousin finally answered.

"To be honest, I was in love with Howon from the get-go," the older began. Eyes wide open, Soobin listened with ears wide open as his cousin told his story.

"It was one of those pining-from-afar crushes," Dongwoo explained, a fond smile playing on his lips. 

"I knew who he was from all those functions and galas our families would attend together and, well, you could say that I fell for him at first sight. So when my parents told me that they had arranged for our marriage, I didn't complain. Howon, on the other hand... he had a girlfriend."

Soobin blinked. 

"Oh" He didn't know that. 

"He was forced to break up with her. I think he was more upset at the fact that he was engaged to me than he was about the breakup. He didn't know who I was and was completely against the whole thing. Took me months to get him to trust me and convince him that I had no ulterior motives. It was hard work... but definitely worth it in the end."

Dongwoo eyed his husband from across the lawn, conversing with a few cousins. The other man felt the gaze upon him and turned his head towards them. He grinned before waving at them.

Dongwoo and Soobin waved back. The songwriter chuckled. "As you can see, he's head over heels in love with me." He tilted his head to the side as he turned his gaze to Soobin. "Is that what happened? Did you fall for your husband?"

Soobin blushed again but nonetheless nodded his answer. "He's stubborn, but sweet and kind. And when he smiles, he lights up the whole room. And when he laughs, it feels like nothing can ever make me sad again. It's... it's so easy to fall in love with him."

"Ah... and what about him?"

Soobin felt a twinge of ache in his chest. "I... don't know."

Dongwoo hummed. "Do you remember what our grandmother used to tell us? Love is like a tree. If you plant it right, water it and nurture it."

"It grows," Soobin continued, nodding his head. "I remember."

"The planting part is easy" Dongwoo said with a pointed look. "Falling in love is easy. But the watering and nurturing? That's hard work."

"To be honest... my marriage... it wasn't at all what I expected;" Soobin admitted.

Dongwoo nodded. "It never is." 

".. I didn't expect it to be this hard."

And it really was. For months, Soobin had tried everything he could to get Yeonjun to see his feelings... to feel the love that had managed to grow in his heart. But, his younger husband was blind to it all.

He sighed. "To be honest... it's tiring sometimes." He bit on his lower lip.

"Sometimes... I wonder if it's better for Yeonjun if we just... end it."

There was a moment of silence as the reality of his feelings finally dawned on Soobin. 

He was frustrated, he couldn't deny it anymore. On top of all the pressure from their investors and partners at work, there was pressure from his family to keep up and maintain the image of a happy marriage. It was getting more and more difficult to pretend that he wasn't affected by Yeonjun's coldness and indifference to his feelings.

"So, are you going to give up just like that?" Dongwoo asked. "Are you going to let the plant die before it could even become a tree?"

Soobin didn't know the answer. There were so many different directions and he didn't know which way to turn.

His heart was desperately knocking on his husband's... but he refused to open the door.

And Soobin.. he couldn't help but feel like he should give up and accept this loveless marriage, as it had always been from the start.

Maybe he should let Yeonjun go so he could find his true happiness.

Somehow, Soobin's gaze wandered to his wedding ring.

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ufff clifhanger, i love it at times liked thiss

so... what do u think would happen next cheesecakes???

Have I ever told u how much I love you all?

If not, let me tell you, I love you all so much put all the universe together! Thank you for waiting for me inspite of weeks, thank you cheering me up when i am all down, and i absolutely love and adore all your comments, they make me want to write more and more.

Happy 2021! Let's all stay as a family close together even tomorrow! #MOALOVE ❤❤