DERANGER - SEULRENE

036

the the next few days have not been kind to you. if you're going to be more honest, it got worse.

your parents seem to have taken your coming out hard to the point they are blaming your closeness with taeyeon for it. they feel like taeyeon "influenced" you to be gay like it's something they can coax you to do.

you hear from eunwoo too how your mum went to her sister--taeyeon's mum--and blamed her for tolerating her daughter in living a sinful life.

it doesn't stop there as your mum keeps sending you messages with verses, asking you to turn back and repent for your sins before it's too late. you are kind enough to respond to one or two of those, explaining how you didn't choose to be like that and that you're happy with what you're doing now.

her rebuttal is that it's only a temporary pleasure, and you'll surely suffer for the rest of your life after.

you are beyond embarrassed at what's happening. you even went to taeyeon and tiffany to apologise to them personally. as you've expected, they were all cool and were nonchalant about it--like it's something they are already used to. they also said that you might experience the same thing from time to time if you're going to be as public as they are.

it makes you sad to hear things like that, how people think they have the right to look down on others just because they don't follow a certain standard.

contrary to how your mum approaches things, your dad is the silent one. you never hear from him. there is not a single message in your inbox, not even a call. eunwoo says he's too mad and hurt even to mention your name around the house. your mum says he's willing to forgive you and forget about everything if you leave your lesbian lover for good. he would no longer force you to do anything, as long as you dismiss your homosexual life.

it was all embarrassing and tormenting at the same time. most nights you're crying yourself to sleep, waking up in seulgi's embrace the following day.

you still feel that you've made the right decision of finally standing up, yet you can't get yourself to hate your parents for what they did. this is the first time you've done something to disobey them deliberately, but the pain you've caused your parents is something you know you could never move on from.

you're just thankful that seulgi's been your sanctuary. even her mum and joy welcome you like you're their own family too.

having them around helps, but they can't take the pain away.

---

jihye looks at you from across the table, arms folded.

"so, after avoiding us for two months straight, you went here to my clinic today only to tell me you're leaving?"

you nod.

"when and where are you going?"

"we found a place in hangjeon. we're living tomorrow morning."

"hangjeon? that's three hours drive. i know you have this unsettled beef with mum and dad. but do you have to get away that far from us?"

you don't speak, eyes on your sister's nameplate on the table instead.

"what about work?" she asks.

"we're opening up a small restaurant of our own there."

"branching out one of seulgi's cafes?"

you shake your head. "it's going to be a new one--a burger place. it's more of my personal restaurant. seulgi made sure i get to express myself through that--from the menu to the interior. everything. i will be the one taking care of that while she would be working full-time with her business partner to manage their existing branches."