Waterfalls || Yeonbin

chapter 44: tranquility

June 27, 1941

"Wait, wait..." Soobin quickly said right as I was about to open the door. I paused, turning to him as he whispered, "If anything happens, just know I love you."

I sighed, whispering back, "I promise, we'll be fine. And I love you too." I opened the door before Soobin could reply, not knowing whether he was going to suddenly back out or not. We've been talking about this for months, and I just cannot take it anymore. I understand all the concerns behind it, but I don't want to be hiding the person I love the most.

Everyone gave little smiles as they turned their heads to us, probably waiting until we had gotten back from lunch break to continue working. I quickly said, "Soobin and I have an announcement to make." As I heard Soobin closing the door behind me.

They were all confused, scrunching their eyebrows and looking at each other for answers. Hugh took his feet off his desk as he replied, "What is it?"

I took a deep breath, glanced behind me for a moment. I noticed Soobin hiding, his face already red from embarrassment before I could even start, "So umm... S-Soobin and I..." I suddenly blanked, bringing a hand up to anxiously scratch the back of my neck, "H-How do I say this?... Ummm... For the last year and a half—"

"Daniel and I are together. R-Romantically together." Soobin blurted out, speaking so quickly that I barely had time to comprehend it.

The quietness was driving me crazy, my eyes frantically going from person to person to see any type of reaction. Of course, Jisung already knows, smiling at us from the back of the group, but he wasn't who I was worried about. Hugh suddenly laughed, bringing his hand up and grabbing the pencil resting on his ear. He began twirling it around his fingers, "Nice joke. You almost had me going for a moment."

I raised an eyebrow, "Pardon?"

Hugh gestured to Soobin, "I've been speculating about Soobin's sexuality for a while; we all have. Not that there's anything wrong with being different... but there's no way you're a homosexual, sir. Especially that you two are involved with one another considering Soobin and Joan's engagement."

I scoffed at his response, rolling my eyes. I quickly turned to Soobin reaching my hands out to grab his face and pull him closer to me. I crashed our lips together, feeling Soobin's breath hitch right before we kissed. I pulled away before we could melt into it, but he kissed me back with just as much love as I was giving him. I turned to Hugh, eyes wide along with the rest of them, "Still skeptical?" I asked, not sure what impulse made me suddenly do that.

Hugh dryly swallowed, hesitating before shaking his head and avoiding my eyes, "I stand corrected." He whispered under his breath.

John spoke up, "What about your engagement?"

"It was fake..." Joan replied before Soobin could, "It was merely a ruse to get me back here, but I had no idea they were involved with each other."

"Alright..." John replied, trying to absorb the shock to his system, "Why are you even telling us in the first place? Do you know what they do to homosexuals in this country?"

I sighed, "Do you think it's fun sneaking around? Having to constantly look over our shoulder with so much as a touch?..." I scoffed, shaking my head, "We just want to be happy and act like a normal couple, even if it's around a few people."

"What makes you think we won't go to the police?..." Joan asked, "I'm not sure what the rest of you are thinking, but this is a crime, is it not?"

"Since when is love a crime?..." Soobin retorted, making me surprised at how frustrated he sounded, "How would you like it if the roles were reversed, huh? Going to jail for falling in love with a man or being forced to go through hormone therapy; an entire nation thinking you're disgusting from this supposed 'lifestyle' we've chosen. I even had to go through shock therapy when I was a teenager which is basically a legal form of torture..." Soobin spoke quickly, not getting a chance to stop him, "We didn't choose to be homosexuals, just like none of you chose to be heterosexuals."