Chained by Expectations | Park Sunghoon

Thirty-six

The morning sun entered the room in a soft glow as Haneul and Sunghoon enjoyed the luxury of a late wake-up. Their laughter filled the air as they watched funny videos on Sunghoon's phone, content to stay in bed a bit longer.

"You know," Haneul began, her eyes sparkling with playfulness, "you never got me my pancakes and choco milk like I requested the first time we slept in the same bed." she said as she thought back on the memory for years ago.

Sunghoon looked down at her with a smirk, "Do you want me to make you some?"

A hint of surprise danced in Haneul's eyes as she asked, "You have the ingredients here?"

Sunghoon raised an eyebrow, feigning shock. "You thought I wasn't gonna bring groceries, knowing we were gonna stay here?" he retorted with a playful sarcasm. "Give me 10 minutes, and I'll have the best pancakes you've ever had ready for you in the kitchen," he declared, slipping on his slippers. "With your chocolate milk," he added, emphasizing the promise of a perfect morning treat.

As Sunghoon left the room, Haneul couldn't help but grin, appreciating both the humor and thoughtfulness that had become a delightful part of her mornings with him.

After a few minutes, she decided to join him in the kitchen, where the delightful aroma of freshly cooked breakfast welcomed her. Sunghoon was just finishing plating her breakfast when she entered.

"Wow, this looks so good," she exclaimed, taking a seat at the kitchen counter. "Thank you, bebe," she added, placing a sweet kiss on Sunghoon's lips.

The two enjoyed their breakfast, engaging in conversation about their plans for the day. However, Haneul couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Sunghoon's frequent glances at his phone only intensified her curiosity. Clearing her throat, she decided to address the elephant in the room.

"Is everything okay?" she asked, her gaze searching Sunghoon's face for any sign of unease.

Sunghoon hesitated for a moment, contemplating whether to share the information he had recently discovered about Heeseung and So-he. After their heart-to-heart conversation the previous night, he knew that keeping secrets would only hurt Haneul. Taking a deep breath, he spoke in a serious tone, "I have to tell you something."

Haneul sensed the gravity of the situation and waited attentively for him to continue.

"Jake and I know who sent those pictures to your dad," Sunghoon revealed. The weight of his words hung in the air, and Haneul felt a mix of shock and anticipation.

"Was it So-he?" she asked, her suspicions confirmed.

Surprised, Sunghoon questioned, "How did you know?"

"I had my suspicions," Haneul admitted.

Sunghoon continued, revealing the deeper layers of the situation. So-he was planning something against them, with Heeseung's assistance. Concern etched across her face, Haneul listened intently. Sunghoon explained that Jake believed they were being watched closely, which prompted him to bring Haneul to his other house for safety.

Haneul absorbed the shocking revelation, feeling a mix of emotions. "So, we can't hang out anymore?" she asked, her voice laced with disappointment.

Sunghoon lifted her chin, ensuring she met his gaze. "We can," he reassured, "but we have to be more discreet and careful. It might not be as often, but we can still see each other."

Letting out a heavy sigh, Haneul playfully suggested, "Should we just hide out here and never leave?"

Sunghoon chuckled, "I would love nothing more, but I'm afraid we can't."

Haneul reached up, giving him a kiss. "Thank you for telling me," she whispered. Sunghoon confessed, "I just want you to stay safe. I'm afraid they'll do something against you if we continue the way we are right now." causing Haneul to nod in understanding.

After deciding to spend the rest of the day together Sunghoon and Haneul sat in the new living room, cocooned in a cozy blanket, watching a movie together. The atmosphere was serene, yet an unspoken weight lingered in the air. Haneul, feeling the bittersweet reality of their situation, broke the silence.

"When will the next time we see each other like this be?" she asked, her voice carrying a subtle sadness.

Sunghoon, with a thoughtful expression, replied, "Um, I'm not sure. I might ask Jake to help us get around. I know we have to act a bit cold and distant from each other from now on, but I still want to be with you whenever we can."

Haneul teased, "Wow, so clingy, Mr. Park."

Sunghoon chuckled, pinching her cheek. "He can pick you up and bring you here, they don't know where he lives and I doubt they'll keep tabs on him" he suggested. "I'll already be living here or course switching back and forth to throw them off, so maybe then, if they're still watching, they'll think that you're with Jake and just leave us alone. At least until we can put her in jail."

Haneul shook her head, absorbing the implications of their changed circumstances. Sunghoon sensed her disappointment and tried to reassure her.

"Please don't be sad," he implored. "Just think about how this will give me more time to go speak with your dad," he whispered, causing a soft smile to appear on her lips. "Once it's over, we'll be happy again, just like it was before," he, holding her hand tightly. "I promise." he said giving her hand a light kiss.