𝐬𝐤𝐮𝐧𝐤 𝐛𝐨𝐲 ; 𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐦𝐢𝐧

𝐭𝐞𝐧

Renjun had spent most of the day lost in thought, replaying the conversation he'd had with Jeno and Jaemin the night before. The weight of his secret, the one he had kept hidden from everyone but his closest friends, had grown heavier over time. Despite the newfound clarity and the tentative steps he was taking towards accepting his feelings, there was one person he feared more than anyone: his father.

Renjun's father, Mr. Huang, had always been a stern, traditional man. He valued discipline, hard work, and above all, the preservation of the family's reputation. Renjun had learned from a young age to tread carefully around him, to never step out of line. So, when Renjun returned home that evening, he did so with a sense of unease that he couldn't quite shake.

He opened the door quietly, slipping inside and heading straight for his room. But just as he was about to climb the stairs, his father's voice echoed from the living room.

"Renjun, come here."

Renjun froze, his heart skipping a beat. There was something in his father's tone that set off alarm bells in his mind. Slowly, he turned and made his way into the living room, where his father sat, his expression unreadable.

"Yes, Dad?" Renjun asked, trying to keep his voice steady.

Mr. Huang looked at him for a long moment, his eyes narrowing. "Sit down," he ordered, gesturing to the chair across from him.

Renjun obeyed, perching on the edge of the chair, his nerves on high alert.

His father leaned forward, clasping his hands together. "I had an interesting conversation today with Mr. Kim," he began, his voice deceptively calm. "He mentioned seeing you with two boys recently. Jaemin and Jeno, is it?"

Renjun felt his stomach drop, a cold sweat breaking out on his forehead. "Uh, yes," he stammered. "They're my friends."

"Friends?" Mr. Huang's voice was sharp, his eyes boring into Renjun's. "He described something that didn't look like 'friendship' to me."

Renjun felt a lump form in his throat, and for a moment, he couldn't speak. The room seemed to close in around him, the walls pressing in as his father's words hung in the air.

"I... I..." Renjun's voice faltered. He could see the storm brewing in his father's eyes, the anger simmering just beneath the surface. Finally, he took a deep breath and forced the words out. "Yes, Dad. I care about them. More than just friends."

The silence that followed was deafening. Renjun watched as his father's face twisted with a mixture of shock and fury. The air in the room seemed to thicken, making it hard to breathe.

Mr. Huang's voice, when he finally spoke, was low and menacing. "So it's true," he said, more to himself than to Renjun. "My own son... involved in something so disgusting."

Renjun flinched at the venom in his father's words, his heart pounding in his chest. "Dad, it's not-"

"Don't," his father interrupted, his voice rising. "Don't try to explain it to me. This... this filth." He spat the last word out like it was poison. "How could you? After everything I've done for you, for this family, you throw it all away for... for this?"

Renjun felt tears sting his eyes, but he blinked them back, refusing to cry in front of his father. "I didn't choose this, Dad. This is just who I am."

"Who you are?" Mr. Huang scoffed, standing up and towering over Renjun. "You think this is who you are? No son of mine is going to disgrace this family by being some... some deviant. This ends now."

Renjun's breath caught in his throat. "What do you mean?"

"You'll stop seeing those boys. You'll cut off all contact with them. I won't have you ruining our family's reputation."

Renjun shook his head, his voice trembling as he spoke. "I can't do that, Dad. They mean too much to me."

Mr. Huang's eyes darkened, his anger boiling over. "Then you'll have to leave this house," he said coldly. "If you can't follow my rules, you're no longer welcome here."

The words hit Renjun like a punch to the gut. He had always known his father was strict, but he never imagined he would be faced with a choice like this-between his family and the people who made him feel loved and accepted for who he truly was.

"Dad, please," Renjun pleaded, his voice cracking. "I don't want to lose my family. But I can't pretend to be something I'm not."

Mr. Huang stared at him for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then, with a finality that sent a chill down Renjun's spine, he said, "Then you've made your choice. Pack your things and leave. You're no longer my son."

Renjun felt the room spin, his vision blurring as tears finally escaped down his cheeks. He stood on shaky legs, knowing there was no point in arguing further. His father had made up his mind.

With a heavy heart, Renjun turned and walked out of the living room, his feet carrying him to his bedroom on autopilot. Once inside, he closed the door and leaned against it, his body wracked with silent sobs.

He had known this day might come, but that didn't make it any easier. The weight of his father's rejection was suffocating, but he knew he couldn't stay in a place where he wasn't accepted for who he was.

Renjun began to pack his things, his movements mechanical. As he placed his belongings into a suitcase, he couldn't help but think about Jeno and Jaemin. He didn't know where he would go, but he knew he needed to reach out to them. They were the only ones who could understand what he was going through, the only ones who could help him through this.

As he zipped up his suitcase, Renjun took one last look around his room-the place he had called home for so many years. But it didn't feel like home anymore. Not after what his father had said.

With a deep breath, Renjun wiped his tears and left the room. He made his way downstairs, where his mother stood in the hallway, her eyes red and swollen from crying. She reached out to him, but Renjun shook his head, knowing she was trapped in her own fear and helplessness.

"I'm sorry, Mom," he whispered, not trusting himself to say more.

She didn't say anything, just nodded as tears streamed down her face.

Without another word, Renjun turned and walked out the front door, his heart breaking with each step he took away from the life he had known.

But as he stepped into the cool night air, he felt a small spark of hope. He wasn't alone. He had Jeno and Jaemin. And as long as he had them, he knew he could find a way to keep moving forward.