❝ Stardust & Heartstrings ❞ YEONBIN FF

Flashback (7)

Yeonjun woke up to find Soobin still fast asleep. He reached over and glanced at the time on Soobin's phone, his heart racing when he saw it was already 11 am. A wave of panic washed over him as he realized his grandma would likely be up and about by now, and she would discover that he had snuck out the previous night.

Yeonjun hastily gathered his scattered clothes from the hut floor and quickly got dressed. Then, he turned his attention to Soobin, who was still fast asleep. As soon as Yeonjun started shaking his body, Soobin's face contorted into a scowl, his peaceful slumber disrupted.

Yeonjun's panic overwhelmed him, and he burst into tears. Soobin's eyes fluttered open to find Yeonjun beside him, shaking his body and sobbing uncontrollably. Concern etched on his face, Soobin sat up, still naked, and asked, "What's wrong? Why are you crying? Are you in pain somewhere?" His voice was laced with worry as he tried to make sense of Yeonjun's distress.

"Please, Soobin, take me home," Yeonjun implored, his voice trembling as he wiped his nose with his sleeve. "It's already past 11 am." Soobin sprang into action, quickly getting dressed. They hastily rode the cycle back to Yeonjun's home, anxiety building with each passing moment. As they arrived, Yeonjun hesitated, ringing the doorbell and waiting for his grandma to answer. He steeled himself for the confrontation, dreading the consequences of his late-night escapade.

Soobin's eyes locked onto Yeonjun's, his voice barely above a whisper as he handed him the small box. "Open it when you're alone," he said, his words laced with a sense of urgency and a hint of sadness. "I wanted to give this to you later, but I think I might not get a chance." The box felt heavy in Yeonjun's hands, as if it held a secret, a promise, or a piece of Soobin's heart. The moment hung suspended, filled with unspoken emotions, as Yeonjun's fingers closed around the box, feeling the weight of Soobin's gaze upon him.

To Yeonjun's astonishment, the door swung open to reveal his mother, Kim Se Yeon, standing before him. Her presence was a surprise, as he had expected his grandma to answer. His mom was a formidable figure, renowned for her strict demeanor and business acumen as the owner of several department store chains in Seoul. Her reputation as a shrewd entrepreneur commanded respect, and Yeonjun felt a twinge of apprehension as he faced her.

His mother's eyes scanned his disheveled appearance, taking in the missing buttons, the dark purple bruises on his neck and jaw, and his swollen lips. Yeonjun instinctively pulled his collar up to conceal the marks, his gaze fixed on the floor in a mixture of shame and fear. He clutched his pants tightly, as if trying to hold himself together under her scrutiny.

She seized his hands and pulled him into the house, shutting the door behind him. Her voice was laced with disapproval and disappointment. "I'm appalled by your behavior, Yeonjun. I never thought my son would engage in such actions. Who is this girl?" she demanded, her eyes blazing with a mix of anger and concern.

His grandma was seated on the sofa, observing the scene unfold with a silent, knowing gaze. She remained still, choosing not to intervene in the conversation, allowing Yeonjun's mom to express her thoughts and emotions without interruption.

"I sent you here to represent our family at the inauguration of our new hotel branch and the water facility we donated to the community," his mother said, her voice trembling with disappointment. "But you didn't bother to attend either event. I'm shocked that you didn't even have the courtesy to call me and explain your absence. Consider yourself fortunate that only I came to check on you. I shudder to think how your father would have reacted if he had seen you in this state."

"This is my final warning: you will return to Seoul with me tomorrow. I demand to know, for the last time, who this girl is. You will cease all contact with her immediately and sever all ties. From now on, you will concentrate on your law studies and date someone suitable from our social circle, as is expected of you." Her voice was stern and furious, leaving no room for argument.