secret love

25| unhealed wounds

Three days.

The warm glow of twinkling lights and the sweet scent of blooming flowers filled the grand ballroom, setting the tone for a joyous celebration. Family and friends gathered around the elegantly decorated table, their laughter and chatter creating a lively atmosphere.

At the center of it all, Sooyoung beamed with radiant joy, cradling their tiny daughter, Soo-in, in her arms. Minho, dressed impeccably in his tailored suit, forced a smile onto his face, attempting to blend in with the festivities.

However, his eyes betrayed his true emotions, lacking the sparkle that typically accompanied genuine happiness. As the cake-cutting ceremony began, Sooyoung's gaze met Minho's, expecting him to share in the momentous occasion.

But Minho's attention drifted, his thoughts wandering to a different face – Jisung's. This thought was roaming in his head with a question... why? A pang echoed in his chest, a fleeting reminder of the emotions he struggled to suppress.

He swiftly pushed the thought away, focusing on the celebration unfolding before him. Guests cooed and fawned over Soo-in's adorable face, showering her with gifts and heartfelt congratulations.

Minho's parents, esteemed figures in society, radiated pride as they doted on their granddaughter. Sooyoung's family welcomed Minho with open arms, grateful for their new son-in-law.

The warmth and love surrounding him should have brought comfort, but instead, Minho felt suffocated. The fake smile plastered on his face began to ache, a stark contrast to the genuine happiness around him.

Sooyoung, oblivious to Minho's inner turmoil, glowed with maternal joy, her love for Soo-in and Minho evident in every gesture.

The room's jubilant atmosphere only heightened Minho's sense of disconnection.

As the night wore on, the weight of his obligations and the secrets he kept threatened to crush him.

Meanwhile, Jisung's anxiety simmered beneath the surface. His heart condition made every social gathering a challenge.

As he engaged in polite conversation, Jisung's mind wandered to Minho. Their last encounter still lingered, the hurt and anger palpable.

Why did Minho's words still hold power over him? Jisung wondered.

As the evening unfolded, the atmosphere filled with laughter and chatter. Jisung's parents mingled with Minho's, sharing stories and well-wishes.

Jisung being there with his only family and no friends makes him feel lonely. Nobody to talk to, and he shouldn't intervene in the elder talks either.

His presence there wasn't by his own will, but his parents insisted on him coming along, saying, "Minho is your close friend, you should go."

How could he explain to them that his relationship with Minho now wasn't close enough to be called friendship?

Biting his lip, thinking deeply about it, eventually he couldn't be against it.

While the parents chatted, laughing with joy and enthusiasm, Jisung felt unsettled. He couldn't make himself feel at ease and hide his emotions, having nobody to distract him from his thoughts and suffocating feeling.

He silently stood up and left upstairs and went to the balcony. He didn't realize he was holding back tears in the crowd until a tear of silent cry slipped from his eyes, but he held himself back from letting out a cry.

As the night wore on, Minho's thoughts drifted back to Jisung. He couldn't shake the feeling that their last encounter had left unresolved tensions.

Minho's gaze wandered, searching for a distraction. His eyes landed on Sooyoung, radiant with happiness as she cradled Soo-in. A pang of guilt struck him.