𝘚𝘱𝘶𝘳

10.

The night had been peaceful, almost perfect. They sat side by side on the edge of the hill, the last light of the sun fading into darkness as stars began to blink into view. The city below them twinkled like a sea of lights, and for a moment, Yeonjun felt like they were suspended in a world that belonged to just the two of them.

That is, until Soobin's phone rang.

Yeonjun watched as Soobin's expression shifted, the relaxed lines of his face tightening as he glanced at the caller ID. His jaw clenched, and with a deep sigh, he answered, "Yes?"

There was a pause, then Soobin's eyes flashed with something sharp, something irritated. "Hello, father," he said, his voice edged with a pointed tone that made Yeonjun sit up straighter. The tension that settled between them was palpable.

Soobin's conversation continued, his responses clipped. "Yes, yes, no I haven't, why?" His tone was tight, controlled, but beneath it, Yeonjun could sense the anger simmering just below the surface. He watched Soobin's face as he listened, his expression growing more and more frustrated. Then came the words that made Yeonjun's heart skip a beat.

"And how do you know that? Well, he's none of your business. No, he's not a phase. That's homophobic, you know," Soobin bit out, his voice growing louder, more defensive. Yeonjun's brows furrowed—were they talking about him?

Soobin was now rolling his eyes in clear frustration. "Let me talk to Mom. Just do it!" He snapped, shifting uncomfortably as he waited for the call to be passed. His anger softened momentarily as he said, "Hi Mom, yes, I'm fine, besides the fact that Dad's acting like a fucking relic right now—sorry, Mom. I meant he's being old-fashioned."

Yeonjun stayed silent, his heart pounding in his chest. The calm of the evening had shattered, and the weight of Soobin's family expectations hung heavily in the air. Soobin's voice softened as he continued to talk to his mother, but the underlying tension was still there. "Yes, my grades are fine. I already apologized to him."

So it was about him.

Yeonjun's chest fluttered with uncertainty as Soobin's tone grew more heated again. "What do you mean? No, he's mine." The words were possessive, firm, and for a moment, Yeonjun felt something warm bloom in his chest despite the uncomfortable situation. Soobin was standing his ground.

"I'm sorry, but that's not happening," Soobin said firmly into the phone, his voice dropping lower. There was a pause as he listened, his expression hardening, before he abruptly hung up.

"So..." Yeonjun ventured, unsure how to bridge the tension that lingered between them now.

Soobin rubbed his temples, exhaling sharply. "My parents don't want me in a fucking relationship."

"Oh." Yeonjun's gaze dropped to the ground, feeling a pang of unease. He hadn't expected to be the subject of this family drama, but now it was glaringly obvious.

"They should've thought about calling me earlier if they wanted to lecture me about it," Soobin continued bitterly. "But no, too busy with their scams."

Yeonjun blinked. "They scam people?"

Soobin let out a short, humorless laugh. "No. I'm exaggerating. But they act like they're saints while judging everything I do."

"So...what are we going to do?" Yeonjun asked cautiously, unsure where Soobin's anger would lead. The idea of being part of some rebellious scheme against his parents didn't sit well with him. He didn't want to be a pawn in some family feud.

Soobin looked at him, incredulous. "Are you joking? Nothing. I don't give a shit what they want. This is my life."

"Are you sure?" Yeonjun couldn't help but ask, his voice quieter, tinged with doubt. "This isn't just to get back at your parents?"