---
Beomgyu woke up to the soft morning light streaming through his curtains. He blinked, taking a moment to adjust, and then looked down at the silver anklet adorning his ankle. It glimmered in the sunlight, a constant reminder of his mother's last wish: "My Gyu, don't ever take this off. It's a gift from me."
A wave of sadness washed over him as he recalled her gentle smile, filled with love and warmth. The memory brought tears to his eyes, but the soft ding, ding, ding of the anklet against his skin brought him a moment of happiness, a reminder of their bond. He smiled briefly before the weight of his emotions returned.
He shook off the sadness, stepped into the shower, and let the warm water wash over him. After dressing in his school uniform, Beomgyu deliberately chose not to wear socks or shoes. He felt a strange sense of freedom in feeling the cool floor beneath his feet. As he made his way downstairs, the familiar sounds of his family filled the air.
In the kitchen, he found his father reading the newspaper and his older brother, Soobin, pouring himself a glass of juice.
"Beomgyu, are you really going to school like that?" his father asked, looking up with a frown.
"It's more comfortable, Dad," Beomgyu replied, trying to keep his voice steady.
"Comfortable? You look ridiculous. That anklet is just embarrassing. You should be ashamed," his father snapped.
Beomgyu felt his heart sink. "It's just an anklet. It doesn't hurt anyone," he protested weakly.
"Not everyone shares your view. Why can't you be more like your brother?" their father shot back, gesturing toward Soobin.
"Dad, can you just-" Soobin began, sensing the tension rising.
"Let's just go, Gyu," Soobin said softly, placing a reassuring hand on Beomgyu's shoulder. They both knew it was better to leave than to engage in another argument.
As they stepped outside, Beomgyu took a deep breath, hoping to shake off the negativity. The sound of his anklet jingling softly was a small comfort as he and Soobin made their way to school.
---
At School
When they arrived at school, Beomgyu could feel the stares, the whispers that followed him like a shadow. He had grown accustomed to it over the years, but it never got easier. As he approached his locker, he fumbled with the combination, the anticipation of facing another day weighing heavily on him.
Just as he opened his locker, someone slammed it shut. Startled, Beomgyu turned to see Yeonjun standing there, a smug grin on his face.
"Look who it is," Yeonjun said, his voice dripping with mockery. "The gay anklet bitch."
Beomgyu's heart raced, panic setting in. "Yeonjun, just leave me alone," he pleaded, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Make me," Yeonjun taunted, gesturing to his friends. "Boys, give him a taste of what happens when you don't fit in."
Before Beomgyu could react, they started shoving him around, laughter echoing in his ears. He felt the sting of fists and the humiliation of being recorded on Yeonjun's phone.
"Look at him cry," one of Yeonjun's friends said, cackling. "This is gold!"
As they finished, Yeonjun leaned closer, smirking. "You're pathetic. No wonder no one wants to be your friend."
Once they left, Beomgyu slid to the floor, tears streaming down his face. Alone in the hallway, he felt utterly defeated. He pulled himself together and made his way to class, his heart heavy with humiliation.
---
Lunch Break
When the lunch bell rang, Beomgyu entered the canteen, scanning the room. The sight of students chatting and laughing filled him with a mix of envy and sorrow, especially as he noticed the lunchboxes in front of his classmates-each lovingly made by their mothers. Overwhelmed, he felt tears prick at the corners of his eyes.
Suddenly, he felt someone sit down in front of him. He looked up to see Yeonjun again.
"Hey there, gay anklet bitch," Yeonjun sneered, looking directly at Beomgyu. "That butterfly anklet is ugly. You should really take it off. I mean, it's even uglier on you. Why don't you give it to a girl?"
Beomgyu's heart shattered at the words, and he couldn't hold back the tears any longer. Without a word, he bolted from the canteen, his emotions crashing over him like a wave.
As he rushed out, he felt a hand grab his arm. It was Soobin. "Gyu! Where are you going?"
"Hyung, please! Just let it go!" Beomgyu begged, his voice trembling.
Soobin turned to face Yeonjun, fury in his eyes. "What the hell, Yeonjun? Why do you keep bullying my brother?"
Beomgyu felt the urge to hide, wishing he could vanish. "Stop, Hyung! Please don't make a scene!" he cried, desperate for the confrontation to end.
"Listen to your little gay anklet bitch," Yeonjun taunted, smirking as he leaned closer. "What a loser. The ugliest boy in our school."
Beomgyu couldn't take it anymore. He buried his face in Soobin's chest, sobbing. "Hyung, let's go. Please..."
"Stop calling him gay, Yeonjun," Soobin said, his voice low but filled with determination. "You have no right."
With that, they both turned to leave, Beomgyu's anklet jingling softly with each step, ding, ding, ding, echoing in the laughter of their classmates. Beomgyu felt exposed and vulnerable as he cried in Soobin's embrace.
Just then, his phone buzzed. It was a call from their father. "Come home now. I need to talk to you."
"School's almost over," Soobin said softly, sensing Beomgyu's distress.
As they waited for the day to end, Beomgyu's gaze drifted to the parking lot. He noticed Yeonjun getting into a sleek car, a girl named Karina sliding in beside him. A pang of envy struck Beomgyu-not for the car or the girl, but for the life Yeonjun seemed to live, free from the burden of ridicule.
Beomgyu sighed, wishing for a normal life-one where he didn't have to endure bullying or scorn. He glanced back at Soobin's car, about to approach it, when suddenly, a car pulled up beside him. The window rolled down, revealing Yeonjun once more.
"Hey, Soobin!" Yeonjun called out, grinning. "I'd offer you a hang out, but I wouldn't want this gay bitch following us. So, bye!" With that, Yeonjun sped off, laughter trailing behind him.
Beomgyu crumpled into Soobin's arms, tears streaming down his cheeks. "I just want it to stop," he sobbed, feeling the warmth and safety of his brother's embrace.
"Let's get home," Soobin said softly, guiding Beomgyu away from the school gates, determined to protect him from the harshness of the world outside.
---
YOU ARE READING
ANKLET - YEONGYU - Force Marriage
Roman d'amourForced into an unwanted marriage by his father, 18-year-old Beomgyu struggles to embrace his identity in a world that rejects him. He finds comfort in an anklet given to him by his late mother, but his defiance of societal norms only fuels the resen...
