My dance teacher is cute | Haobin

31 - Finally Home (🔞)

Recommended songs for this chapter:
Family Line - Conan Gray
People Watching - Conan Gray
Pretty Boy - Isabel LaRose

[TW: Smut; only at the very end]

POV: Zhang Hao | SUNDAY EVENING

The drive to Hanbin's parents' house felt like it stretched on forever. Every bump in the road churned my stomach, and by the time we got close, I could barely keep my nausea at bay. Hanbin tried to distract me, chatting the whole way and keeping his hand on my arm, but the motion sickness was relentless. We stopped briefly to pick up flowers for his parents, though I could barely focus on what was happening around me.

As we approached the house, I felt the world tilt slightly. My vision blurred, and before I knew it, my legs buckled beneath me. Hanbin caught me just in time, his arms wrapping around me in a steadying embrace.

"Are you okay?" His voice was soft, but I could hear the concern as he looked down at me, holding me up as I swayed slightly.

"Yeah, I'm fine." I mumbled the lie, trying to shake off the dizziness. But he didn't let go. His hand remained firmly around my waist, grounding me. It was comforting, but I wasn't used to anyone noticing when I faltered.

We finally reached the front door. My heart raced as Hanbin rang the bell.

I wasn't just nervous—I was terrified.

What if they didn't like me?

What if I didn't belong here?

I wasn't ready to meet a real family.
The very word felt strange in my mind, a concept I'd only ever seen from a distance, like a picture I couldn't quite step into. I had never really been part of one, leaving me to piece together what "family" even meant.

Before I could sink too far into my doubts, the door flung open, and a small woman rushed out. "Omo! Move, Hanbin!" she scolded him, shoving him aside playfully before pulling me into an unexpected hug, her arms tightly wrapped around my waist.

I froze.

The sudden warmth of her embrace left me confused. My throat went dry, and the words tumbled out awkwardly. "I—I'm not your son," I stammered, unsure of how to react.

Both Hanbin and his mother burst into laughter, their identical giggles filling the air. "I know that! You're even more handsome," she teased, her hands coming up to cup my face. Her affection felt overwhelming, foreign even. No one had ever held me like this, with such open fondness. My cheeks burned under her gaze, and I glanced toward Hanbin, who was smirking as he pulled the suitcase inside.

"Don't squeeze him to death, eomma," Hanbin called out, laughing.

She finally let go, but not completely. Instead, she took my hand and gently pulled me inside. "Come in, the drive must've worn you out," she said, her voice kind and sincere. I nodded, unsure of how to respond. The warmth in her tone contrasted so sharply with the cold indifference I had always known.

Inside, their home felt... comfortable.

The walls were decorated with photos—embarrassing childhood snapshots, framed certificates, graduation photos. I lingered, my eyes tracing the evidence of a family who celebrated each other, who shared their lives so openly. A pain of longing twisted in my chest, sharp and unfamiliar.

I had never had this. I didn't know what it was supposed to feel like.

The scent inside the house was warm and familiar—it smelled like Hanbin.

"You can take your shoes off here," Hanbin's mother said gently, pointing to a small shoe cabinet by the entrance. I nodded, slipping them off and setting them neatly inside.