𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗙𝗹𝗮𝗺𝗲 | 𝗧𝗮𝗲𝗪𝗼𝗼 𝗩𝗲𝗿.𝟭

2

Tae-Hyung lay nestled in Eun-Woo's arms, his body relaxed and warm against his boyfriend’s chest. The gentle beat of Eun-Woo’s heart was like a lullaby, calming his nerves and easing his thoughts. He was so content in this quiet moment that it almost felt like the world outside had ceased to exist. His hand wandered lazily across Eun-Woo’s chest, tracing the lines of his muscles beneath the soft fabric of his shirt. It was one of those rare Sundays where time seemed to slow, and they had no obligations—just each other.

But then, his phone buzzed, breaking the stillness of the moment. Tae-Hyung groaned quietly, not wanting to move. His body was perfectly relaxed in Eun-Woo’s embrace, and the idea of answering the phone seemed like an unwelcome intrusion.

Eun-Woo, sensing his boyfriend's hesitation, turned to him with a soft smile. "Check it. Who’s calling?" he asked, his voice low but curious.

Tae-Hyung sighed and reached for his phone, reluctantly pulling it from the side table. As soon as he saw the name on the screen, his demeanor shifted. His face tightened, and his fingers instinctively gripped the phone a little harder.

Eun-Woo, noticing the change, looked over at the screen as well. His expression shifted to one of mild concern. "Pick it up," he urged gently. "It’s okay."

Tae-Hyung hesitated for a moment longer before pressing the button to answer, setting the phone on speaker. His heart beat faster as he whispered into the phone, trying to keep his voice steady. "Hyung," he said quietly, unable to mask the nervousness creeping into his tone. Sweat had already begun to form on his forehead, a sign of his growing anxiety.

"Tae!" came the voice on the other end, warm and familiar. "How are you?"

Tae-Hyung took a slow breath before answering, trying to calm himself. "I’m doing good, hyung," he replied, but his voice still betrayed his nerves. "Why did you call me?"

The other voice on the line, Woo-Seok — Eun-Woo’s older brother — laughed softly, the teasing tone lingering in his words. "So, I can’t call you now?" he asked, his playful tone making it clear he wasn’t taking things seriously.

Tae-Hyung blinked in surprise at the tone, momentarily thrown off balance. "Of course you can," he said quickly, trying to sound at ease. But his nerves were still running high, and it was obvious to Eun-Woo that his boyfriend wasn’t quite as calm as he seemed.

Woo-Seok’s voice then shifted slightly, becoming more matter-of-fact. "By the way, Mom and Dad invited you for a family dinner this evening. You’ll join us, right?" His words weren’t exactly a question, but more like an expectation.

Tae-Hyung's stomach dropped at the thought. Dinner with Eun-Woo’s family was always a source of stress, but now, with the added complexity of their situation, the thought of facing them made him feel exposed. He glanced at Eun-Woo for reassurance, his heart beating a little faster as the weight of the situation began to settle on him.

Despite his anxiety, Tae-Hyung nodded, even though Woo-Seok couldn’t see him. "Yes, I’ll be there," he said, his voice steady even though he felt anything but calm.

There was a brief pause on the other end before Woo-Seok responded, his voice lighter again. "Good. We’ll see you tonight then. Take care, Tae."

"Take care, hyung," Tae-Hyung murmured back before the call ended, leaving him with a strange sense of unease.

Eun-Woo immediately pulled Tae-Hyung closer, wrapping his arms around him in a comforting embrace. Tae-Hyung closed his eyes, leaning into the warmth of his boyfriend’s body. He wanted to stay here, in this moment, where everything felt safe and calm. But the reality of the dinner with Eun-Woo’s family loomed large in his mind.

His thoughts were racing again, and he could feel the familiar anxiety rising in his chest. The prospect of facing Eun-Woo’s parents made his heart race. What would they think? What would they say? Tae-Hyung had always been nervous around them, and with the situation now more complicated than ever, he couldn’t help but feel the weight of it all.

Seeing the troubled look on his boyfriend’s face, Eun-Woo gently cupped his face in his hands, his thumb brushing over Tae-Hyung’s furrowed brow. "Don’t think about it too much, baby," Eun-Woo murmured softly, his voice a soothing balm against the storm of thoughts in Tae-Hyung’s mind. "I’ll handle it. We’ll take care of everything. You don’t need to worry."

Tae-Hyung sniffled, feeling the tears that were threatening to fall. He didn’t want to burden Eun-Woo with his fears, but everything felt so overwhelming. "I’m just scared," Tae-Hyung whispered, his voice small and vulnerable.

Eun-Woo wrapped his arms around him again, this time more tightly, pulling him close as if to shield him from the world. "I know, baby," he said gently. "But you’re not alone in this. We’re in this together. And you’ve been through so much already. Let’s take it one step at a time, okay?"

Tae-Hyung nodded, allowing himself to relax in Eun-Woo’s embrace. The tears that had threatened to fall now seemed less urgent, the comforting warmth of his boyfriend’s arms reminding him that he wasn’t alone. He closed his eyes, trying to quiet the anxiety in his chest.

Eun-Woo kissed the top of Tae-Hyung’s head, his voice soft and reassuring as he whispered, "Rest now. You’ve been through a lot today. And remember, our baby needs as much rest as we can get, too."

Tae-Hyung let out a small, shaky breath, feeling his body slowly relax in the safety of Eun-Woo’s embrace. Despite the storm of thoughts in his mind, for now, he allowed himself to rest, holding on to the comfort that Eun-Woo’s love gave him.