𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗙𝗹𝗮𝗺𝗲 | 𝗧𝗮𝗲𝗪𝗼𝗼 𝗩𝗲𝗿.𝟭

4

The dinner table was a feast for the senses. The rich, fragrant aroma of freshly prepared Korean dishes lingered in the air. Bowls of kimchi, bulgogi, steaming hot rice, and vibrant side dishes, each more colorful than the last, filled the table. The soft glow of the overhead lights illuminated the food as the family dug into their meal, savoring every bite.

Eun-Woo, his hand resting lightly on his lap, couldn’t help but glance at his boyfriend. Tae-Hyung's face tense, eyes flicking nervously to the side. Eun-Woo’s chest tightened at the sight. He longed to reach out, to ask why Tae-Hyung seemed so upset, but he didn’t dare, not in front of his family. Not with his brother sitting across from him.

Eun-Woo had hoped it was just the nerves of being around his family. But now, as he watched Tae-Hyung chew his food slowly, avoiding looking directly at him, a tight knot formed in his chest.

His mother, ever attentive, looked across the table at him. Her warm smile didn’t quite reach her eyes as she noticed his quiet demeanor.

"How is the food, Eun-Woo?" she asked, her voice laced with a sweetness he had always adored.

Eun-Woo forced a smile, pushing aside his worries. "Very delicious," he answered, his voice sincere, but there was an edge to it. His mother’s smile widened at the compliment, her hands busy adjusting the dishes in front of her.

Woo-Seok, sitting at the head of the table, turned his gaze toward Tae-Hyung. He was more jovial than ever. His expression brightened as he leaned forward, eager to hear Tae-Hyung’s opinion on the meal.

"How do you like the food, sweetheart?" Woo-Seok asked, his voice full of affection as he watched his fiancée.

Tae-Hyung hesitated for a moment, swallowing with some difficulty.  "It’s good," he responded quietly, his voice flat. The words were forced, his discomfort palpable.

Eun-Woo noticed the sadness in Tae-Hyung's voice, the way his boyfriend’s eyes avoided meeting his own. It was subtle, but Eun-Woo knew Tae-Hyung better than anyone. There was something off, something between them that hadn’t been addressed.

Eun-Woo’s gaze shifted across the table to Woo-Seok. He was grinning like he had just won some sort of victory, clearly proud of the meal, of everything. But there was an air of something else in his demeanor—something unreadable...for him. Eun-Woo couldn’t shake the growing sense of dread in his stomach. His heart thudded louder as the seconds dragged on.

Their father leaned in slightly toward Woo-Seok, speaking in a low voice.

"Did you talk to him?" he asked, his tone filled with quiet expectation. Woo-Seok, looking far too calm, nodded in reply. His expression remained unchanged, even though there was a noticeable gleam of excitement in his eyes.

"Yes, Father," Woo-Seok answered, confirming whatever was about to unfold.

"Good. Now, it’s time," their father said, a satisfied smile spreading across his face. Woo-Seok nodded, standing up slightly from his seat to get everyone’s attention.

"Everyone, I want to make an announcement," Woo-Seok said, his tone light and almost casual, though Eun-Woo immediately sensed the impending storm. His eyes flicked to Tae-Hyung, whose body had gone rigid, his face pale. Tae-Hyung’s hand, which had been loosely holding his chopsticks, suddenly tightened, his knuckles white. Tae-Hyung eyes shot to Eun-Woo for a fleeting second, a mixture of regret and something deeper, a quiet sorrow, before he quickly lowered his gaze again. There was also a brief flash of panic in his eyes, and Eun-Woo’s chest tightened in response. He didn’t need to hear the words to know what was coming.

"What is it, son?" their mother asked, her voice full of anticipation. She beamed, unaware of the tension building in the room.

Woo-Seok, ever the showman, grinned widely. "Since Tae-Hyung is going to complete his education soon, I’ve been thinking a lot about the future. And I’m happy to announce that Tae-Hyung and I have decided to get married at the end of the year."

The words hit Eun-Woo like a punch to the gut. His body froze, his breath catching in his throat. He could hear his heartbeat pounding in his ears as his gaze shifted to Tae-Hyung. His boyfriend’s face was pale, his teeth dug in his lower lip—harshly. Eun-Woo's eyes locked with Tae-Hyung’s for just a moment, but it was enough for him to see the pain that Tae-Hyung was desperately trying to hide. The truth was out. The announcement was not a celebration—it was a declaration of ownership. Eun-Woo’s world tilted.

Eun-Woo wanted to scream, to demand that this didn’t happen. Tae-Hyung couldn’t marry Woo-Seok. Tae-Hyung is his. His only. They had just learned about their baby and now this? This wasn’t part of the plan. He swallowed hard, forcing himself to breathe, his heart racing in his chest. His hands clenched under the table, the muscles in his jaw tightening as he struggled to maintain composure. His brother’s announcement felt like a knife, cutting deeper with every second that passed.

"What happened, Eun-Woo?" Woo-Seok’s voice broke through his thoughts, sharp with concern. The entire table had gone silent, all eyes on him. He hadn’t even realized how still he had become. Eun-Woo forced a smile, a fragile thing, as he turned to face his brother. His heart pounded painfully in his chest.

"Congratulations, hyung," he said, his voice thick with the effort it took to hide the turmoil inside him. "I was just... surprised."

Tae-Hyung’s eyes flickered briefly, guilt and sorrow evident in his expression. He could feel the weight of Eun-Woo’s pain without a word being spoken. He didn’t want this. He couldn’t want this. But what choice did he have?

Eun-Woo’s heart ached as he realized the truth—he couldn’t stand by and let this happen. Not like this. Not with everything they had.

The room felt suffocating, the clinking of chopsticks and the hum of conversation around him fading into the background. Eun-Woo’s mind raced as his gaze flickered between his brother and his boyfriend, knowing that the storm had only just begun. The pieces of his world were crumbling, and there was nothing he could do to stop it.

But for now, all he could do was smile, his heart breaking piece by piece.