𝗣𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗿𝗲𝘀 | 𝗧𝗮𝗲𝗝𝗶𝗻

2

Inside a soft peach-colored room, Seok-Jin lay on his bed, the warm light from the afternoon sun spilling through the curtains, casting delicate patterns across the floor. His phone rested on his chest as he typed a quick message to his mother, assuring her that he had arrived safely in Seoul. His parents had divorced when he was young, and though it had been a mutual decision, the separation still carried a weight that lingered in his thoughts. His mother had always been the one to raise him, but his father had always made the effort to stay in his life. Despite their differences, Seok-Jin never hated his father. In fact, he had a quiet respect for him—something that made the recent change in his father’s life a little more difficult to accept.

Thoughts of his father and his new stepfather—swirled in his mind, each one pulling him deeper into a quiet storm of emotion. Seok-Jin wasn’t opposed to the idea of his father finding happiness again, there was one thing he struggled with: Tae-Hyung. The man was younger, stunningly handsome, and had a way about him that left Seok-Jin with a knot in his stomach.

His thoughts were interrupted when the door to his room opened with a soft creak, and in stepped Tae-Hyung. The man stood in the doorway, looking effortlessly beautiful, as always. His skin was smooth, glowing with a healthy radiance that contrasted beautifully with his deep brown eyes. Those eyes seemed to gleam in the soft light, full of warmth and a quiet intensity that Seok-Jin found difficult to look away from.

Tae-Hyung’s sharp jawline and full lips gave him a timeless, almost ethereal appearance. His casual yet refined outfit—a well-fitted blue shirt and cream-colored pants—highlighted his tall, lean frame. He exuded a quiet elegance, a kind of effortless grace that left Seok-Jin feeling both awed and slightly unsettled.

“Do you need anything?” Seok-Jin asked, trying his best to sound polite, though his voice came out a bit sharper than he intended. He still struggled to adjust to this new reality, where the man in front of him was now his stepfather, a position Seok-Jin wasn’t entirely ready to accept.

Tae-Hyung didn’t seem bothered by the coldness in Seok-Jin’s tone. He smiled gently, his eyes softening as he took a step closer. “No, actually, I called you to have lunch. You skipped breakfast, but at least join us for lunch. Shi-Hyuk would be sad if you keep ignoring him like that.”

Seok-Jin sighed, the weight of his father’s feelings pressing down on him. He didn’t want to upset Shi-Hyuk, not when he had gone out of his way to make sure Seok-Jin was comfortable. Despite his discomfort with the situation, Seok-Jin knew that his father deserved respect and love from him, especially now that he had Tae-Hyung by his side.

“Okay, I’ll join. Give me a minute,” Seok-Jin replied, reluctantly pushing himself off the bed.

Tae-Hyung’s smile widened, his expression full of quiet approval. “Thank you, Jin,” he said, his voice warm and sincere before he turned and left the room.

As soon as the door clicked shut behind Tae-Hyung, Seok-Jin exhaled deeply, running a hand through his hair as he walked toward his luggage. He hadn’t realized how tightly his muscles had been wound until now. He opened the suitcase and pulled out a flowery shirt—a vibrant design of muted yellows and pinks with soft blue accents—and a pair of loose, high-waisted black pants. The fabric was light and airy, offering a soft, feminine contrast to the plain t-shirt and pajama pants he had been wearing earlier.

Seok-Jin’s beauty was undeniable, though it was understated in a way that made it all the more captivating. His sharp cheekbones and soft jawline framed his face perfectly, while his long, dark lashes accentuated the deep brown of his eyes. His lips, full and slightly parted, often held a gentle, thoughtful expression, though today, they seemed to be pulled into a subtle frown. His slender frame was graceful, with long limbs that moved with a quiet elegance.

He quickly changed into the outfit, letting the light fabric settle against his skin. His steps were light and measured as he made his way out of his room and toward the dining area.

As Seok-Jin entered the dining room, he saw Shi-Hyuk and Tae-Hyung already seated at the table. They were talking, though the conversation seemed to pause as they noticed him. His father with a kind face and salt-and-pepper hair, smiled warmly, his eyes crinkling at the corners. His presence was comforting, reliable, the kind of man who had always been a steady anchor in Seok-Jin’s life. He was dressed casually in a simple grey t-shirt and beige pants, his demeanor grounded and kind.

But it was Tae-Hyung’s reaction that caught Seok-Jin’s attention. As the man turned to face him, his entire expression shifted—something in his eyes froze, and he seemed almost mesmerized. Tae-Hyung’s gaze lingered on Seok-Jin for a moment too long, his lips slightly parted as he took in the sight of his stepson. There was a softness to his expression, a quiet reverence in the way he looked at Seok-Jin, though it quickly masked itself behind a gentle smile.

“Let’s have lunch,” Seok-Jin said, his voice steady despite the flutter of nerves in his stomach.

Shi-Hyuk’s smile deepened, and Tae-Hyung’s eyes finally broke away from Seok-Jin’s, though there was a lingering something in his gaze. Seok-Jin quickly averted his own eyes, sitting down at the table, trying not to acknowledge the warmth that was rising in his cheeks.

The table was filled with delicious dishes, the kind that his father had always been good at preparing—comforting, familiar, a reminder of the family they had once been. It was a simple meal, but it was enough, and as Seok-Jin glanced over at his father and Tae-Hyung, smiling at each other and he felt uneasy. Despite the unease, he knew, deep down, that he had to find a way to accept this new chapter in his life—for his father’s sake, and for his own.