𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀 | 𝗦𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝗩𝗲𝗿.𝟮 ✓

2

Ho-Seok lay nestled in Yoon-Gi's arms, his body relaxed and warm against his boyfriend's chest. The gentle beat of Yoon-Gi'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 Yoon-Gi'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. Ho-Seok groaned quietly, not wanting to move. His body was perfectly relaxed in Yoon-Gi's embrace, and the idea of answering the phone seemed like an unwelcome intrusion.

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

Ho-Seok 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.

Yoon-Gi, 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."

Ho-Seok 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.

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

Ho-Seok 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 - Yoon-Gi'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.

Ho-Seok 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 Yoon-Gi 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.

Ho-Seok's stomach dropped at the thought. Dinner with Yoon-Gi'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 Yoon-Gi for reassurance, his heart beating a little faster as the weight of the situation began to settle on him.

Despite his anxiety, Ho-Seok 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, Ho-Seok."

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

Yoon-Gi immediately pulled Ho-Seok closer, wrapping his arms around him in a comforting embrace. Ho-Seok 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 Yoon-Gi'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 Yoon-Gi's parents made his heart race. What would they think? What would they say? Ho-Seok 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, Yoon-Gi gently cupped his face in his hands, his thumb brushing over Ho-Seok's furrowed brow. "Don't think about it too much, baby," Yoon-Gi murmured softly, his voice a soothing balm against the storm of thoughts in Ho-Seok's mind. "I'll handle it. We'll take care of everything. You don't need to worry."

Ho-Seok sniffled, feeling the tears that were threatening to fall. He didn't want to burden Yoon-Gi with his fears, but everything felt so overwhelming. "I'm just scared," Ho-Seok whispered, his voice small and vulnerable.

Yoon-Gi 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?"

Ho-Seok nodded, allowing himself to relax in Yoon-Gi'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.

Yoon-Gi kissed the top of Ho-Seok'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."

Ho-Seok let out a small, shaky breath, feeling his body slowly relax in the safety of Yoon-Gi's embrace. Despite the storm of thoughts in his mind, for now, he allowed himself to rest, holding on to the comfort that Yoon-Gi's love gave him.