𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀 | 𝗦𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝗩𝗲𝗿.𝟮 ✓

7

Yoon-Gi sat quietly beside Ho-Seok on the plush sofa in his parents’ living room, his hand resting gently on Ho-Seok's thigh. The air was thick with tension, but there was a strange comfort in the way they were seated, side by side, a physical sign of their deepening relationship. Despite the intimacy of the moment, their hearts beat with a nervous, uncertain energy.

Across from them, Yoon-Gi’s parents sat, their expressions a strange mixture of disbelief and curiosity. They couldn’t quite wrap their minds around what was happening. Yoon-Gi, who had always bickered Ho-Seok. That rivalry, which had defined so much of their childhood, had blossomed into something deeper, something they hadn’t anticipated.

"Why didn't you tell us sooner?" Yoon-Gi's mother asked, her voice soft but tinged with genuine concern. She was a woman who had always believed in honesty, in openness within the family. But here, in front of her, her son and Ho-Seok were something else entirely—more than what she had assumed. Her gaze flickered between the two young men, seeking answers. Her heart was torn between wanting to understand them and the shock of learning the truth so late.

Woo-Seok, was the first to speak up. He had been quiet for most of the evening, his thoughts churning with a mixture of emotions. Still, he was the first to put aside his personal feelings. "Mom, I already told you. They were scared. Give them some time. It's not easy to open up about something like this," Woo-Seok said, his voice strained but steady. Despite the pain gnawing at his insides, he managed to smile—though it was thin and brittle, like a mask he was desperately trying to hold in place.

Yoon-Gi’s mother, ever the optimist, softened at Woo-Seok’s words. She understood her youngest son’s hesitance. Yet, even so, she couldn’t help but feel a bubbling excitement that soon overwhelmed the disappointment. "Well, son, it's understandable, but first, they both need a good scolding," she said, her tone now playful, almost teasing. "They should never hide something from us. We're family, after all." She beamed at the couple, but there was an underlying warmth in her eyes. Despite her initial shock, she could sense the love between Yoon-Gi and Ho-Seok—a love that had survived the years of silence and secrecy.

Yoon-Gi's father, a quiet and contemplative man, sat with his arms crossed, his gaze focused on the two young men before him. His face was unreadable, but the lines on his forehead were deeply furrowed. He had always been a man who valued tradition, stability, and family above all else. Seeing his son in a relationship with Ho-Seok, stirred something in him—something painful, yet undeniably real. He turned his eyes toward Woo-Seok, whose quiet grief was almost palpable. He could see the ache in Woo-Seok’s posture, the way his hands clenched into fists at his sides. But he also knew that Woo-Seok had done the right thing in letting go. Ho-Seok’s heart, it seemed, belonged to Yoon-Gi—and that was something his son couldn’t deny, no matter how deeply it hurt.

"We're sorry, Mom," Yoon-Gi said, finally breaking the tension. He smiled at his parents, his voice warm and sincere. "We'll never hide anything from you again. We promise." His words were genuine, his heart lightened by the soft acceptance from his mother. Yoon-Gi, felt a wave of relief wash over him. He had feared this moment for so long, wondering if his family would accept them as they were.

Ho-Seok, who had been sitting quietly beside Yoon-Gi, seemed to sense the shift in the room’s energy. He was nervous, but there was something resolute in his eyes. With a deep breath, he looked at the family gathered before him and broke the news, his voice carrying a hint of surprise. "Also, I'm pregnant."

The words hung in the air, and for a moment, time seemed to freeze. Yoon-Gi’s mother blinked, processing the statement. Her mouth parted in shock, but then she burst into laughter—a joyful, hearty sound that filled the room. The news was a surprise, but there was an undeniable sense of joy behind it. Yoon-Gi’s father sat back in his chair, his face breaking into a smile, his earlier reservations forgotten in the rush of new emotions. Woo-Seok, on the other hand, felt his heart splinter into a thousand pieces.

The realization hit him like a physical blow—he had imagined this life with Ho-Seok, this very possibility of starting a family together. He had dreamt of it, of raising children with the man he loved, of growing old together. And yet, it was never meant to be. Ho-Seok’s future, his happiness, was now intertwined with Yoon-Gi’s.

Woo-Seok stood up slowly, the air around him thick with unspoken words. He swallowed the lump in his throat and forced a smile. It was a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes, but it was all he could muster. Walking over to Yoon-Gi, he opened his arms, pulling his younger brother into a tight hug. The pain in his chest was suffocating, but he pushed it down. For Yoon-Gi. For their family.

"Congratulations, Yoon-Gi," Woo-Seok said, his voice low and almost drowned by emotion. He didn’t know how to say what he was truly feeling, but his brother didn’t need to hear it. Yoon-Gi looked at him with gratitude, his eyes soft, and he nodded in understanding. There were no words for what they were going through, but they didn’t need any.

"Thank you for understanding me and Ho-Seok," Yoon-Gi looked at his older brother, his eyes full of gratitude and regret. "I don’t know what we would have done without your support.” His voice cracked slightly, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. He could see the hurt in Woo-Seok’s eyes, and it made his heart ache.

Woo-Seok nodded and patted his brother's cheek. The act was almost mechanical, a gesture that masked the ache in his heart. "It’s okay, I just want you both to be happy. I’ll be okay." It wasn’t easy, letting go of something so deeply cherished, but he was trying to find peace with it.

Yoon-Gi’s father, sensing the lingering tension in the room, cleared his throat. "Alright, enough with the tears and heavy hearts," he said with a chuckle. "Let’s set a wedding date, and we’ll make it happen. Many people already know about the wedding preparations, so we’ll tell them and as for the Ho-Seok and Woo-Seok... well, it didn’t work out, but that’s alright." His words were kind, but there was an undeniable weight behind them.

Everyone nodded in agreement, but Woo-Seok stayed quiet. He stood there, staring out the window, the bright future that once seemed so clear now an empty space where his dreams had once lived. His heart, still raw, whispered the truth he wasn’t ready to accept: the love he had given to Ho-Seok would never be returned. And yet, he would smile for his brother, for their family, even as the pain lingered in the corners of his heart.

As the conversation continued, Woo-Seok quietly excused himself. He needed space, time to heal. He walked away from the gathering, his heart heavy but resolute. He hoped, in time, the sharp edges of this heartbreak would dull, and perhaps one day, he’d find peace with the choices that had been made. For now, he could only take one step at a time, leaving the joy of the others behind as he sought solace in his solitude.