𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀 | 𝗦𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝗩𝗲𝗿.𝟮 ✓

10

Eyes stung with unshed tears, and the weight of the world pressed down on Ho-Seok as he stood at the altar, hands trembling by his sides. His breath came in shallow, shaky gasps as everything around him felt like it was closing in, warping, becoming a blur of faces he couldn’t quite focus on. His heart, once so light and full of hope, now thudded painfully in his chest, as though it were a foreign object lodged too tightly inside him. Every breath felt like a struggle, each second heavier than the last.

The priest’s voice pierced through the storm of his thoughts, deep and unyielding.

“Do you, Jung Ho-Seok, take Min Woo-Seok as your lawful wedded husband?”

The words hit him like a physical blow. The urge to scream, to cry out, to say “No” was overwhelming, but it wouldn’t come. His throat closed up, the word caught, trapped somewhere between his lips and his heart. He looked at Woo-Seok, standing before him, a picture of calm composure in his sharp, tailored suit. Woo-Seok’s dark eyes were gentle, but there was an undeniable sadness in them—an understanding of the pain that Ho-Seok was feeling.

The sympathy in Woo-Seok’s eyes twisted the knife already lodged deep in Ho-Seok’s chest. His mind flashed to Yoon-Gi, the man he was supposed to marry, the love of his life. But Yoon-Gi was gone—vanished without a trace. Ho-Seok's friend had searched everywhere, driven mad trying to find him. Even Woo-Seok had sent men to search the city, to search every corner, every street—nothing. Yoon-Gi had disappeared as if swallowed whole by the earth.

Ho-Seok’s eyes welled with more tears, his vision swimming as his mind spiraled back to those early days with Yoon-Gi—the soft touch of his hand, their whispered promises late into the night, the way Yoon-Gi’s smile had always made him feel like everything was going to be okay.

But now, all of that is gone.

His heart begged for him to say 'no', but his gaze dropped to the floor, his entire being gripped by the weight of the expectation hanging over him. The media, the guests—all of them waiting, their eyes on him, their judgment sharp and unforgiving. Yoon-Gi’s parents, their faces a mix of sorrow and desperation, had pleaded with him to go through with it, to marry Woo-Seok for the sake of the family’s reputation. His heart had screamed at him to walk away, to refuse, but in the end, he had bowed his head, nodded his agreement, and allowed them to drag him into this twisted farce of a marriage.

“Do you, Jung Ho-Seok…” the priest’s voice repeated, and it was as though the words echoed in his skull, bouncing between his ears like a bell tolling. His lips parted, the “no” that had been waiting to escape now buried deep inside him.

But instead, the word 'I do' slipped out, quiet, broken, and barely audible, as though it had been ripped from him by force.

"I do."

Ho-Seok barely recognized his own voice, the sound of it unfamiliar, foreign. It was as though someone else had said the words for him. The pain in his chest, the ache in his heart, was almost unbearable, but it was nothing compared to the moment when he turned his head to meet Woo-Seok’s eyes.

Woo-Seok was looking at him with such tenderness, such understanding, that it made Ho-Seok’s heart twist. His expression was full of quiet sorrow, not for himself, but for Ho-Seok—because he knew. He knew the pain of losing your love of life.

But despite it all, he promised himself that he would never hurt Ho-Seok, that he would give him the love and happiness that he deserved, even if it was with a man who could never replace Yoon-Gi.

Woo-Seok’s dark brown eyes softened as he said, his voice steady, “I do.”

And with that simple answer, their fates were sealed.

The priest’s next words rang through the air, as though the world were turning on its axis with the finality of them.

“Now, I declare you both husbands. Seal your marriage with a kiss.”

Ho-Seok’s stomach churned. His legs were suddenly too weak to hold him, and the world tilted sideways. His heart raced—furiously, erratically, like it was trying to escape his chest. He couldn’t breathe. He couldn’t do*
this. His hands curled into fists, nails digging painfully into his palms.

He had never kissed anyone but Yoon-Gi. And now, standing before Woo-Seok, who was looking at him with such unspoken kindness, Ho-Seok could feel every inch of his body screaming in protest. He wanted to run. He wanted to scream. He wanted to turn back time and find Yoon-Gi, to drag him back into his arms.

But he was stuck. Trapped.

Woo-Seok must have sensed the panic in him, because he didn’t force the issue. There was no pressure in his touch, no sudden movement, just a quiet patience. He leaned in, and for a moment, Ho-Seok was sure he would kiss him—properly, like a husband was supposed to kiss his husband. But then, something different happened. Woo-Seok’s lips pressed lightly against his forehead, tender and soft, like the gentlest of whispers.

The pressure in his chest eased ever so slightly, and for the first time in what felt like hours, Ho-Seok was able to breathe again. His body relaxed, if only for a moment.

The crowd erupted in applause, a wave of noise that felt so distant, as though it was happening in another world. Ho-Seok’s gaze drifted across the sea of guests, their faces flashing by in a blur. Some were smiling with joy, while his friends, Yoon-Gi’s parents—all of them were watching him, offering him nothing but quiet, understanding looks.

And then, as his vision blurred again with the flood of tears threatening to spill, the world tilted once more. His body swayed dangerously, his legs giving way beneath him, but before he could fall, strong arms were there—steady, firm. Woo-Seok’s arms, holding him close, supporting him, preventing him from collapsing.

Ho-Seok’s eyes fluttered, exhaustion pulling at his consciousness. His thoughts scattered, and in the haze of his spiraling emotions, a single thought broke through.

Where have you gone, Yoon-Gi?

The world dimmed around him, and as his eyes closed, the last thing he felt was the warmth of Woo-Seok’s embrace.