𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀 | 𝗦𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝗩𝗲𝗿.𝟮 ✓

13

Target; 15 votes

Ho-Seok sat in his mother-in-law’s arms, his body trembling with sobs. He felt like a storm had swept through him, and all the anger, frustration, and sadness he'd been holding in came crashing out all at once. His face was buried in her chest, his tears soaking her shirt as he tried to calm the violent ache in his chest. He never meant to hurt Woo-Seok. Never. But the pressure of his pregnancy, the unanswered questions about Yoon-Gi’s disappearance, and the overwhelming sense of loneliness had pushed him to the breaking point. He didn’t know how to handle everything, and it all seemed to explode in the worst possible way.

"Mom... I didn’t mean it. I didn’t want to hurt him," Ho-Seok choked out, his voice breaking. His words came out in uneven gasps. "I was just so angry. So frustrated... and I blamed him. Now he doesn’t even want to talk to me." His face twisted in despair as he spoke, the guilt almost too much to bear.

His mother-in-law, a woman with an understanding heart and patient hands, gently rubbed his back, her touch warm and soothing. She knew Ho-Seok’s pain—could see it in his eyes every time she looked at him. She pulled him closer, letting him lean against her as he cried, offering him the comfort he desperately needed.

"Shh... Ho-Seok," she said softly, her voice calm and steady. "I know it’s hard. I see how much you’re suffering. But you can’t keep living in the past. Yoon-Gi is gone, and I know how deeply that hurts. But you have to live for your baby, for Woo-Seok. He still loves you. I can see it, even if you don’t." She paused, her hand moving to brush his hair back from his forehead. "You need to give him a chance. If you want to fix things, this is your moment."

Ho-Seok nodded weakly, the weight of her words sinking into his mind. His mother-in-law was right. He couldn’t keep dwelling on the past, no matter how hard it was. He needed to fix things with Woo-Seok. But there was also a deep, nagging fear in his chest—one that whispered that the damage might be irreparable. Still, he knew he had to try. For their family. For the baby growing inside him.

"I will, Mom," Ho-Seok whispered, his voice still thick with emotion. "But… please, make sure he doesn’t leave. I can’t lose him. Not like this."

His mother-in-law gave him a small, reassuring smile, her eyes soft with compassion. "I will, Ho-Seok. I promise."

After a few more moments of comfort, she slowly laid him down on the bed, making sure he was tucked in. His body was still trembling slightly, but the exhaustion was beginning to pull him under. She watched over him for a moment, her heart heavy, before quietly walking out of the room. She knew the next conversation wouldn’t be easy, but it was one that had to happen.

In the living room, Woo-Seok sat slumped on the sofa, staring blankly at the space in front of him. The dim light from the table lamp cast long shadows across his face, highlighting the exhaustion that seemed to have taken root in him. His usually well-groomed appearance was slightly disheveled; his black hair fell messily around his face, and his clothes, while still neat, no longer fit the confident man he once was. Now, he looked defeated, as though the weight of everything was too much for him to carry.

His mother sat beside him, her presence calm and grounding. She placed a hand gently on his, and he looked at her, his face strained with the tension of unspoken words.

"Son," she began softly, "I want to talk about Ho-Seok."

Woo-Seok’s eyes flickered toward her, but he didn’t respond immediately. The silence between them felt thick, heavy, like an unspoken understanding. Finally, he spoke, his voice quiet but filled with sorrow.

"I heard your conversation with him, Mom," he said, his eyes distant. "I love him. I always have. But… I can’t keep doing this. I can’t keep holding on to something when he doesn’t feel the same. I’ve made up my mind. I’m going to divorce him and leave. He’ll never be happy with me. His heart is still with my brother. I know it is."

The words hit his mother like a cold wave, but she refused to let her emotions take over. Instead, she squeezed his hand and shook her head, her voice firm despite the sadness in her eyes.

"No, Woo-Seok. Don’t do that. You’re making a decision for both of you, without even talking to him about it." She paused, looking at him intently, her gaze full of a mother’s deep understanding. "You can’t assume things. You don’t know that. He’s in pain too, and he needs you now. Don’t let this slip away without giving it a real chance."

Woo-Seok's eyes glazed over, and a single tear slipped down his cheek. He quickly wiped it away, but it was enough for his mother to see the raw hurt beneath his tough exterior. He leaned back against the couch, his body slumping in defeat.

"But, mom what if..." Woo-Seok's voice trembled, barely above a whisper. "What if he never will love me back? I can’t bear the thought of going through all this again. I’ve already been through one heartbreak. I don’t know if I can survive another." He looked at his mother, his eyes full of fear and vulnerability. "It hurts, Mom. It hurts so much when the one you love doesn’t love you back."

His mother’s heart broke for him. She had always been there for him, but she realized she hadn’t fully understood the depth of his suffering until now. Her hand moved to his face, brushing away another stray tear.

"I’m sorry, Woo. I failed you. I should’ve seen this… the pain you were carrying." She hugged him tightly, pressing him to her chest, the way she had when he was a child. "But listen to me now. Don’t make this decision on your own. Talk to Ho-Seok. If your heart still says it’s worth fighting for, then fight for him. But don’t give up before you’ve had that chance."

Woo-Seok clung to his mother for a long moment, his body trembling as he took in her words. He pulled back slightly, looking at her with tearful eyes.

"I’m scared, Mom," he admitted softly. "What if I get my hopes up again and it all falls apart? I don’t think I can handle that kind of pain again."

His mother gave him a small, understanding smile. "I know, son. I know. But sometimes, love is worth the risk. You won’t know unless you try. If, something goes wrong, your father and I will always be there for you."

Woo-Seok nodded slowly, his heart heavy but determined. He didn’t have all the answers, but he knew one thing—he had to talk to Ho-Seok, no matter how afraid he was. For both of their sakes.