𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀 | 𝗦𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝗩𝗲𝗿.𝟮

15

Target; 20 votes

Ho-Seok planted a small smile on his face as Woo-Seok guided him inside his parents' house. The warmth of the place immediately wrapped around him like a soft blanket. The couple, who had been waiting eagerly at the entrance, greeted them with welcoming smiles.

“Mom…” Ho-Seok whispered, his voice soft as he turned to his mother-in-law, who was already stepping forward to embrace him. The woman enveloped him in a gentle side hug, taking care not to put too much pressure on his swollen belly. Her hands rubbed his belly with such tenderness, it almost brought tears to his eyes. It was a simple gesture, but it felt like a gesture of love, a reminder that he wasn’t alone.

“Ho-Seok, come, son. You can’t stand for so long.” His mother-in-law guided him gently towards the living room, her hand steady on his shoulder. She was always so kind, always attentive. He could feel the care in her every movement, in the way she made sure he was comfortable. Woo-Seok smiled, standing by silently, watching his mother and spouse.

"Follow me, son. I want to talk to you in the study," his father says, giving them a subtle nod as he directed his son toward a quieter place. As Woo-Seok nodded and followed his father, Ho-Seok couldn’t help but look in their direction.

"Seat, son," The lady commanded in a soft tone, tapping the sofa.

Once they were seated, Ho-Seok rested his hand on his round belly, subconsciously rubbing it as he looked up at his mother-in-law. A fond smile played on his lips, though it was tinged with sadness because of the memories he had made here with Yoon-Gi. He tried to focus on the present, on the baby growing inside of him, but, the weight of the past was heavy.

"So, how have you been? How’s the baby doing?" His mother-in-law’s voice was warm, full of concern as she leaned closer to him, her eyes filled with care. She reached out, rubbing his belly with the tenderness. Her touch was gentle, reassuring.

“I’m good,” he replied, his voice filled with joy. “But the baby... he’s so energetic. Always moving, always kicking.” He paused for a moment, his hand resting over the baby as if trying to feel the small movements. “And craving everything… mostly ice cream, actually.”

A soft chuckle escaped from his mother-in-law. “Yoon-Gi was the same way when I was pregnant with him. I remember waking your father-in-law in the middle of the night just to get me ice cream. He didn’t mind, though. He always did anything for me,” she said, her voice filled with nostalgia. The way she spoke of her son, filled the room with a bittersweet sense of love.

Ho-Seok’s heart stuttered. His chest tightened as his mother-in-law spoke about Yoon-Gi, and he struggled to hold back the tears that had suddenly welled up in his eyes. He blinked quickly, trying to push them away, but the memories of Yoon-Gi, of their shared past, were overwhelming. Ho-Seok could never move on, could never heal, because every now and then, the grief snuck up on him, taking him by surprise.

The woman noticed the shift in his expression immediately, and a look of regret passed over her face. “I shouldn’t have brought him up. I’m so sorry, Ho-Seok,” she said, her voice filled with genuine remorse.

Ho-Seok shook his head quickly, trying to reassure her. “It’s okay, Mom. Really,” he said, his voice low but steady. He forced a smile, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “I’m alright. I’m moving forward with Woo-Seok hyung.” He said the words, but even as they left his mouth, he knew they were a lie. No matter how much he tried to move forward, a part of him still longed for Yoon-Gi. There were days when it felt impossible to reconcile the love he still had for Yoon-Gi with the new relationship he was building with Woo-Seok.

His mother-in-law looked at him with concern, her eyes searching his face as if trying to read his thoughts. But, when she found none, she smiled faintly, her worry temporarily giving way to a soft joy. “Really, son? Tell me more about you and Woo-Seok.” She leaned in closer, eager to hear more. Her voice was soft and encouraging, a gentle invitation to share.

Ho-Seok took a deep breath and nodded, trying to push away the sadness. “We’ve started going on dates,” he said, his cheeks tinged with a light blush as he spoke about the more intimate aspects of their relationship. “And, well… we’ve consummated our relationship.” His gaze dropped to his hands, the flush deepening on his face as he shared the most personal part of their bond.

Meanwhile, in the study, Woo-Seok and his father sat at the desk. The conversation between them was quiet but meaningful, a father offering his wisdom to his son. “I’m happy to see you both moving forward,” his father said, his voice warm with approval. There was a deep sense of pride in his tone, though it was tempered with a quiet understanding of how difficult the journey had been for Woo-Seok and Ho-Seok.

Woo-Seok smiled, feeling the weight of his father’s words. “Me too,” he said, his voice steady. He looked at his father, who gave him a faint smile in return. It was a moment of connection, a brief but important acknowledgment of the love and strength that ran through their family.

After a few more moments, the older man stood up and placed a hand on Woo-Seok’s shoulder. “Now, let’s go have lunch. You and Ho-Seok can rest after that,” he said, leading the way out of the study.

As they entered the living room, the old couple exchanged a look, their eyes filled with a shared understanding. They were happy for their son and his partner, but there was a quiet concern in their gaze, a knowing glance that spoke of the challenges still to come.

“They’re happy together,” The lady said softly, watching Woo-Seok and Ho-Seok move toward the dining table. There was happiness in her voice, but also something else.

Her husband nodded, a small sad smile tugging at his lips. “Yes, but it won’t be easy,” he said, his voice low.