𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀 | 𝗦𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝗩𝗲𝗿.𝟮 ✓

19

Ho-Seok's gaze softened as he watched his son, only a week old, lying peacefully in the center of the room. Ji-Min was wrapped snugly in a soft, white cloth, his tiny hands occasionally twitching as he slept. The quiet rise and fall of his chest was a gentle reminder of the miracle in front of him. But as Ho-Seok observed him closely, he couldn’t help but notice the unmistakable traces of Yoon-Gi in their son’s features—his soft eyes, his bottom nose, and the round face. Ji-Min looked like a perfect mix of both of them, a tiny combination of his two parents, and the realization stirred a mixture of emotions in Ho-Seok.

His gaze softened, and for a moment, he forgot everything else. His heart swelled with love for the little boy, his own flesh and blood, but at the same time, it ached with the unresolved questions about the man who had once been his partner, the man who had left him on their wedding day without a word.

“Ho-Seok…”

The sound of his name broke through his thoughts. Ho-Seok turned his head toward the door, where his mother-in-law was standing. She was watching him with a concerned expression, her eyes tired but compassionate. She could see the internal struggle in his eyes, and he knew she understood more than anyone the depth of the situation he was in.

“Yes, Mom?” he asked, trying to sound calm, though he could feel the tension in his own voice. He forced a smile, but it felt weak, strained.

"Why don't you come out of the room?" she asked gently, stepping closer. The question was simple, but the weight behind it was enormous.

Ho-Seok stiffened, his body tensing as the words landed. His mother-in-law’s voice was filled with kindness, but there was an unmistakably sadness in it too. She wanted him to face what he had been avoiding for week—what he had been running from ever since Yoon-Gi had come back. She wanted him to face the truth, to face Yoon-Gi and Woo-Seok, and ultimately, to face the hard decision that had been looming over him.

“I can’t, Mom,” he replied quietly, his voice cracking slightly. He tried to swallow the lump in his throat, but it was impossible. “I’m not ready to face why Yoon-Gi left me on our wedding day.”

The words tasted bitter as they left his mouth. His heart pounded in his chest at the thought of it. He had spent so long wondering about the reason for Yoon-Gi’s sudden disappearance—wondering why he had left him, alone and confused. The pain of that day had never truly gone away. But now, with Yoon-Gi back in his life, the thought of confronting him and asking for an explanation filled him with dread. What if the truth was something he couldn’t bear? What if it shattered everything—his memories, his feelings, and the fragile peace he had managed to build since then?

"I'm sorry, Ho-Seok," she said softly, her eyes welling up, as she sat beside him. "We shouldn’t have gotten you married with Woo-Seok… and made everything so complicated."

Ho-Seok felt his chest tighten at the sight of her pain. He could see the guilt in her eyes, her shoulders hunched as if the weight of the situation had become too much for her. She had always been so loving and kind, but now she looked as though she carried a burden far too heavy for anyone to bear alone.

“No, Mom, don’t say that,” Ho-Seok replied, his voice firm but gentle, as he moved closer to her. He placed his hand on her shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “You and Dad would never do anything to hurt us. You didn’t make things complicated. Life… life just happens like this sometimes.”

His words were slow, each one chosen with care, hoping to ease the pain he saw in her eyes. She had done nothing wrong. They had all simply been caught in a situation that no one could have predicted.

“So, please, don’t apologize,” he continued, his voice softening. “This isn’t your fault. You’ve always been there for me. Always. And I know you never meant for things to end up like this.”

She opened her mouth, but no words came out. Instead, she simply nodded, a tear slipping down her cheek. Ho-Seok pulled her into a gentle hug, wrapping his arms around her.

“Son…” His mother-in-law’s voice was soft, breaking the hug and looking at him. “But how long will you hide from the truth? I know this is difficult for you, for all of us, but you cannot keep running from it forever.”

Ho-Seok’s chest tightened. He wanted to look away, to avoid hearing the reality she was speaking, but he couldn’t. She was right, of course. He had been avoiding it for a week. The truth had been just a few steps away from him, waiting for him to confront it.

“I know it’s hard,” she continued, her hand gently resting on his. “I love both of them and I want them both to be happy. But I also want your happiness, Ho-Seok. From the moment you came into our lives, you became like a son to me. And I can’t stand to see you in pain, torn between the two of them.”

Her voice wavered slightly, and Ho-Seok could see the emotion in her eyes. She loved both men, but also him and his eyes tear up seeing the sincerity. The truth was going to break one of them. And no matter how much it hurt her, she wanted her sons—no matter how they were connected to her—to be happy.

“Someone will have their heart broken,” she said softly. “I know that. But at least if you face the truth, you can make a choice. And you will know that your choice was made with your heart, not out of fear or confusion.”

Ho-Seok felt his breath catch in his throat. Her words were a mix of love and sadness, and they sank deep into his soul. He had been so afraid of this moment—afraid of the choice he would have to make, the choice that would inevitably hurt someone he deeply care. But he knew, deep down, that avoiding it wasn’t going to make it go away.

“I promise, Mom,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. “I’ll face the truth. I’ll do what’s right. I’ll choose what will bring the most happiness to everyone.”

A tear slipped down his cheek before he could stop it. He quickly wiped it away, not wanting to break down in front of her again, but it was impossible to control the surge of feelings inside. His mother-in-law smiled gently, brushing a strand of hair away from his forehead. She kissed him lightly on the forehead, the gesture tender and full of love.

“My son,” she whispered. “I know how hard this is. But whatever happens, I’ll be here for you. Always.”

Ho-Seok’s heart swelled, and he felt a wave of gratitude wash over him. She was right. It wasn’t easy. But the truth had to be faced. He had to make the choice—no matter how painful it might be.

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Thank you for all the comments. I may not always reply to them but I'm always grateful for your comments.

Apart from that, I have published a new story named My Heart to Keep, My Heart to Rip.