The Grapevine

Chapter Sixteen

Sean arrived at his family's house just as the sun was beginning to dip, casting a warm, amber glow over the estate. The Kim family house was imposing but held a certain charm—a blend of old-world architecture and modern lines, standing tall like a quiet, elegant fortress. Stepping out of his car, he noticed Hugo and Mingyu already seated in the garden, sipping their afternoon tea under the wisteria-draped pergola.

Hugo spotted him first, waving casually, though Sean could detect the playful glint in his brother's eyes. Mingyu looked up, grinning broadly, already brimming with mischief. Sean could tell he was in for it.

"Well, look who finally decided to grace us with his presence," Hugo said, setting his cup down, his tone mockingly annoyed. "Not even a message after that cryptic text at the festival. And then you vanished! My dongsaeng is too busy to visit, I suppose?"

Sean gave a soft sigh, making his way toward them. "I've been... busy. It was a chaotic day," he offered, though he knew that wouldn't be enough to escape the grilling.

Mingyu chuckled, shifting in his seat to make room for Sean. "Busy, huh? Busy with your man—Eric, I assume?" His tone was playful, but the teasing note in his voice was unmistakable.

Sean shot Hugo a look, knowing full well where Mingyu got that information. "I knew you'd tell him," Sean said, lips tugging up despite himself.

"Of course I told him," Hugo replied, feigning innocence. "That brat won't stop either."

Sean settled in his seat across from them, accepting the tea cup Mingyu handed him. The three of them settled into a comfortable rhythm, but the conversation never strayed far from the subject of Eric.

"So," Hugo started, leaning back and eyeing Sean carefully. "How's that going? This... Eric thing?"

Sean sighed, knowing there was no sidestepping the topic with his brother. He shrugged, but a hint of a smile played at his lips. "It's... good. We're getting to know each other."

Mingyu leaned in, his face a mixture of amusement and intrigue. "That's a vague answer. For someone who calls a guy 'my man,' you sure are playing it cool."

Sean felt the blush creep up his cheeks but tried to mask it by focusing on his tea. "It's... new," he admitted finally. "But there's something about him. He's easy to be around."

Hugo took a moment to study Sean's face, a flicker of seriousness in his gaze. "Have you... told him anything about our family?"

The question hung between them, and Sean looked away, the weight of it pressing down on him. He hadn't. Not yet.

"No, not yet," Sean admitted. "It's complicated. Eric... he doesn't know about all of this," he gestured vaguely, indicating not just the house but the legacy, the layers of expectations and responsibilities that came with being a Kim. "I don't know how or when to bring it up. I don't even know if he'd understand."

Hugo's face softened, and he reached across to put a comforting hand on Sean's shoulder. "You'll know when it's time, Sean. But if there's anything I've learned, it's that people who really care about you will make an effort to understand, no matter how complicated it is."

Mingyu nodded in agreement, adding, "Besides, you're not the only one taking a risk here. He's probably doing his own soul-searching about you too."

Hugo smiled at that. "True. And maybe, when you're ready, you won't even have to explain everything. The right person sees you for who you are, even before you tell them all the details."

Mingyu took a slow sip of his tea, his fingers lingering around the cup as he glanced between Hugo and Sean. His expression softened, but there was a hesitation in his eyes, as though the weight of what he was about to say didn't sit comfortably with him. After a long pause, he cleared his throat, as if steeling himself to speak.