When they returned to the city that evening, Dunk felt lighter, as if the beach had washed away all his lingering doubts. Joong walked him to his apartment, promising to see him soon, before heading home.
As Dunk was settling in for the night, his phone buzzed with a notification. He checked it, half-expecting it to be Joong. But his stomach dropped when he saw the message was from Mark.
**Mark:** *I hope you enjoyed the little “trust talk” with Joong. But you might want to ask him about the whole truth.
Dunk’s hands shook slightly as he read the message. He tried to brush it off, to ignore the unease clawing at him, but Mark’s words stuck in his mind. His first instinct was to call Joong, but he hesitated, not wanting to come across as insecure.
Dunk took a deep breath, reminding himself of the bond they had reaffirmed just hours before. He trusted Joong. And he wasn’t about to let Mark ruin that trust without proof.
He decided to respond to Mark, setting a boundary he hoped would keep the peace.
**Dunk:** *Stop contacting me. Joong and I are fine. Whatever you’re trying to do isn’t going to work.
Mark’s reply came almost instantly.
**Mark:** *Suit yourself, Dunk. But don’t say I didn’t try to warn you.
Dunk blocked the number, determined to let it go. He had made his choice, and he wasn’t going to let anyone interfere with the love he was building with Joong.
As he turned off his phone and lay back, he whispered a quiet prayer that he was right.
YOU ARE READING
Beyond the Horizon
FanfictionDunk, a reserved and introspective young man, meets Joong, an outgoing and slightly mischievous guy, at their university. Despite their differences, they're drawn to each other in ways neither can fully understand. As their relationship evolves from...
