Twilight of Shadows

Chapter 14: A Silent Burden

The days that followed were filled with tension, the kind that simmered just beneath the surface, unspoken but impossible to ignore. Jeonghan had moved into Mingyu’s room temporarily as per Taehyung’s suggestion, though he still couldn’t bring himself to share the truth about the pregnancy. Each morning, he forced a smile, pretending everything was normal as he helped Mingyu with his recovery.

But inside, Jeonghan was unraveling. The weight of the secret he carried felt suffocating, especially in the close confines of Mingyu’s childhood home. Taehyung and Seokjin were kind but observant, and he couldn’t risk anyone seeing the truth.

Every time he looked at Mingyu, who was still recovering from the accident, guilt gnawed at his insides. Mingyu deserved so much more than a lie, but Jeonghan couldn’t bring himself to tell him. Not when things were so fragile between them.

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Mingyu’s Concern

One evening, as they sat together in the living room, Jeonghan noticed Mingyu watching him closely, his brow furrowed in concern.

“You’re quiet tonight,” Mingyu said, his voice soft but laced with something that sounded like worry. “You’ve been distant lately. Something’s wrong, Jeonghan. I know you’re not okay.”

Jeonghan forced himself to meet his gaze, offering a small smile. “I’m just tired. You know how it is with all the changes lately.”

Mingyu didn’t look convinced. He leaned closer, his eyes searching Jeonghan’s face. “If something’s going on, I need you to tell me. You don’t have to do this alone.”

Jeonghan swallowed hard, his heart pounding in his chest. But he couldn’t bring himself to confess, not now. Not when he was still struggling with everything else.

“I’m fine, Mingyu,” Jeonghan lied, pushing his emotions aside. “You need to rest. We’ll talk later.”

Mingyu hesitated but nodded, leaning back into the couch with a soft sigh. “Alright. But I’m here, Jeonghan. I’m always here if you need me.”

Those words hit Jeonghan harder than he expected. The sincerity in Mingyu’s voice made the guilt even sharper, and for a moment, he almost told him everything. But fear held him back. Fear of ruining what little stability they had left.

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Taehyung’s Watchful Eye

That evening, after dinner, Taehyung sat down next to Jeonghan in the study, his expression serious.

“You know you can’t keep this from Mingyu forever,” Taehyung said softly, though there was no judgment in his voice. “He deserves to know, Jeonghan.”

Jeonghan looked down, running his fingers through his hair. “I know. But I just… I can’t tell him yet. He’s been through so much already with the accident. I don’t want to burden him with something else.”

Taehyung’s eyes softened, and he placed a hand on Jeonghan’s shoulder. “You’re not burdening him. He cares about you, Jeonghan. And if he’s going to be a part of your life, he needs to know the truth. Especially about this.”

“I’m scared,” Jeonghan whispered, his voice breaking slightly. “What if he doesn’t want this? What if he doesn’t want me anymore?”

Taehyung’s grip tightened, his tone gentle but firm. “You don’t know that. You can’t keep running from this. It’s only going to get harder.”

Jeonghan nodded, his throat tight. He knew Taehyung was right. But every time he thought about telling Mingyu, fear paralyzed him. The consequences of this revelation felt too heavy. Too dangerous.

---

The Secret Weighs Heavy

The following week, things at the Kim estate continued as they always had. Taehyung and Seokjin were busy with family matters, and Mingyu focused on his recovery. Jeonghan kept up the pretense, smiling through the days and acting like everything was fine. But it wasn’t fine. It couldn’t be.

Late one night, after everyone had gone to bed, Jeonghan stood by the window of Mingyu’s room, staring out at the darkened sky. The cool breeze that slipped through the cracks of the window made his skin chill, but it did little to numb the emotions swirling inside him.

He was a coward. A liar. And no matter how much he wanted to run, he knew he couldn’t hide forever.

The sound of the door opening behind him startled him, and he turned to find Mingyu standing there, leaning against the frame.

“Can’t sleep?” Mingyu asked quietly, his voice tinged with concern.

Jeonghan shook his head, his gaze dropping to the floor. “Just thinking.”

Mingyu stepped inside, closing the door behind him. “About what?”

Jeonghan’s heart pounded in his chest, the silence stretching between them like a chasm. For a moment, he considered telling Mingyu everything. The truth. The baby. But something held him back, a fear he couldn’t shake.

“I’m just… I’m overwhelmed,” Jeonghan admitted finally, his voice barely above a whisper.

Mingyu walked over to him, standing just a few feet away. “You don’t have to do this alone, Jeonghan. You don’t have to carry everything by yourself.”

Jeonghan swallowed hard, his throat tight with emotion. He could feel the truth on the tip of his tongue, but still, he held it back.

“I’m sorry,” Jeonghan whispered, his voice shaking. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

Mingyu stepped forward, gently cupping Jeonghan’s face in his hands. “There’s nothing wrong with you. But you’re not fooling anyone. You don’t have to hide from me.”

Jeonghan closed his eyes, leaning into Mingyu’s touch, wishing he could trust him enough to say the words. But the fear of the unknown still lingered, and for now, he couldn’t bring himself to let go of the secret that weighed so heavily on his heart.

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The Calm Before the Storm

As the days went on, the tension between them only deepened. Mingyu’s concern for Jeonghan grew, but Jeonghan continued to lie, his smile growing more strained with each passing day. He knew the truth couldn’t be hidden for long, but he wasn’t ready to face the consequences.

And so, they continued—two people sharing a space but living in two different worlds, one filled with secrets, the other with the unspoken longing that neither of them knew how to address.

But Jeonghan knew that soon, the truth would find its way to the surface, no matter how hard he tried to bury it.