Almost blind | Haobin

24 | white abyss |24

"Stop acting like a bunch of grumpy kids," Gyuvin said, his voice light with amusement as he steered the car through the snowy roads. His remark earned a chuckle from Ricky, who sat comfortably in the passenger seat, one hand resting lazily on his knee.

The comment, however, had the opposite effect on the three passengers in the back. In perfect synchrony, Hanbin, Hao, and Yujin rolled their eyes, as if they had rehearsed it. Yujin sat by the left window, his fingers tapping idly against the glass, Hao was squeezed in the middle, and Hanbin occupied the right side, looking as if he'd rather be anywhere else in the world.

Annoyance hung in the air like a thick fog. Hao had been sulking ever since they left, his arms crossed like a child denied a toy. Yujin was already regretting ever agreeing to come, while Hanbin-who had tried to fake a fever that morning just to escape this nightmare-had given up entirely. Instead, he shoved his headphones on his ears and turned his attention to the frozen landscape outside, watching as the world passed by in a blur of white.

The snowfall from last night had coated everything in a pristine layer of frost, making the world look like something straight out of a Christmas card. Ricky and Gyuvin, caught up in the festive mood, were practically radiating holiday cheer. Christmas was only a week away, marking the last stretch before school let out for the break. And what better way to celebrate than with a skiing trip? At least, that's what Ricky and Gyuvin had thought.

The others, however, did not share their enthusiasm. Hanbin had exhausted every excuse in the book to get out of it, even going as far as trying to convince himself he was sick. He had absolutely no desire to waste his time with people he couldn't stand. Meanwhile, Hao had agreed solely because Yujin was coming.

They were inseparable, Hao and Yujin-so much so that Hanbin felt physically ill just watching them. When they announced they were dating, Ricky had taken the news with thinly veiled displeasure, while Gyuvin, on the other hand, had practically jumped high enough to break a world record.

Hanbin, of course, couldn't care less.

He knew better than Hao that this relationship wouldn't last. He knew Yujin too well for that.

With a sigh, Hanbin resigned himself to tuning everyone out until they finally got home. He had no interest in bonding, no interest in this so-called "fun trip," and certainly no interest in pretending to tolerate the people around him. If anything, this whole situation only disgusted him more.

Yujin, however, seemed determined to make the best of it, even though he regretted his decisions as well. He turned to Hao with a small smile. "I'll teach you how to ski," he offered, his hand resting lightly on Hao's knee.

Hao's expression brightened immediately, his fingers brushing against Yujin's in a gentle grip. "You know how to ski?"

"My parents used to take me a lot when I was younger," Yujin replied with a proud tilt of his head.

"Well, that's amazing! This young man can teach us all!" Gyuvin called from the front, his voice brimming with enthusiasm. Even Hanbin, despite his best efforts to ignore them, scoffed at the remark loud enough for everyone to hear.

Ricky simply hummed in response, nodding absently. "Right."

But beneath his calm exterior, Ricky wasn't thrilled about Yujin's presence. He didn't show it, of course-he was an adult, and making a scene would only create unnecessary tension. Still, the fact that his only son had chosen someone like Yujin made something in his chest tighten with frustration. But what could he do? He had already forbidden so many things in Hao's life. Did he really want to add another restriction to the list?

He told himself that if Hao likes Yujin, then maybe-just maybe-there is something worthwhile about the boy. Something he just hadn't seen yet.

He had discussed it with Gyuvin a few days ago, and they had exchanged opinions on the matter.. but still... Ricky couldn't shake the unease.