Almost blind | Haobin

37| Unspoken |37

"What took you so long? We've been waiting forever!" Gyuvin threw his hands in the air, his voice carrying a mix of impatience and amusement. He gestured toward the Christmas dinner already set on the wooden table-a picture of elegance draped in a pristine white tablecloth, adorned with fine crystal glasses and plates, each piece meticulously chosen by Ricky's extravagant taste. The warm golden glow of the chandelier cast soft shadows over the feast, making the entire room feel almost surreal in its perfection.

Ricky pulled off his black coat with an air of nonchalance, shaking off the cold that clung to him like an unwanted guest. "Don't stress so much, we're here," he said, his tone light as he made his way toward the table. Behind him, Hao lingered in the hallway, his fingers clenched tightly around the painting he carried. It was still wrapped in brown Christmas paper, untouched, but the weight of it felt heavier than before. He hesitated, his heartbeat erratic, his breath shallow. He had no idea what to do next.

His mind was a whirlwind, a mess of unresolved thoughts. The events of the day still clawed at his chest, but he remained silent, unwilling to stir any drama on Christmas Eve-especially not when Ricky looked so genuinely happy to be spending his first Christmas with Gyuvin.

With a deep sigh, Hao retreated to his room first, his footsteps barely making a sound on the stairs. He closed the door behind him and placed the painting on his desk, staring at it for a long moment. He never thought he would bring it back. And yet, here it was, sitting before him like an unanswered question.

Another heavy sigh escaped his lips. What had possessed him to grab it so quickly in that moment? But maybe... maybe he was glad he did. Maybe giving it to him would have been the wrong choice. In that situation. When Yujin had him paralyzed with fear.

His phone buzzed again, the vibration rattling against the wooden table. He swallowed hard, his chest tightening as he glanced at the screen. Yujin. Of course. His name glowed against the dim light of the room, a stark reminder of the dozen missed calls and unread messages piling up.

His fingers twitched, hovering over the screen, hesitating. He could already imagine the words waiting for him, the concern laced between them, the frustration. He could hear Yujin's voice in his head-stern but worried, demanding an answer, demanding something. But what was he supposed to say?

His throat felt dry, his heart hammering against his ribs. He wasn't ready. Not now. Maybe not ever.

With a sharp inhale, he shut the screen off, tossing the phone onto the bed as if it burned his fingertips. The silence stretched, thick and suffocating, broken only by the faint hum of the city beyond his window. He ran a hand through his hair, exhaling shakily.

He knew Yujin wouldn't stop. Knew the messages would keep coming. But for now, all he could do was sit in the quiet, pretending the world outside wasn't waiting for him to answer.

"Are you alright?"

The voice from the doorway startled him, making him jump. He turned around quickly to find Hanbin standing there, his expression calm but curious. He was wearing ridiculously oversized pajama pants and an even more ridiculous red hoodie with a Christmas tree on it.

"I'm fine," Hao lied, forcing a weak smile. "But you look like you're not," he managed to tease. Hanbin glanced down at his own outfit before chuckling. "Don't look at me like that. This was my dad's idea. And don't think you've escaped, he got you one too."

Before Hao could react, Hanbin tossed something at him. He caught it, unfolding the fabric to reveal a matching hoodie-except this one had a reindeer on it, complete with a tiny red nose and a Christmas hat.

For the first time that evening, Hao genuinely smiled. It was ridiculous. Utterly ridiculous. But despite that-or maybe because of it-he pulled it over his head without hesitation, making Hanbin grin, lifting his hand expectantly. "We're matching now."