𝑃𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑜𝑛 / 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑢𝑛𝑔

S2 ch 42

As they walked down the street, the evening air was crisp, and the city lights flickered in the distance, casting a soft glow on the pavement. Jiwon felt the weight of his decision slowly lifting off his shoulders, but a part of him still wondered what his parents, Jisung, and Minho would think.

"Are you sure this is okay?" Jiwon asked, glancing at Rafayel as they made their way to his house. "I mean, I don’t want to make things weird for you or anything."

Rafayel shrugged with a grin. "It’s all good, Jiwon. My parents aren’t home, so it’s just me tonight. You’ll be fine."

"Alright," Jiwon replied, nodding. He felt a little more at ease, knowing Rafayel’s place was just as much of a hangout spot as a home.

The two of them eventually reached Rafayel’s house, a cozy townhouse tucked away on a quieter street. The front yard had a few trees with soft, swaying branches, and the lights in the windows gave the place a welcoming feel. Rafayel led the way inside, pushing the door open and gesturing for Jiwon to follow.

"Welcome to my humble abode," Rafayel said with a grin, his voice playful.

The inside of the house was warm and inviting, with soft couches and shelves lined with books, photos, and various knick-knacks. The familiar scent of something sweet—probably a candle or some kind of baking—lingered in the air.

Rafayel quickly tossed his jacket over a chair and made his way to the kitchen. "I’m thinking pizza and snacks. What do you want to watch? I’ve got a ton of movies on Netflix, or we can binge something on YouTube."

Jiwon took off his shoes and set his bag down on a chair. "I’m good with anything, really. As long as it’s not something too scary," he added, his eyes wide in mock horror. "You know I’m not great with scary movies."

Rafayel chuckled, opening the fridge to grab a couple of sodas. "No scary stuff, I promise. How about we go for a classic action movie or something light? Maybe a comedy?"

"Yeah, that sounds perfect." Jiwon smiled, feeling the weight of the day finally slip away as he sank into one of the plush couches.

Rafayel started scrolling through the TV menu, picking out a movie they could both enjoy. "It’s nice to just hang out like this, huh?" Rafayel said, glancing over at Jiwon with a more serious look than before.

Jiwon nodded, pulling his legs up under him. "Yeah, it really is. I’m glad I came. Feels like we don’t get to do this much."

"Definitely," Rafayel agreed, settling onto the couch next to Jiwon. He handed him a soda. "We should do this more often."

As the movie started, the two of them relaxed into the comfort of Rafayel’s living room. The sound of the movie played in the background, but the conversation between them continued to flow easily. Jiwon found himself laughing more than he expected, enjoying the freedom of being somewhere without the pressure of expectations.

At some point during the movie, Rafayel glanced over at Jiwon, his expression softening. "You know, Jiwon, I’m really glad you decided to hang out tonight. It’s nice to have a friend who... well, just get it, you know?"

Jiwon smiled, feeling a warmth spread through him. "Same here, Rafayel. I’m glad you invited me."

The rest of the night passed by quickly, filled with laughs, pizza, and easy conversation. Jiwon’s worries about his parents and friends drifted further away with every passing moment. He was just... enjoying the time with Rafayel. And for the first time in a while, he felt at peace, knowing he had someone who cared enough to make him feel comfortable and accepted.