ᴀᴅᴅɪᴄᴛᴇᴅ

【43】

the soft glow of morning crept through the curtains of yunho's bedroom, casting golden stripes across the sheets. he stirred slowly, blinking against the light, the comfort of the warm bed making it hard to fully wake up. but what really rooted him in place was the gentle weight beside him — mingi.

they'd fallen asleep tangled up, limbs comfortably knotted together, like they'd been doing it forever. yunho tilted his head just enough to look at him. mingi's face was relaxed, peaceful, hair a little messy from sleep. there was something grounding about the way he breathed, steady and calm, like he belonged in yunho's space. like he belonged with him.

memories from last night flickered back — mingi's voice, quiet but sure, "im in love with you."
and yunho's heart, answering back before his mouth even could.

"you're staring," mingi mumbled, voice low and sleepy.

yunho smiled, caught. "can't help it."

mingi cracked one eye open, lips curving. "your always sappy in the morning."

"only with you"

mingi chuckled, burying his face against yunho's shoulder. "stop. you're making me want to stay."

"so stay."

"can't," mingi sighed. "san and jongho are dragging me to the gym. promised i wouldn't flake today."

yunho groaned dramatically. "tell them your boyfriend said no."

mingi raised an eyebrow, amused. "boyfriend?"

yunho paused for a second, then smiled softer. "if you want to be."

a small grin tugged at mingi's lips. "then yeah. your boyfriend's going to the gym. but i'll be back later, okay?"

"okay," yunho said, pulling him in for one last kiss before mingi got up.

—

after mingi left, the room felt a little quieter, the absence noticeable but not empty. yunho sat on the couch for a while, sipping his coffee, thinking. mingi had been brave enough to be honest with him last night. and yunho had been honest back.

but there was still someone he hadn't been honest with — not really. and the last conversation they'd had still sat heavy in the back of his mind.

his dad.

the argument hadn't been loud, but it had cut deep. tension about expectations, the weight of silence when yunho didn't speak up for himself. he didn't want to keep hiding anymore. not after mingi. not after this kind of peace.

so he got dressed, heart already pounding a little at the thought, and drove to his dad's office. the building was familiar, sterile and neat, but the knot in his stomach tightened with each step.

outside the door, he hesitated. just for a second. then knocked twice and stepped in when he heard the quiet, "come in."

yunho stood in the doorway, his fingers curled tight around the hem of his sleeve. his dad was in his office, going through paperwork with a tired look on his face. the same look he always wore when yunho brought it up.