Alive

Buried Truths

Jinyoung smiled faintly, though his eyes shimmered.
"I've never left," he said softly, voice catching at the edges.

It was such a simple statement, yet it knocked the air right out of you. That kind of loyalty, that kind of friendship — it was something you'd never really had until Jaebeom had come crashing into your life. No one had ever held on that tightly, not to you.

Jinyoung blinked quickly, wiping at the tears that gathered in his lashes. He still smiled, though his mouth trembled.

Without a word, Jaebeom reached for him. It wasn't the cool, controlled gesture you were used to from him, the kind he gave to you when he was trying not to admit he was scared. No — this was raw. A sudden, almost desperate embrace, Jaebeom clinging to the one person who'd seen him before the money, the empire, the walls.

"I'm sorry," Jaebeom murmured into his friend's shoulder. His voice cracked — a sound that startled you. "I'm sorry for how I've treated you. It's just—"

"Don't be," Jinyoung interrupted gently, pulling back just enough to look him in the eye. His smile was watery but steady. "I know why. It's alright. Let's just... move on. Forward."

You blinked at him, startled by the ease, the forgiveness in his tone. Wow. He's good with words, you thought, a pang of admiration settling in your chest.

The two of them fell into easy conversation then — years of memories surfacing, banter threaded through with relief. You sat quiet, listening, a small smile tugging at your lips at the sight of Jaebeom relaxed for once, not the CEO, not the brooding man with too many secrets, but just... Jae.

Eventually, Jaebeom pushed a hand through his hair and exhaled. "Well. I have to go see Cha now."

The room stilled. Both you and Jinyoung looked up, equally shocked.

"We—We are?" you stammered, nerves fluttering sharp and fast through your stomach. You'd seen his sister only in passing, at work. Never like this.

Jaebeom gave a firm nod, already reaching for his phone. "Text me," he added, glancing at Jinyoung with a faint smile. "Maybe we can have a guys' night sometime."

Jinyoung chuckled softly, though his voice still wavered. "Yes, sir— I mean, Jae." He tested the old nickname, as though unsure if he still had the right.

For a moment, something softened in Jaebeom's eyes. He didn't correct him.

Back in the car, the city slipped past the windows, lights thinning as the drive carried you farther out. You turned your head toward him, lips curling into a small smile. "I'm proud of you," you whispered.

His grip on the wheel tightened, then eased as his gaze flicked toward you. "I realized..." He drew in a breath, voice lower, steadier than usual. "People other than just you and me matter. That I can't block everyone out."

The admission stunned you. You hadn't expected him to say it, not out loud. Your chest ached with warmth. "I'm glad," you whispered, leaning over to press a kiss to his cheek.

It took half an hour to reach Cha's house — longer than you expected, tucked away from the city in a stretch of land where silence hung heavy in the air. The kind of silence you weren't used to. No shouting neighbors, no car horns, just the sound of gravel crunching under the tires as Jaebeom pulled into a wide driveway.

Another car was already there. Jaebeom's jaw tightened at the sight. "Yugyeom," he muttered.

"Yugyeom?" you echoed, confusion lacing your tone.

He nodded, killing the engine. "Old friend. And my soon-to-be brother-in-law."

Something twisted in your stomach, sharp and cold. Anxiety, you told yourself. Just nerves.