WHAT YOUR FATHER SAYS ✓

26

CHAPTER 26
Mascagni – Intermezzo (Cavalleria Rusticana)

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i hadn't seen Hoseok for a week. it was horrible.

not to see him smile, try to make him smile and be there for each other was harder than i thought it would be. what else did i expect? to be allowed out of the house after disobeying my father?

but then, he came to see me.

i knew he shouldn't be here but i couldn't help myself. i wrapped my arms around him, guiding him to the safety of the garden where no one would see him. he came to see me. he found me.

"you shouldn't be here." i said, holding him close because i knew he'd be gone soon. "i don't want to get you into trouble."

"i can handle it my love," Hoseok assured me, hands placing themselves on top of mine as he tucked my hair away. his actions have always been gentle. "you need to trust me."

"i can't right now."

"what do you mean you can't?"

before i could say anything more, the wondrous boy with a heart of gold sprung his truth on me. "is it a bad time to tell you i love you?" he breathed out.

of course, i cried.

"it's okay, come here," he said and wrapped his arms around me. he rocked us back and forth, face leaning against my hair which was tied back with a scarf. "what's been happening?" he wasn't nosy, demanding, he was patient and ready to listen. i don't know how my first experience with a boy romantically became so pleasant. was i lucky?

"i got caught with you," i started, taking a moment to admire the way Hoseok looked in my garden. it was like a painting, he blended in with the earth, just the way Van Gogh painted his people blending with the land that they mended. "my dad is overprotective. i'm forbidden from seeing anyone or even leaving." i said quietly.

"being with you itself was rebellious."

"yet you did it anyway..." Hoseok thinks. he removes his hands from me in order to get his mind straight. "why?"

"because i love you too."

Hoseok smiled, even in the darkest situation, he brought safety once again. i kissed him, hand caressing his cheek.

"has he hurt you or anything?" the boy's eyes search my face for any sign of harm.

"no, never physically but he gave me a punishment."

i explained my punishment, "i can't study and that's all i used to do. he's took away all my books, privileges too."

Hoseok's laughter stormed against my chest when he hugged me. i was still crying.