The silence in the backseat was getting suspicious.
Jiho sat unnaturally stiff, hands clenched in his lap like a student waiting for punishment. Outside the car window, the city blurred by in soft pastels of early morning light, but Jiho's attention was fixed firmly on the thoughts spinning inside his own head.
Minjae, from the driver's seat, glanced at the rearview mirror and smirked. "Why are you so tense? I'm not taking you to prison. It's just my house."
Jiho blinked. "What? I'm not nervous."
"Really?" Minjae's eyes crinkled with amusement. "Because you've adjusted your seatbelt like twelve times, and you're gripping the door handle like we're about to crash."
"I just... I like safety?" Jiho muttered, his face slowly turning the color of ripe tomatoes.
Minjae chuckled, turning his attention back to the road. "You know, Eunsu's been asking about you non-stop since I mentioned you. He's probably been practicing his 'hello' in what he thinks is formal Korean all morning."
"He has?" Jiho's voice came out higher than intended.
"Mhmm. It's adorable and terrible at the same time. My parents are at work as usual, so it'll just be us and him today."
Despite his nerves, Jiho found himself smiling. "He doesn't need to be formal with me."
"Try telling him that. He thinks you're some kind of superhero."
Inside his head: Oh God, why did I say yes that day? Why didn't I have the courage to say no to those stupid puppy eyes?
---
Two Days Before - The Strawberry Incident
The apartment smelled like something delicious—soft sizzling eggs, warm butter, and a hint of spice that made the whole kitchen feel like home.
Jiho stood at the stove, gently flipping an omelette in the pan while some sausages browned beside it. He was humming under his breath, completely absorbed in his cooking when suddenly—
Strong arms wrapped around him from behind.
"Jagiyaaa," Minjae cooed in his ear, voice sugary sweet and deliberately dramatic.
Jiho tensed, but didn't pull away. "You're being clingy today."
"Can you blame me? I missed you... even though you're standing right here." Minjae's chin rested on Jiho's shoulder, and Jiho could feel his smile against his neck.
"You're impossible," Jiho sighed, but the corners of his lips tugged upward anyway. "I'm making omelette and sausage. Sit down before I burn breakfast because of your wandering hands."
"My hands aren't wandering," Minjae protested innocently, even as he reached for the plate of strawberries on the counter. "They're just... exploring."
"That's literally the same thing."
Minjae ignored him, popping a strawberry into his mouth with exaggerated satisfaction. "Mmm, these are perfect. Want one?"
Jiho turned his head slightly, eyeing the fruit. "Don't you dare tease me with food..."
But before he could finish his warning, Minjae brought the strawberry to Jiho's lips... and just as Jiho leaned forward to bite, Minjae kissed him instead.
Soft. Playful. Sweet with the taste of strawberries and just a second longer than expected.
Then he fed him the fruit anyway, grinning like he'd just pulled off the world's most successful heist.
Jiho stood frozen, lips slightly parted, his face turning redder than the strawberry he'd just been tricked into accepting.
"Y-You... that was..."
"Delicious?" Minjae grinned like the world's most smug criminal. "Tastes better this way, doesn't it?"
Jiho nearly dropped the spatula. "You're the worst."
"But you love me anyway."
"I never said that."
"You didn't have to. Your face says everything."
Suddenly, Minjae's phone buzzed loudly on the counter, jolting them both out of their playful bubble. Jiho coughed and grabbed the water glass, trying to hide his burning cheeks behind it.
Minjae picked up the call, still grinning. "Hey, Eunsu-ah."
From the other end came the bubbly voice of a four-year-old, high-pitched and wobbly with excitement. "Hyuung~! How awre youuu!"
Minjae's expression immediately softened, his heart melting at the sound. "I'm good, buddy. What's going on? You sound extra happy today."
"I am! I am! Mommy said you might visit soon!" There was a pause, then a tiny gasp. "Is... is Jiho hyung dere? Behind you?! I can feel it!"
Jiho choked on his water. WHAT?! How does he even know that?!
"Uhhh..." Minjae scratched his cheek, glancing at Jiho's horrified expression. "He's kinda busy right now, Eunsu-ah."
"But—but—but I want to talk to Jiho hyung face to face!!" Eunsu's little voice got louder and more dramatic with each word. "Take him home! Take him home with you! Pwease!"
"Eunsu, we—"
"Noooo! I will be vewy, vewy sad if Jiho hyung doesn't come. Like, super mega sad. The saddest sad ever!" The dramatic sniffling that followed was clearly learned from watching too many dramas with his mother.
Jiho bit his lip, still trying to recover from the earlier kiss attack and now facing what could only be described as professional-level emotional blackmail from a toddler. He took a shaky breath and leaned closer to the phone.
"We... we will meet you soon, Eunsu-ah," he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper.
There was a pause that felt like an eternity.
Then an ear-splitting cheer: "YAAAYYY! Jiho hyung said yes! He said yes! We will have so much fun! Games! Toys! Snacks! I'll show you my dinosaur collection! Oh! And my drawings! I drew you a picture but it's a surprise!"
Minjae winced at the volume, pulling the phone slightly away from his ear. "Okay, okay, Eunsu. We'll see you soon. Be good until then, alright?"
"I'm always good! Right, Mommy?" His voice got distant as he apparently turned to address someone else.
"Right, sweetheart. Say goodbye to your brother now."
"Bye bye, Minjae hyung! Bye bye, Jiho hyung! I love you both!"
The call ended, leaving behind a silence that felt somehow both peaceful and terrifying.
Minjae turned slowly toward Jiho, who was now attempting to become one with the refrigerator.
"So," he said gently, "why'd you say yes? You know you didn't have to."
Jiho mumbled into his hands, "He sounded so sad... and excited... and I couldn't bear the thought of disappointing him..."
"You're too soft-hearted for your own good."
"I know. It's a problem."
Minjae walked over and gently pulled Jiho's hands away from his face. "Hey. Look at me."
Reluctantly, Jiho met his eyes.
"My family is going to love you. Eunsu-ah already does, and my mom's been curious about you since I accidentally mentioned you three times in one phone call last week."
"You mentioned me three times?"
"I mentioned you at least three times. I wasn't exactly counting."
Jiho's blush deepened, but some of the tension left his shoulders.
---
Present Moment
Now, sitting in the passenger seat of Minjae's car, Jiho was regretting every life choice that had led to this moment.
"Still nervous?" Minjae asked, glancing over with that knowing smile.
"Nope," Jiho lied, his voice completely unconvincing.
"Jiho-ya."
"What?"
"You're literally white-knuckling the door handle again."
Jiho looked down at his hands and quickly released his death grip. "I'm fine."
"Uh-huh. And I'm the Pope."
"You'd make a terrible Pope."
"Why? Because I'm too handsome?"
"Because you're too much of a troublemaker."
Minjae laughed, the sound warm and reassuring in the small space of the car. "You know what? You're right. But at least I'd make Sunday mass more interesting."
Despite himself, Jiho found himself smiling. "You're ridiculous."
"But it's working, isn't it? You're smiling now."
Jiho tried to frown, but failed miserably. "I hate that you know me so well."
"I love that I know you so well."
The casual use of the L-word made Jiho's heart skip several beats, but before he could process it fully, Minjae was pulling into a driveway.
"We're here," Minjae announced, parking the car and turning to face Jiho fully. "Last chance to run screaming."
Jiho took a deep breath. "I'm not running."
"Good. Because Eunsu's already at the window, and if you run now, he'll probably chase you down the street."
Sure enough, when Jiho looked toward the house, he could see a small face pressed against the glass, accompanied by wildly waving hands.
"Oh God," Jiho whispered. "He's so cute. What if I say something stupid?"
"Then he'll probably find it endearing and ask you to say it again."
"That's not helpful."
"It's honest."
Minjae reached over and squeezed Jiho's hand. "Hey. Breathe. You're amazing, and they're going to see that. Just... be yourself."
"What if myself isn't good enough?"
"Then they have terrible taste, and we'll find you a better family."
Jiho snorted despite his nerves. "You can't just replace your family."
"Watch me."
The absurdity of it all—Minjae's complete confidence, Eunsu's excited face in the window, his own ridiculous level of anxiety over meeting a four-year-old—suddenly struck Jiho as hilarious.
He started laughing.
"There he is," Minjae said softly, watching Jiho's face light up. "There's my Jiho-ya."
"I'm not your anything," Jiho protested, but he was still smiling.
"We'll see about that."
---
Love Behind Locked Doors
The phone rang twice before it was picked up.
"Secretary Park speaking."
Soobin's voice came through sharp, laced with concern and barely controlled panic. "Mr. Park, why isn't Hyunwoo answering my calls? I've been trying for two days straight. His phone goes straight to voicemail. Is everything okay?"
A silence stretched between them. Too long. Too heavy.
Then Secretary Park exhaled heavily, his voice dropping to a whisper as if afraid the walls might hear. "Sir... Young Master Hyunwoo has been confined to his room. He no longer has access to a phone. Chairman Jang gave strict orders—no communication with the outside world, no visits from anyone."
Soobin's heart dropped into his stomach. "What? Why? What the hell happened?"
"There was an argument the day we arrived home. A serious one that woke half the household." Park's voice carried the weight of someone who'd witnessed something terrible. "Young Master said... he wanted to apologize to Jiho publicly. He begged his father for permission to make things right. He even got on his knees."
"He what?" Soobin's voice rose with disbelief and growing rage.
"After hearing that, Chairman Jang completely lost his composure. He started shouting about family disgrace, about Hyunwoo being weak and pathetic. Then he ordered him to be locked in his room indefinitely. Said he needed to be 'disciplined until he comes to his senses.'"
Soobin gripped the phone so tightly his knuckles went white. "And you just... let this happen?"
"Sir, I tried to intervene. I truly did. But the Chairman had me removed from the premises immediately. He's assigned a new assistant to monitor Hyunwoo—someone who reports directly to him. I'm not even allowed on the property anymore."
Soobin's voice was shaking now. "Is Hyunwoo okay? Physically? Mentally?"
The pause that followed was answer enough, but Park's words made it worse.
"No, sir. He's not. He's refusing meals. Refusing his medication. The new assistant reports that he spends most of his time lying on the floor, unmoving. Sometimes he talks to himself—or to someone who isn't there. His condition is..." Park's voice cracked. "I'm genuinely terrified for him, Mr. Soobin. This isn't discipline. This is torture."
Soobin's entire body filled with a fire that threatened to consume him from the inside out.
"That's it." His voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. "I'm coming there."
"Sir, please—"
"I'll bring him back, Mr. Park. Even if I have to burn that house down to do it."
"Sir, please listen to me," Park urged, desperation creeping into his voice. "There are security guards everywhere. The Chairman has doubled the staff since the incident. You can't get in alone—they have orders to keep everyone out."
"You don't need to worry about that, Mr. Park," Soobin said, his voice turning ice-cold. "I have my own resources. Just... just try to get word to him somehow. Tell him to hold on for a few more hours. Tell him I'm coming."
"Sir"
"And Mr. Park? If anything happens to him before I get there... if he gets hurt because of that bastard's 'discipline'... there will be consequences. Do you understand me?"
"Yes, sir. I understand."
Soobin didn't wait for anything else before ending the call.
He stared at his phone for a moment, then immediately dialed another number.
"Yeah, it's me. I need a favor. "
---
In the Silence
The room was suffocating in its silence.
Hyunwoo lay curled on the floor, his body folded in on itself like a broken origami crane. The marble was cold against his cheek, but he welcomed the discomfort—it was the only thing that felt real anymore.
His lips were cracked from dehydration, his skin pale as paper. The designer clothes he'd been wearing for three days were wrinkled and stained with tears he didn't remember crying.
But when his lips twitched into the ghost of a smile, it wasn't for anything in the present. It was for memories that felt like they belonged to someone else's life.
Memory Fragment: The Night Everything Was Perfect
Karaoke lights danced across their faces like fallen stars, painting their joy in electric blues and hot pinks. Hyunwoo held the microphone like a weapon of mass destruction, dramatically belting out the most ridiculous rendition of a love ballad while Minjae threw confetti made of shredded napkins .
But Soobin—Soobin was laughing. Laughing so hard he had to clutch his stomach, his eyes disappearing into crescents, his head thrown back in pure, unfiltered joy.
That sound. That beautiful, perfect sound.
"You're so bad at this!" Soobin had gasped between laughs. "How are you this bad?!"
"I'm not bad!" Hyunwoo protested, striking a dramatic pose. "I'm artistically challenged!"
"That's the same thing!"
"It's different! Bad implies I'm trying to be good. Artistically challenged implies I'm trying to be art!"
Soobin had laughed even harder, tears streaming down his face. "You're insane. Completely insane."
"But you like me hyung," Hyunwoo had said, and for a moment, the karaoke room had gone quiet.
"Yeah," Soobin had whispered, his eyes soft and warm. "I really do."
Memory Fragment: The Convenience Store
A street corner at midnight. Late summer breeze carrying the scent of rain and possibility. Soobin had been leaning over the convenience store counter, counting change for their ridiculous haul of snacks, when Hyunwoo had crept up behind him like a cartoon villain and flicked his ear.
"Yah!" Soobin had turned around, pouting and rubbing his ear with the kind of indignation that was more adorable than threatening. "What was that for?"
Hyunwoo had grinned like the world's most unrepentant troublemaker. "Hyung looks cute when he's annoyed."
"You're lucky you're handsome, or I'd hit you with this instant ramen."
"Hit me with love instead."
The cheesy line had made Soobin blush and laugh at the same time, slapping Hyunwoo's arm but not pulling away when Hyunwoo had leaned in to bump their foreheads together.
"You're so stupid," Soobin had whispered.
"But I'm your stupid."
"Unfortunately."
Memory Fragment: The Promise by the Shore
The beach. Waves crashing against the rocks. Soobin's voice, thick with emotion and barely controlled tears.
"If I apologize to Jiho and fix everything I've messed up... promise me, Hyung—will you come back here with me? "
Soobin's eyes had been shining with unshed tears, his hands shaking as he'd reached for Hyunwoo's face.
"Yes," soobin had whispered, leaning into the touch. "Of course I will."
"Promise?"
"I promise."
The memory shattered like glass.
Hyunwoo's breathing turned ragged. The ceiling blurred through tears he didn't have the energy to wipe away. His throat burned with words he couldn't say to anyone but the empty room.
"I fucking miss you, Soobin hyung," he whispered, his voice cracking like dried earth. "It's killing me. Actually killing me."
He closed his eyes, fingers curling against the cold marble like he could claw his way back into those memories and live there forever.
"I love you so much that it physically hurts. Did you know that? Did you know love could actually hurt like this?"
Tears slipped down the sides of his face, pooling on the floor beneath him.
I should've kissed him more.
I should've hugged him longer.
Every time he held me, I thought there would be a next time. I thought there would always be a next time.
Now I'd give anything— my future, my life—just to feel his arms around me one more time.
He brought a trembling hand to his lips, remembering the way Soobin kissed his lips like it was something precious. Like he was something worth loving.
The door to his room was solid wood, expensive and imposing. But somewhere beyond it, beyond the guards and the gates and his father's rage, Soobin was coming for him.
He had to be.
Because if he wasn't...
Hyunwoo didn't let himself finish that thought. Instead, he closed his eyes and tried to remember what Soobin's laugh sounded like.
He just had to keep breathing until he could hear it again.
For real this time.
---