"You two are together?!" Jia Hao yelled in shock standing up. Sangwon nodded as he rubbed his neck, shyly smiling.
"Wha- How? When? Are you sure?" Jia Hao asked and Sangwon nodded again smiling at him.
Jia Hao slowly sat back down with a sigh.
"I'm not saying I don't support you two but... think of the consequences Sangwon. Your father.." Jia Hao paused.
He knew of Junseo's past ordeal. Sangwon seemed to be the only one not to know.
"Your father hates things like this.. You're a boy liking a boy" Jia Hao said and Sangwon shook his head.
'I don't care. He told me he likes me for me'
Jia Hao sighed looking at Sangwon's hope-filled face. "You don't get it do you? It's forbidden. Banned. It's an eyesore"
Sangwon folded his lips as he looked away.
"I know I told you to like who you want to but this... in the world we live in and with the status we bear, this is nearly impossible"
Sangwon shook his head.
'But we like each other'
"That is not enough. I'm telling you from experience Sangwon. It's better you two cut it out now before someone else hears about this"
Sangwon furrowed his eyebrows.
'No. I'm not giving up on him'
Jia Hao rubbed his head. "When did you get stubborn? Can't you listen? For your sake, you have to stop. Your father is ruthless, he won't waste time getting him killed"
'Still no. We like each other. We're not ashamed of anything'
Jia Hao looked at him not saying anything. He then sighed. "Fine. You've made your bed Sangwon, be sure to lie in it. It's not going to be an easy battle"
Sangwon frowned. 'What of you? Don't act like I don't see the way you and Anxin spend time together. If you want to lecture me, act that way first'
"Anxin is like a brother to me. I dare not like him knowing the consequences that follow" Jia Hao said, denying his truth.
Sangwon clicked his tongue. 'I just wanted to tell you about us because you're my best friend. Whether you choose to support us or not. It won't change anything.
And even if you lie about Anxin, I know how things truly are. I support you two. You don't have to lie to me.' Sangwon said standing up.
Jia Hao rubbed his temples sighing at Sangwon's stubbornness. He looked elsewhere when Sangwon left.
"Hyung!" Anxin yelled hugging him from behind. Jia Hao flinched. He looked around seeing that nobody saw. He pulled Anxin forward.
"I told you to stop being loud Anxin. What if someone heard? Are you done with your work?"
Anxin brightly smiled as he sat down beside him, hugging his arm. Jia Hao slowly detached himself, pushing him away.
"Hyung why do you keep pushing me away? You used to hold my hand, now you don't anymore"Jia Hao looked away from Anxin's eyes.
He had to get rid of the way he felt before it was too late. He knew too well the end result.
Anxin gulped when Jia Hao didn't say anything.
"Do you find me annoying?" He quietly asked and Jia Hao immediately looked at him. He saw the hurt on his face.
"No I don't"
"Then what?" Anxin asked holding his hand.
Jia Hao sighed removing his hand. He didn't know how to put it in a way that wouldn't hurt him. Anxin looked away from him looking down.
"Hyung... You approached me first. I didn't beg for your attention. I clearly denied us hanging out together but you insisted.
I tried building a wall between us but you kept pushing to get us closer. Now we're close, you're tired of me.
Why do things always end like this for me? Am I the reason I don't have a family? Am I bound to be alone?"
Jia Hao shook his head as he gently held Anxin's face. "What nonsense are you saying? No one deserves to be alone"
"Then stop pushing me away hyung, I like being with you" Anxin whispered as his eyes got brimmed with tears.
"Don't leave me.."
Jia Hao used his thumbs to wipe Anxin's tears.
"I won't"
"Promise me" Anxin said looking into his eyes. Jia Hao gulped.
"I promise. I'll always stay by your side."
-
Sangwon flipped the page, quietly reading as he leaned back against Leo's embrace. A smile formed on his face as he dropped the book.
'I told Hao hyung about us'
Leo slowly leaned out. "What.. What do you mean?"
Sangwon turned. 'I told him about us'
His smile faded when Leo moved away from him, standing up. He looked at him scared and confused as to why he moved away.
He stood up. 'Is something wrong?'
Leo gripped his hair in frustration.
"Why did you tell him?"
Sangwon blinked, not understanding.
'He's my best friend. I thought he deserved to know'
Leo looked away clicking his tongue. Sangwon walked closer holding his arm.
'Leo you're scaring me. Is something wrong?'
"Why would you tell him?! What if someone heard? Or he tells someone else?! That would be trouble!" Sangwon flinched when Leo raised his voice.
'Hao hyung wouldn't tell on us. Why are you so worried?'
Leo ruffled his hair in frustration.
"We were okay with us not going public! Why did you have to ruin it?!"
Sangwon kept quiet as he looked at Leo's face. He slowly looked down.
Was Leo ashamed of him?
Was that the case?
He knows his relationship is forbidden and he would get in trouble if caught but he still wanted to give it a shot.
Leo was that important to him for him to overlook the consequences.
But was that the case with Leo?
Sangwon blinked, his heart fell. He slowly looked back at Leo with his glossy eyes.
'I'm sorry for being a boy'
"Sangwon–
Leo immediately held him when he tried walking away. "That's not what I meant. Listen-
'It's okay. I understand. We can keep it hidden for as long as you want. I already got my answer. I too would be ashamed if I were you'
"Sangwon—
Sangwon removed his hand as he walked away.