The heavy wooden door of Eunjae's bedroom creaked open just a sliver, revealing a familiar sight Mr. Hong standing there awkwardly with a tray of Eunjae's favorite snacks.
Eunjae narrowed his eyes, arms crossed like a fortress of teenage pride even if he was a grown adult now. "You're seriously bribing me with food?"
Mr. Hong gave a sheepish smile. "It worked when you were young."
"Yeah, when I didn't know what blackmail was."
Mr. Hong chuckled. "You still don't. You just know how to yell better now."
Eunjae rolled his eyes, but stepped aside, letting his father in. He flopped onto the edge of his bed while Mr. Hong set the tray on the table.
For a moment, there was silence.
Then Mr. Hong sighed and sat beside him. "Listen, I was wrong earlier. I shouldn't have sprung it on you like that."
Eunjae stayed quiet, eyes staring at the floor.
"I'm trying to do what's best… but I forget you're not a kid anymore. If your mom was still here—" he laughed softly, "—she'd have beat the hell out of me for upsetting you like this. Woman had stronger hands than a baseball bat."
That earned a small chuckle out of Eunjae. He shook his head, biting his lip, before finally speaking, "I'm not against marriage, Dad. I just… don't want to be forced into it. Especially not for some deal. I'm not a pawn."
"I know," Mr. Hong said gently. "You're not. I was desperate. I panicked. But I'm not gonna shove you into anything you don't want. Promise."
Eunjae relaxed a little, picking at the plate in front of him.
The quiet peace returned.
Then he looked up and asked, "What happens if I say no? Like… really no?"
Mr. Hong paused, considering the question.
"We might lose our shares," he said simply. "Might even lose the company, depending on how Mr. Lee plays it. He holds a lot of power over us right now."
Eunjae blinked, lips pressing into a thin line. "You'd risk all that for me?"
"I'd rather lose a company than lose my son," Mr. Hong said, without hesitation.
That hit harder than it should've.
Eunjae looked down, letting the weight of that sink in. The guilt. The love. The understanding.
He didn't speak for a long moment.
Then quietly, he said, "Give me one night to think."
Mr. Hong smiled and stood up, ruffling Eunjae's hair like he used to when he was a kid. "No pressure. Just don't eat all the tteokbokki. I was gonna steal some later."
Eunjae swatted at his hand. "You're unbelievable."
"I learned from the best." Mr. Hong winked, and with that, he left the room, closing the door behind him.
Eunjae sat alone with his thoughts and the quiet understanding that for the first time, this decision was fully his to make.
And that made it both easier… and infinitely harder.
Late Night Trouble – Park Estate
It was way past midnight. The world was asleep or at least, it should've been.
But not Taemin.
Taemin was wide awake, revving his black motorcycle quietly outside the massive Park estate walls, his phone clenched in one hand, helmet hanging from the other. His hoodie was half-zipped, hair wind-tossed, and his eyes filled with that exact type of stubborn madness that said: If Juwon doesn't come out, I'm breaking in.
He was calling again.
And again.
Still no answer.
Inside the Park mansion, Juwon sat hunched over on his knees in his office, arms straight on his thighs, legs shaking like a newborn deer. He'd been forced to kneel as punishment by Mr. Park himself all because he dared to fall asleep during work. During a meeting, no less. With investors.
Why? Because some idiot Taemin made him nap-cuddle in a hidden room like some romcom clown.
Now his entire lower body was going numb.
His phone buzzed again. Fifth missed call.
Then a text came in:
Taemin: "If you don't come out in 3 mins, I'm breaking your stupid estate gate. I'm literally not joking. I brought 2 helmets. That means I planned this like a gentleman. Come out."
Juwon groaned. "This damn lunatic…"
He stood up or tried to. His knees buckled immediately. With a loud grunt and a lot of internal swearing, he hobbled toward the back hallway like a war casualty. He looked around dark. Empty.
Good.
Sneaking out of a strict chaebol household wasn't easy. But when you had Taemin as a chaotic force of nature in your life? You learned real fast.
Finally, he pushed through the side door and limped across the pavement. His face twisted when he saw him Taemin, leaning cockily on his bike, shaking his head like some delinquent Romeo under Juliet's balcony.
"Damn," Taemin muttered, eyes narrowing as he got closer. "What happened to your legs? You look like you just ran a marathon in hell."
"You mean thanks for nothing?" Juwon snapped, limping the last few steps. "You made me sneak out in the middle of the night. Are you possessed?"
Taemin didn't even flinch. Instead, he tossed him a helmet.
"Get on. We're going for a ride."
"A ride?!" Juwon barked. "I'm limping like a 70-year-old grandpa and your idea is a midnight bike ride?"
"It's therapeutic," Taemin grinned. "Wind. Moonlight. Possible jail time. It'll fix your mood."
Juwon stared.
Taemin stared back.
Juwon raised the helmet.
And then—
WHACK.
Straight to Taemin's shoulder.
"OW! What the hell!" Taemin yelped, laughing as he ducked the next swing.
"You idiot absolute menace why do you only exist to ruin my life?!" Juwon was full-on swinging the helmet now, limp and all, chasing him in a circle around the bike.
"Because you look hot when you're angry!" Taemin cackled, dodging expertly. "And also because I was bored!"
Another swing. This time, Juwon hit him square on the back.
Taemin groaned dramatically, falling to the ground. "Ahhh! My spine! Now you have to come ride with me. It's the only way to make it up to me."
"You're a drama queen."
"And you're in love with me."
"Shut up."
"Still not denying it though," Taemin grinned, grabbing his wrist and pulling him toward the bike. "Come on. I'll buy you snacks."
Juwon glared, breathing heavily from the knee pain and the rage. But then he saw the second helmet… and the stupidly warm smile Taemin wore… and the moonlight above them, soft and glowing.
"…Fine," he muttered. "But I swear to god, if we crash, I'm letting you die first."
Taemin whooped as Juwon climbed on behind him.
"You'd never let me die," he smirked, revving the engine.
And just like that, they took off into the night two fools on a stolen moment of freedom, escaping responsibilities, punishments, and logic.
It was reckless.
It was dumb.
It was so them.
The night had grown thick with silence, only the occasional creak of the old house settling into sleep. Eunjae lay sprawled on his bed, eyes glued to the ceiling, completely still but his mind? A full-blown war zone.
Daon, huh…
It wasn't like he hated the guy. In fact, he barely knew him. They had crossed paths a few times at family events and business galas, and sure Daon was polite, kind of cute in a clean, soft-boy way. But marriage? That was different. That was forever, or at least supposed to be.
Eunjae groaned and sat up, running a hand down his face.
"Why the hell does it have to be like this?" he muttered to no one, swinging his legs off the bed.
But as much as he wanted to scream and kick the walls, deep down… he knew he had already made up his mind.
He wasn't doing this for some business deal. Not just because Mr. Lee offered to erase their debt. No he was doing this for his father. The man who had raised him alone, who had sacrificed everything.
Sighing, Eunjae stood up and quietly walked across the hallway to his father's room. The door was slightly ajar, the light still on.
Mr. Hong was sitting at his desk, glasses on, reading over some documents. He looked up, surprised to see his son.
"Eunjae?"
Eunjae stepped in and scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. "I'll do it."
Mr. Hong blinked. "Do what?"
"I'll marry Daon," Eunjae said, avoiding eye contact.
For a moment, there was just silence. Then Mr. Hong's face lit up like a kid getting his favorite toy back. He got up and hugged Eunjae tightly no words, just warmth.
"You have no idea how much this means to me," he said, voice tight.
Eunjae rolled his eyes but hugged him back anyway. "Don't get all emotional, old man."
Mr. Hong chuckled and patted his son's back. "I'll arrange a family dinner tomorrow. Formal, nothing too big. Just our side and Daon's family. Be ready, alright?"
Eunjae nodded once, then turned to leave the room.
As he walked back to his room, he muttered to himself, "This better not suck."
It was quiet at the lake park. The only sound was the soft ripple of water and the faint rustling of trees swaying in the breeze.
Taemin sat beside Juwon, a lit cigarette between his fingers, the faint trail of smoke curling upward and vanishing into the night. He exhaled slowly, eyes fixed on the water, but his attention was somewhere else entirely on Juwon, who sat unnaturally still.
He noticed it immediately.
The way Juwon winced every time he shifted his legs. The way he tried to hide it, acting like nothing hurt when every small movement said otherwise.
Taemin said nothing at first.
But thenbwithout warningbhe turned, leaned down, and gently grabbed Juwon's ankle.
Juwon flinched. "W-What are you—?"
"Shut up."
Taemin rolled up the hem of Juwon's trousers with careful hands. His jaw tightened the second the bruises on Juwon's knees came into view. Ugly red and purple welts, puffed and raw from hours of kneeling.
Taemin's expression darkened. "What the hell is this?"
Juwon averted his eyes. He didn't want to tell the truth that these bruises were because of him,
So he lied. "I failed a meeting. That's all."
Taemin stared at him for a long second, eyes unreadable.
Then he stood up abruptly.
"Wait here," he said, voice clipped.
"Where are you—?"
"Just wait."
Before Juwon could say anything, Taemin hopped on his bike and sped off into the night.
Fifteen minutes later, he came back holding a plastic bag in one hand and a bottle of ointment in the other. The sight of him windswept hair, holding snacks and medicine like some chaotic nurse was almost comical.
Juwon blinked. "What is all that—?"
"Shut up and sit still."
Taemin dropped beside him again, reached into the bag, and pulled out the ointment. Juwon recoiled a little.
"You don't have to do this."
Taemin smirked. "Say that again and I'm ripping your pants off."
Juwon flushed. "What is wrong with you?"
Taemin ignored him, tugged his trousers back up, and opened the ointment. His hands surprisingly gentle started massaging it onto Juwon's bruises. Juwon gritted his teeth, trying not to react, but the cool balm felt like heaven against his aching skin.
Then.
Without warning, Taemin leaned down and kissed his knee.
Juwon froze.
"W-What was—?"
Taemin didn't stop there. He kissed lower his shin, his ankle and then down to the top of his foot.
Each kiss was soft. Almost reverent.
Juwon stared at him, wide-eyed, covering his mouth with his knuckles as if to stop himself from making a sound.
From this angle, Taemin looked annoyingly handsome. His lashes long. His hair messy from the wind. His lips brushing lightly over Juwon's skin like it meant something.
"Taemin..." Juwon whispered, barely able to breathe.
Taemin glanced up at him with a smirk. "What? You want me to stop?"
"You're insane."
"That's not a no."
Juwon kicked him in the chest lightly, but enough to push him back. Taemin fell flat onto the grass, laughing so hard he choked on his own breath.
"You're the worst," Juwon muttered, covering his face with both hands now.
"And you love it."
"No, I don't!"
"Yes, you do," Taemin said, dragging himself upright. He reached into the bag again and handed Juwon a snack. "Eat this before your blood sugar crashes from all the blushing."
Juwon grabbed it without looking at him, cheeks still red. But he didn't move away.
Taemin sat closer, close enough that their knees touched.
AT THE PARK ESTATE
The silence in the hallway was suffocating.
Juwon had barely stepped past the threshold when he saw him Mr. Park standing in the dark like a ghost waiting for judgment. His hands behind his back, posture straight as ever, like he already knew everything.
"Where were you?" His voice was flat. No anger. No surprise. Just cold.
Juwon stopped dead in his tracks. His heart dropped. For a second, he considered lying. But he knew better. Silence was safer.
So he said nothing.
Mr. Park stepped forward without hesitation and gripped Juwon's shoulder hard. Too hard. And with one forceful push, he dropped Juwon to his knees like a criminal awaiting sentencing.
"You left mid-punishment," his father said slowly, with venom in every word. "And had the nerve to get picked up on a bike like some runaway brat."
Juwon's eyes widened. How the hell—
"The cameras," Mr. Park continued, almost reading his mind. "Do you think this estate doesn't have eyes? We saw you. Lucky for you, the boy's face wasn't visible. Some lowlife, I'm guessing. A stray."
Juwon clenched his jaw.
He wanted to say don't talk about him like that.
He wanted to scream you don't know anything.
But all he said was, "Can't I have just one night for myself?"
That was it.
A sharp slap cracked through the air. The force tilted Juwon sideways, his cheek instantly stinging, skin hot with humiliation.
"You're speaking back now?" Mr. Park hissed. "This is what happens when I go easy on you."
Juwon bit the inside of his cheek, head down, hands tight on his thighs. Blood bubbled on his bottom lip, but he didn't wipe it. He just whispered, "I'm sorry."
"Next time you slack—" Mr. Park leaned down, voice low and furious, "I'll make sure you're punished in front of the staff so you don't forget again."
With that, he turned on his heel and walked off, footsteps echoing in the marble hall like gunshots.
Juwon stayed kneeling long after he was gone.
His knees throbbed.
His cheek burned.
But worst of all… the memory of Taemin's warmth haunted him like a curse he couldn't afford to want.
Juwon closed the door to his room behind him with trembling fingers. His cheek still stung, his knees still ached, but none of it hurt quite like the words that were now echoing in his mind.
He leaned against the door and slid down until he was sitting on the cold floor.
This has to stop.
Whatever this thing is with Taemin... it has to stop.
He closed his eyes, but all he saw was Taemin's face grinning like an idiot, hair flying back in the wind, laughter echoing in the night as the bike sped up beneath them. His fingers still tingled where Taemin had touched him. He shook his head, trying to push the memory away. Focus on work. Focus on survival. That's all you can do here.
But then the door creaked open.
Juwon sat up fast, startled. His heart softened immediately when he saw her.
His mother.
The only light in this suffocating mansion.
She rolled her wheelchair toward him, eyes filled with concern and quiet strength. She looked tired, as always not physically, but like someone who had been carrying years of silent grief.
"Omma…" Juwon breathed, and just like that, the dam inside him broke.
Tears slipped out faster than he could stop them. She reached for him instinctively, her warm, fragile hands cupping his face with the gentleness he'd been starved of for years.
Without saying a word, he crawled to her and laid his head in her lap like he used to as a child. He sobbed quietly, hands clutching her blanket.
"Why can't I live… just once?" he whispered, voice cracking. "I have a heart too… it hurts too… I'm so tired, omma…"
Her fingers ran through his hair slowly. Not saying anything. Just holding him like she knew because she did. She had lived in this house longer than him. Married to Mr. Park, surviving every silent war with nothing but grace and quiet rebellion. She knew what kind of hell her son was growing up in. And she hated that she couldn't protect him from all of it.
After a while, when his sobs had faded into sniffles and shaky breaths, she finally smiled a soft, teasing one.
"You were never the type to sneak out before," she said lightly, brushing hair from his forehead. "What made you do it now, hm?"
Juwon chuckled under his breath, eyes still wet but heart a little lighter.
"I met someone…" he admitted.
Her eyebrows raised, but she said nothing.
"He's… clingy. A total maniac," he laughed softly, eyes glinting with something warm. "But cute. He showed up on a bike and basically forced me to come out. Took me for a ride and god, omma… I've never felt so alive."
He turned his face, half-buried in her lap. "He bought me snacks too… some were spicy as hell, but they were so good. He even went and got ointment when he saw the bruises."
His mother watched him carefully. He didn't speak like this. Ever. Not even when he was younger.
"He's crazy, though," Juwon continued with a crooked smile. "Kept speeding up the bike just to mess with me. But he made me laugh. A real laugh, not the fake ones I wear at work."
She was stunned. Her son, who barely said a word during dinner, was now talking with stars in his eyes.
"Are you in love with him?" she asked gently.
Juwon blinked. The question hit like a cold splash of water.
He sat up, eyes wide not in horror, but surprise. A pause.
Then… he laughed.
"Love?" he scoffed softly, shaking his head. "Come on, omma. How could I be in love with a guy I met yesterday?"
But his smile lingered. And his voice? A little too soft.
And his mother? She just kept smiling the kind of smile that knows something the other person doesn't yet.