Third person's pov

Hyunjae quickly put on a smile, ruffling Sujae's hair. "I'm fine, Sujae. I'm just thinking about work."

Sujae nodded, still looking a bit worried, but he decided to trust his brother's words. Hyunjae then made an effort to be more cheerful, joining in the laughter and conversations more enthusiastically.

Taewon was struggling with his fishing line, and Hyunjae noticed his frustration. He walked over, standing close behind him. "Here, let me help," Hyunjae said, gently placing his hands over Taewon's to guide the rod.

Taewon glanced back, a smile spreading across his face. "Thank you, hyun— I mean, hyung."

Hyunjae chuckled, stepping back once Taewon got the hang of it.

Taehyung, watching from a distance, noticed Hyunjae's forced cheerfulness but decided to respect his privacy and not mention it.

As the day wore on, Jungkook's mood started to shift. He became irritable and moody, sighing heavily and crossing his arms. Taehyung noticed immediately and walked over to him, placing a hand on his shoulder. " Kookie, want to go home?"

Jungkook nodded his head, pouting.

"You guys can continue fishing," he said to the group. "We're heading home." Taehyung said while helping Jungkook up and grabbing his bag.

In the car, Jungkook was still sulking, staring out the window. Taehyung glanced over at him, worried. Suddenly, Jungkook's eyes lit up as he spotted an ice cream stall by the side of the road. "Tae, I want ice cream!"

Taehyung smiled at his husband's sudden enthusiasm. "Alright, let's get you some ice cream." He pulled over and bought ice cream for both of them. Jungkook eagerly started eating his as soon as Taehyung handed it to him.

Taehyung watched Jungkook with affection, "Rosie," he said softly.

"Hmm?" Jungkook responded, not looking up from his ice cream.

Taehyung considered telling him about Hyunjae's mood but decided against it. He didn't want to worry Jungkook. "You look so pretty," he said instead, smiling.

Jungkook looked up, his sassiness returning. "Tell me something I don't know."

Taehyung chuckled, patting Jungkook's head. "Finish your ice cream soon, or else it'll melt, love."

Jungkook grinned, taking another big bite. "Okay, okay."

At night.......

Hyunjae sat on the edge of his bed, lost in thought. His fingers traced patterns on the duvet as he mulled over his feelings for Jaekhyung.

"I should confess to him," Hyunjae thought, his heart pounding at the mere idea. "I know he probably doesn't like me, but maybe, just maybe, I’ll have a chance if I confess early. What if he feels the same way and is just waiting for me to make the first move?"

He was so deep in his thoughts that he almost didn't hear the knock on his door. Startled, he quickly straightened up as Taewon’s voice came from the other side. "Can I come in, hyung?"

Hyunjae blinked, surprised by the sudden formality. "Come in."

Taewon entered, a casual grin on his face as he shut the door behind him. Hyunjae raised an eyebrow, "What's wrong with you? Why are you being so respectful all of a sudden?"

Taewon plopped down on the bed beside him, his grin widening. "Am I not always respectful?"

Hyunjae chuckled, shaking his head. "No, you're not. So tell me, what do you want?"

Taewon sighed dramatically, leaning back on his hands. "Fine, you got me. Actually, hyung, can I get an off tomorrow?"

Hyunjae folded his arms, intrigued. "And why is that?"

Taewon fidgeted slightly, a rare display of nervousness. "Well, you see, I... I..."

"Speak already."

Taewon took a deep breath, steeling himself. "I’m taking Jaekhyung out on a date."

For a moment, Hyunjae just stared at him, his mind struggling to process the words. "Are you okay?" Taewon asked, waving his hand in front of Hyunjae’s face when he remained silent.

Hyunjae’s voice was a mere whisper. "D-Do you think he will accept?"

Taewon’s face lit up with confidence. "Of course. He gave me the idea first of going on a date together."

Hyunjae's heart sank. "He gave you the idea, so... you both love each other?"

Taewon smiled as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "Wasn't this obvious, hyung? Everyone in the office knows about us except you."

"W-what," Hyunjae stammered, his mind reeling. His inner fears were true; Jaekhyung had never liked him. All those moments he had cherished were merely illusions.

"Seriously, hyung, are you okay?" Taewon asked again,"I only asked for a day off, not something huge that you're thinking so much about."

Hyunjae tried to sound normal, forcing a smile. "Y-yeah, you can take an off."

Taewon’s face brightened with relief. "I knew you would give it. By the way, what do you think of Jaekhyung? He's pretty and hardworking, right?"

"Yeah," Hyunjae forced a smile, feeling the words like bitter pills. "Really pretty." He quickly changed his tone, trying to sound normal. "Enjoy your date tomorrow."

Taewon smiled, patting Hyunjae’s back. "I will. I’ll show you the pics. Goodnight!" With that, he exited the room, leaving Hyunjae alone with his thoughts.

As the door clicked shut, Hyunjae felt a crushing weight on his chest. He let out a shuddering breath. He lay back on his bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.

Hyunjae's eyes glistened with unshed tears as he replayed the conversation in his mind. "So it's really true," he whispered to himself. "It was all just one-sided."

His chest ached, a hollow, gnawing pain that seemed to seep into his bones. He curled up on his side, clutching a pillow to his chest as if it could somehow comfort him. His thoughts raced, each one more painful than the last.

"How could I be so blind?" he thought, tears finally spilling over. "I thought I saw something in Jaekhyung's eyes, something that mirrored my own feelings. But it was just m-my imagination."

He remembered every stolen glance, every shared smile, and every moment he had convinced himself, there was something more. But now, knowing Jaekhyung's heart belonged to Taewon, those memories felt like sharp knives.

After 1 hour, no matter what Hyunjae did, he couldn't sleep. The pain of his emotions was too much to bear. He tossed and turned, the minutes dragging by like hours. Finally, he gave up.

It was midnight, and the house was silent. Everyone was in their bedroom. He quietly got out of bed, slipping on his shoes and grabbing his jacket. He crept out of the house, the cool night air hitting him as he stepped outside.

He walked aimlessly through the streets, his mind a chaotic mess. He found himself in front of a small restaurant, the neon sign flickering in the darkness. Without thinking, he walked in and sat down at the bar. "One soju, please,"

The bartender nodded, setting a bottle in front of him. Hyunjae poured himself a shot, downing it quickly. The burn of the alcohol was a welcome distraction from the pain in his chest. He continued to drink, one bottle after another, until he had finished three. His vision blurred, and he felt a lump rise in his throat.

He put his head down on the bar, tears streaming down his face. "Why... why not me?" he muttered between sobs. "Am I not handsome enough like Taewon? Or is it that because he saw me having a panic attack?"

A waitress approached him. "Um, sir, are you okay?" she asked gently.

Hyunjae looked up, hastily wiping his tears with the back of his hand. "Yeah, I'm fine," he said, his voice shaky. "Nothing is wrong." He forced a smile, but it didn't reach his eyes. He fumbled for his wallet, paid the bill, and left the restaurant.

The night was cold and still as Hyunjae wandered to a nearby bridge. He stood at the edge, looking down at the dark water below.

The river seemed to beckon to him, its surface calm and untroubled. He noticed a helpline phone mounted on the bridge and, on a whim, picked it up.

A voice on the other end answered, "Hello?"

Hyunjae's voice was hoarse as he asked, "Does dying stops the pain?"

The girl on the other end of the line remained calm. "Sir, calm down. It's okay, everything's okay. You're fine," she said soothingly. "Do you want to talk to me about why you're so upset?"

Hyunjae talked to her for a few minutes but hanging up. He resumed staring out at the water.

After a few minutes, Hyunjae noticed two police officers approaching him quickly. One of them grabbed his arm. "Sir, you can't take this step! No matter how hard life is," the officer said urgently.

Hyunjae tried to pull away. "I wasn't trying to commit suicide!" he protested.

The officer's grip tightened. "Sir, calm down. We know everything's hard."

Hyunjae winced. "Firstly, your tight grip is hurting me, and secondly, I was not going to jump into the water. I only called to get a few things off my chest."

The officer looked at him skeptically. "Sir, we still have to take you to the police station. One of your family members has to get you."

Hyunjae's frustration grew. "I don't need to go to the station. I'm fine!" he insisted, but the officers were firm.

"It's okay, sir. We understand life's hard," one of them said, guiding him towards the police car.

Hyunjae continued to protest, but it was no use. They gently but firmly escorted him into the car.

With Taehyung........

Taehyung was massaging Jungkook's legs when his phone buzzed on the nightstand. He frowned at the unknown number on the screen but picked it up. "Hello? Who's this?"

A man's voice came through the line. "Sir, this is Seoul's police station. Are you Park Hyunjae's father?"

Taehyung immediately tensed. "Yes, I am. What's wrong? Is he okay? Did he do something wrong?"

The officer explained the situation, urging Taehyung to come quickly. Without hesitation, Taehyung agreed, slipping on his slippers and rushing to his car. He was too worried to even change out of his pajamas.

When Taehyung arrived at the station, he ran inside, scanning the area anxiously. His heart pounded as he spotted Hyunjae sitting alone.

He rushed over and enveloped him in a tight hug. "How could you try to take such a big step? If something was really bothering you, you could have talked to me or your mother!"

He was so worried he couldn’t help but hit Hyunjae on the shoulder.

Hyunjae quickly shook his head. "No, no, listen to me! I wasn't trying to commit suicide, I swear! I only called to get a few things off my chest."

Taehyung studied his face, not fully convinced. A police officer approached them. "Sir, you can take him now. Please keep an eye on him."

Taehyung bowed to the officer, then guided Hyunjae to the car.

As they drove, Taehyung's knuckles turned white from gripping the steering wheel. "Were you really not trying to commit suicide?" he asked.

Hyunjae sighed. "I told you, I wasn't."

Taehyung glanced at him. "Then why were you so upset? I noticed it earlier at the lake too."

Hyunjae avoided his gaze, staring out the window. "Nothing," he muttered.

"Don't lie to me. Answer me," Taehyung demanded, his voice firm.

Hyunjae was taken aback by Taehyung's stern tone. After a moment, he whispered, "Let's drink and talk."

Taehyung's eyes narrowed. "You already smell of alcohol. You drank before, didn't you?"

Hyunjae nodded. Taehyung sighed, then turned the car toward a nearby restaurant. "Fine, we can go, but don't drink too much."

At the Restaurant....

They sat at a quiet table in the corner. Taehyung ordered two bottles of soju, placing one in front of Hyunjae. "Now, tell me what's bothering you."

Hyunjae took a swig of soju, staring at the table. "Why does it hurt so much?" he said, tears welling in his eyes. He drank more, his hands shaking.

Taehyung moved to sit beside him, pulling Hyunjae into a hug. "Shh, you can cry and let it out first," he murmured, rubbing Hyunjae's back soothingly.

Hyunjae kept drinking despite Taehyung’s attempts to stop him. His eyes were glazed, movements sluggish. Finally, when Hyunjae was completely drunk, Taehyung took the bottle away from him, paid the bill, and said firmly,

"We are leaving. We'll talk tomorrow."

He helped Hyunjae up from the table, holding him by the side and guiding him toward the car. Hyunjae stumbled, and Taehyung's grip tightened, supporting him.

Suddenly, Hyunjae dropped to his knees, his legs giving out under him. Taehyung immediately tried to pull him up, but Hyunjae clutched Taehyung’s hand, tears streaming down his face.

“I’m so sorry,” Hyunjae whispered, his voice breaking. His eyes were filled with tears, wide and childlike.

Taehyung knelt down beside him, worry,"Why are you apologizing?"

“Everything’s happening because… because I made you and Eomma suffer. God is making me suffer now,” Hyunjae cried.

Taehyung was taken aback and confused. Hyunjae suddenly hugged him tightly, burying his face in Taehyung's shoulder. “I’m so sorry, Appa,” he sobbed.

Hearing the word "Appa" made Taehyung’s eyes widened, it was the first time Hyunjae had called Taehyung.

He immediately hugged Hyunjae back tightly, his own eyes welling up. They stayed like that for a few minutes, Taehyung’s arms wrapped protectively around his son.

Hyunjae pulled away slightly, his face red and swollen from crying. “It’s because I kept you away from Eomma. I’m so bad. I don’t deserve anything, but how could Jaekhyung choose Taewon over me, Appa? It’s hurting!”

Hyunjae was fully crying now, his shoulders shaking with each sob. Taehyung hugged him again, this time gently cradling Hyunjae’s head against his chest. “Appa is here with you. I’m not going anywhere. You can cry.”

Hyunjae’s sobs grew louder, his tears soaking Taehyung’s shirt. Taehyung held him tighter, “I’m here, son. I’m here,” he whispered over and over.

●○●○●○●○●○●○●○●○

So that was all for today's chapter, I hope you enjoyed reading it.

So what do you guys think about it ?

I think that it was the most awaited scene in the book.....at least for me.

I will be ending the book in about 2 more chapters!

And then I will start behind the spotlight!

Borahae,
Byee.

💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜