forty-five || believe in me, just this once

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Beomgyu tapped his pen against his desk anxiously, it was early morning, nearly 6 am when he arrived at the office. Usually he would come in during afternoon time, taking any chance he would get to come in as late as possible but this time it was for an important matter. When there weren't many employees in the buildings, trainees weren't arriving until afternoon, so it was the perfect time to talk to his father about everything he wanted to say.

This is for Taehyun, for taehyun. Beomgyu thought to himself repeatedly as the clock ticked by, the sound of it ticking back and forth kept distracting him in the silent room. He doesn't even know what was taking his father so long to arrive.

Beomgyu sighed and leaned back into his chair, closing his eyes he dived deep into his thoughts to just calm every nerve in his body down. His father wasn't like his mother at all, good lord, he shouldn't even compare the two...But he felt ignored sometimes. No matter how many times he tried talking to his father about Eunseo and how he would rather marry someone he truly loves he would be pushed aside and silenced by his fathers angry behavior.

The males eyes shot open hearing faint footsteps coming from the hallway, echoing out from how quiet it was. Sitting up in his chair he soothed out his outfit and fixed his hair up, standing up trying to look presentable.

Show no fear, look determined, be confident. This was his father, he had been gone for months on end overseas on business trips yet he handled the company well without him. Hell, the old man made him CEO the second he turned eighteen so there was no room for his father to doubt him. Yet he felt so suffocated, the way he would never listen to him made him just want to quit everything, how could he manage a company when he wasn't even allowed to make his own decisions sometimes?

Would his father even listen to him...?

Beomgyu shook those thoughts away, if we kept thinking negative thoughts then of course things wouldn't go the way he wanted them to, he needed to be confident in everything. A deep exhale left his lips as he glanced over at the door once he heard a loud click when the door knob twisted, the door opening widely showcasing his fathers figure in the doorway, his tired eyes never seem to fade.

"Good morning, father." Beomgyu greeted him, bowing slightly to show respect...More like convince him that everything will be okay.

"Why are you being so formal to me, Gyu? I'm your father, loosen up!" Doyun said, smiling widely. There was no doubt Beomgyu's handsome looks came from his father, when he would look for pictures of his father during his teenage years he always noticed the heavy similarities they had.

"I'm just tired, let's sit down." Beomgyu replied dryly, walking around his desk he walked over to the couches in the middle of the room and sat down on one of them as his father sat opposite him, giving him a sweet smile that just made Beomgyu want to puke.

"Father..." Beomgyu breathed out, sitting straight up on the couch. He felt like he was slowly sinking into a hole of fear and anxiety, it wasn't the first time he was to talk about Eunseo to him yet he felt so nervous. He was going to expose everything and twist his once fated life around into a new one, away from the forced marriage he desperately despised. "I want to talk—"

"What is this?" Doyun asked, noticing a picture frame that was facing down on the coffee table. Beomgyu's eyes widened realizing what it was and just before he could grab it and hide it away from his father in just a split second it was gone.

"Wait no!—"

Doyun's eyes widened seeing what it was, it was a picture of Taehyun and Beomgyu during their date at the rose garden, the two of them smiling widely at the camera as the younger had his arms wrapped around Beomgyu's shoulders and neck, very obviously blushing as well.

Beomgyu paused trying to see any emotions in his fathers eyes or even the slightest expression that could show. After a few minutes his father finally placed the picture frame down and looked back up at Beomgyu with a stone cold face. "Father please—"

"Is that the boy from yesterday? The one I ran into the day I came here? What is he doing here, you two look a little close for this to be considered a friendly photo." Doyun said, making it obvious that the picture had just angered him.

Beomgyu's mouth was open as he tried forming words, so many things he wanted to say to his father were in his mind ready to go yet there was something stopping him from saying it all. He felt scared, talking to his father about everything he felt with the possibility of being discarded once again made him feel so weak, how could he consider himself strong when he couldn't even defend himself.

But...He's waiting for you to make things right. Come on Beomgyu, don't give up now. You've gone through so much shit to earn him back you cannot back up now.

"That's why I wanted to talk to you father, it's not only Eunseo I want to talk about, it's about everything that's been on my mind, so if you could just listen to me and hear me out for once...?" Beomgyu said, yet it made him sound like he was practically begging and desperate for his father to listen to him.

Doyun gave his son a doubtful look before leaning back into the couch, nodding his head as if he was allowing Beomgyu to finally speak.

The brunette took a deep breath and glanced over at the picture frame, grabbing it off of the desk. He examined the picture with so much passion in his eyes, his thumb grazing Taehyun's face before putting it down.

"His name is Kang Taehyun, you've already met him countless of times, but he isn't just a friend to me father," Beomgyu said, licking his dry lips he nervously glanced up at his father who gave him dark eyes. "In no way that this is just a friendly picture as he is...M-My...Boyfriend, my lover." He continued on seeing how his father visibly tensed up.

"Father I don't- Taehyun makes me so happy you don't understand! Yet...This marriage with Eunseo is bullshit, I have a lover now, someone who cares for me for who I am and not just for some company purpose or power gain, you need to get to know him because he's such a sweetheart, a little bit dumb but I swear he's worth it! I wanted to talk to you, tell you about him the day you came back but I knew you'd get upset and especially since there were pictures going around of me at the park with someone— I just— In that picture was him! It was Taehyun and I on our date! So- So if you could—"

"Choi Beomgyu I did not raise you to be like this." Doyun interrupted the males rambling, placing his hand down on the table in front of him Beomgyu stared at his father with wide eyes from what he had just said. "But fath—"

"We will not cancel your wedding! You are to be engaged, do you have any idea how long it took for me to get every single article down of you and that boy at the park?! How would people think of you, my son, dating someone else while being engaged." Doyun said, his words piercing Beomgyu's heart and soul like venom as the male sat there trembling, he should've known that he wouldn't have listened.

Doyun seemed to take notice of his son's teary eyes, with a low sigh he crossed his arms. "I support you no matter what, but this relationship cannot continue, I want you to break up with him. The company and your marriage to Eunseo is important! You knew this would happen the moment you became CEO, you were always meant to be with Eun—"

"I don't WANT EUNSEO!" Beomgyu said loudly slamming his hand on the table, rattling things on it as his father immediately went silent. "You say you support me no matter what but when it comes to my happiness and the company you toss it away like rubbish! How are you going to support me when you're telling me to break up with someone who actually loves me for me! Not someone who wants me for money for power status' for fame! Listen to me for once, I can manage the company while dating someone who isn't rich!"

"Beomgyu without me you were nothing, I guided you towards the road of success in the company." His father said without mercy, not even listening to what the male had said which made Beomgyu's heart drop. "I don't care if you're in love with someone else, you will marry Eunseo regardless, break up with that boy. I've talked to you enough about this. That boy is useless anyway, I see no speciality in—"

Beomgyu immediately stood up slamming his foot down onto the ground, creating a loud echo startling his father. His eyes were burning with anger and his mind was clouding with anger and frustration from his fathers attitude and choices of words.

"You can disrespect me all you want, call me an idiot, worthless, nothing — but in no fucking ways will I let you disrespect MY boyfriend." Beomgyu spoke in a low threatening tone that left his father shocked from his son's sudden attitude change. "I wanted a peaceful talk, for you to listen to me for once! This is my life father, not yours! I will not tolerate you shaping my own life into your own fantasy you failed to achieve! So why can't you believe in me when I say I can handle the company without all that rich power!"

"Beom—"

"He doesn't come from much, he isn't rich like us, he isn't from a wealthy family. He lived with his sister for goodness sake, he barely paid off his whole college tuition. Yet he's strong, he's smart, he's enchanting. He's so much better than Kyeo Eunseo who is just a spoiled little bitch that gets everything handed to her when she bats her stupid eyelashes! But when I say he is the most extraordinary person who never gives up...I mean it, and out of all people I'd understand you, my own father, to understand how I feel."

Doyun sat there in shock, his mouth going dry seeing how angry yet saddened Beomgyu looked. The male was steaming with anger yet his eyes held so much pain. "I'm sorry Beomgyu, but this just won't work out. You will marry Eunseo regardless of what you said, I want you and that boy to break up." He said as he stood up walking towards the door.

Beomgyu stood there in shock, feeling his anger rise even more by the fact his father had not listened to him at all, the only chance he got where he could be honest with his feelings and spew out everything that's been on his mind was tossed away, he should've known that his father would ignore him regardless.

"How can you call yourself a father when you don't even listen to your own child," Beomgyu muttered out, seeing in the corner of his eyes how his father had stopped his movements. "From the moment you made me CEO it was like all my choices in life were thrown away, I spent my entire life perfecting my way and shaping myself into someone you could love, not becoming someone like a mother was. You are always gone, barely making time for me, I wanted you to listen to me yet you toss me away once again!"

Beomgyu took a second to breathe as he turned his body facing his father who was staring over at him over his own shoulder. "Do I embarrass you? If I don't follow your orders will you be mad at me? Fucking shit father I am not breaking up with my boyfriend! I went through hell and back just so I could make him mine, make him happy, I'm finally happy so why can't you be happy for me and understand I don't want to marry Eunseo, do you hear me? I'm grown enough and know enough because this was my entire life! Being your shadow and doing the things you never succeeded to do because you're so fucking insecure!"

Doyun couldn't comprehend any words, the sudden outburst of his son made him speechless. Those angry eyes and veins popping out made him slightly uncomfortable, yet he couldn't change his mind. It was all set from the beginning Beomgyu took over and he wasn't going to change it now just because his son fell in love with someone.

"You either break up with him or..." Doyun started slowly turning around and walking towards the door he glanced over at Beomgyu one more time. "You resign from being CEO."

Beomgyu's eyes widened from what his father had just said, watching the door close in front of him his legs immediately gave out as he fell to his knees. Anger, frustration, sadness, misery, and guilt built up inside of him as he stared at the ground in horror. He never expected that his father would go so far as to tell him he would need to resign from his position to date Taehyun, his eyes roamed everywhere on the ground trying to distract himself from everything.

Why couldn't he just listen to what he had to say? He felt like he was trapped inside of a box, the only way to escape was if he always listened to his father but he didn't want that at all, he was done listening to him. He was twenty-four, been in the industry ever since he was eighteen, he knew what to do or not yet his father always gave him doubt and insisted on him following in his footsteps towards the light he calls success. It felt suffocating.

"Fuck!" He groaned out slamming his fist against the wooden floor echoing out as sharp pain bloomed where he slammed it on, but he didn't care, he was pissed off. "Break up with Taehyun? In your dreams, I worked too hard to make sure I made him happy."

Beomgyu slowly stood up from the ground and walked over to his chair, turning on his computer. He waited for a few seconds as files began to load in, he just wanted to work and get things off of his mind. His mind was filled with anger and guilt that he couldn't control it, he just wanted his father to break off the marriage.

"I'm sorry my darling," Beomgyu muttered under his breath as he glanced over at the picture of them on his desk. "I promise I'll convince him, but I won't ever break up with you. Not in a million years."

Leaning closer to his computer he sighed seeing an email from his father right away about how he needed to attend a meeting with Eunseo to discuss marriage matters, as if his words meant nothing.

I swear I'll end this marriage, even if it cost me my title.

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Ding!~

The smell of fresh coffee beans and sweet delights filled Taehyun's senses to the brim, heightening them as he thought about what he should eat from here.

It was late afternoon time, being bored out of his mind from being at home all day and alone since the elder was gone and doing office work he decided to go out somewhere to find something to eat or company himself, usually he would ask Huening Kai to hang out but he decided it was another solo time for him, he loves his best friend dearly but he just needed to recharge his social battery for a bit.

Walking over to the counter he examined the menu, deciding on getting a strawberry crepe cake, since he was already here and always thinking about his dearest boyfriend he decided to get a coffee crepe cake as well just so he could surprise Beomgyu if the elder decides to return home anytime soon.

After placing his order the employee went away to fetch it which gave Taehyun the chance to look around, his eyes roamed the place before landing on a specific table...Feeling an eerie draw to it, squinting his eyes harder he noticed the familiar blondes..

Is that...? Taehyun squinted his eyes harder before widening. Yeonjun hyung and Soobin hyung?!

The male's mouth dropped open, even though he would see those two sometimes he would've never expected to see them together alone without them killing each other! He swore Soobin had something against Yeonjun ever since the ride to Gwangju happened. What shocked him most was how calm and happy Yeonjun looked, the male always looked like a mr. grumpy pants whenever he was around him.

"Hello? Sir, your order."

Taehyun's head snapped towards the worker and awkwardly took the bag that had his cakes in it. Looking back he thought about whether to leave the two to chat about whatever they were talking about or to...

"Hi guys!" Taehyun said loudly, gaining the attention of everyone in the café, swiftly walking towards the table with the two blondes he smiled mischievously and stood there as the two looked up at him in shock. "What are you guys doing here? Soobin hyung, I thought you'd be with Kai today?"

"Taehyun what are you doing here?" Yeonjun grumbled, suspiciously looking annoyed by the male's presence.

"I was stopping by to get some sweets for me and my boyfriend— oh! were you guys hanging out? If you wanted to hang out with someone you should've called me hyung!" Taehyun teased giving the elder an irritating smile, knowing he was ticking Yeonjun's buttons.

"I actually was the one who invited him out to hang out," Soobin interrupted Taehyun, which left the male shocked. Usually his best friend would always be shy to ask people to hang out and end up being the one being asked to hang out. "Huening Kai said he was fine with it, he was really happy. We both know Yeonjun hyung is a workaholic so it's nice to come out once in a while. Right, hyung?"

"Uhm...Yeah."

He's not putting up a fight? What the hell, this isn't the usual hot tempered headed Yeonjun I know, did Soobin hyung spike that caramel latte he's drinking. Taehyun thought, staring at them in shock.

"Hey, why don't you leave now?" Yeonjun said to him, his annoyed snarky tone back which made Taehyun quite relieved he didn't get possessed. "I'm pretty sure Beomgyu may be coming home soon, so go away!"

Taehyun scoffed and opened his mouth to bark back but then he felt his phone buzz, fishing it out he saw a message from his dearest hyung saying he will be back home soon. Eyeing Yeonjun weirdly for knowing that he quickly backed up, "Fine fine, bye bye!" He said before bolting out so he could make it in time.

"Good riddance." Yeonjun muttered under his breath watching the ravenette run out like a child. A soft chuckle distracted him from his rising anger, looking over at Soobin his eyes widened seeing a soft sweet smile.

"Are you alright?"

"What?" Yeonjun asked, taken aback from the sudden question.

"I mean, are you okay? I know...Just..." Soobin sighed trying to find the right words so he wouldn't come off as an asshole. "When Taehyun talks about his relationship about Beomgyu, are you okay?"

I should've expected that from him. Yeonjun thought picking at his straw, he had told...More likely was forced to confess what he was feeling to Soobin since the younger managed to read him so well.

"I'm fine, they're happy. Beomgyu's happy, which makes me happy." He replied dryly, yet this sudden behavior change was quickly noticed by Soobin who had eyes like a hawk and just knew how to read people's emotions so easily.

"You don't need to lie, it's okay to feel sad sometimes, you've liked Beomgyu ever since you met him of course you'll be saddened." Soobin said, gently patting the elders hand to reassure him.

Yeonjun sat there silently, he felt so...numb? That's how he could describe it, the way Soobin comforted him on something like this made him feel at ease. For a few days now he's been hanging out with Huening Kai and Soobin a lot, the two welcoming him into any activity they do which made him feel a bit bad since the two would be on a date right now. Not comforting him because of a silly broken heart.

"Punk, I'm stronger than I look, this doesn't affect me at all." Yeonjun scoffed, swatting the male's hand away from him. Yet...He felt happy that he had someone finally there for him.

"Yeah yeah hyung," Soobin said leaning back into his chair. "Just know I'm here for you, both Huening Kai and I are here for you."

Yeonjun sat there silently before shyly looking away. "Yeah, whatever thanks I guess." He muttered under his breath to try and cool his rising senses.

Soobin smiled sweetly, chuckling he leaned forward and patted Yeonjun's hand gaining the males attention.

"Anything for my best friend."

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"Beomgyu hyung!" Taehyun called out the moment he entered the apartment, kicking off his shoes he walked over to the kitchen and set the bag of crepes down as he looked around to see if the elder was anywhere in the apartment.

He would usually be on the couch waiting for me... Taehyun frowned, his head suddenly snapped towards the hallway hearing a faint thud, as if he were being pulled by an invisible rope Taehyun scurried over to the elders room and knocked a couple of times. "Hyung-ah! I got us crepes."

No answer for a few minutes definitely made Taehyun worried, cracking the door open he peeked his head through and saw the male sitting on his bed with his head low...As if he were...

"Hyung!" Taehyun panicked, opening the door wider as he slipped through, quickly walking towards the man he kneeled down and gently cupping Beomgyu's face making him look up to face him, quite surprised he didn't put up a fight. "My hyung..."

Big puffy red eyes, a swollen nose, both dry and wet tears staining his face, shaky lips, there was no doubt Beomgyu was crying because of something, which rarely happens since the elder was the one who always kept his composure.

"What's wrong hyung? Please don't cry, I'm so sorry I didn't come sooner." Taehyun spoke calmly, trying to reassure the elder that everything was okay. Even though he didn't know the reason why he was crying he just wanted to be there to comfort the male. With his thumbs, he wiped away any tears that fell down his lover's face.

"Taehyun..." Beomgyu managed to say beyond his years and shaky breath. "I'm sorry, I'm so so sorry."

"Why are you apologizing? There's no need to apologize when you've done nothing wrong." Taehyun frowned, upset by whatever made his dearest lover cry.

"I tried, I really tried." Beomgyu mumbled, his shaky hands wrapping themselves around Taehyun's wrist trying to bring the male closer. "I told my father everything, yet he didn't listen! Now he's threatening me to break up with you or I'll lose the company, my title as ceo, and in no way will I ever break up with you. It's all bull shit, he never listens to me, Tyun, never. I just...I feel so frustrated, what can I do? I never ever wanted to marry Eunseo! Goddamnit the person I want to marry in the future is you not someone who I will never love!"

Taehyun's eyes widened from what he had just heard, standing up he removed his hands from Beomgyu's face and pulled him into a hug. "I know, having parents or relatives who don't listen to you at all is frustrating, but hyung..." the male stopped, after hearing that Beomgyu would lose his position because of their relationship made him—

"Whatever you're thinking, stop. I know what I said was shocking but please don't overthink it." Beomgyu interrupted the male's thoughts. "I don't want to lose you again, so if it means I have to step down as CEO I will do it, not even money can make me want to break up with you. You're more important to me than anything, understand?"

Taehyun stared at his boyfriends eyes for a few seconds before nodding, he had to give up and listen to him. "I'm just worried, what about the marriage?"

"I'll find a way to end it, somehow." Beomgyu muttered softly, gently pulling Taehyun down; he made the male lay down on the bed hovering over him. "Right now, all I need is you. Please don't leave me."

Taehyun sighed and wrapped his arms around Beomgyu, pulling the elder down making their chests hit. "I know, I won't hyung. You can cry, I'll be here for you listening to everything you have to say and then together we can work on what to do, alright?"

"...Alright." Beomgyu muttered gently, placing a kiss on the male's neck and wrapping his arms around him. Letting himself finally break down in front of someone made him feel a little bit better, but now he just wanted one person to listen to what he had to say, his father.

"Just sleep now hyung, it's time to sleep." Taehyun spoke softly, bringing a hand up he whispered a few words under his breath before blowing golden mist in front of the elders face immediately feeling Beomgyu knockout.

He knew that Beomgyu would be overthinking everything for the next three hours, as bad as he felt doing that sleeping spell on him once again he just wanted him to feel refreshed...But it also gave him an opportunity to go with his plan that he had formed the moment Beomgyu told him everything.

A reckless father who never listens, I'll make sure he listens to you hyung, so i'm sorry... Taehyun thought as he brought a hand up.

"I'll have to dive deep into your memories, I promise it'll be worth it, trust me." He whispered before snapping his finger.

And with that, everything went black.

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