A/N: I am soooooooooo so so so so so so sorry for the late update. First I had a big writers block and then i started a new $24,000 diploma, got a job on the other side of the country, and put my house on the market for rent and trying to sell all my furniture in the space of a week. I love digging myself holes and making my life difficult, you see. 

I hope to see familiar readers returning to the story and now that i'm over the block, can hopefully smash out the last few chapters once i finish up at my current job.

You know the drill - completely unedited and likely to have little plot holes from poor memory and rushing. sorry!! <3 

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"Why did you have to come back?"

Those words were a plague that could have driven me into madness had I not resolved things before returning to Chanyeol's apartment. Father-in-law looked me in the eyes for the first time since I walked in, and I could see the hurt and betrayal etched into them. The second son he raised had betrayed him, disappearing without a word to seek a better life. That is the story my father planted, and that was all he could see left in me.

My lips started to tremble, and I could feel my eyes brimming with tears. That uncomfortable prick in my heart caused it to drum and break so that my breaths became unsteady. His expression softened for all of a moment before he stubbornly averted his gaze, then turned his attention to his cellphone as it started to ring, which I was sure came as a welcomed distraction. Father-in-law put his finger up, gesturing that he was now engaged with the phone call, and I moved off the bed as he fumbled out, allowing him to pass.

What little appetite I had disappeared, and I packed my food back into the plastic bag. Noticing that father-in-law had left his container open on the bed, I pressed the lid back on it and placed it on his bedside table. As he stood talking on the phone, I listened to his grand and unfamiliar language with his back turned to me. Sometimes he would glance back, looking me up and down and then turn away again. Since the age of four, when our families first connected, there was not a moment when I was forced to feel shame and distance from a man I loved and trusted so dearly.

When I tried to consider his side, believing for seven years that I had wandered off and ridiculed the way he raised me and the care he provided, I could understand. But my heart struggled to accept it, and I wished that he would believe in me just a little bit more. The man to whom I placed my trust had turned his back on me, and even questioned my return. I understood. I tried my best to. But the rejection left a gaping hole in my chest that would likely swallow me whole.

After ending the call, father-in-law did not turn back to face me. Instead, I watched the back of his shoulders lift and drop with a heavily burdened sigh. "Is there something you want?" he asked, voice suddenly quiet and hollow. "Money, perhaps? To be returned on title of my son's property?"

His were not bitter; they were filled with pain and defeat. Give him what he wants, then perhaps he will be done with us before a storm arises. Let the dust settle as it may. Was that what he was thinking? There was too much space between us. My eyes were stinging from fighting back the tears, but it was a losing battle. The moment I squeezed them shut to relieve some pressure, the floodgates opened and out came the downpour.

Marching towards him, I closed the distance between us and grabbed his shoulder, turning him so that I could embrace him in a hug. His body tensed as I wrapped my arms around him, and as our cheeks touched, I realized he was also crying. This man who was left with no closure after losing one of his sons to the most cynical betrayals was trying his best to appear strong. My heart could not handle his pain and I knew I had to relieve him of this burden, even if Chanyeol told me to stay quiet.

"Father-in-law," I murmured, "Please don't carry this heaviness in your heart. I may have been gone, but it is nothing like what you think. I swear I never left nor betrayed you. I only have you and Chanyeol in my heart."

He stood rigid for some moments, but I held strong and refused to let go. Eventually, his shoulders slumped, and he lifted his arms to return the embrace. We stood like this for some time, while I clung to the man I most respected like a helpless child. I wept helplessly, feeling his grip tighten as if he could not believe I was here and could not bear to let go.

Once we had found ourselves calming down and reducing to quiet and embarrassed sobs, we stood back and wiped our faces of the tears. It was unbearable to watch father-in-law cry, because if he ever did so in the past, then he always kept it hidden from us. He was kind and affectionate, but he was also stubborn and proud. I believed this man had to be truly broken to reveal what I just saw.

Father-in-law was always working hard to provide for us the best he could. It appeared that his efforts paid off over time, but I could not be there to witness and cheer him through his victories. Perhaps he also felt this way. They had both moved so far forward without me that in just the space of what felt like a few months, I had already been left completely behind.

We sniffled and sat back down, allowing silence to ensure while we collected our thoughts, and I battled relentlessly to still my beating heart. I never had much reason to cry in the past, so it was overwhelming to find myself succumbing to this weakness so often since waking up. Now I had to somehow explain my story, cautiously, so as not to cause him too much shock or grief.

"I suppose all I did was talk about myself and Chanyeol all this time," he said, eventually breaking the silence. "Go ahead and tell me, my son. What have you been doing with yourself, and what brings you back to us after all this time?"

The words were there, but they were trapped in my throat. I looked up at the ceiling, swallowed hard and took a deep breath. All I needed was to say them, so why was it so difficult? My fingers and legs were shaking. Actually, my whole body was beginning to shake as I was overcome by nerves. Noticing this, father-in-law reached forward and placed his hand on my arm.

"You're trembling," he said, steadily observing me. "Are you in danger, perhaps? Have you sought refuge with us?"

I shook my head rapidly. "If I got myself into such a mess then I would surely take responsibility," I said. "Just as you raised me."

Father-in-law retracted his hand and appeared dubious but nevertheless concerned. "So, what is it?"

"I was hurt in the army," I said, unsure of where else to start. "

I watched his expression as I spoke, but it did not change. I continued: "I went unconscious, probably somewhere in my first few months in Afghanistan. I have no memories of it, but I have been dreaming and­... what I think are flashbacks of my father. He may have been there. Maybe he was involved or was one of the last people to see me over there. But my sleeping body was returned to this hospital seven years ago, and I woke up last week."

His eyes were on me, expression blank and eyes unblinking. "What are you trying to say?"

The words threatened to choke me once more. Saying it out loud only forced me to face an even more gripping and terrifying reality that I already struggled to accept, and now I was forced to unleash it on him. Was Chanyeol right? Should I just keep quiet, after all? "I..."

"Spit it out, boy," he griped, throwing his hand out towards me with frustration. "Just what are you trying to tell me?"

"I have been in a coma from the time I went missing," I blurted out, burying my face in my hands. A headache was beginning to form, but I had to persevere and tidy the mess I just made. "The moment I woke up, I borrowed a phone to contact you. I did not know then that I had been gone for so long. Even now, it feels like only a few months have passed. So when you and Chanyeol treat me so coldly, all I can feel is... cold."

"But you only contacted me last week," he said with a crinkled frown and furrowed brows. "How can such a thing be?"

"I promise I only speak the truth," I said.

"Chanyeol oversees audits and has access to all medical records. How could this have escaped his attention?

"I don't know," I admitted. "But I was in somebody else's room on the floor directly below yours. All along, I have been right here."

"But your father­­­­––"

"You're my father," I interrupted. "Chanyeol already told me what the man responsible for my birth said. But just as I said, I believe he was there in Afghanistan. I have no proof other than blank memories, but if I truly ran off with a woman to gain wealth, would I not have just admitted it? I could be lying about this story, father-in-law, but to what end? Let me show you all medical records and introduce you to Dr. Sai who has cared for me all these years."

"You know Dr. Sai?"

"The moment I stood for the first time, I went outside of the room and came across Chanyeol who was here to greet you. He was so cold and callous towards me, and I was scared and confused. I did not finish my mandatory service. I have no car, no license, no degree, no marriage certificates, no home, no loans, no money, and no past over the past seven years. When I woke up, I thought you or Chanyeol would race directly to my side and comfort me, but you did not come... You did not know I was missing... or all alone."

Father-in-law's eyes began to brim with tears again as his nostrils flared, and I could see that he was fighting back the urge to cry again. He looked away and sniffed, but there was a wild look in his eyes when he turned back to me. "If you are lying then by God, I will not let you get away with it."

"I'm not lying," I said, violently shaking my head. "I'm not lying. I really am not lying."

"You... you really..." Father-in-law's words struggled to come out. After some seconds of stammering and struggling, his eyes widened, and his face turned pale. His hand came to his chest, and I watched veins protrude from his furrowing forehead and neck. He began leaning to the side.

"Hey," I said, grabbing his arm and shaking it. "Hey, father-in-law. Are you okay? Huh, father?"

When his eyes slowly met mine as he grappled his chest, I realized that he was having an attack. It took moments to realize that he was not attached to any equipment and so no medical alarm was going to off. It was up to me. I searched for the emergency call button and pressed it numerous times before racing towards the door and yelling out of it.

"Help! B213! I think he is having a heart attack!" I raced back inside the room and pressed the button a few more times, then grabbed his shoulders to embrace him. "It's okay, it's okay. I will get help. You will be fine, okay?"

A few medical professionals came running in and moved me out of the room. I stood outside the room, pacing back and forth with my phone up to my ear like an idiot, praying that Chanyeol would answer. Instead, his phone did not ring. It simply beeped and did not allow me the opportunity to leave a message. I sent a string of texts informing him that his father was in critical care, but there was no response. After some time, I gave in and decided that he would call back when he received them. I placed the phone back in my pocket and tried to peer through the window, but it was hard to see anything when their bodies blocked my view.

They had trailed various pieces of medical equipment inside and were performing what looked like CPR on him, but they also did not appear too hurried or stressed. I was unsure if I was feeling some false sense of security and relief, but it did make me feel better to think that this incident would be easily resolved. Eventually, a doctor came out and assured me he was fine.

Five minutes later, they left the room but informed me that he needed to rest and should not be exposed to any more stressors. As soon as they left, I peered back in through the window and saw him lying on his back, eyes up to the ceiling. I looked around to ensure I would not be seen and walked back inside, hoping to at least say goodbye.

His head turned to me and looked at me sheepishly. "Maybe I should take my medications like the doctor's instructed," he said.

I nodded. "I think that would be for the best."

"As for your story," he said, then paused, taking a deep and unsteady sigh, "I will find out what I can. Assuming you are telling the truth, then there is no way we would not have found you here right below our noses. Go back to Chanyeol and make peace with my son. Even if you are lying, the thought of what you might have endured to pull a story like this... I guess I am still weak toward you, Haneul. You are my second son, after all. And," he paused, looking studiously into my eyes. "And my son-in-law."

His words seemed to hold a hidden meaning, but I was too scared to grasp what he meant. "Did you..."

"I always knew," he nodded. "You boys thought you could keep a secret? You were obsessed with each other from such a young age, and it was nothing like other boys your ages. Of course I knew. And the pain Chanyeol suffered for all these years since you left, I knew he lost his other half. I watched a part of my son break, without knowing my other son was already broken. The more I talk to you now, the more I realize you are still the same as back then. It... relieves me, as selfish as that may sound."

The term father-in-law was always used as one of endearment, and Chanyeol and I always planned to keep it a secret lest he ever disagree and keep us apart. But it turned out that our secrecy was unnecessary, and that he accepted our love all along. It filled my heart with so much burden and relief that I did not know which one I should feel more of. The relief of having his acceptance, or the burden of having missed years of it. I closed my eyes and tried to steady my breaths.

"May I... come back to see you tomorrow?"

"Yes," he answered. "Bring my son with you if you are able."

Exhaustion began to set in as I nodded and turned to leave. It was late in the evening by the time I reached home, and I was desperate for sleep, but even more so to speak with Chanyeol and let him know that father was okay. I sat on the couch and stared out the window, making shapes out of the few clouds in the sky to keep my mind busy. However, my mind eventually drifted and slipped into a deep sleep.