•:•.•:•.•:•:•:•:•☾☼☽•:•.•:•.•:•:•:•:•

Jay sat in his car for a long time after dropping Jungwon off. His father's sudden visit had left him rattled, but more than that, it had left him angry. There were things he needed to say—things he needed to make clear—but they couldn't be said here.

So, with a resigned sigh, he started the car and drove home.

When Jay arrived at the sprawling estate he once called home, he felt the familiar weight of dread settle over him. The place was as cold and uninviting as ever, a far cry from the warmth he'd experienced—even fleetingly—with Jungwon.

His father was waiting in the study, sitting behind his large mahogany desk. The room smelled of leather and aged whiskey, a stark reminder of his father's presence.

"You actually showed up," his father remarked without looking up from the papers he was reviewing.

"You made it clear I didn't have much of a choice," Jay replied, keeping his tone even.

His father finally looked up, his sharp gaze cutting through the air. "Good. We need to talk."

Jay crossed his arms, leaning against the doorframe. "About what? Another arranged marriage I have no interest in?"

His father's expression darkened. "Don't take that tone with me, Jay. You're a Park. You have responsibilities—ones you've been neglecting for far too long."

Jay scoffed. "Responsibilities? You mean like following your every command and pretending to be something I'm not?"

His father's eyes narrowed. "I've noticed how you look at that boy."

Jay froze. His heart skipped a beat, but he forced himself to keep his expression neutral. "What boy?"

"Don't play dumb with me," his father snapped, standing up and towering over him. "That boy you were with earlier. You think I didn't see the way you looked at him?"

Jay's fists clenched at his sides. "What's your point?"

"My point," his father said, his voice cold and sharp, "is that boys marry girls. Men marry women. That's how it's always been, and that's how it will be. You think you can bring shame to this family by entertaining... whatever this is?"

"Don't," Jay said quietly, his voice trembling with barely contained anger.

But his father didn't stop. "It's disgusting. You're disgusting if you think you can—"

"Stop!" Jay shouted, his voice echoing through the room. He took a step forward, his eyes blazing with fury. "I've put up with your control, your expectations, your bullshit my whole life. But you don't get to talk to me like that. Not anymore."

His father stared at him, stunned by the outburst. But Jay didn't back down.

"I don't care what you think. I'm done living my life to please you," Jay continued, his voice firm. "And if that means you disown me, then fine. I'd rather be on my own than spend another second pretending to be someone I'm not."

The silence that followed was deafening. His father's face was a mask of anger and disbelief, but Jay didn't wait for a response.

He turned on his heel and left, slamming the door behind him.

As he got into his car and drove away, his chest felt tight. The confrontation had been brutal, but it also felt liberating. For the first time in years, he had stood up for himself.

And as his mind wandered back to Jungwon—the boy who had unknowingly given him the courage to take this step—Jay felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, he could start living for himself.

                                  •:•.•:•.•:•:•:•:•☾☼☽•:•.•:•.•:•:•:•:•

Jay gripped the steering wheel tightly as he drove away from the suffocating estate, his father's words echoing in his mind. The weight of the confrontation pressed heavily on his chest, but it wasn't just the venomous slurs or the oppressive expectations that lingered—it was the realization that his father had noticed Jungwon.

He had brought Jungwon into his mess, however unintentionally, and now that his father had seen the way Jay looked at him, there was no guarantee the older Park would let it go. Jay cursed under his breath, the thought twisting his stomach into knots.

Pulling into a quiet parking lot, Jay turned off the engine and leaned back in his seat, staring blankly at the ceiling of his car. His mind raced with conflicting emotions.

He couldn't bear the thought of his father meddling in Jungwon's life. Jungwon didn't deserve to be dragged into the toxic world of the Parks. He deserved to dance freely, laugh with his friends, and live without the shadow of Jay's family looming over him.

But then there was the other side of it—the selfish, undeniable part of Jay that didn't want to let Jungwon go.

He thought about the way Jungwon's eyes would widen in surprise when Jay teased him, the way his cheeks flushed a soft pink when he got flustered. He thought about how Jungwon tried to act tough but would always end up letting his walls down, even just a little.

Jay ran a hand through his hair, letting out a frustrated sigh. He couldn't keep this up. The deal had been a game, a silly way to get under Jungwon's skin, but now it felt like something more—something he wasn't sure he was ready to confront.

He picked up his phone and stared at Jungwon's name in his contacts. Part of him wanted to call, to tell him the deal was off, that he'd leave him alone like he'd promised if Jungwon won.

But another part of him—the part that had been steadily growing since the moment he bumped into Jungwon—wanted to call just to hear his voice.

Jay tossed his phone onto the passenger seat, shaking his head. "Get a grip, Jay," he muttered to himself.

As he sat there in the quiet, the memory of Jungwon's smile flickered in his mind, and for the first time in a long while, Jay felt like he was completely, hopelessly out of control.

He closed his eyes and made a decision. Tomorrow, he'd talk to Jungwon. He'd figure this out—whatever this was—even if it meant risking everything. Because for the first time, teasing and watching Jungwon's flustered expressions didn't feel like just a game. It felt like something he wasn't ready to let go of.