Only You (YeonGyu)

Chapter 24: The Breaking Point

Beomgyu blinked through his tears, barely able to process the avalanche crashing down on him.

“Why are you doing this to me?” he whispered. “Why can’t I just be happy?”

Mrs. Choi scoffed. “Happiness? You think this—this scandal—is happiness? You're delusional, Beomgyu. You're supposed to be studying, preparing for your future, not throwing it away over a crush. This isn’t love. It’s foolishness.”

And with that, she turned her back on him and walked away, her heels clicking on the floor like a gavel of judgment.

Beomgyu remained on his knees, trembling. The tears kept coming—hot, endless, and sharp like glass. His chest ached as though something vital had been ripped from it. He curled into himself on the floor, hands clutching at his shirt as sobs tore through him.

He had no power. No voice. No freedom.

And in that moment, he realized something cruel and irreversible:

To protect Yeonjun, he would have to let him go.

Even if it destroyed him.

+×+

The soft clinking of utensils and gentle rustle of fabric filled the cozy apartment, where the faint scent of simmering sauce lingered in the air. From across the room, Kai watched Soobin prepare dinner, his heart swelling with quiet disbelief. Their relationship was still so new, so fragile, like something out of a dream—too beautiful to be real. And yet, here they were. Together.

It was surreal. Falling in love with Soobin, his teacher, wasn't something Kai ever imagined would happen. But emotions, he had learned, rarely followed logic. They bloomed like wildflowers—unpredictable, messy, and stunning. And while the road ahead was uncertain, Kai knew one thing for sure: this—they—felt right.

Soobin, on the other hand, was experiencing the same wonder. He had never expected to fall for a student, let alone Kai. Yet the younger boy’s tenderness, his resilience, the way his eyes lit up when he smiled—Soobin was already too far gone. Despite the boundaries they crossed, there was something deeply pure about the love forming between them. Both were confused, maybe even a little lost—but never alone. They had each other now.

“You really like staring at me, huh?” Soobin teased with a soft grin, glancing over his shoulder.

Kai blushed and smiled shyly, caught in the act. There was something soothing about watching Soobin move—graceful in the kitchen, hands steady, brows slightly furrowed in focus. He looked like he belonged in the frame of a favorite movie.

Soobin walked over and gently took Kai’s hand, leading him to the table. The touch made Kai’s heart skip. His hands were small and soft, but in Soobin’s grasp, they felt protected, cherished. He adored how naturally they fit—like puzzle pieces shaped for each other.

“Soobin…” Kai’s voice trembled slightly. “What do you think will happen to us? This—what we’re doing—it’s all so new to me. I don’t know what I’m supposed to feel, but… I know I’m happy.”

Soobin sat across from him, then reached to kiss the back of his hand, his eyes glowing with warmth. “I think it’s going to be a crazy ride,” he said softly, “but we’ll figure it out together. If you’re happy… that’s all I need.”

Dinner was quiet, intimate. They laughed between bites, stole glances, and gently touched each other's hands over the table like they were on a candlelit date. Soobin called Kai cute at least a dozen times, unable to contain his fondness. It was corny, it was romantic—and they loved every second of it.

Later, as Kai prepared to leave, Soobin caught his hand again.

“Do you want to stay the night? Sleep with me—just hold me,” he asked with a soft plea, his eyes wide like a child seeking comfort.