Hidden | YEONGYU/BEOMJUN

08 - end

Yeonjun stood outside Beomgyu's front door, clutching a bouquet of daisies and baby's breath, dressed in his best white button-down and black jeans.

His hair was neatly styled, but the moment his eyes met his reflection in the window, he ruffled it, muttering, "Too clean, too clean, act normal."

He raised his hand to knock but hesitated, taking a deep breath, before finally knocking three times.

The door opened, revealing Jennie, who raised an eyebrow at the flowers, "Oh, we're doing the romcom route, huh?"

"Please don't make fun of me," Yeonjun whispered.

Jennie smirked, "Get in, lover boy."

Yeonjun stepped inside, greeted by the comforting scent of food cooking in the kitchen and the low hum of chatter. But the moment he turned the corner into the living room, he froze.

Beomgyu's entire family—and cousins—were there.

Sana, Giselle and Chuu were seated on the floor with their cousins Jay, Moka, and Yoonchae, all clutching pillows with wide, expectant eyes. Jennie followed behind him, taking a seat on the armrest. Beomgyu's mother stood beside the couch, arms crossed, while his father sat, leaning back with a carefully unreadable expression.

Beomgyu, sitting cross-legged on the carpet, looked at Yeonjun with a soft, apologetic smile that read "I'm so sorry. Good luck."

Yeonjun cleared his throat, stepped forward, and handed the flowers to Beomgyu's mother, bowing deeply, "Thank you for letting me come."

She took the flowers, examining them without smiling, and handed them to Jennie. "Put them in water."

Yeonjun gulped, his palms sweaty, as he stood in front of Beomgyu's family. The silence was so loud he could hear his own heartbeat.

Beomgyu's father finally spoke, voice calm but stern, "So, you're the boy who's been sneaking into my son's room. Unexpected."

Yeonjun's ears turned red, but he straightened his back, nodding, "Yes, sir."

The cousins whispered among themselves, and Sana giggled before Jennie elbowed her.

Yeonjun cleared his throat again, "I... I love your son."

Silence fell again.

Beomgyu's father leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees, eyes narrowing just slightly, "What do you have to offer?"

The air went still. Even the ticking clock on the wall seemed louder. Yeonjun felt sweat roll down his spine as he opened his mouth, but no words came out.

What did he have to offer?

He wasn't from a rich family. He didn't have a fancy career. He was just Yeonjun, the boy next door who had fallen hopelessly in love with the loud, bright boy who used to ignore him on when they had first moved in the neighborhood.

Everyone was watching him. Beomgyu's sisters. His cousins. Jennie. Beomgyu, eyes wide, silently mouthing, "Say something."

Yeonjun's mind blanked.

Then he did the absolute worst possible thing.

"I... I have nothing," he croaked, "Only this."

In a panic, Yeonjun's hands flew to his belt. He unbuckled it, letting it drop with a clink to the floor. Before anyone could process what was happening, he tore his shirt over his head, throwing it aside.

Gasps filled the room.

And then, to the absolute horror of everyone present, Yeonjun hooked his thumbs into the waistband of his jeans and yanked them down, leaving himself completely, utterly naked in the middle of the Choi family's living room.