Lost in Translation Drabbles

SQ - You're Perfect (Vensung)

     [Warning: Eating disorders and self-hate are mentioned/directly stated in this drabble. If you are uncomfortable with either subjects, please skip this story. Also obsession that turns into conditioned thinking. Please take care of yourselves, you're all fantastic. ♡)

    Minsung came home to the tangy scent of chicken broth bubbling on the stove and coffee leftover from the morning sitting on the table. He regarded the mugs with a hint of disgust, which he then mentally slapped himself for. Sometimes he didn't realize how lucky he was to have Ven as a boyfriend; one that made dinner and tidied up their cramped city apartment every day. Not to mention he had to balance class on top of that as well, being a busy nurse major. But as Minsung made his way through the hall, he could tell something was off. He stopped at their bathroom entrance, hearing the flow of the faucet through the door. He cracked open the door, taking a small step inside.

     "Ven?" Minsung murmured cautiously. He found the other boy lifting his shirt up, eyes glued to the mirror. He stayed frozen like that for a second before he noticed his boyfriend's presence. He made a small squeal, immediately standing up, as though he were caught red handed doing something unethical. "Everything...okay in here?" Minsung questioned, gaze swiftly traveling over the room, inspecting it for anything unruly. Ven nodded and looked down in shame, red crawling up his neck.

     "Y-yeah..." Ven peeped. Minsung quirked an eyebrow, deciding to leave the subject for later.

     He dropped a brief peck on his boyfriend's forehead before murmuring, "I'm going to get out of this stuffy coat, I'll be right back."

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     Minsung didn't touch the subject during dinner, their usual chatter replaced with the clatter of steel forks hitting porcelain plates. It wasn't like the silence was uncomfortable or uncommon, Ven was usually tired from classes all day and Minsung tuckered out with his new internship at the hospital. But the atmosphere had an odd air, Minsung still curious as to why his boyfriend was standing in the bathroom when he came home. "Um, can you pass the pepper Minsung?" Ven asked awkwardly, bringing Minsung out of his trance. Though the other boy just nodded, handing him the topping not noticing how his boyfriend just put it to the side, not touching his food for the rest of the evening.

       After dinner, the two were cuddling on the couch, eating ice cream and watching some random re-run of Golden Girls. It'd taken quite a bit of convincing for Ven to even consider getting a bowl of ice cream, Edy's no less. "They didn't even give Coco a chance.." Ven grumbled, sticking his spoon of strawberry ice cream in his mouth. Minsung hummed, paying more attention to the dab of whip cream that Ven had on his nose. He wiped it off with a napkin, keeping his gaze on Ven's expression. He noticed how his lips were twisted in a pout, his eyes tinted pink and watery.

     "Ven, why were you in the bathroom earlier?" Minsung wondered aloud, causing Ven to flinch a tiny bit. A small action, but Minsung made sure to note it.

     "Earlier I went out to get the mail and suddenly Ms. Han's new terrier got out.." Ven let out an awkward chuckle, pulling on the hem of his shirt distractedly. "She hasn't declawed the little rascal yet and I got scratched."     

     "Oh, can I see then? I'll get you some band-aids if you want-" Minsung offered, Ven immediately shaking his head.

     "Uh- the marks are probably faded by now, the dog didn't scratch that hard..." Ven stuttered, tugging hard on his shirt, making it stretch. Minsung laid his hand over Ven's, rubbing his shoulder. Ven's look of reluctance only irked Minsung further.

     "Ven, c'mon, I'm worried." Ven frowned and nodded, removing Minsung's hands to lift his shirt.

     "Fine, but the marks..." Ven's voice faded away as he lifted his shirt. Minsung couldn't see any ruddy grazes but he did see the very prominent sharp lines of Ven's stomach. Minsung felt his insides curl into a ball, throat tight. Ven tried to put his shirt down, his expression morphing into a look of apprehension and panic. Minsung halted his hand with his own, shaking slightly. Ven gulped, raising his gaze to meet his shocked boyfriend. Was this why he was in the bathroom earlier?  Is Ven... The other boy muttered something inaudible, covering his face, tears starting to leak from behind his hands. Ven was naturally slim but this was... at the least, worrying. You could see the harsh planes of his stomach and suddenly Minsung thought about how pale the other boy was nowadays, how he would sometimes shake when wiping down the counters after dinner. Oh God. He didn't notice Ven's forced grins or how Minsung's sweaters were looser on him than before. "I just wanted to be pretty too," Ven whimpered still hiding his face.

     "Pretty...too?" Minsung whispered wrapping his arms around his horrified boyfriend. The other boy was still trembling, tears streaming down his flushed face. Minsung sure as hell as didn't have the full story on what was happening, but he definitely had an idea. But why did Ven say too? Social media had tons of unrealistic standards, pop up ads about dieting and videos on how to look skinnier littered the internet. The thought of having his boyfriend of 3 years, his baby, go through something so crushing made Minsung wince. He didn't want Ven to go through...whatever this was, he wanted to help him and he wanted to show him how beautiful he already was. Minsung shook his head, untangling himself from Ven's iron grasp. "This," he stated gesturing to his stomach, "doesn't need to be completely flat to be beautiful." Minsung motioned to Ven's legs, "These don't have to be sticks to be considered toned or pretty." Ven whimpered, his cries becoming soft sobs.

     "But... I'm pretty now.." Ven looked up at Minsung with wide and confused eyes. Minsung felt tears threatening to spill; Ven, the boy who would at one point never turn down a bag of chips, the boy who used to look at food and not think of numbers, had been brainwashed into thinking he wasn't already beautiful in every way. But Ven had a small smile plastered on his face as he said it, the sight contrasting with his wails. It made Minsung hurt even more, once again clinging to him. Ven had been through something traumatizing and lost. Just the thought made Minsung's throat constrict further, not wanting to let go of Ven. He wanted to be with him for the rest of the way, despite how much he missed.

     "We'll get through this, I promise." Ven cocked his head however he still burrowed himself into Minsung's shirt. The pair stayed like that for a while, long enough for Golden Girls to stop playing and another old sitcom to start. Ven was asleep in Minsung's arms now, drool catching onto Minsung's shirt.  They were going to be okay, Minsung would make sure of it. He took a glance at Ven; one day he would help him realize how beautiful he was and how he didn't need to hurt himself to show that. Minsung cared immensely for Ven, vowing to himself to become more attentive and alert for his sake. He kissed Ven's forehead before picking him up to head to bed.

"I love you."

by: squish