Below the surface- YeonKai

Chapter 23 - Perfect Little Life

AUTHOR POV

Soobin's gaze met Yeonjun's, the fear in his eyes mingling with a flicker of defiance. He didn't respond, but inside, he replayed that phrase over and over and over and over.

"For us"

Flashback

The night was cold, and Soobin's breath came out in visible puffs as he wandered aimlessly through the streets. He had been walking for hours, the weight of his family's rejection pressing heavily on his shoulders. Tears blurred his vision, and he stumbled, feeling utterly lost and abandoned.

Walking past a dimly lit park, he noticed a figure wrapped in a thick coat sitting on a bench. The figure looked up, and their eyes met. Soobin quickly looked away, not wanting to draw attention to himself. But the stranger had already noticed his distress.

"Hey, are you okay?" the stranger called out, his voice warm and concerned.

Soobin hesitated, his instincts telling him to keep his distance. He shook his head, unable to find the words to explain his situation.

The stranger stood up and approached him. "I'm Yeonjun," he said, extending a hand. "You look like you could use some help."

Soobin glanced at the outstretched hand and then back at Yeonjun's face. Something was reassuring about his presence, but there was also an intensity in his eyes that made Soobin wary. He took a step back, hugging his arms to his chest defensively.

"It's okay," Soobin muttered, his voice barely audible. "I... I don't need help."

Yeonjun's eyes softened with understanding, but he didn't back off. "I can tell you're going through something tough. You don't have to go through it alone."

Soobin bit his lip, the tears threatening to spill over again. Despite his mistrust, the kindness in Yeonjun's eyes made him pause. He took a shaky breath, feeling a glimmer of hope for the first time that night.

Yeonjun led him to a nearby café, sitting in a booth hidden in the back to not drawing attention. The warmth of the café was a stark contrast to the biting cold outside. Yeonjun ordered two hot chocolates, and they sat in silence for a moment, the steam rising from their cups.

"So, what happened?" Yeonjun asked gently, breaking the silence.

Soobin stared into his cup, the tears threatening to spill over again. "I came out to my family," he whispered. "They kicked me out."

Yeonjun's eyes softened with understanding, but there was a flicker of something darker behind them. "I'm sorry," he said softly. "But you're not alone anymore. I'll help you."

Days turned into weeks, and Soobin found himself spending more and more time with Yeonjun. They would sit in the park, talking for hours about their dreams, fears, and everything in between. Soobin opened up about his past, and Yeonjun listened with unwavering support. The only mild red flag was an outburst when Yeonjun found out he had been lying about staying in a motel and sleeping in alleyways instead. That anger was the only hint of something sinister, but it died off so quickly that it was almost as if it had never occurred to begin with.

One afternoon, as they lay on the grass, watching the clouds drift by, Yeonjun turned to Soobin with a smile. "You know, I've never met anyone like you," he said softly.

Soobin felt his heart skip a beat. "Really? Why's that?"

"Because you have this incredible strength," Yeonjun replied, reaching out to brush a strand of hair from Soobin's face. "You've been through so much," he whispered.