Han Jisung

You'd been nervous since the morning. Jisung knew about your allergy better than anyone. A deadly allergy to fish. He'd seen you get sick once after eating a simple seafood sauce, so he'd always been careful. That's why the invitation to dinner at his parents' house didn't scare you so much—you were sure he'd warned them. "Everything will be fine," he said calmly on the way. "We'll just have dinner and leave." But as soon as you entered the house, a strange feeling settled inside. His parents greeted you coldly, barely smiling. Jisung's mother was looking you over too closely, and his father pretended you weren't even there. Your throat went dry as you sat down at the table. All the food was fish. Fish soup. Fried salmon. Tuna salads. Even the smell was so strong it made you feel nauseous. You slowly looked at Jisung, waiting for him to say something. To remind his parents. To stop this. But he remained silent. “I… can’t eat this,” you said quietly, clenching your fingers under the table. “I’m allergic.”

Jisung's mother sighed in annoyance. — We spent the whole evening preparing. It would be impolite to refuse.

“But it’s dangerous,” you tried to smile, although panic was already rising inside. “It really is dangerous.”

The father chuckled: — Nowadays everyone is making up illnesses for themselves. You looked at Jisung again. He was sitting next to you, his gaze down at his plate.

"Jisung?.." His voice trembled treacherously.

For a second, you thought he'd finally get up. That he'd tell them to stop. But instead, he calmly picked up the bowl of fish soup and moved it closer to you.

“Eat,” he said shortly.

You froze.

• What?..

"Don't make a scene," he added quietly, not even looking at you. "One time won't do anything." It's like something inside you snapped. “Stop being dramatic, ” his mother said coldly. “If you love our son, you could have shown him some respect.” Your hands started shaking. You suddenly couldn't breathe—not because of allergies anymore, but because of terror. Jisung still wasn't looking at you.