Hwang Hyunjin

Your room smelled of vanilla and a summer evening—dry perfume on the pillow and warm air from the slightly open window. The curtains fluttered gently, and green tea cooled on the table.

You were sitting on the floor, leaning against the bed, holding the phone in your hand.

"Hwang, imagine: we could just leave. Just the two of us. Somewhere where there's no 'what will people say'," you said quietly.

A familiar laugh came from the speaker.

"You can't even imagine how much I want to wake up and see not the ceiling of my room, but you. Your freckles next to me."

You smiled, feeling your cheeks warm.

• Fool.

• Your fool.

You'd been talking for over an hour. Hyunjin was talking about the broken cup, and you were talking about looking at the photo of you together again. His parents knew about your relationship and accepted you, saying that if you made their son happy, then you were family to them.

You wanted to cry at these words. Your father was completely different. He was homophobic and would never have accepted a relationship between two guys.

"I'm scared, Hwang," you admitted. "I don't know how to tell him. He just won't understand."

— I'll be there. No matter what happens, you're not alone.

You pulled your knees to your chest and listened to Hyunjin quietly hum the melody you heard on your first date. The room was quiet.

And then from below came the heavy sound of the front door opening.

You froze. You recognized those footsteps immediately. Your father was supposed to be at work until ten, but the clock showed twenty to nine.

"Felix? Are you there?" Hyunjin asked anxiously.

• Yes, everything is fine. He just...

The footsteps were already approaching. The corridor. The door. The handle turned.

"Felix?" his father's voice sounded right outside the door.

• Dad, I...

You tried to hide the phone behind your back, but it was too late.

The door swung open.

Your father stood at the threshold, looking at the phone in your hand.

“…and when I arrive, I’ll hug you in a way you’ll remember,” Hyunjin’s voice came from the speaker.

Father looked at you.

"So..." his voice became muffled. "You're gay, damn it?"