Ha-Neul lay with his back against the cushions of the couch, staring up at the ceiling of Jun Hyun’s apartment. He’d just ended a call with his boss, with Jun Hyun’s father, and he was almost positive that he was a little more than in trouble.

Jun Hyun’s father had called to ask when Ha-Neul was going to stop by the office, so they could have a chat. Ha-Neul, wanting to stay on good terms, told Mr. Woo that he would be in the office the next morning to speak with him. And that was when Mr. Woo brought up his living status. He asked if he had found an apartment, and Ha-Neul said he had. Immediately, Mr. Woo asked how he was living, on his own or with a roommate. And that was when Ha-Neul had to excuse himself from the call.

Because Jun Hyun had asked Ha-Neul not to share their relationship with his father.

And it was slowly killing Ha-Neul. Mr. Woo loved his son, and Ha-Neul knew he would love his son regardless of who he was with, but Jun Hyun was still too scared, which was beginning to grate at Ha-Neul.

When the door to the apartment opened, Ha-Neul didn’t move. He could hear Jun Hyun shuffling in, taking off his coat and tugging off his shoes, only to put them in the closet where they kept their shoes. “Ha-Neul?” Jun Hyun called, and Ha-Neul hummed, still unmoved. “Quiet day, huh?” Jun Hyun asked, shuffling towards the couch where Ha-Neul lay.

Ha-Neul sighed. “Your father called,” He said, just as Jun Hyun circled around the couch. Jun Hyun stopped dead in his tracks and looked down at Ha-Neul, surprised. “He wanted to know when I was coming to the office, and if I’d found living arrangements.”

“And you said?” Jun Hyun asked, still standing straighter than a stick, eyes wide with fear.

Ha-Neul sighed and sat up, dragging his legs off the couch and sitting with his side turned to Jun Hyun. “I said that I would need to call him back, or just talk to him tomorrow because I was in the middle of something. He understood, of course, and hung up.”

Jun Hyun released a relieved sigh and flopped onto the couch. “Good.”

“No!” Ha-Neul hissed, moving to his feet. “Not good! This isn’t good Jun Hyun!” He said, shaking his head and turning towards Jun Hyun. “I can’t believe that you’re still hiding our relationship! Has your father really believed that you’ve been with girls for the past three years? Really? Do you honestly expect him to believe your terrible acting?”
 

“You think I’m a terrible actor?” Of course Jun Hyun wasn’t bothered by this. But he didn’t want to answer Ha-Neul.

Ha-Neul grabbed the flower vase from the table and threw it, angrily, at his boyfriend, who just barely dodged it. “Dammit Jun Hyun! This needs to stop! Do you hear me? You need to tell your father the truth! I’m sick of hiding from everyone, like I’m your dirty little secret. I don’t need this. I don’t have to stay here, you know. I can always go back to China, with my family, and find someone else, since I’m not the one hiding from what I really am.” With this, Ha-Neul turned and stomped towards the door to their shared bedroom.

Jun Hyun’s shoulders slumped and he pulled himself to his feet. “Jagiya-”

“I told you not to call me that!” Ha-Neul hissed, slamming the door.

Jun Hyun hurried to the door and grabbed the knob, but it didn’t budge. “Ha-Neul, unlock the door.”

“Go away. I don’t want to talk to you.”

Mallory rolled onto her side and reached out to grab her phone. Her mother had told her to leave it alone, to just get her rest, but she was beyond bored, and she wanted some kind of entertainment. They’d moved the television from her room, knowing that she would watch instead of going to sleep. She was really beginning to wish they would leave again.

She scrolled through her phone until she found Suga’s number, and called him. He answered immediately. “They’re driving me crazy.”

He laughed. “I’m sorry, but that’s what parents do.”

She sighed. “Yeah, whatever. Are you still at practice?”

“It just ended.”

“Will you come over?” He groaned. “Come on! Yoongi-ah! I’m so bored, and they’re driving me nuts!”

He sighed. “Mallory, I can’t come straight over unless you want your house to reek. I’ve been practicing for hours, and I seriously need a shower.”

“I have two. So come over. I even have f