Junhui had understood everything that was said. It was all so overwhelming, Minghao was going to be leaving and Junhui would have to explain to Seungcheol and Soonyoung that he was too, but most of all the bombshell that had been so casually dropped into the middle of the conversation.

“You have a fiancée?” Junhui hissed in Korean as they walked along the street. Minghao’s parents were behind them and showed no signs of letting their son out of their sight. “.” Tears filled Minghao’s eyes. Junhui was hurt and he knew it. “I’ve met her once Jun-gē. I can’t even remember her name. So no. I don’t have a ing fiancée.” He looked so absolutely defeated that Junhui regretted his selfish and self centred actions immediately. “I’m sorry Hao,” he whispered as they walked quickly back to the apartment still speaking to each other in secret.

Junhui could feel Minghao’s pain and he wanted nothing more than to let their fingers tangle together. He wanted Minghao to know he wasn’t alone. But the eyes of Minghao’s parents bore into him like fire as they walked and whispered in a language they knew would give them some semblance of privacy.

Minghao’s parents followed them into the building and up into the tiny apartment. Soonyoung was waiting on the couch and when he saw the two unfamiliar adults he knew it wasn’t good. “I’m sorry Soonyoung.” He fell onto his knees in front of the older boy. The boy he respected and looked up to so much as a leader and a big brother. The boy he never wanted to disappoint. “It’s not your fault Minghao,” Soonyoung whispered as he his hair softly. But he couldn’t stop the tears of disappointment that stung his eyes and Soonyoung rushed off to his bedroom and slammed the door shut as Minghao lay on the floor in tears.

Junhui stared in horror as Minghao fell apart in front of him. All his strength that he had gained, his willpower and his confidence, it all came undone as he curled up on the carpet. Hurting Soonyoung had been the last straw. He looked over at Minghao’s parents, seemingly unwavering, and rushed to Minghao’s side. “Hao. Get up. Don’t let them see you like this,” he whispered as he scooped him up into his arms. His face was red and his cheeks were streaked with tears and despite all of this all Junhui could think of was how beautiful he was. “Come on,” he said as he dragged Minghao towards the bedroom. “I’ll help you with your stuff.”

When the bedroom door closed behind them they just he