Please make sure to have read the previous chapter :)

Bright and early the next morning, Hyukjae parked at his family’s house. He looked at his phone and saw Donghae’s latest message. It’s a photo of them yesterday at the beach, looking at each other. It was a romantic photo even with Hyukjae pretty much covered with his mask, shades, and cap. 

Donghae:

Counting down the days before I see you again ...

I miss you, Hyuk TT

I love you !

Hyukjae:

Me too, baby.

Enjoy your day and don’t be sad.

I love you so much! :*

Hyukjae smiled, thanking Donghae in his mind for giving him more strength. His boyfriend isn’t even aware of what he’s going to do today and yet he’s unknowingly encouraging him. 

When he entered their house, his mother and sister welcomed him warmly, obviously having missed him. His mother immediately herded him to the dining area, fussing over him looking too thin.

“Mom, we’re currently on tour. Of course I have to keep my weight in check.”

“Well it’s the holidays soon and your next concert is not until the end of January so you should eat freely for now, okay?”

Hyukjae humored his mother. Besides, he knows he wouldn’t be able to resist her great cooking anyway. “Yes, mom.”

They ate breakfast while happily talking about family updates and random things. They also planned for family parties for the holidays, and Hyukjae asked his mother and sister what they would like for Christmas. Afterwards, they lounged outside on their patio as they watched their dogs playing. 

“So, what is it that you want to tell us?” Hyukjae’s mom suddenly asked. 

Hyukjae’s eyes widened in surprise and his sister snickered at his reaction. “Hyukjae, did you really think we can’t see through you?”

“Wh-what do you mean?” Hyukjae sputtered in shock.

“Son, when you arrived, you were smiling but obviously nervous about something.”

“And it’s so weird that you told us you’d be home today, and yet you have to be back in the city for the next two days. Why not just come home after that then?” his sister added.

“So we figured, whatever it is, it must be urgent. What is it, son? Is something wrong? Or is something very right?”

“I…. I don’t know how to start,” Hyukjae said while looking down. 

“Then, can I help you start?” His mother kindly asked.

Hyukjae nodded, unsure on how this would go. 

“You’re in love?” His mother said with a smile evident in her voice.

Hyukjae looked up in surprise. “H-how did you know?”

“These past months, everytime we talk on the phone or on the rare times you come home here, you seem really happy and bright.”

“And besides, I can hear you talking sweetly to someone at night over the phone during the twice or thrice that you've slept here. We’re not idiots, unlike you.”

“Sora,” their mother admonished his sister lightly, then turned to Hyukjae and smiled. “So when can we meet her? Will she visit during the holidays?”

“Come on, show us a photo. I want to see this person,” Sora said before he can actually think on how to answer his mother’s questions.

Figuring that showing a photo would be an easier step forward rather than trying to stutter out his explanation, he took out his phone with clammy hands and opened the folder of his photos with Donghae. He scrolled down and chose a photo of them when they went to a housewarming party of one of their friends a few weeks ago. They were sitting very closely together on a couch and their arms were on each other’s back. He chose this because it’s obviously a couple photo, so that there would be no room for doubts or misinterpretation.

Hyukjae took a deep breath and gathered his courage. With a shaking hand, he angled his phone so that his mother and sister who were sitting on the chairs beside him could see it. He kept his eyes on the photo instead of looking at his family as he waited for their reaction. He heard an intake of breath but then there was silence for a while. Hyukjae felt like it was hours, and he just kept looking at Donghae’s face in the photo, reminding himself of who he’s doing this for.

His mother was the one who broke the silence. “What’s his name?”

Hyukjae swallowed. “Donghae… Lee Donghae.”

“Hyukjae, are you sure? This would be very difficult for you,” Sora asked worriedly.

Hyukjae nodded. With one last look at the photo, he looked up at his family and with another deep breath, he let out everything he wanted to say. Best to lay it all down in one blow. “I’m sure. I love him with all my heart and he makes me so happy. I would regret it forever if I let him go. My career and this conservative country aren’t the only problems though. After next year, he would have to leave Korea, and it would be very difficult for us to be in a long-distance relationship. So I… I’ve decided that I will go with him once he needs to leave.”

“You’re going to live with him in another country?” his mother asked incredulously.

“Yes. I can’t live without him.”

“But what about your career?” his sister asked.

“I will drop all my regular shows, but I will still go back here at least once a month to keep up appearances in some guestings. And of course when SKYE has a comeback, I will be here too. I will talk about it to the members and the management in the next few days.”

This was Hyukjae's plan. Donghae’s two-year deal with his mother will end in January of the year after next. So Hyukjae has one whole year left to arrange everything and establish the things he needs to do. He will start to leave his regular shows one by one, but will ask the management to schedule him as a guest to different shows at least once a month so that the general public would not forget about him. He will also set up a Youtube channel where he can do dance covers and vlogs so that his fans would still have something to look forward to. He’s also thinking of doing some investments or maybe a business, just as a backup plan for his family and for his and Donghae’s future just in case things go very wrong. Although he knows that with Donghae’s finances, he really doesn’t need to worry much about the money. And regarding SKYE, he will of course commit to return everytime they have schedules. During comeback seasons, he knows he will need to stay a lot longer, but he thinks that Donghae may at least be able to be with him in Korea for weeks at a time, so they would not have to be apart for very long.

“So you have decided this already with Donghae?” his mother asked.

Hyukjae bit his lip. “Actually, no. I know he would feel guilty about this. He would think I’m half leaving my life here and that I’m risking my career for us.”

“Well, you are.” His sister looked confused for a moment. “But wait, so he doesn’t know about your decision? You just assumed he’d allow you to be with him in another country?”

“I don’t have any doubts that he’d want to live with me. And even if he doesn’t, I can buy a house near him.”

His sister breathed out, if it was in frustration or surprise, he doesn’t know. He looked at his mother who was looking at him with an indiscernible gaze. “You seem very sure about your love for each other then.”

“I am, mom. I am very sure.”

Again, his mother and sister were quiet. Hyukjae looked down again and clenched his fists, trying his best not to tear up. “I’m sorry… I know this was very unexpected and it’s such a big decision.” He took a breath and continued shakily, saying what has burdened him for a long time. “I’m also sorry for disappointing you. I know this wasn’t what you wanted for me. I’m sorry that I won’t be able to marry and have a traditional family like what we all thought I would do. If.. If you’re mad at me, I understand. But even if you can’t be happy for me or at the very least accept us, I will still stand by my decision.” 

His mother held his hand softly. “Hyukjae, you’ve never looked as happy and content as you are these past few months. Of course I’m happy for you. We’re just really surprised. You suddenly spring on us that you’re biual, that you have a boyfriend, and that you’re going to uproot yourself in a year, all in one sitting.”

“You’ve done so much for this family, and the least we could do for you is to support you. And we love you, Hyukjae. Why did you ever think we won’t be happy for you?” his sister added.

Hyukjae looked up hopefully to his mother and sister.

“Hyukjae, my son, all I ever wanted was for you to be happy. I’ve always worried that you won’t have someone who would take care of you and make you happy. It doesn’t matter to me if it’s a man or a woman. I would love them because they love you.”

Hyukjae lost his fight with his tears and let himself cry. He sobbed his heart out, finally feeling free. He felt like a heavy weight was removed from his shoulders and thanked his family endlessly as they wiped his tears away and hugged him.

After a long while of crying in his mother’s embrace with his sister soothingly his back, Hyukjae finally sat up properly with his reddened eyes and smiled at his family. He currently feels so light and happy. It’s also been a long time since he felt such love from his family. He now knows he was stupid for ever thinking they’d be disappointed in him. 

“But I still want to meet this Donghae. I need to see if he’s worthy of my son.”

Hyukjae nodded. “Yes, mom. I’ll bring him here after the holidays. He'll be back in Korea by the first week of January."

“Are you really sure he’s your boyfriend though? He looks too handsome for you, brother.”

Hyukjae narrowed his eyes on his sister. “Yes, he’s my boyfriend and he loves me a lot.”

Sora laughed and continued to . "Or maybe he's just handsome in that photo. Show us mor