Seo Jun stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the lapels of his coat for what felt like the hundredth time. His usually composed reflection betrayed him—eyes darting, shoulders stiff, fingers fidgeting with the fabric of his collar. He looked more like a man bracing for battle than someone heading to a child’s birthday party.
“Just a party,” he muttered under his breath. “A simple birthday party.” It was anything but simple for him. The thought of stepping into someone else’s home, surrounded by strangers, filled him with annoying anxiety. What if they stared? Judged?
The walls he had carefully constructed over the years seemed to quiver, threatened by the warmth he’d catch glimpses of through Han Su’s stories. He hesitated before leaving the room. The echo of his footsteps in the empty mansion reminded him of just how alone he was. Shaking off the unease, he grabbed his keys and headed out to the address Han Su had given him.
The house was small, nestled in a quiet neighborhood that buzzed with life. Kids darted around the yard, their laughter mingling with the scent of grilled food and the sound of a lively tune playing from somewhere inside.
It was the kind of scene Seo Jun had only ever seen in movies or read about in books. He gripped the steering wheel tighter, parked, and took a deep breath before stepping out.
Han Su was waiting at the gate, waving him over with a bright smile that momentarily eased the tightness in Seo Jun’s chest.
“You made it,” Han Su greeted, his voice warm and genuine.
“Yeah,” Seo Jun replied, nodding stiffly. He glanced around, taking in the festivity.
“Nice place.”
“It’s home,” Han Su said simply, leading him inside.
The moment Seo Jun crossed the threshold, he was hit by a wave of warmth—both literal and figurative. The walls were adorned with family photos, and the air buzzed with chatter and laughter. The scent of homemade dishes drifted from the kitchen, where Han Su’s mother worked alongside a few relatives.
“This way,” Han Su guided him, weaving through the crowd until they reached a group of kids clustered around a small table, eagerly unwrapping presents.
“Oppa!” a young girl called out, running up to Han Su and throwing her arms around his waist.“Eun ji, meet my friend,” Han Su introduced, gently disentangling himself. “This is Seo Jun.”
Eun ji’s eyes widened as she looked up at Seo Jun, her gaze full of curiosity and awe.
“Are you a prince?”
Seo Jun blinked, caught off guard. “Uh... no.”
“You look like one,” she insisted, tugging on his sleeve. “Do you like cake?”
“I... yeah. I do,” Seo Jun answered, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
“Good. Come with me!” Eun ji declared, pulling him toward the dessert table.
Han Su chuckled as Seo Jun, clearly out of his element, was dragged away by the pint-sized whirlwind.
The rest of the party felt like a blur. Seo Jun found himself surprisingly at ease, thanks in large part to Eun ji’s relentless enthusiasm. She introduced him to every guest, made sure he sampled every dish, and even roped him into a round of charades.
She and Han Su introduced him to Han Su’s mother—a kind woman who welcomed him heartily.For the first time in years, Seo Jun laughed. Real, unguarded laughter that left him feeling lighter. The weight he always carried seemed to lift, if only for a moment.
Later, as the guests trickled out and the house quieted down, Seo Jun found himself on the porch with Han Su. The night air was cool and refreshing—a welcome contrast to the warm inside.
“Thanks for coming,” Han Su said, leaning against the railing.
“I should be thanking you,” Seo Jun replied. “Your family... they’re amazing.”
Han Su smiled, a hint of pride in his eyes. “They are.”
There was a comfortable silence between them, broken only by the distant hum of cicadas.
“I didn’t realize how much I missed this,” Seo Jun admitted softly, almost to himself. “Being around people. Feeling... normal.”
Han Su glanced at him, a gentle understanding in his gaze.
“You are normal, Seo Jun. Just a bit rough around the edges.”
Seo Jun chuckled, the sound low and genuine. “Is that your way of calling me difficult?”
“I said what I said,” Han Su grinned.
They both laughed, the tension of the day melting away.
“We’re friends now,” Han Su added, his tone serious but kind. “That means you’re stuck with me.”
Seo Jun looked at him, the weight of those words settling deep in his chest.
“Friends.”
It was a simple word—but one he hadn’t heard directed at him in a long time.
“Yeah,” he murmured with a smile. “I guess I am.”
For the first time in years, that thought didn’t scare him.
The days that followed the birthday party felt different—lighter somehow. The usual tension that filled the air at Seo Jun’s mansion seemed to dissipate, replaced by something warmer. Though neither Seo Jun nor Han Su could put a name to it.
Han Su noticed the first change.
One morning, Seo Jun—who typically left half-eaten plates behind or skipped meals altogether—actually sat through breakfast. He even asked Han Su to eat with him, adding, “If you want more coffee.”
A gesture so out of character that Han Su almost choked.
“Did I do something wrong?” Han Su asked cautiously, watching Seo Jun pour coffee with a steady hand.
Seo Jun raised an eyebrow, setting the mug in front of him.
“Why would you think that?”
“I don’t know... you’re being...” Han Su hesitated. “Nice.”
Seo Jun’s lips quirked in a half smile. “We are friends, aren’t we? But don’t get used to it.”
Despite the warning, Seo Jun’s behavior continued to shift. He started noticing things he previously ignored—like how Han Su always worked late into the night, or how he sometimes skipped meals to get everything done.
One evening, after a particularly grueling day, Han Su found a small paper bag on his bed. Inside was a set of herbal teas—the exact kind his mother used to brew when he was stressed.
Han Su’s chest tightened as he stared at the thoughtful gift.
“How did you know I liked these?” he asked the next morning, holding the bag as Seo Jun entered the dining room.
“You mentioned it once,” Seo Jun said nonchalantly, sitting down with a newspaper. “Figured you could use them.”
Han Su blinked, stunned. He barely remembered mentioning it. Was Seo Jun... listening?
“Thanks,” Han Su murmured, his voice soft.
Seo Jun merely nodded, hiding behind the rustle of the newspaper.
The changes didn’t go unnoticed by Mr. Choi, the butler who had served Seo Jun’s family for decades.
“Mr. Lee,” the butler called out one afternoon, catching Han Su in the hallway.
“Yes, Mr. Choi?”
“I just wanted to say thank you,” Mr. Choi said, his usually stoic expression softening. “The young master seems happier. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen him like this.”
Han Su frowned, shaking his head. “I haven’t done anything.”
Mr. Choi gave him a knowing look. “Sometimes, it’s not about what you do. It’s about who you are.”
Han Su didn’t know how to respond to that, so he simply nodded, feeling a warmth in his chest that lingered long after the butler walked away.
Later that week, Seo Jun insisted that Han Su take the weekend off to visit his family.
“You’ve been working hard,” Seo Jun said, leaning against the doorway of Han Su’s room. “Go spend some time with them.”
Han Su blinked in surprise. “Are you serious? You never let me leave early.”
“Well, I’m making an exception,” Seo Jun shrugged. “Don’t make me regret it.”
Han Su grinned. “Thanks, Seo Jun. Really.”
That night, Han Su leaned back on the worn couch in his family’s living room, watching Eun ji animatedly describe a recent school project. Their mother had retired to bed, leaving the siblings to their late-night chatter.
The warmth of home wrapped around him—a stark contrast to the cold marble halls of Seo Jun’s mansion.
“Seriously though,” Eun ji said, leaning forward with a grin. “I can’t believe your boss actually came to my party. He looked so serious—but I could tell he was trying.”
Han Su chuckled softly, remembering Seo Jun’s awkward smiles and stiff posture. “Yeah. He’s... complicated.”
“Complicated? Please.” Eun ji nudged him with her elbow. “He’s obviously got a soft spot for you. You should’ve seen how he watched you the whole time.”
Han Su frowned, shaking his head. “He was just being polite.”
“Polite, my foot,” Eun ji laughed. “That man likes you, Han Su. It’s so obvious.”
Han Su felt a strange flutter in his chest, but he quickly pushed it down.
“Don’t be ridiculous. He’s my boss, that’s all.”
Eun ji tilted her head, studying him.
“Okay, fine. But how do you feel about him?”
The question hung in the air—heavier than Han Su expected. He opened his mouth, but no words came out. How did he feel about Seo Jun?
“I... I don’t know,” he admitted finally, his voice soft.
Eun ji’s gaze softened. “It’s okay not to know,” she said, echoing her words from earlier. “But Han Su... you deserve someone who sees you. Really sees you.”
Han Su gave her a small smile, but the conversation left a knot in his stomach.
Later that night, Han Su lay in his childhood bed, staring at the ceiling. The room was exactly as he’d left it years ago—posters of his favorite bands peeling at the edges, a stack of books on the nightstand, and a small lamp casting a warm glow.
His mind, however, was far from the familiar comforts of home. It kept drifting back to Seo Jun.
He thought about the way Seo Jun had smiled at Eun ji’s party—tentative but genuine. The way he had quietly slipped away to avoid being the center of attention, yet stayed long enough to be part of it.
Seo Jun was a mystery wrapped in layers of hurt and isolation. But beneath that, Han Su had seen glimpses of something else: kindness, vulnerability, and a longing to connect.
Why was he thinking about this?
Han Su turned onto his side, frustration gnawing at him. He reached for his phone but hesitated. Instead, he opened the drawer of his nightstand and pulled out a small photograph.
It was an old picture of him and his boyfriend, taken on a rare trip to the beach. Jin ho—the man who had been a constant in his life for years. The man he loved... but also the man who kept their relationship hidden, always out of sight.
Han Su’s throat tightened.
Nothing could come of this. Whatever feelings he thought he might have for Seo Jun were fleeting. Confused.
His life was already complicated enough.
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