Kim Min Jun moved his leg back and forth on the grassy green ground, the rhythmic motion a subtle indication of his impatience. His hands were stuffed into the pockets of his trousers as he waited for Park Hyun Soo to arrive.
"Sorry for making you wait," Hyun Soo's voice finally broke the silence, catching Min Jun's attention. He turned around swiftly, but the smile on his lips vanished the moment he saw the slight redness, marring Hyun Soo's cheek.
Concern flooded his features as he stepped closer, gently holding Hyun Soo's chin to inspect the bruise.
"Who did this to you?" Min Jun asked, his voice laced with worry and anger.
"No one," Hyun Soo replied tersely, yanking his chin out of Min Jun's grasp. The pain in his eyes contradicted his words.
"Should I punch him the same way? Or even harder?" Min Jun's voice trembled with barely contained rage. His heart ached knowing that Hyun Soo's father always treated him so poorly, a fact he could barely stand.
"Do you wish to serve a prison term?" Hyun Soo chuckled mirthlessly. "You know my dad. He's like that. Don't get yourself involved in my family matters," he asserted, trying to dismiss the situation with a wave of his hand.
Min Jun clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles turning white. He knew all too well how extreme Hyun Soo's father could get just to vent his anger.
The injustice of it all made his blood boil, but he understood he couldn't act rashly now. Any foolish move could lead to severe consequences.
"I can't just stand by and do nothing," Min Jun muttered, his voice low and filled with frustration. He looked away, taking a deep breath to calm himself. "But I promise you, Hyun Soo, I'll find a way to stop this. Your father won't get away with treating you like this forever."
Hyun Soo's eyes softened at Min Jun's words, appreciating his friend's concern despite the hopelessness of the situation. "Min Min, I don't want you to get hurt because of me."
"I won't be hurt," Min Jun replied with quiet confidence. He reached out to gently caress Hyun Soo's cheek, the tender touch causing Hyun Soo's heart to flutter uncontrollably. His eyelids flickered rapidly, and he instinctively stepped back, trying to compose himself.
"So, why did you call me here? What is it that you want to speak about?" Hyun Soo asked, his voice wavering slightly as he struggled to calm his racing heart.
Kim Min Jun, without hesitation, removed the locket he had been wearing around his neck. He stepped closer to Hyun Soo, a determined smile playing on his lips. "Wear my lucky charm, and everything will go well for you," he asserted warmly.
As Min Jun leaned in to place the locket around Hyun Soo's neck, Hyun Soo felt a surge of emotions he couldn't quite name. His fingers curled tightly, and with a gentle push, he tried to stop Min Jun.
"It is a memory from your father. Don't give this to me," he protested softly.
Min Jun's smile softened, and he met Hyun Soo's eyes with unwavering sincerity. "You are dear to me, so I can give this to you," he stated firmly, leaning in once again to hook the locket around Hyun Soo's neck.
Hyun Soo's cheeks flushed a deep red at the word "dear." The term resonated within him, sending a wave of warmth and confusion through his chest.
'No. He might want to say that I'm his dear friend. You can't think like this about Min Jun,' Hyun Soo tried convincing himself, his thoughts a whirlwind of conflicting emotions.
As Min Jun fastened the locket, his fingers brushing lightly against Hyun Soo's skin, an electric current seemed to pass between them. Hyun Soo's breath hitched, and he bit his lip, struggling to maintain his composure.
Min Jun noticed Hyun Soo's clutched hand and he intentionally brushed his lips on his neck. The moment he did that, Hyun Soo stopped blinking and met his gaze narrowly.
"What was that?" Hyun Soo asked.
"What?" Min Jun pretended to not know. Before confessing to Hyun Soo, he wanted to tease for a while. He had planned for a date for them, where he would admit his feelings for Hyun Soo.
"I-I need to go," Hyun Soo stammered, his eyes quickly averted from Min Jun, who understood why he acted in such a way. He smiled and ran his fingers through his hair as he succeeded in first mission— to show Hyun Soo through his actions how much he meant to him.
Meanwhile, Hyun Soo closed the door of his room with a loud thud, the sound echoing through the empty hallway. He leaned against the door for a moment, trying to steady his racing heart before he pushed himself away and approached the mirror on the far wall. His reflection stared back at him, the pendant from Min Jun gleaming against his chest.
"He likes me. I'm sure about that," Hyun Soo murmured to himself, his fingers tracing the delicate contours of the pendant. The warmth of Min Jun's gesture that truly made his heart swell. A smile carved its way onto his lips, a genuine expression of the happiness he had longed for.
The thought of Min Jun's affection filled him with a sense of hope and possibility. "Min Min will definitely love me and provide me with the warmth I've always missed," Hyun Soo whispered. His eyes glimmered with newfound determination.
In Min Jun's presence, he always felt safer and better, as if the weight of his troubles could be lifted by just being near him.
He recalled the gentle touch of Min Jun's hands, the sincerity in his eyes, and the unwavering support he always offered.
Hyun Soo's smile grew wider as he envisioned a future where he and Min Jun could be together and live happily.
Suddenly, a knock on the door interrupted Hyun Soo's thoughts. Startled, he quickly tucked the locket inside his t-shirt and turned to face the door.
"Young Master, your father wants to see you," the servant informed him from the other side.
"Again?!" Hyun Soo muttered to himself, and his brows drew close. The thought of facing his father filled him with dread. He knew all too well the potential consequences of defying his father's summons.
If he refused to go, his father's anger might be directed towards his mother, and that was something Hyun Soo couldn't bear to risk.
Taking a deep breath to steady himself, Hyun Soo opened the door. "I'll be there shortly," he said, trying to keep his voice steady despite the anxiety gnawing at him.