As the night deepened, Reina stood beneath the lantern, her mind racing with thoughts of Hyuk. His cold demeanor hid a depth she had only glimpsed, and his admission about desire lingered in her mind.
He's different, she thought, remembering the way his eyes had flickered with something unrecognizable when he spoke of his goals. There's a struggle within him, a fire that he's desperately trying to control. But the way he talked about wanting me… it felt genuine. Yet, he's still so distant.
Reina couldn't help but feel drawn to him, a pull that was both exciting and unsettling. What does he truly want? Is it just power, or is he searching for something more? She sighed, frustration bubbling beneath her calm surface. If he'd just let his guard down, I could help him understand these feelings. But he's so afraid of vulnerability. He doesn't realize that allowing someone in could be his greatest strength.
The lantern's light flickered, casting shadows around her. He's been trained to think that showing emotions makes him weak, but that's far from the truth. I see it in him—the desire for connection is there, buried under layers of self-imposed isolation. If only he could trust me, just a little…
Meanwhile, Hyuk sat in his room, staring at the walls that felt like they were closing in on him. The weight of the world rested heavily on his shoulders, and yet, all he could think about was the conversation he had with Reina.
He heard footsteps outside his door, and his mother's voice called to him. "Hyuk, can we talk?"
His heart sank. How could he open up to them when he felt so distant? He stood up, moving toward the door, but hesitation gripped him. What would he even say?
He opened the door, and his mother stood there, her eyes filled with a mix of hope and concern. "I've been worried about you. Ever since you started training, you've been… different."
"I'm fine," he replied curtly, stepping back to create distance. The familiar wall between them felt insurmountable, a barrier built over years of expectation and pressure.
"Hyuk, we just want to understand. You don't have to carry everything alone," she pleaded, her voice softening. "You can talk to us about what you're feeling."
"Feeling?" he echoed, the word slipping from his tongue with a hint of disdain. "You wouldn't understand. You've never understood what it's like to be me."
His mother's face fell, and for a moment, Hyuk felt a pang of guilt. But he quickly suppressed it. It's easier this way.
"You think we don't care?" she asked, hurt creeping into her voice. "We've sacrificed so much for you. Your father and I only want what's best for you."
"But what about what I want?" Hyuk shot back, his voice rising. "All you've ever wanted was a perfect son, and that's not me. I'm tired of trying to fit into your mold."
His mother looked taken aback, and Hyuk could see the pain etched across her face. "We only want to support you. We want to see you succeed."
"Success isn't everything!" he snapped, the frustration boiling over. "I don't want to be your version of perfect. I want to be strong. I want power. But I also… I don't know. There's something else, something I can't understand."
The admission slipped out before he could catch it, and the silence that followed was deafening. His mother's eyes widened, a glimmer of understanding breaking through her confusion. "What do you mean, Hyuk? What else is there?"
But he felt a wall rising inside him, preventing him from speaking. He took a step back, shaking his head. "I can't explain it. It's just… complicated."
"Hyuk, please," she urged, reaching out. "I'm here for you. You don't have to do this alone."
But before he could respond, he felt the familiar urge to retreat. "I need to think," he muttered, shutting the door before she could say another word.
As the door clicked shut, he leaned against it, heart pounding. Why was it so hard to let them in? The expectations, the pressures—they loomed over him like a storm cloud.
And then there's Reina. He squeezed his eyes shut, remembering her soft gaze and the way she made him feel. The desire for her, the connection he yearned for—it all felt like a jumbled mess in his mind.
Can I truly find a way to balance power and connection? He slid down to the floor, his back against the door, feeling lost in the chaos of his thoughts.
Outside, Reina lingered in the shadows, her heart heavy with concern for him. He's fighting a battle within himself that I can't even begin to comprehend. But I won't give up on him. If he needs time, I'll be here when he's ready.
The night stretched on, the distance between them marked by walls both seen and unseen, each lost in their own thoughts—Hyuk grappling with his desires, and Reina holding on to hope.