“No, abeoji. We just decided to make the trip today,” Sun answers, giving them a version of the truth, which is fine by me.
Hyein takes her place next to her husband. “Are you going to introduce your… friend?”
The very intentional pause seems to suggest she has already made an assumption about the status of our relationship.
“This is Kim Kija,” he says, looking at me like he needs to bolster himself and then back at them. “He’s my boyfriend.”
His mother and father exchange a loaded glance, an entire conversation passing silently between them.
Even though we weren’t asked to sit, we do, side-by-side on a lumpy floor cushion. I can’t stand how tense the atmosphere feels, so I decide there’s not much I can do to make it worse, even if they don’t like what I have to say. “I am Yung-Sun’s boyfriend, but he is also my partner. This isn’t a casual relationship. I am committed to him and I think it’s important that you know that. I’m not sure if I can ask you to support us being together, but I would hope you are able to respect that I care deeply about your son. My goal is to make sure he’s happy and safe, always.”
Sun lets out a shaky sigh and ducks his head toward me, just a little. Not like he usually would, throwing himself into mylap, but enough that I know he needed to hear that, maybe even more than they did.
Hyein seems to soften a bit, as though whatever maternal instinct she does possess might have been touched by what I said. Bokyun, though, just asks, “Where did you meet each other?”
“Hyung works for Task Force, too,” Sun explains. “We have known each other for a while.”
“Are you an idol, too?” she inquires and I almost think she’s joking until I notice her expression is sincere. “I don’t keep up with what’s popular. I’m sorry if I should recognize you.”
“Oh, no, definitely not. Nobody wants to hear me sing. Not even at the noraebang,” I laugh. She smiles and so does Sun, and they look just the same. “I work for corporate; I’ll leave all the entertaining to Yung-Sun.”
His father frowns. “I doubt the company approves of the two of you.”
“Maybe not, but it’s also none of their concern, as long as we don’t let it become a problem. Our relationship is kept well hidden. Both Yung-Sun and I are professionals and conduct ourselves accordingly,” I tell him, though it does nothing to erase the look of displeasure on his face.
“When you stormed out of the house to go to that audition after we told you not to, you said all you wanted was to be an idol. That you’d give up everything else for that chance to get on stage and dance around,” Bokyun recalls, and I can tell he’s about to follow it up with something that will likely hurt Sun. “And you made it somehow. You did it. You’re rich and famous, and everyone knows your name. You’re willing to risk it all to be with him? To parade around with another man like there are no consequences?”
Sun doesn’t hesitate for a second. “Yes. Because I won’t always be an idol. There won’t always be a stage for me todance around on. But I will always want someone to love and support me, and I have that, because I have him. If everything wasover tomorrow and nobody knew my name anymore, I’d be fine with that. Then I could just be home with him. One day, when I have a family of my own, he’ll be the one I’m raising my kids—our children—with.”
I’m so fucking proud of him that I don’t even think twice about smacking a kiss to his cheek right in front their shocked faces. “Damn right.”
“You can’t be serious,” Bokyun scoffs as his wife attempts to process everything that her son just said.
“I can be, and I am,” Sun retorts, standing up and holding his hand out to me. I take it, getting to my feet as quickly as I can. “Tell halmeoni I hope she feels better. We’re leaving.”
I give his parents a curt bow and let him yank me out the door, unlocking the car as quickly as possible because I can tell he’s barely hanging on. As soon as he’s in the seat, I close the door and jog around to jump in myself. I’ve just gotten us back on the road to anywhere-but-here when he starts to cry, and I pull over at the first chance I get and turn the engine off again.
Sun lets me pull him into my lap, despite the awkwardness of the interior space, and he throws his arms around my neck as I hold him.
“I knew it would be like that,” he sobs, “if I brought someone home. I’m sorry. I’m sorry you drove all this way and you met them like that. I’m sorry.”
I run my hand through his hair, smoothing it after. “You have nothing to apologize for,” I assure him. “I took a chance, andI’msorry it didn’t go well. But I did tell them what I needed them to hear. What you need to know as well. You are my priority. Your happiness and making sure you feel secure in what we have is the only thing that matters to me.”
“I know.” He looks up at me, eyes wet, tears tracking down his cheeks. “I meant what I said to them. I love being in RYSING and I love our fans, but if it was all gone, I’d be content with my life, as long as I was still with you.”
Brushing away his tears with my thumbs, I lean in to rest my head against his. “I love you, sachi. Now, later, always.”
“Me, too.” Sun nods, shaking both of our heads, and I chuckle a little. “Can we go somewhere else? I don’t care where.”
“Of course. Do you want to go back home? Or we can find a place around here, maybe?” I suggest.
He sighs, then sniffles. “I don’t think a hotel is a good idea. I know it’s a long way, and you’ve basically been driving all day…”
I cut him off by pressing my finger to his lips. “We’ll go home. Order some food and eat in bed.”
“Yes, please.” He kisses my cheek and hugs me tightly. “I think I needed this to happen. I’ve been worried about it for so long—seeing their reaction—and now it’s over.”
“I know you’re disappointed, and I am, too,” I say. “But remember, you have a whole other family that could not be more excited to have you be a part of it.”
