The days following the press conference felt like a blur. The media frenzy was overwhelming—headlines blaring about the unexpected relationship between the company's powerful CEO and his assistant. Gossip spread like wildfire, and public opinion was divided. Some praised Chanyeol and Min Ho for being brave, while others questioned their motives and the impact it would have on the company.
Chanyeol, ever the professional, remained focused on the task at hand. He had always been a master at managing crises, but this was unlike any challenge he had ever faced before. This was personal. This was about his heart, his love for Min Ho, and the life they had built together.
Min Ho, on the other hand, was struggling to cope with the sudden shift in his world. He had always been a private person, content with his small circle of friends and a quiet life. Now, everything had changed. His phone buzzed constantly with messages from family, old friends, and even strangers, all weighing in on his relationship with Chanyeol. Some were supportive, but others—most notably his father—were harsh and unforgiving.
It was on one of those difficult days that Min Ho found himself sitting alone in Chanyeol's office, staring out the window at the city below. His mind was clouded with worry, and he couldn't shake the feeling that the world was closing in around him. The weight of his father's disapproval, combined with the judgment from strangers, was starting to take its toll. He felt the crushing pressure of trying to live up to the expectations of the world while also staying true to his heart.
"Min Ho," Chanyeol's voice broke through his thoughts, and Min Ho turned to see him standing in the doorway, his expression soft. Chanyeol had been busy all morning, handling a series of meetings, but now, he seemed to sense the turmoil that was weighing on Min Ho.
"I'm fine," Min Ho said, forcing a smile. But even to his own ears, it sounded unconvincing.
Chanyeol walked over to him and sat down beside him. "You don't have to pretend. I know how hard this is for you."
Min Ho bit his lip, struggling to find the right words. "I don't know if I can do this, Chanyeol. Everything's changed. My family… they won't understand. My father—he's furious. I don't know how to face him. And the company… people are whispering about us. I'm not cut out for this kind of attention. It feels suffocating."
Chanyeol took Min Ho's hand in his, his thumb gently stroking over the back of it. "I know it's overwhelming. But you don't have to go through this alone. We'll face it together, every step of the way. And I'll be here to support you, no matter what."
Min Ho's heart clenched at the sincerity in Chanyeol's voice. For the first time in days, he allowed himself to relax a little, to lean into the comfort that Chanyeol offered. But even then, the fear of the unknown lingered.
"I just… I just don't know how much more I can take," Min Ho confessed, his voice breaking slightly. "It feels like everyone is watching, waiting for us to fail."
Chanyeol squeezed his hand, his grip firm. "And if they are? We'll prove them wrong. We've already proven that we can fight for this. And we will keep fighting, no matter what."
---
That evening, as they sat down for dinner together in Chanyeol's apartment, the mood was quieter than usual. Both of them were exhausted—emotionally drained from the constant media coverage and the pressure from their respective circles. Chanyeol had been working tirelessly to manage the backlash at the company, while Min Ho had spent hours on the phone with his family, trying to explain his decision, but with little success. His father, in particular, remained cold and distant, refusing to accept the relationship.
"I hate this," Min Ho said, breaking the silence. "I hate how much it hurts. I hate that we have to fight for something that should be ours, that should be allowed to exist without all this… judgment."
Chanyeol reached across the table, placing his hand over Min Ho's. "I know it's hard. But we're doing the right thing. We're living our truth. And that's more important than anything else."
Min Ho nodded slowly, though the weight on his chest didn't lighten. "But it feels like we're always fighting. I don't want to fight anymore, Chanyeol. I just want to be with you, without all this noise."
Chanyeol's heart ached for him. He knew exactly how Min Ho felt. He too longed for the simplicity of their love, the quiet moments where it was just the two of them. But the reality was far more complicated, and they couldn't go back. Not now.
"We'll find a way through this," Chanyeol said softly. "Together."
---
As the days turned into weeks, the media attention began to die down slightly, but the tension between Min Ho and his family only intensified. His father's harsh words continued to haunt him, and the pressure to live up to his family's expectations became an almost unbearable weight. Min Ho had always tried to make his father proud, but now, he was faced with the painful realization that no matter what he did, his father would never accept him for who he truly was.
One night, as Min Ho sat alone in his apartment, his phone buzzed with a new message. It was from his father. The words on the screen were blunt, cold, and unyielding:
"I cannot support you in this. If you choose to continue with him, you are no longer part of this family."
Min Ho felt his heart shatter. The finality of the message was a gut-wrenching blow, and for a moment, he didn't know what to do. He had spent so many years seeking his father's approval, and now, it felt like everything he had worked for was slipping through his fingers.
When he showed the message to Chanyeol, his heart broke for Min Ho. But he also knew that this was a turning point for them. They couldn't let Min Ho's family—anyone—come between them.
"You don't have to make that choice, Min Ho," Chanyeol said softly, his hand resting on Min Ho's shoulder. "You have me. I'll always be here. And I'll never ask you to choose between me and your family. But if it comes to that, I'll support whatever decision you make."
Min Ho looked at him, his eyes filled with tears. "I don't want to lose you, Chanyeol. I never want to lose you. But this is so hard."
Chanyeol kissed the top of Min Ho's head. "You won't lose me. Not now, not ever. We'll get through this. We'll get through everything. Together."