The days following Min Ho's confrontation with his father were some of the hardest of his life. The harsh rejection from the person who had once been his pillar of strength cut deeper than he could have imagined. For years, Min Ho had sought his father's approval, living under the constant pressure of expectations. Now, with those expectations shattered, he was left with a deep sense of loss. He didn't know how to move forward, how to heal from the sting of being cast aside by the one person he had always wanted to make proud.
Chanyeol, ever patient and supportive, did everything he could to be there for Min Ho. He held him when the tears came, offering comfort in the silence of the night. He made sure that Min Ho knew that no matter what happened with his family, Chanyeol was never going anywhere.
But despite Chanyeol's unwavering support, Min Ho couldn't shake the nagging feeling of emptiness. He felt torn between two worlds: the one he had known with his family, and the one he had created with Chanyeol, which had now become the only place he truly felt seen and accepted. Yet, that world—his relationship with Chanyeol—was constantly under threat, and he felt the pressure of it all.
One evening, after a particularly grueling day of work and constant media scrutiny, Chanyeol took Min Ho out for a late-night drive, just to get away from the chaos. The city lights blurred by the rain gave a soft, almost dreamlike quality to their surroundings. The silence between them wasn't uncomfortable, but it carried the weight of everything they were experiencing.
Chanyeol glanced over at Min Ho, who was staring out the window, his eyes tired but distant. "Min Ho," he said softly, breaking the silence. "I know this has been so hard for you, and I'm not going to pretend it's easy. But you have to know that we don't have to have all the answers right now."
Min Ho turned to face him, his voice quiet but raw. "I don't even know who I am anymore, Chanyeol. I don't know how to reconcile the person I was before with who I am now. I've lost so much—my family, my sense of security. I'm scared that it's not just my father I've lost. What if I've lost myself in all of this too?"
Chanyeol reached over, gently brushing a hand against Min Ho's. "You haven't lost yourself, Min Ho. You've just discovered a new part of yourself. A part that loves with all its heart, that's willing to fight for happiness, for a future with me. And I can promise you that as long as we're together, you will never lose who you are. We will grow, yes, but we'll grow together."
Min Ho closed his eyes for a moment, trying to absorb Chanyeol's words. The weight of his father's rejection still pressed heavily on his chest, but Chanyeol's reassurance was a balm he didn't know he needed. He had always been a fighter, even if he hadn't always realized it. But this... this was different. This was about something deeper than family approval or societal expectations. This was about love, about the future he wanted to build with the one person who had stood by him when everything else seemed to be falling apart.
"I don't want to be afraid anymore, Chanyeol," Min Ho said, his voice gaining strength. "I don't want to live my life in the shadow of what others think of us. I want to be free—to love you without fear."
Chanyeol smiled, pulling the car over to the side of the road and turning to face Min Ho. "Then we'll do that. Together. Every step of the way. I'll stand by you, Min Ho, no matter what happens."
They stayed parked for a while, just holding each other's gaze, allowing the silence to settle comfortably between them. The storm outside mirrored the whirlwind of emotions they were both feeling, but in that moment, they found a sense of peace in each other's presence. It was a quiet understanding—a promise without words—that no matter what the world threw at them, they would face it together.
---
The following weeks were a mixture of tension and healing. Min Ho's relationship with his father remained strained, with no signs of reconciliation on the horizon. But as the days passed, Min Ho began to accept the reality that not everyone would understand his love for Chanyeol. The people who mattered most to him—Chanyeol, Minji, and a few close friends—were enough. They were the ones who saw him for who he truly was, and their support gave him the strength to keep going.
At work, things had started to settle, though the media still periodically made headlines about their relationship. However, the company had rallied behind Chanyeol and Min Ho, and the employees seemed to accept their relationship as a natural part of the corporate culture. The biggest challenge was not the external pressure—it was the internal struggle Min Ho faced with his family. Every time his phone rang with a message from his father, he felt a pang of doubt.
One afternoon, as Min Ho sat at his desk, staring at his phone, Chanyeol walked into the room. The look on his face was one of quiet determination. "I have an idea," he said, sitting down beside Min Ho. "What if we took a trip? Just the two of us. Somewhere far away from all of this."
Min Ho looked at him, a small smile tugging at his lips. "A trip? Are you sure that's a good idea? I mean, I can barely leave the house without being photographed these days."
Chanyeol chuckled softly, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "I'm not talking about a vacation. I'm talking about going somewhere private—somewhere where we can just… be. No cameras, no pressure. Just us."
Min Ho's heart fluttered at the thought of escaping the constant barrage of judgment and stress. A part of him longed for that kind of peace, where he could simply exist without the world watching. "Where are we going?"
Chanyeol grinned. "A small cabin in the mountains. No one will find us there. Just you, me, and the stars."
The idea was tempting. For the first time in weeks, Min Ho felt the spark of excitement. Maybe they could rebuild their strength, their connection, away from the chaos of the city and the prying eyes of the world. He nodded, the weight on his shoulders lifting slightly. "I think that sounds perfect."
---
The following weekend, Chanyeol and Min Ho packed their bags and drove to the secluded cabin. It was everything they had hoped for: quiet, peaceful, and miles away from the world they had left behind. The only sounds were the wind rustling through the trees and the occasional chirp of birds. The mountain air felt fresh and invigorating, and for the first time in a long while, Min Ho felt like he could breathe again.
They spent the next few days hiking through the woods, cooking meals together, and simply enjoying each other's company without the outside world intruding. There were no demands, no expectations—just the two of them, reconnecting in the way they had always longed to.
One evening, as they sat outside watching the sunset, Min Ho turned to Chanyeol, his eyes filled with gratitude. "I needed this. I needed to be here with you, away from everything else."
Chanyeol smiled, taking Min Ho's hand in his. "I needed this too. I needed to remember that no matter what happens, we have each other. And that's enough."
For the first time in a long time, Min Ho felt a sense of peace. His father's rejection still hurt, but it no longer defined him. His love for Chanyeol was his own, and no one—no family member, no critic—could take that away from him.