Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Over the next few weeks, Kyungsoo felt like they were back to square one.

It was a slow, painful realization. Despite the progress they had made on their honeymoon, the moment they returned to their villa in Korea, Chanyeol seemed to close up once more. The same robotic politeness returned, the same hesitant movements, the same soft-spoken requests for permission the same 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘢𝘺 𝘴𝘰'𝘴. Kyungsoo couldn’t help but feel frustrated. He won't deny it anymore, wanted Chanyeol. Wanted to be closer to him, wanted to kiss him, to hold him, Chanyeol was a breathing walking Adonis after all. But he knew that Chanyeol wasn’t ready for all that. Kyungsoo couldn’t force it. He had to be patient.

Yet, the frustration only deepened as each day passed, especially because Kyungsoo had started to care for Chanyeol more than he had ever expected. He had already been physically drawn to him, but now, his feelings had grown into something more profound, something deeper. Kyungsoo badly wanted to form a spiritual connection with his husband, he wanted nothing but to talk as well. He wanted to hold Chanyeol's hand ask him what exactly was wrong with him. What exactly Kyungsoo is doing so wrong that Chanyeol won't even talk to his own husband. Kyungsoo yearned to break through that wall Chanyeol had built around himself. But how? He had no idea.

One evening, as they were having dinner together in their dining room, Kyungsoo casually brought up a topic that had been lingering in his mind. He had recently learned from one of Chanyeol's rare conversations that Chanyeol originally wanted to take up interior designing as a major. But life had steered him in a different direction, and Chanyeol had pursued architecture instead. Kyungsoo had an inkling about this. He saw how Chanyeol fawned over designs in his old insta posts. Also when they were Greece, nothing caught Chanyeol's attention more than the interiors of...well wherever they went. He also noticed all the sketches Chanyeol draws here and there when he's hiding in the study, the designs are actually mesmerizing. Chanyeol seems to have a habit of drawing buildings, rooms, furnitures absentmindedly whenever he had free time. And he 𝘩𝘢𝘥 free time, 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘵.

“Hey, Chanyeol,” Kyungsoo began, trying to sound casual, “I was thinking… this house is ours, right? But it doesn't really have any personal touch excluding those showpiece we brought from Greece. But if you wanted to… I mean, we could make some changes. Y'know, to make it more homely. You’re into interior design anyway, I think you’d have some great ideas. I for one, don't know shit about decoration."

Chanyeol looked up at him, startled. His eyes flickered for a moment, a brief hesitation before his lips parted to respond.

“I… I don’t know,” he said quietly, his voice as soft as ever. “I don’t want to impose.”

Kyungsoo tilted his head, his eyes narrowing slightly in confusion. “Impose? It’s your house too, Chanyeol. You don’t have to ask me for permission to change things here.”

But Chanyeol simply looked around then shook his head, a subtle sadness in his expression. “I think it’s fine the way it is.”

Kyungsoo sighed internally but didn’t press the matter. He understood that Chanyeol wasn’t ready to take control, to make decisions for himself. But Kyungsoo was getting more frustrated by the day with Chanyeol’s constant need to belittle himself.

Another evening, Kyungsoo was home early from office. He stepped inside the living space when he stumbled upon something that made his heart race with curiosity.

Chanyeol had been sitting on the couch in front of the grand piano. It was mostly for decorative purpose as Kyungsoo doesnt know how to play it at all. all these months, his husband didn't even glanced at it so he had assumed Chanyeol didn't as well. But apparently his husband 𝘥𝘪𝘥. Chanyeol didn't notice Kyungsoo, he was playing the notes softly and absentmindedly looking at something, and as he walked over, he noticed a few music sheets lying there too.

"Chanyeol," Kyungsoo called, his voice tentative as he stepped closer. "You play the piano?"

Chanyeol looked up, startled, he quickly got up from the chair as if the piano electrocuted him. then glanced down at the sheets of music, his face flushing lightly. “It’s...nothing. I’m not that good,” he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck nervously.

Kyungsoo raised an eyebrow. “I didn't know you can? I’ve never heard you play before.”

Chanyeol hesitated again, eyes flickering to the piano and then back to Kyungsoo. “It’s just a hobby. I don’t really play much anymore.”

Kyungsoo was intrigued. Despite Chanyeol’s hesitance, his love for music had been evident in the soft hums he occasionally made in the kitchen or the way his fingers tapped rhythmically on surfaces when he thought Kyungsoo wasn't noticing. Only if he knew, Kyungsoo noticed everything. And ofcourse in his past sns posts has been filled with music. Kyungsoo couldn’t help but push a little. He took a seat.

“I don’t think it’s nothing. You’ve got a piano and sheet music right here. Why don’t you play something for me? I've had a long day today, it'll help me unwind."

Chanyeol shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “I don’t know…I'm really mediocre at best."

“Chanyeol,” Kyungsoo said, his tone more insistent but still warm, “It's just us here, you don’t have to be shy. And I'm no Beethoven anyway. I can assure you, you’re definitely much better than me. I’d love to hear you play. So...please?"

For a long moment, Chanyeol remained silent, looking at the piano and then back at Kyungsoo. Finally, with a reluctant sigh, he walked back toward the instrument.

Kyungsoo moved his chair to the side and watched, his heart beating faster with anticipation. Chanyeol sat at the piano and began to play softly, the notes flowing smoothly at first, and then they grew more confident. The melody was simple but beautiful, with an undeniable emotion behind it. He watched, awestruck at how beautiful his husband looked. Through the floor to ceiling window, the soft pink glow of afternoon sky falling on his features, giving his warm cream colored sweater an ethereal glow. His eyes were concentrated, he was nipping his lower lip softly. Kyungsoo felt like maybe a divine being, maybe Apollo himself somehow lost his way and found solace in Kyungsoo's humble home.

Kyungsoo was taken aback by the quiet intensity in Chanyeol’s playing, by the skill and sensitivity he exhibited, despite his earlier self-doubt. Kyungsoo recognized the tune as Yiruma's River Flows in You. The soft afternoon glow, the melancholic music, the hauntingly beautiful person in front of him...Kyungsoo was so lost in all of these he didn't even realised when it ended. He didn't also realise that there were a hint tears in his own eyes. But why? He didn't have answer to that.

When Chanyeol finished, he quickly stood up and turned away, his neck flushed. “Sorry. I haven’t played in a while. I’m not great.”

Kyungsoo stood up and stepped forward, unable to contain the admiration he felt. “Not great? That was amazing,” he said earnestly, softly touching Chanyeol's arm and felt a relief when he saw the latter's stiff posture soften. “You really are talented, Chanyeol.”

Chanyeol gave a small, nervous smile, clearly uncomfortable with the praise. “Thanks. But I’m really not good at it.”

“I think you’re being too modest,” Kyungsoo insisted, stepping closer. “You should play more often. I'll look forward to it. You’ve got a gift. It's amazing!"

Chanyeol nodded, his expression briefly relaxing. “Maybe I will.”

Kyungsoo couldn’t stop thinking about the piano. He’d seen Chanyeol’s hesitation, his fear of being judged or criticized, but it was clear to Kyungsoo that Chanyeol had a deep, untapped talent that was waiting to be nurtured. What could Kyungsoo do to bring those talents forth? Now that he saw Chanyeol in his element from the firsthand, he had been on the edge of frustration for days. No matter how much he tried, he still can't break through Chanyeol’s fear of simply existing without asking permission. He was tired of it. So he decided it was time to push Chanyeol's boundary a little bit more. It was time to be a guerilla.

One evening, after dinner, when Chanyeol was stiffly sitting on the couch and reading a Classic Shelly, he placed a small stack of applied economics books on the coffee table. books that were his, books that Chanyeol had never shown an interest in before. Chanyeol jumped slightly at the sound. Kyungsoo settled on the couch beside them, leaning back and sighing dramatically.

“Chanyeol, I think you should read these books. They’re amazing,” Kyungsoo said casually, though inwardly, he was already cringing at the absurdity of the suggestion. These were no less than damn textbooks. Even 𝘩𝘦 had a hard time reading these despite being an economics major.

Chanyeol looked at him, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his face. "You… want me to read them?”

“Sure,” Kyungsoo said, a little too casually. “You should, actually. I think you’d really like them. You’ve been reading some pretty dry stuff recently.”

Chanyeol hesitated, the hesitation almost comical to Kyungsoo, but finally, he picked up one of the books and began to flip through it. And not only flip, Chanyeol 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 started to read it, scrunching his brows and all. The gesture made Kyungsoo’s heart sink in frustration. He wanted Chanyeol to make decisions for himself, to not feel like he always had to take Kyungsoo's word for it. But he kept quite.

Kyungsoo decided to push Chanyeol's boundaries harder. Another evening he asked Chanyeol to help him rearrange the furniture in the living room. There was no real reason to do so, but Kyungsoo just wanted to see if Chanyeol would question him, or if he would just do what Kyungsoo said without a second thought.

“I was thinking we could move the couch to the left side of the room. What do you think?” Kyungsoo said casually, but there was a flicker of challenge in his voice. He wanted to see how Chanyeol would respond. Kyungsoo purposely suggested the corner so that the room would look ugly and inconvenient and the interior designer in Chanyeol might wake up.

Chanyeol blinked, looking at the room and then back at Kyungsoo. Kyungsoo could feel the 𝘯𝘰 in Chanyeol's face. “Uh… I guess we can try that,” he replied instead, his voice soft, almost too agreeable. “If you think it would look better.” He stood up and walked toward the couch, his long limbs moving slowly, hesitantly, like he wasn’t sure if this was the right thing to do.

Kyungsoo watched him, biting back his frustration. He wanted Chanyeol to think, to offer his own opinion, but all he received was quiet submission. No challenge. No suggestion of anything else. Kyungsoo’s jaw tightened, a vein in his head might've popped at that but he didn’t comment. He let Chanyeol move the furniture, watching every movement as if Chanyeol were nothing more than a puppet.

After a few minutes, the living room was rearranged, but Kyungsoo's night was ruined.

The next night, Kyungsoo decided to test him again.

“Chanyeol, let’s go out and get some coffee. I know a good place down the river,” Kyungsoo said, glancing at Chanyeol, waiting for a reaction.

Chanyeol hesitated for a brief second, then nodded, his eyes never quite meeting Kyungsoo’s. He reluctantly stood up, grabbing his jacket. “Sure… if you want to,” he said softly.

Kyungsoo frowned. “You don’t have to just agree with everything I say, Chanyeol. If you don’t want to go, just say so. I know you don't drink coffee at night, you have insomnia."

Chanyeol’s expression remained unchanged. “No, I don’t mind,” he replied, his voice quiet.

Kyungsoo’s heart ached at the answer. He could feel the distance between them, widening with each passing moment. It wasn’t just the lack of Chanyeol’s opinion that bothered him, it was the way Chanyeol was afraid to speak up. His silence was more than just compliance, it was as though Chanyeol had convinced himself that his own desires didn’t matter, that Kyungsoo’s choices were the only ones worth considering.

Kyungsoo also felt anger. He knows it was unjustified but he did feel it. He took Chanyeol to the coffee shop in spite and bought him a big one too. He was fuming by then.

He also felt like an utter asshole when Chanyeol slowly tossed and turned the whole night. Kyungsoo had spent the whole night moving as less as possible to not bother Chanyeol's sleep.

Days passed with Kyungsoo testing his theory. He would ask Chanyeol to do things, imperatively this time, a movie to watch, a dish to eat, even what to wear. Each time, Chanyeol complied without hesitation. The answers were always the same. Soft, agreeable, but never assertive. Kyungsoo found himself becoming more and more frustrated. He couldn’t understand why Chanyeol wouldn’t speak up. He wanted to help him, but no matter what he did, Chanyeol stayed the same. Quiet, agreeable, passive.

It was late one night when Kyungsoo finally lost it. It was already a disaster that day when Kyungsoo suggested they try the new Oyster dish their regular restaurant introduced. Chanyeol seemed a bit more hesitant than regular, that should've been the hint but Kyungsoo sadly couldn't see the reason behind it. They ordered it for lunch and ate it together. Which turned out Chanyeol to be a choking-itching-swelling disaster because Chanyeol was goddamned allergic to oysters. Kyungsoo had to rush to hospital with Chanyeol, his heart at his throat. When they were returning home, his blood was boiling at how his husband was goddamned allergic to a food and still didn't deny to eat it just to 𝘰𝘣𝘦𝘺! But Chanyeol already looked very shaken and scared so he didn't say anything. He didn't leave his husband's side for the whole day.

At night, when they had just finished dinner, and Kyungsoo, cautious this time, asked Chanyeol which dessert he preferred. Chanyeol, once again, hesitated, then quietly said, “I don’t mind, whatever you choose.”

Kyungsoo’s frustration exploded. "Just stop it." He slammed the dessert menu down onto the table with more force than he intended, cracking the glass surface and causing Chanyeol to flinch. His eyes as big as a quail egg.

“Why do you always do this, Chanyeol?!” Kyungsoo snapped, his voice louder than he intended. “Why do you just agree with everything I say? Why can’t you just make a decision for yourself? Huh? Go buy a fucking personality, Chanyeol! Heck 𝘐'𝘭𝘭 pay for it. I can’t keep making all the choices around here. You’re not a 𝘱𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘵! Why do you always do this? Do i looke like a fucking babysitter to you?"

Chanyeol’s face paled, as he was aghast at the harshness in Kyungsoo’s voice. his eyes widening in shock. He didn’t say anything, but his body trembled, and Kyungsoo could see how much the words had affected him. Tears welled up in Chanyeol’s eyes, but he immediately lowered his head down, not daring to look Kyungsoo in the eyes. He said nothing, his silence louder than any words.

Kyungsoo immediately regretted his outburst. He felt his heart drop as he saw how Chanyeol shrank in on himself, as if the words had pierced him physically. He had hurt him. He had hurt Chanyeol, and that was the last thing he wanted.

Without thinking, Kyungsoo quickly moved closer to Chanyeol, kneeling in the ground in front of him, reaching for his hands and holding them gently. Kyungsoo felt like slapping himself when he felt how violently his husband is shivering.

“Hey hey hey, I’m sorry, I'm so so sorry.” Kyungsoo whispered, his voice soft now. “I didn’t mean to yell. I didn’t mean to say it like that. I was just frustrated. I didn’t mean to hurt you Chanyeol please beleive me."

But Chanyeol didn’t respond. He simply kept his head down, his hands trembling in Kyungsoo’s grip. “I’m sorry,” Chanyeol whispered, his voice barely audible.

Kyungsoo felt a lump form in his throat, and the guilt doubled over him. Chanyeol was sorry? For what? It was Kyungsoo who had lashed out at him, who had hurt him with his harsh words. He pulled Chanyeol's palms closer, wrapping his own face with Chanyeol's palms. From his viewpoint he could see Chanyeol's trembling lips, like he's trying his best to keep himself from bursting into a cry.

“No Chanyeol what are you- 𝘐'𝘮 sorry,” Kyungsoo repeated, his voice breaking. “I should never have said that. I didn’t mean to make you feel like that. Please, Chanyeol, I didn’t mean to make you feel like you have no voice.”

“But I just don’t get it. I know there’s more to you than this… this… robot you’ve been playing. I don’t want to push you, but I can’t keep doing this, Chanyeol. I need you to show me who you really are. At least let me in a little bit? You don’t have to agree with me all the time. I just want to 𝘴𝘦𝘦 you, Chanyeol. The real you." Kyungsoo whispered, his voice quieter now.

Chanyeol still didn’t speak, but he finally allowed Kyungsoo to hold him, making his tense finger loose in Kyungsoo's grip. His shoulders shaking as he silently cried, all while holding Kyungsoo's palms tightly. His tears falling in their conjoined hands. As if he weight of everything, of all the things Chanyeol had kept inside for so long pressed down on him.

“Please,” Kyungsoo whispered again, “please, just talk to me. Don’t be afraid of me. I won’t hurt you. I'm sorry that i did today."

Chanyeol’s tears rolled silently down his cheeks, he's hiccuping, his body shaking in Kyungsoo’s hold. And Kyungsoo’s heart ached, the realization that Chanyeol wasn’t just scared of him, but of something else, everything else, settling like a stone in his chest.
For a long time, Chanyeol didn’t say anything, just kept crying, not making any eye contact whatsoever. Kyungsoo held him tighter, feeling the weight of his words settle between them. Finally, Chanyeol spoke, his voice soft and trembling, as though he were struggling to push the words out.

“It’s okay,” Chanyeol whispered, his voice barely above a whisper. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry for always agreeing with you… for always… not being enough…”

Kyungsoo’s heart shattered at the sound of those words. Not being enough?

“No, Chanyeol, no." Kyungsoo murmured, his voice tight with emotion. “You 𝘢𝘳𝘦 enough. You’ve always been enough. I just... I just don’t know how to reach you sometimes. I want you to be yourself, to stand up for what you want, to show me who you really are. You're my husband Chanyeol, in sickness or grief I'm with you. But how am i supposed to do that if you shut me away?"

Chanyeol didn’t respond right away. He stayed silent in Kyungsoo’s hold, his body still trembling slightly. Kyungsoo just held his hand, silently begging for Chanyeol to understand.

“I’m truly sorry,” Kyungsoo whispered again, his voice thick with emotion. “I’ll do better. I promise. Can you promise to try a little too? Please?"

And finally, Chanyeol nodded, though it was barely perceptible. He said nothing more, but Kyungsoo could feel the tension leaving his body. Slowly, the silence between them wasn’t heavy anymore.

He wasn’t sure what had happened to Chanyeol, but he was determined to get to the bottom of it. To show him that he was safe, that it was okay to let go.

But it was clear that Chanyeol needed more time. Kyungsoo was willing to give it to him. He already felt like a utter fool for lashing out today. After all, this wasn't just about breaking down walls, it was about rebuildan trust. He had to earn Chanyeol's trust first, and to get that he need to know the root of their problem first.

~~~

Kyungsoo sat at his desk, his fingers frozen over the keyboard. His mind was a mess of thoughts that wouldn't stop circling, like a whirlpool pulling him under. He has somehow started to neglecting his work, unfinished files piling up in his desks, but he couldn't bring himself to focus on anything. Not when his thoughts kept drifting back to Chanyeol.

For months, Kyungsoo had tried. He really had. He’d tried to reach his husband, tried to be the warm, caring person he needed to be. But it was like reaching out to someone who was too far gone to care. Chanyeol’s behavior, his quiet compliance, the way he shrank back when Kyungsoo approached him, it was maddening. Kyungsoo had no idea what was happening. He didn’t know why Chanyeol wouldn’t open up, why he was so passive, so robotic. Was this the same man who had once been so full of life, always cracking jokes, singing in the car, pulling pranks on his friends, making snarky remarks? The Chanyeol who had always seemed so confident, so at ease in his own skin? How much longer Kyungsoo have to wait till he gets to see 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 version of his husband? Kyungsoo once again found himself scrolling through his husband's old insta posts. The stark difference still makes his heart ache. Which Chanyeol was real? Which one he's supposed to spend his life with?

It has already been almost five months of their marriage. But Chanyeol was still a stranger. a stranger whose very presence made Kyungsoo feel like an intruder in his own home. He never heard a genuine laugh, never saw any spark in his eyes. It was as if Chanyeol was constantly tiptoeing around him, afraid of saying the wrong thing, of doing something that might upset him. It was exhausting. And it broke Kyungsoo’s heart every time he saw his husband quietly sobbing in the dark, hiding his tears behind closed doors, as though he were ashamed of feeling anything at all. Kyungsoo didn’t want to force himself on Chanyeol. He wasn’t that kind of person, no matter how badly he wanted to break through to him. He had been actively trying to get close to his husband in the first months of their marriage. Holding Chanyeol's hands, trying to touch his arms while passing, but everytime Chanyeol stiffened.

And if by mistake Kyungsoo tried to have a conversation in their bed, or tried to innocently touch him, Chanyeol looked absolutely livid. As if he expected Kyungsoo to jump on him and take him forcefully. But the moment Kyungsoo backed his hands off, Chanyeol seemed to panick and 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵 himself, as far as even going to say in words that "if you...want me in any way, I'll be ready. But could you just...tell me beforehand?" as if he were nothing but an object, something that Kyungsoo could do anything with. Kyungsoo realised how Chanyeol sees him like a predator. He felt hurt and disgusted by the indication and eventually stopped approaching Chanyeol in bed altogether. He never tries to touch Chanyeol nowadays, not even in an innocent friendly way. It felt like an endless cycle of confusion. And it's messing Kyungsoo's outside life as well.

Why did Chanyeol act this way? Why was he so distant, so withdrawn? Was it Kyungsoo’s fault? Had he done something wrong? Does Chanyeol's hear lies in someone else? Kyungsoo couldn’t figure it out. All he wanted was to understand, but the more he tried to reach out, the more Chanyeol seemed to retreat. It was like Kyungsoo’s words fell on deaf ears. Chanyeol would barely acknowledge his attempts, but when he did, it was always with that hesitant, uncertain tone as if he had no choice but to go along with whatever Kyungsoo said.

A few days ago, at morning, Kyungsoo had caught a glimpse of something that made his stomach drop. He woke up an hour before his usual time. As every morning, Chanyeol was not by his side, he must be making breakfast. Sleep won't come again anyway, So Kyungsoo washed up, walked out of the bathroom to find Chanyeol standing by the window in kitchen, apron laden, his shoulders trembling, his face pale, his hands clutching the windowsill as though he was holding himself together. Kyungsoo had heard a small, strangled sob escape Chanyeol’s lips before he heard Kyungsoo's footsteps and quickly wiped his eyes, as though nothing had happened. Although Kyungsoo didn't want to embarrass Chanyeol by ambushing about it first thing in the morning but 𝘩𝘢𝘥 seen it, he had seen the pain in Chanyeol’s eyes.

This wasn’t how things were supposed to be. Chanyeol wasn't supposed to be hurting.

The breaking point came last night when Kyungsoo arrived home late from a meeting. He had expected to find the apartment empty, as Chanyeol had become accustomed to spending his evenings in silence, either in his study or quietly watching television. And it was late so he thought his husband might've went to bed already. There were two plates served on the table. Kyungsoo assumed Chanyeol waited for him and didn't eat himself alone. So he quietly walked to the study, not to spook Chanyeol. But as soon as he peaked inside, he overheard something, something that made his blood run cold.

It was faint, just a soft murmur, but he heard it clearly. After all, the house was so big and it was only two of them there. Chanyeol was speaking to himself in the study and it echoed.

“I can’t do this anymore,” Chanyeol muttered under his breath, hands clutching a book strongly, his voice barely audible. “I’m so tired... I just... I can’t...”

A quiet sigh followed, and then, to Kyungsoo’s horror, a broken sob.

Kyungsoo froze in his tracks, his heart hammering in his chest. He had never heard Chanyeol sound like that, so defeated, so vulnerable. It shattered him. He felt like he was seeing a side of Chanyeol he wasn’t meant to see. Raw, stripped bare, and full of unspoken pain.

It was a vulnerable and personal moment, Kyungsoo couldn't ambush Chanyeol in this moment, he might recluse in himself more. So Kyungsoo just stood there, teary eyed in that hallway, his heart in his hand willing to give it to his husband, willing to comfort him. But he knows he can't. He's not allowed to. A weird sense of dread coursed his whole body, has Chanyeol had enough? Is Kyungsoo failed as a husband? will Chanyeol leave him now?

When it was the time for bed, Kyungsoo finally decided to ask, what could go worse from the point they are already, right?

“Chanyeol?” Kyungsoo called out, his voice shaking. Chanyeol back was facing Kyungsoo. Kyungsoo laid on his side facing Chanyeol, catching him off guard.

“yes?" Chanyeol said, immediately sitting up, forcing a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

But Kyungsoo wasn’t buying it. He was done pretending. Done with the distance, done with the silence.

“What did you mean, when you were saying you can’t do this anymore?” Kyungsoo’s voice was quiet but laced with an edge of desperation and utter sadness.

Chanyeol gives him a deer-in-the-headlight expression. His face instantly turned red. He shook his head, backing away. “Oh that...It’s nothing. I...I’m...I was just tired. Really tired. Please don’t worry about me.”

Kyungsoo’s heart tightened in his chest. “Please Don’t lie to me,” he said softly, his voice trembling. “I know something’s wrong. Why do you always shut me out? Why do you cry when you think I’m not looking? Are you thinking about leaving? Am i doing something wrong Chanyeol?"

Chanyeol’s face twisted in pain as he shook his head and for a brief moment, Kyungsoo saw something, something real behind the mask Chanyeol had carefully put up. But then, it was gone, replaced by that same blank expression.

“I’m sorry,” Chanyeol whispered, voice barely audible. “It's not you. I just... I don’t know how to make things better. I don’t know what you want from me. I don't know how to give that to you."

Kyungsoo felt his stomach churn. What did he mean by that? And then it clicked.

It wasn’t just Kyungsoo who was lost, Chanyeol was too.

So, The next morning, still rattled, Kyungsoo found himself sitting across from his parents in their living room. His mother sat in her usual chair, her gaze kind and warm, while his father leaned back, looking slightly concerned. Kyungsoo could see the question in their eyes, and he didn’t want to hesitate any longer. He needed answers.

“Mom, Dad...” Kyungsoo began, his voice low. “I need to ask you something.”

His parents exchanged a glance before nodding. His father set down his cup of coffee, his expression softening. “What’s on your mind, son?”

Kyungsoo swallowed hard, gathering his thoughts. “About my marriage to Chanyeol… Did you know anything about it? About why it happened the way it did?”

His parents looked at each other again, and there was a brief moment of silence. Kyungsoo’s heart raced in his chest as he waited for their answer.

“We... We didn’t know everything, we still don't” his mother began, her voice gentle. “But we knew that Chanyeol’s parents were putting a lot of pressure on him. They were insistent on the marriage, and they assured us that Chanyeol had agreed to it wholeheartedly. We even tried to convince them to back off if it was too much for Chanyeol but... they wouldn’t listen. They insisted it was for the best.”

Kyungsoo’s heart sank. He felt as if the floor had dropped out from beneath him. “They... forced him into this? But when i asked him before he said...” Kyungsoo’s voice cracked, and he could feel the bitterness rise in his throat. “You’re telling me that Chanyeol didn’t want this? That he didn’t have a choice? Why didn't he back out then? He's a young capable man, he didn't 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 to agree to this”

His father leaned forward, his brow furrowed. “Son, we truly don’t know the full details. We don’t know how much pressure Chanyeol’s parents were putting on him. All we knew was that they were demanding it. They told us he agreed, 𝘩𝘦 told me he agreed too when i asked but... I’m afraid it wasn’t that simple. I guess they made him lie forcefully. We had an inkling and wanted to stop it, or delay it if that's what Chanyeol wished. But Chanyeol himself insisted that he was okay."

His mother added then, "They made it sound like it was what was best for everyone. We thought so too. They needed that merger to keep their family heritage protected. And we wanted Chanyeol to be in our family. But now that i see how Chanyeol acts, it might've been forced after all. I'm so sorry son, I cannot explain how guilty i feel when I see Chanyeol."

Kyungsoo’s breath caught in his throat, and his world tilted, as if everything he had believed up until now had shattered in an instant. Chanyeol’s parents had forced him into this marriage, and Chanyeol had never truly consented to it.

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 explained everything. It explained Chanyeol’s silence, his compliance, his brokenness. He has given up on their relationship from the start.

Kyungsoo stood abruptly, his heart pounding, his hands shaking. His parents looked at him in concern, but he couldn’t stay there any longer. He couldn’t bear the thought of being in that house any longer. Not when he knew the full truth. He felt a weird sense of disdain to his own parents too. Albeit unknowingly, they bound Chanyeol into this life. This life that Chanyeol didn't want.

Without another word, he turned and walked out, his mind spinning with a thousand conflicting emotions. He had so many questions, so much he needed to understand about his husband, the man he thought he knew. But one thing was clear now. Chanyeol hadn’t been given a choice. He had been trapped in a life he never wanted, and now it was up to Kyungsoo to decide what to do next.

Kyungsoo’s footsteps felt heavy as he walked back to the apartment, the weight of the truth still pressing down on him like a crushing stone. His mind spun in a chaotic whirlwind. He had known something wasn’t right, but to learn that Chanyeol had been forced into this marriage, that his husband had never truly consented to it… it was too much to bear. The thought of Chanyeol enduring all of this as an obligation,something he hadn’t chosen gnawed at Kyungsoo’s heart. He had no answers. Just questions. So many questions.

Why had Chanyeol simply gone along with it? Why hadn’t he fought back? What was he scared of? What is he scared of now? The image of Chanyeol quietly sobbing in the living room, his eyes hollow and distant, haunted Kyungsoo. It was as if the man before he had married had disappeared entirely, replaced by someone who was just going through the motions, living a life that was never his to begin with.

Kyungsoo needed to know the full story. He needed to understand why Chanyeol had accepted this fate. Why hadn’t he resisted? Why does be behaves so compliant to Kyungsoo? And more importantly, why hadn’t anyone told him the truth sooner?

He couldn’t sit still. His mind refused to let him rest, and he knew he couldn’t go another day without answers. He needed to talk to someone who might know. And there was only one person he could think of, Chanyeol’s younger brother.

Jongin had always been distant, quiet, and protective of Chanyeol. Kyungsoo had never been particularly close to him as Jongin silently made the fact noticed that he didn't particularly like Kyungsoo. In fact all of the Park siblings did that but right now, he was his only chance to get to the bottom of everything.

Kyungsoo grabbed his phone and dialed Jongin’s number, his heart pounding with anticipation. It rang a few times before Jongin answered, his voice casual, almost distant.

“Hello? Who's this?"

“It’s Kyungsoo,” Kyungsoo said, trying to steady his voice. “I need to talk to you. It’s important. Can we meet?”

There was a brief pause on the other end. “What about?” he said cuttingly.

“Just... just meet me tomorrow at Café Eve. It’s important. I’ll explain when I see you.”

Jongin hesitated again, but finally agreed. “Alright. When?"

Kyungsoo sighed in relief, "Tomorrow morning, 9 AM."

The next morning Kyungsoo barely had time to gather his thoughts before he found himself sitting at a booth in that small yet lavish private café. The minutes stretched on endlessly, his mind racing with questions he could barely formulate into words. Chanyeol’s silence. His painful compliance. The brokenness Kyungsoo had seen in him... How could he not have seen the signs? Ofcourse Chanyeol was forced in this. He has so lost in post marital bliss, and in a mission to connect with his husband that those signs went right above his head. He should've seen it sooner. But the question still remains. Why?

When the door opened and the waiter escorted his guest, Kyungsoo’s gaze shot up. Jongin entered first, his face unreadable as always. Behind him, Sehun followed closely, both of them standing at the entrance like two sentinels guarding the truth. The sight of them, standing so cold and distant, like they knew something Kyungsoo didn’t, made his stomach twist. They didn’t even look surprised at the sudden meeting. Just plain disdain on their face. They had to know why he had called them here.

Jongin took a seat across from Kyungsoo, while Sehun remained standing, arms crossed. Kyungsoo urged him to sit too but Sehun scowled at him for a moment but when Jongin nodded, then he sat across. "What do you want from us? Didn't you take enough?" Sehun glowered. The tension was palpable, thick enough to cut through. Kyungsoo felt his chest tighten as he struggled to find the words he needed to say.

Kyungsoo gave a annoying tsk. “Why do you guys... Nevermind. I need you to tell me everything,” Kyungsoo said quietly, his voice steady but firm. “Why did Chanyeol go along with this marriage? Why did he never resist? I need to know the truth. All of it.”

Jongin’s eyes narrowed, and Sehun glanced at him, his expression furious. "What the hell do you mean? Is this a sick joke?" Sehun barked but Jongin being the mature one, controlled him.

Kyungsoo was utterly confused now. "What do 𝘺𝘰𝘶 mean? I'm just asking for your honesty here."

Jongin spoke now in a weird voice. As if finally there's a realisation that Kyungsoo in fact didn't know the reason behind all this. "So...you really don't know?"

"No. I recently just found out that he's been forced in this marriage. I just want to know the reason Jongin, please. Please help me here." Kyungsoo said earnestly. There was a long silence before Jongin spoke, his voice low and measured.

“Kyungsoo...hyung, we don’t...” Jongin began, but Kyungsoo cut him off, his patience wearing thin.

“No. I need to know,” he insisted. “I know Chanyeol didn’t want this. I know he never asked for it. But you knew. You had to have known. Why didn’t you tell me the truth? I could've stopped it."

Jongin and Sehun exchanged a brief glance, their silence only adding to the growing frustration in Kyungsoo. He could feel his heartbeat quickening, the sense of helplessness creeping up on him. He had always tried to do the right thing by Chanyeol, but now, the truth seemed so far out of reach. His fingers clenched tightly around his cup, the cold ceramic biting into his skin.

“I don’t understand,” Kyungsoo said, voice cracking slightly. “Why would Chanyeol just accept this? Why didn’t he fight back? Why didn’t anyone tell me? If you knew, why didn’t you say anything? Why didn't 𝘩𝘦 said anything?"

Sehun finally spoke, his voice colder than Kyungsoo had expected. “It’s not our place to interfere with Hyung's life. He made his decision."

Kyungsoo recoiled at the words, the sting of them burning his chest. He slammed his hand at the table. “He didn’t make his decision. He didn’t have a choice. You think I'm dumb?” Kyungsoo’s voice rose, the frustration and confusion threatening to overwhelm him.

For a long moment, there was nothing but the silence between them. Jongin and Sehun exchanged another look, this one longer, more meaningful. Kyungsoo’s eyes flickered between them, feeling more and more like an outsider in his own life.

“You don’t understand,” Jongin said quietly, his tone softer than before. “We didn’t know you weren’t involved in this. We thought you were in on it. We thought... we thought you knew what was going on. We thought your whole family was in this."

Kyungsoo’s heart stopped for a moment. “What? What are you talking about? In 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 exactly?" Jongin nodded slowly, a hint of guilt crossing his face. “We didn’t know. We didn’t realize. Our parents... they had a plan. And we thought you were part of it.”

Kyungsoo’s mind raced as the pieces began to fall into place. They had thought he was in on it, that he had been aware of everything, of the pressure Chanyeol had faced, of the way his life had been dictated by his parents. That’s why they hadn’t said anything. They hadn’t realized he was just as much a victim in all of this as Chanyeol was.

But why hadn’t Chanyeol told him? Why hadn’t 𝘩𝘦 said anything? Chanyeol must've knows Kyungsoo didn't know right? But the next moment his blood froze. What if all this time Chanyeol's been distant because Chanyeol thinks he was in this too? That he too forced Chanyeol to marry? No no no no no no this can't happen.

He leaned forward, eyes pleading, his voice breaking with the weight of everything he had just learned. “I didn’t know. I swear to you, I didn’t know. Please, you have to tell me everything. I need to know, I'm going insane day by day."

For a moment, it seemed like Jongin and Sehun would remain silent, trapped in the same web of secrecy. But then, their eyes met, an unspoken conversation passing between them, one that Kyungsoo could never be part of. They didn’t need to say anything more. It was as if, in that silent exchange, the decision had already been made.

Jongin exhaled a havy sigh, and Sehun uncrossed his arms, his expression softening just slightly. Jongin finally looked at Kyungsoo, his gaze filled with something like resignation. The truth was coming, whether he was ready for it or not.

“Alright,” Jongin said, his voice quieter now, almost reluctant. “I’ll tell you. But you need to understand... This isn’t just about Chanyeol Hyung. It’s about all of us. And you need to listen carefully.”