Chapter 24

"Just a kid"

"So, how is everything with you?" asked Eric over the phone, "It has been a while since we last spoke. You mentioned something about telling your parents about your relationship?"

"Yes," started Taehyun, feeling particular excited to tell Eric about this, "both of us told our parents about our relationship and it went really well."

"It did?" said Eric.

"You sound surprised," said Taehyun.

"I am sorry, It is just… I have known Yoo Jin for a long time and her parents has never before been happy with the men she has been dating. Those were all University guys, and you are a… I mean… you are still in High School… I am sorry, it is just very surprising to me that Yoo Jin's mother would be 'happy' about this." Taehyun turned silent for a little while, trying to convince himself that everything was okay.

"Maybe Yoo Jin's mother can tell that her daughter is happy with me?" said Taehyun, a little uncertain, "doesn't a mother want their daughter to be happy?"

"Of course, and that could be the case," said Eric in a slightly hopeful tone, "did they invite you over yet?"

"Invite me over?" asked Taehyun.

"Yeah, isn't it normal to have dinner with your girlfriend's parents after you become public as a couple?"

"That might… be true…" said Taehyun, "but no… they haven't invited me over yet. In fact… I can't remember the last time I went to their house. Yeonjun always comes up with some excuse or insist we hang out at my house…" Taehyun again turned silent on the phone and Eric's mind was going crazy, trying to think of something to say, but before he could come up with anything, Taehyun spoke up again.

"Hyung, I need to hang up now," said Taehyun, sounding distressed as he spoke, "I need to talk to Noona right now!"

"Woah there, calm down before you do anything," said Eric before Taehyun hung up, "it might be nothing, it is still a good idea to talk to her, but take it easy."

"Okay… okay I will…" said Taehyun while nodding his head.

"Good," said Eric, "I am sorry for making you worry."

"No it is okay, I will talk to you later." 

With those words Taehyun quickly hung up the phone and put it in his pocket whereafter he walked out of his room with firm steps. With Eric's words in his mind, he forced himself to take it slow instead of running with all his might, the thing he wanted to do the most. 

The road to Yoo Jin's house felt longer than ever before and in the end he couldn't stop himself from fastening his pace a little bit. His mind was killing him, he needed answers or he would simply go crazy.

After taking in a deep breath, Taehyun looked up and placed two firm knocks on the door whereafter he took a step back and waited patiently.

It could be anyone who was coming to greet him. At this time a day, there was a high change that both Jeong-Yeon and Se Hyeong were home, not to mention Yeonjun, whom he really didn't want to involve in this.

After what felt like an enternity, Taehyun finally saw the doorknob turn and he held his breath, but quickly breathed out again when he saw Yoo Jin standing in front of him, sending him a look of confusion.

"Taehyun? What… what are you doing here?" stuttered Yoo Jin and quickly walked outside, closing the door behind her.

"I just wanted to see you," said Taehyun in his usual sweet voice, "if I can't see my girlfriend when I miss her, then what is the point?" A faint smile appeared on Yoo Jin's face, but it quickly faded into nothing.

"You are very sweet, I miss you too," said Yoo Jin, without looking at Taehyun, "but now is not a good time."

"Oh, okay," said Taehyun and tried calming down his beating heart along with the thoughts in his head, "when is it a good time, then?"

"I don't know," said Yoo Jin, her voice sounding slightly more annoyed as she looked over her shoulder, "can we go somewhere else?"

"Sure, should we go for a walk down the street?" asked Taehyun and Yoo Jin gulped.

"Actually, I was thinking more about… going somewhere further… away…" stuttered Yoo Jin, "it is so boring in this neighborhood."

"That is not true, besides, nothing exciting has to happen," said Taehyun, "I just want to go for a walk with my girlfriend, hand in hand."

"Taehyun… please…" said Yoo Jin in a low voice, "can't we just go somewhere else?" Taehyun lowered his head and stayed silent, Yoo Jin looking at him in confusion, wondering what thoughts were going through his head in this exact moment. But most of all, she continued looking around, making sure none of their neighbors were outside, making sure her mother hadn't noticed how long she had been standing outside their house and were thinking about going outside herself.

"Noona…" said Taehyun after a while and Yoo Jin looked at him again, "do you not want to be seen with me?"

"W… what?" stuttered Yoo Jin.

"I don't understand, we told our parents already, we are an official couple," said Taehyun, "but still, you won't let me visit you and you won't even hold my hand in public."

"You don't understand… you don't know what it is like to have everyone's eyes on you all the time," blurted Yoo Jin all of a sudden, "don't you think I want to invite you inside more than anything else? Don't you think it is hard for me to hide our relationship from everyone around us."

"Then why do you do it? Why do you care what people think?"

"Everybody cares about what people think of them, that is just how society works."

"I don't care."

"You are just a kid," said Yoo Jin loudly, "you don't understand how much it impacts your life what other people think of you. Maybe you will understand it when you get older."

"I thought we were past this…" said Taehyun and looked down, "who is older and who is younger… I thought it didn't mean anything, I thought we were just boyfriend and girlfriend. But I guess I was a fool for thinking like that. I guess I was thinking like an immature kid."

"Taehyun, I am sorry… that is not what I meant…" Yoo Jin tried to apologize but Taehyun didn't even look like he was listening anymore, his mind had shut down and his defenses were up. Without another word, Taehyun turned around and started walking away.

"Taehyun, wait!" yelled Yoo Jin and ran after him and quickly grabbed his hand, stopping him, but when he turned his head and Yoo Jin looked at his eyes, cold and filled with anger, she let go almost instinctively.  She wanted to hold on to him, she wanted to run after him, but that look was enough to keep her frozen in the same spot. She had never seen him like that before. He wasn't pouting, he wasn't sad. He was angry, much more than he let it show. She was sure of it, he was holding it all back for her sake, and if she didn't let him go now, she was afraid they would never be able to make up again.

Hello everyone!

I think we all know this "fight" was inevitable, you can't build a foundation on top of lies, Yoo Jin would have to come clean about this at some point.

What do you think? Are you still enjoying the story so far?

Take good care of yourself and stay safe.

Love, Annalise~