– 6 –

It has been over a week since the couple returned after Namjoon's outdoor session at Yoongi and Hoseok's penthouse and Seokjin could see the difference in Namjoon's vibe. The younger seemed happier and he was interacting more with Seokjin. It was always Seokjin who offered the boy to go for a walk or get some coffee together and so so but nowadays, it's Namjoon.

"Hyung? Wanna go out for a walk? It's lovely weather outside." Namjoon peeked out from the corner of the hallway wall that parted the kitchen and dining room of Seokjin's decent-sized apartment. Seokjin was washing up the dishes after their lunch.

"Oh? Sure, lemme put the dishes on the rack then we can go."

"Let me help you." Namjoon hopped to the older and carefully helped out his boyfriend clean up.

"Thank you, Joonie."

"Anything for you, Hyungie." Namjoon smiled, his dragon eyes disappearing because of his cheeky smile which melted Seokjin's heart. He couldn't hold the urge to kiss the younger's lips and nose.

"I love it when you are being so bubbly," Seokjin said hugging the boy which the younger returned happily. "Are you ready to go out?"

"I am."

"Alright. Let me go change my shirt real quick." Seokjin said and went to his room to change his clothes, leaving Namjoon in the dining space alone.

He felt guilty for hiding from his boyfriend. The love of his life. It felt like he was deceiving his lover and he shouldn't do that but if he doesn't do that, he and his lover won't be happy like he wants.

The pictures of how his mum said such hurtful spat on his face. How could she? He was her child. Her own son! But he was sure that his mum loved his younger brother more. He is nothing but a disappointment.

"I wonder why this nuisance is here." Namjoon's mum said with a rather disgusted manner and Namjoon regretted it immediately. He shouldn't have come here. The place where he lived his dreadful childhood. Where he was scolded for not being perfect. Where he was degraded and shamed for his looks. The same place where he was termed as an utter disappointment.

Namjoon felt dreadful and regretful.

"Hyung! How are you?" Namjoon smiled forcefully when he saw his younger man coming down the stairs with a wide smile that was about to go away so soon. Sooner than the autumn ends. Namjoon felt two slender arms around his torso and saw his younger sibling hugging him lovingly. The second person who cared for him in his life.

"I'm good, kiddo. How are you? How are your studies going on?"

"Great! I scored first in this final term exam this time! Mum got me a new laptop for that!" The younger said overjoyed. Namjoon smiled and ruffled the sixteen-year-old boy's hair feeling happy for his accomplishment, but jealous about the fact that he was treated better than he was. Unfair.

"That's wonderful! Now go inside and don't come out until I'm gone, hm?" The younger nodded and walked away.

"Wonderful indeed! But what have you done apart from fucking around with your boyfriend? I can't believe that my older son is homosexual. Disgusting!"

"It's my life! You have no right to say this kind of disrespectful things!"

"Like you deserved respect ever?"

"I did. I deserved everything. Respect, praise and love. Which my boyfriend gives me with all he has, unlike you." Namjoon said. All those feelings poured out of his heart at once. This is it. He is doing it.

Finally.

"How dare you talk back at your mother in that manner?! Have I taught you to be disrespectful?! I feel ashamed of calling you my son. Tch!"

"And I feel disgusted with calling you my mother! All my life, all you have done is degrade me and forced me to be perfect!"

"That's what you deserve! You're so clumsy! So imperfect! You were taught to be perfect like how your family members are. Your younger broth-"

"It's always my younger brother! It's always him! Can't you see my efforts?! Can't you see my achievements?! How much I have tried to be perfect in front of your friends and everyone outside this house."

"But still people thought you're not enough! It's definitely my fault that I gave you birth! You're just a disgrace to the Kim Family."

"Like the hell I am. I don't want to be a part of your 'The Kim Family' since I am a disgrace. I don't want to be your son. I'm done pretending to be so fake! I'm done dancing as your knickknack which is attached with your strings. I want to live on my own. Bye, mom!" Namjoon said. His heartfelt light after gushing everything out.

"Fine! I don't need a disappointment like you as my son!" And Namjoon's mum felt guilty because she knew whatever her son said was true and she didn't fail to notice that Namjoon didn't curse at her for once. All his life, all she did was degrade the boy and forced him to mould in the mould of other people's perspective.

"Hyung? What will happen if I'm gone?" Namjoon asked suddenly as he and his lover walked under the lovely orange and red-tinted trees in the park.

"What kind of question is that, baby?" Seokjin retorted, perplexed by the question.

"Just tell me."

"I would definitely be broken, I would cry and cry and wither about it and wait till I go back to you. One day, all of us will be gone anyways." Seokjin said, not taking the younger's question so seriously. It wasn't going to happen in real, right?

"Ah..."

"Why did you ask it though?"

"I don't know, just curious." Namjoon shrugged and Seokjin couldn't even tell that the younger lied through his teeth so casually.

"Pabo." Seokjin chuckled and ruffled the younger's hair. "You're going nowhere. I love you. Don't ever think of leaving me. I want you to grow old with me. Have kids. See them have kids and play with our grandchildren." Seokjin said playfully as he pulled the younger by his petite waist.

"Sorry Hyung," Namjoon said with teary eyes. "I love you too."

"It's okay but I love you more. I love you so much that even if you can count all the stars in the universe and compare them with my love, it'll be less." The older mumbled lowly. Namjoon chuckled following Seokjin.

Little did Seokjin know what was waiting for him.