Chapter Twenty: Unspoken Truth.

Kang Min Jun stood in front of the mirror, staring at his own reflection. His eyes were tired, dark circles forming beneath them, a clear indication of the sleepless night he'd had. The memory of last night's conversation with his parents lingered in his mind like a dark cloud, but he knew he had to put on a brave face. He had to shield Soo Jeon from the turmoil that threatened to consume him.

 When his phone buzzed with a message from her, his heart tightened. He knew that she could sense when something was wrong, but he wasn't ready to share the burden of his family's expectations. Not now, not when she was his only source of peace in this chaotic world.

 "Good morning! Can't wait to see you today :)" her message read, as cheerful as always.

 Min Jun's thumb hovered over the keyboard. He wanted to respond with the same enthusiasm, but the weight of his thoughts made it difficult. Instead, he typed a short reply, forcing a smile as he did.

 "Good morning, Soo Jeon. Looking forward to it too."

 As he hit send, he let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. He knew he should tell her everything, but the thought of her worrying, of seeing the light in her eyes dim with concern, held him back. He couldn't do that to her—not when she had her own dreams to focus on.

 Later that day, when they met, Min Jun did his best to act normal. They walked through the park, the same one where the shattered picture in his apartment had been taken. Soo Jeon talked about her upcoming ballet performance, her eyes shining with excitement. Min Jun listened, nodding along, but his mind was elsewhere, replaying the conversation with his parents.

 "Min Jun, are you okay?" Soo Jeon's gentle voice pulled him back to the present. She looked up at him with concern, her hand squeezing his.

 He forced a smile, pushing the thoughts away. "I'm fine, just a little tired from work." It wasn't a lie, but it wasn't the full truth either. But Min Jun convinced himself it was better this way. He couldn't burden her with his family's expectations. Not yet.

 "You're working too hard," she said softly, resting her head on his shoulder as they continued their walk. "But I'm here for you, always."

 Min Jun's heart ached at her words. He knew she meant them, but it only made the secret he was keeping feel heavier. As they walked together, Min Jun vowed to protect her from the darkness of his family's expectations, even if it meant carrying the weight alone.