To Byul (Omegaverse)-Chapter 22: Did you recognize them?

"Hm? Who is it?" He asked. "Are we expecting anyone over?"

"Of course." Woo-bin answered, heading towards the door. "And it's someone you're familiar with too."

As soon as Chin-hwa heard that, he was more than sure who was at the door. Ah, no. Why were they doing this to him?

He clutched the chair and Baek-Hyun noticed it. He dropped his hand on Chin-hwa's head and asked,

"I hope it doesn't displease you that your siblings picked up your friend on the way?"

Hearing this, Chin-hwa turned to Yun-Tae, who was feeling rather awkward. He didn't know what they were on about, but from what he had observed, everyone did everything to Chin-hwa's liking, and they very much tried their best not to make him angry, anxious, or sad.

"No, it doesn't." Chin-hwa said, though that was a lie. He was not happy about it.

Now that he saw his family, he must've known who his parents were, since they were rather popular, and he might tell it to the rest of their friends.

So, instead of waiting there to welcome their 'guests', he decided to take Yun-Tae to his room and have a word with him.

"Yun," Chin-hwa called as he got up from the chair. "Wanna see my room?"

Yun-Tae nodded right away. Anything to get away from the situation he was in.

They were all nice and welcoming, but something kept picking at his back, like they were keeping a close eye on him and were keeping their guard up against him.

They must want to know if they could count him as a trustworthy friend who would never stab their Hwa in the back.

But more than that, they were at least glad Chin-hwa had a friend since it looked like he had changed a lot compared to the past. The only one he ever really hung out with was Kang-woo, so they were a bit worried he would not be able to make any new friends when he got into college and he would be lonely.

But it looked like they didn't need to worry too much.

Yet, they would be keeping an eye on this friend of his.

"Phew," Yun-Tae let out a sigh of relief as he walked into the room but his relief was short-lived when Chin-hwa asked,

"Did you recognize them?"

Yun-Tae turned to him, confused.

"My parents, did you recognize them?"

"Well, I think it would be difficult not to recognize them." Yun-Tae said, darting his eyes aside, and he took a seat on the couch in the room. "They're all pretty popular, I guess." He glanced at the uneasy look on Chin-hwa's face and asked, "Is that why you never liked to talk about them? Because of the attention?"

Chin-hwa did not respond but went to sit next to him, his legs tightly closed and his hands resting on his thighs.

"I don't need anyone to tell me the reason why they brought you along before knowing it." Chin-hwa said, completely brushing Yun-Tae's question aside. "And as you might've noticed based on what I stumbled upon," he glanced at Yun-Tae, "I don't talk to my family about school, just as I don't talk about my family at school. Is it because I'm ashamed or scared of the attention it would bring? Neither. I just..." He glanced away. "... Can't talk."

"But it seemed to me that you were talking just fine." Yun-Tae said. "Did something happen?"

This chapter is updat𝙚d by freeweɓnovel.cøm.

"That's my business." Chin-hwa said and Yun-Tae dropped his back on the couch, wondering how Chin-hwa could be such a mystery.

Even though he looked like the type where all his secrets could fly out in the open, he was so... Closed in.

"I won't pry." Yun-Tae said. "But I just want you to know that you are very lucky." He smiled.

"What's that about?" Chin-hwa asked. "Of course, I know I'm lucky. My family..." He blushed lightly. "They're the best in the world and I could never ask for another."

It was kind of embarrassing saying it out loud and he was sure if they heard hin, they would all be brought to tears. So, he better not say that in front of them, haha.

Yun-Tae's smile looked frozen and cold. He didn't know what it meant to have a family that loved him wholeheartedly and so warmly at that.

When they gathered him to hear about Chin-hwa and how he was doing at school, he felt a pang in his chest. He felt so envious, so jealous of Chin-hwa's privilege, and at the same time, was happy for him.

His feelings were contradicting themselves but one could not really blame him. For someone in his case, his feelings were more than understandable.

"Your family is so warm, I'd like to visit again with you." Yun-Tae dared to say, even though he did not know how Chin-hwa would react.

He just wanted his thoughts out in the open, and if he was rejected or if the idea displeased Chin-hwa, he could just say it, and he wouldn't need to die in silence, wishing he had spoken sooner.

"Well, I don't see why not?" Chin-hwa said, which was a bit surprising. "I mean," he rubbed the back of his neck. "You already know who my parents are and how they behave, and they already know who you are, so I don't see a reason to refuse." He smiled faintly. "Besides, if you're there, I won't need to worry when they start asking questions about school."

Yun-Tae watched Chin-hwa, surprised. He was so different from how he was on a normal day.

"Wow, Hwa, I think you just got cuter."

"Nonsense." Chin-hwa snapped and dragged Yun-Tae's cheeks. "Did my siblings rub off their craziness on you too."

Yun-Tae laughed and Chin-hwa ended up laughing along with him.

This was the first time he was having such a long conversation with Chin-hwa. Aside from when he approached him that morning to ask a favor, Chin-hwa didn't bother to hold personal conversations.

Ah, was this what he meant when he said he just couldn't talk? It would seem someone else had to bring up the conversation for him to flow along with it.

And if it was a conversation that he didn't feel like contributing in, it would basically die at the start.

"Ah, that reminds me, that favor you asked," Chin-hwa said and Yun-Tae flinched.

"Y-yes?" Was he going to reject it now that he knew about his family?

"If you want to get to know By-, I mean, Kang-woo better," He got up from the couch and headed for the bookshelf at the corner. "How about you take a look at some of his pictures?" He took out two photo albums. "I have a ton of pictures of him, so just help yourself out."

"Wow, really?" Yun-Tae's eyes shimmered. "Ah, that means I can see him when he was a baby as well?" Chin-hwa nodded and he gushed. "Wahh, this is so embarrassing, but thank you." He opened the first page and was struck with a series of adorable pictures. "Wahh, so cute."

Chin-hwa let out a little laugh and started heading for the door. Yun-Tae noticed it and called out to him,

"Wait, aren't you going to take a look at them with me?" He asked but Chin-hwa shook his head and reached for the door handle.

"No, I don't want to take a look at them." He said. 'It'll only bring me to tears so I don't want to.'

"But..."

"It's fine. Just take your time with them." He said and opened the door, only to find a tall figure standing in front of his door and blocking the exit.

And that tall figure was none other than Kang-woo.

"Hwa," Kang-woo called out softly with a smile so warm and radiant that it melted Chin-hwa's heart. "I'm here." He said.