To Byul (Omegaverse)-Chapter 133: If you run, I’ll hear your footsteps

If Chin-hwa had known they were having a Christmas party, he wouldn’t have agreed to sing the Christmas song this year.

It was his comeback, but to think he would have to sing in front of all those dignitaries because those were the kind of people his parents and Kang-woo’s parents were affiliated with.

It wouldn’t be a normal Christmas party. It’ll be like a grand and fancy banquet with red and white as its theme color.

"Tsk, I should’ve seen this coming." Chin-hwa clicked his tongue in regret.

His parents would definitely not pass on the opportunity to show off their talented Hwa to their business partners and at the same time, draw a line that they should never mess with him. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

Kang-woo slid his hands on Chin-hwa’s shoulders and started kneeling softly.

"What’s got you all knotted up and sulking?" He asked, and Chin-hwa pushed his head back to see an upside-down view of Kang-woo’s face.

"I feel like I’ve been tricked." He said and Kang-woo laughed.

"Because they’re throwing a Christmas party?"

"I mean," he dropped his head and turned around to face him clearly. "...they didn’t do that in the past, so why now?"

"Maybe because they wanted to make you feel better with a party." Kang-woo answered right away as if he had been preparing that answer.

"Huh?"

"You know like how they throw birthday parties. But it’s not anyone’s birthday and the only valid excuse to throw a party this time of the year would be Christmas. They want to throw a party so you can feel better and happy, maybe that’s why they didn’t tell you till now."

Chin-hwa went silent and then gnashed his teeth.

"How much did they pay you to bribe me?" He asked, causing Kang-woo to laugh even more.

He sat next to Chin-hwa and pulled his adorable cheeks.

"You look just like a force kitty right now."

"And you look like a..." Chin-hwa paused, his eyes sparkling and his throat running dry. He gazed at Kang-woo’s face and his eyes and all he could think of was how handsome he was.

"I look like a what?" Kang-woo asked but Chin-hwa shook his head and dismissed it.

"Never mind." He said. ’Nothing comes to mind but... He reminds me of a panther.’

"Hwa," Si-woo’s voice pulled their attention and they both turned towards the door where Si-woo was standing. "Are you mad?" She asked with a little sadness in her tone.

Chin-hwa looked at his sister. His eyes slowly and softly darted towards the opened door and back to her, and then he sighed.

"I was, Noona, but not anymore." He said and watched her walk in.

She stood in front of him and then cupped his face in her hands.

"Oh, it wasn’t intended to trick you, I promise." She said. "We already planned to throw a Christmas party before all this." She glanced at Kang-woo and then cleared her throat. "We had no idea you planned to sing this Christmas either but the news made us overjoyed."

"Think about it, Hwa." Chin-hwa rolled his eyes towards Kang-woo. "Wouldn’t it be too late to start preparing for a Christmas party from tonight?" Kang-woo asked and Si-woo nodded.

"Invitations have already been set and the venue has been booked. So there’s no way we planned this just because you intended to sing." Si-woo was doing her best to convince Chin-hwa.

If he was mad about the idea, they could just cancel it. It was not too late. But it would be for the best if he just came to an understanding and decided to take it as it was.

Hearing Chin-hwa sing on Christmas Day was a blessing. They could not compromise that so they could risk everything else.

"Fine, I get it." Chin-hwa said, pushing Si-woo’s hand down from his face. "I didn’t fall for your tricks." He sighed. "It’s just me being paranoid, as usual."

"No way, my baby isn’t a paranoia." Si-woo said, once again cupping his face and he grunted.

Kang-woo did nothing but smile, happy that Chin-hwa had come to an understanding.

"In any case, I’ll still feel uncomfortable." Chin-hwa said. "I didn’t plan to sing in front of so many people."

"Hm, then should I tell Daddy to just cancel the party?" Si-woo asked with a smile.

"No," Chin-hwa shook his head. "You guys must’ve put in a lot of effort already so I’m not going to be a spoilt brat and ruin things just because I don’t like it." He brushed his neck. "So, I’ll just have to prepare. Instead," he glanced at Kang-woo. "...I’ll need some assistance that day so I don’t get too nervous."

Kang-woo’s eyes gradually grew. Chin-hwa was asking him to join him that day, right?

Well, it was no different from what they were going to do at the school festival, but still... Getting asked by Chin-hwa like this made him feel extra special and his heart warmed up.

Si-woo glanced at the both of them and then her lips curled up.

Seemed like they were finally on good terms. Bye-bye to crying days and welcome good ol’ smiles.

"Since that’s settled," Si-woo stood straight and dropped her hands on her waist. "I’ll let the rest of the family know."

"They probably already know." Chin-hwa said, rolling his eyes towards the door. "You guys can come out now. I can literally hear you breathing." Though, there was no response.

He sighed, got up from the chair, and walked towards the door.

"If you run, I’ll hear your footsteps." He said and then stood at the entrance. "Did you really think I wouldn’t know?" He asked and looked to his left.

His family was crowded in that corner, holding their breath and hoping he wouldn’t find them out but he was way too smart to assume that they were not curious enough to eavesdrop on his conversation.

Especially after Si-woo’s timely intervention when he thought he was being tricked.

They were all listening in on his conversation with Kang-woo when Si-woo decided to speak up and clear the misunderstanding.

He shook his head and sighed. His family was something.

"Aigoo, it’s not like we had any bad intentions," Woo-bin said while Baek-Hyun cleared his throat as he looked away.

Hae-won smiled awkwardly and said,

"We were just curious, okay? It’s nothing too grand."

"Yes, what mama said." Deok-ryu added and then glanced into the room at Kang-woo and Si-woo, who was struck with a bit of guilt and averted her eyes. "We just didn’t want Hwa to hurt for no reason."

"I got it, I got it." Chin-hwa said. "And don’t worry, I’m not mad. I just..." He smiled. "...got a bit emotional."

Hae-won sighed and then walked forward to hug Chin-hwa.

"My baby, we were just worried that you’d take it the wrong way. But like Si-Si said, if you don’t feel comfortable with it, we can just cancel the party."

"It’s alright, mummy. I told you, I’m not mad. Besides, having a party is a nice change to the atmosphere, okay? Don’t mind my childish taunts." He said, patting his mother’s face softly.

"Oh my, my baby is all grown up." Hae-won said and laughed.

"Says who?" Woo-bin asked. "He’s still that little baby I carried yesterday," he flung his arms around his body and started twisting. "My wittle baby Hwa,"

They laughed but Chin-hwa threw his face aside in embarrassment. And then, his eye caught Yun-tae and Myung-woo a little distance away.

They looked like they were having a good chat. They were getting along quite well that he started to feel even more curious.

"Hwa," Baek-Hyun called and Chin-hwa turned his head towards him.

"Yes, Dad?"

"Come with me for a moment, I have something to give you." He said, reaching his hand out and Chin-hwa nodded, taking his father’s hand.

"Kang-woo," Chin-hwa called. "Sorry, but I can’t see you off. It seems my dad will take me back to school."

"It’s alright," Kang-woo said with a delicate and sincere smile. He enjoyed their time together so why would he be bothered? "I guess I’ll see you in school then."

"Yeah," Chin-hwa said and nodded at Yun-tae.

Yun-tae nodded back. He watched them leave one after the other and knew he’d have to wait a while for Chin-Hwa but even so, he was okay with it, but then Myung-woo said,

"Want me to take home?"

"What?"

He looked at Myung-woo who was smiling brightly at him.

"Come on, I know where you live. You don’t have to wait for Chin-hwa." He said, reaching his hand to grab Yun-tae’s. "Plus, I know we won’t see each other till we have to go meet your father, so..." He brought his hand to his lips and planted a soft kiss. "..let me see you off."

Yun-tae’s eyes widened. What... What was he doing?

He looked around. Luckily, they had already gone downstairs, so no one saw them, but...

"Myung-woo, you don’t really have to." Yun-tae said, his face lightly heating up. "You’ve already done so much for me today."

"And I wish to do more." Myung-woo gazed at him with such loving eyes that Yun-tae began to waver.

"I..."

But just before he could make up his mind, Deok-ryu walked up the stairs and found them in that position.

"Ah," he subconsciously exclaimed, pulling their attention to him. "I promise I didn’t see anything."

Yun-tae quickly took back his hand from Myung-woo’s grip and bowed his head.

"Sorry, I’ll just wait for Chin-hwa." He said and hurried away.

He bowed lightly at Deok-ryu before hurrying down the stairs.

Deok-ryu watched Yun-tae hurry away and then looked at Myung-woo whose fists were suddenly clenched and trembling.

"Ah, looks like I struck a nerve."