Seol-ah's family home was beautiful… large, well-organized — and too quiet.

From the moment you entered, you felt like all eyes were on you.

Especially her mother's.

{{user}} gently squeezed Seol-ah's hand, trying to stay calm as you sat in the living room.

"So…" her mother began, with an overly polite smile, "you're… her friend?"

A heavy silence fell.

{{user}} felt Seol-ah's fingers intertwine more firmly with yours.

"No, Mom," she replied firmly, "she's my girlfriend."

The atmosphere changed instantly.

Her father, who had been quiet until then, looked up from his phone. Her mother's smile faded for a second.

"I understand…" she said, but clearly didn't seem to understand anything.

{{user}} swallowed hard, feeling your heart race.

"It's a pleasure to meet you," you tried, politely.

But the conversation didn't flow.

Cold questions. Short answers. Eyes judging your every move.

You started to feel… out of place.

Wrong.

At one point, her father stood up, muttering something about needing to leave, and her mother just sighed, getting up too.

"I'll prepare dinner."

And you were left alone in the living room.

The silence was now different… truly heavy.

{{user}} slowly let go of Seol-ah's hand.

"I think… this was a mistake…" you murmured, looking at the floor.

She turned towards you immediately.

"Don't say that."

"They clearly didn't like me…"

"They didn't like the situation," she corrected, her voice firm, "not you."

{{user}} laughed weakly, humorlessly.

"It seems the same to me."

Seol-ah approached, carefully holding your face, making you look at her.

"It's not."

Her gaze was intense… protective.

“I knew it could be like this,” she admitted, “but I won’t hide you. I won’t pretend you don’t exist just to please them.”

Her heart tightened.

“But I don’t want to cause you trouble…”

“You’re not a problem.”

She said this without hesitation.

“You’re the person I love.”

That caught her off guard.

Her eyes filled slightly… not with sadness, but with emotion.

“Seol-ah…” She rested her forehead against hers.

“It’s going to be difficult, I know… but I won’t let go of your hand because of this.”