I stood on the balcony, fingers resting lightly against the railing, staring out at the dim city lights. Everything looked calm… but inside me, thoughts kept crashing into each other.
What happens next?
What happens when his family finds out?
What about his mom… would she accept us? Or would she look at me like I was something that ruined everything?
My chest tightened.
I had kept this to myself for so long. Carrying it alone felt easier than risking everything falling apart.
But now… Yushen knew.
And that changed everything.
Behind me, I heard the soft sound of the sliding door opening. His footsteps were quiet, but I didn't need to turn to know it was him.
"You've been quiet," Yushen said gently.
I forced a small smile, still looking ahead. "Just thinking."
He stepped beside me, resting his arms on the railing, close—but not pushing.
"About us?" he asked.
That was enough to break whatever I was holding in.
I let out a soft breath, my fingers tightening slightly.
"About everything," I admitted. "About your family… your mom… what happens when they find out about me… about the twins."
The words felt heavier once they left my mouth.
"I didn't want to say it," I continued, my voice quieter now. "I thought… if I just kept it to myself, it wouldn't become real."
I finally turned to look at him.
"But I can't," I whispered. "I'm scared, Yushen."
For a moment, he didn't speak. He just looked at me—steady, calm, but there was something deeper in his eyes now.
Then he reached out, gently holding my hand.
"You're not the only one thinking about it," he said softly.
I blinked, surprised.
"I know what my family is like," he continued. "I know it won't be easy. My mom… she'll have questions. Maybe more than that."
My heart sank a little.
But then his grip on my hand tightened—not forceful, just certain.
"But this time," he said, his voice firm in a way I hadn't heard before, "I'm not going to step back."
I looked at him, searching his face.
"I didn't know before," he admitted quietly. "I didn't know about you… about them. And that's something I can't change."
His gaze softened.
"But now I do."
There was a pause—one of those moments where everything feels like it's holding its breath.
"And now that I know," he continued, "I'm not going to hide. I'm not going to pretend this isn't my responsibility… my family."
My chest tightened again—but this time, not from fear.
"I'll make it right," he said, looking straight at me. "For you. For them."
I swallowed, my voice barely above a whisper.
"What if it gets hard?"
A faint smile touched his lips—not careless, but determined.
"It will," he said honestly. "But that doesn't mean I'll walk away."
His thumb brushed lightly against my hand.
"It just means I have to fight for it."
Something in me finally softened.
All this time, I thought I had to carry everything alone.
But standing here, with his hand holding mine so steadily… it didn't feel that way anymore.
I let out a quiet breath, leaning slightly closer.
"Okay," I whispered.
And for the first time that night, the noise in my head slowly faded… replaced by something I hadn't felt in a long time.
Hope.