#exochanyeol | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

loeyshine · 3 days ago

Text

Vetoed

Epoch book

•*⁀➷pairing: chanyeol x fem reader

Theme: high school lovers, young in love, strict parents, having each other, rich and famous girl x lovable goofy boy, "Love's true test isn't in the rules, but in the unwavering belief we have in each other."

Description: isn’t it unethical? we have different worlds, you and me, nonetheless we still have each other. I love you, you love me, they cannot do anything about it.

Playlist: I think they call this love — elliot reay

Chapter 1

It’s funny how life works sometimes. One moment, you're just trying to survive high school and meet the expectations of your strict parents, and the next, you're falling for someone who, on paper, you should never even talk to. But then again, love isn’t written on paper, is it?

My name is Y/N, and I have everything people think they want: wealth, beauty, intelligence. I’m the perfect daughter, the perfect student, the perfect future… or at least, that’s what my parents expect of me. They have this tight grip on my life, controlling everything from my grades to my career aspirations. There’s no room for mistakes, no space for rebellion. I am their shining star.

But then, there’s Chanyeol.

Chanyeol, with his boyish smile and infectious laugh, is the one thing in my life that doesn’t fit the mold. He’s different from anyone my parents would approve of, and I’m not even sure he’s someone they’d ever accept. His family isn’t as wealthy as mine, and he doesn’t wear a suit or carry around a briefcase like my father. He’s... free-spirited. He’s the type to stand out in a crowd with his quirky nature and big dreams.

And he’s the one I’ve fallen for.

---

It all started last year, in the hallway of our school. I had just finished a math exam (with flying colors, of course) and was heading to the library when I bumped into him. Literally bumped into him. Books and papers flew everywhere, and my perfectly composed world crashed for a moment.

“Y/N? Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry!” Chanyeol had apologized, kneeling to help pick up the papers that had scattered across the floor. He smiled brightly, and I could tell he wasn’t the least bit bothered by the situation.

I couldn’t help but notice how... different he was from the other students. His eyes sparkled with curiosity, his hair a bit tousled, and his casual clothing gave him this effortless charm. I, on the other hand, was always in a pressed uniform, my hair styled to perfection, and my posture rigid with the weight of my parents’ expectations.

At first, I didn’t think much of him. But over the next few weeks, we kept crossing paths. A smile here, a brief chat there. And one day, without warning, he asked me out. Just like that.

---

"Y/N," Chanyeol said, his voice soft yet confident. We were sitting on the steps of the school after hours, the campus empty and quiet. "I know you're the perfect student and all, but I think you're more than that. I see the way you smile when you're happy, the way you look at the stars when you think no one's watching. You're not just your grades, you know?"

I felt my heart race. Was he really talking to me like this? He had a way of making me feel seen, truly seen, in a way I had never experienced before.

"I think you’re more than what people expect you to be, too," I said, my voice trembling just a little. "I think you see me for who I am... not just for what I represent."

Chanyeol smiled, his eyes lighting up like fireworks. "Then let me see you more. I want to get to know the real Y/N."

That was the moment I knew he wasn’t just another high school crush. He was different. He was everything my life had been missing.

---

But being with Chanyeol wasn’t easy. It wasn’t like the fairytale love stories I had read about in books. It was a secret love, one that I had to hide from my parents. They would never approve of someone like him. My mom would scoff at his casual demeanor, and my dad would probably demand to know what Chanyeol’s family did for a living.

It’s funny, really. How a family who has everything can still find a way to control your every move. Chanyeol, with his warm heart and wild dreams, was a perfect escape from their cold, suffocating grip.

I remember one night when we were out at the park, away from prying eyes. Chanyeol took my hand and looked up at the stars, his gaze soft and distant.

"You know," he began, "I’ve always dreamed of something bigger. Something more than just school and the normal routine. And I think you do too. You're not just your family's expectations. You're your own person, Y/N."

I smiled, squeezing his hand. "And you make me feel like I can be more than that. Thank you for showing me that."

His smile softened, and I could see the genuine care in his eyes. "I don't want to change who you are, but I want to be someone you can be real with. A real boyfriend, not someone you have to hide from the world."

---

Of course, things weren’t always easy. There were nights I couldn’t talk to him because my parents had a new set of rules for me. There were days when I had to lie about where I was going just so I could steal a few moments with him. But every second with Chanyeol felt like a little rebellion, a little piece of freedom from the world that wanted to control me.

We weren’t perfect. We had our share of arguments, especially when my parents found out I was seeing someone behind their backs. But Chanyeol always knew how to make me smile, how to pull me back from the edge of despair with his goofy jokes and his big heart.

And despite the pressure from my parents to end things with him, I knew deep down I couldn’t. He was my escape, my happiness, and the one person who truly understood me. Maybe love wasn’t supposed to be easy. Maybe it was about finding someone who saw you, truly saw you, and wanted to be by your side even when the world told you it wasn’t meant to be.

So, here I am. Still hiding my relationship with Chanyeol from my parents, but still loving him with all my heart. Maybe one day, they’ll see what I see in him. Maybe one day, they’ll understand that love isn’t about money or status or expectations. It’s about the person who makes you feel like you can be yourself.

And for now, I’m just going to enjoy every moment with him, every secret smile, and every stolen kiss. Because in the end, love isn’t about following the rules. It’s about breaking them—together.

━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━

Chapter 2

It was a quiet night. The kind of night where everything felt still, as if the world was holding its breath. I sat by the window, looking out over the city lights that twinkled below. My parents were asleep, as they always were at this hour, wrapped in their routine. I was supposed to be studying, like I always did, but tonight my mind wasn’t on books or expectations. It was on him Chanyeol.

I hadn’t seen him all day. It had been difficult to hide the emptiness I felt when he wasn’t around, especially with everything my parents were expecting from me. And yet, even though I knew it was dangerous, there was a part of me that longed to see him. Longed to feel his presence, his warmth, even if only for a moment.

As if the universe had heard my silent wish, I heard a soft tap on the window. My heart skipped a beat. I slowly turned my head toward the sound, unsure if I was imagining it. But there it was again another gentle knock.

I cautiously stood up and pulled back the curtains, my breath catching in my throat as I saw him: Chanyeol, standing on the balcony just below my window, his grin unmistakable even in the darkness. His eyes glinted with mischief, and I couldn’t help but smile in return.

“Chanyeol,” I whispered, my voice a mix of surprise and excitement.

He raised a finger to his lips, signaling me to be quiet, then pointed toward the window, his usual playful demeanor lighting up his features. Without a second thought, I slid open the window, the cool night air rushing in as I leaned out to greet him.

"Are you crazy?" I whispered, feeling my heart race. "What if my parents—"

He interrupted me with a laugh, low and carefree. “Don’t worry, Y/N. I’m careful. Besides, I just couldn’t stay away tonight.”

He grinned, and I could see the mischievous glint in his eyes. “So, how about a little adventure?”

I felt the rush of adrenaline course through me as I looked at the distance between the balcony and my window. It wasn’t much, but my parents’ strictness had kept me tethered inside the walls of my room for so long that just the idea of sneaking out of being with him in the quiet of the night made my heart race.

Before I could think too much about it, Chanyeol’s hands gently gripped the edge of the window, and he swung himself up with surprising ease, landing softly on the ledge next to me. His presence was intoxicating, his warmth spreading in the cool night air.

“What if we get caught?” I asked softly, though I already knew the answer. Being with Chanyeol always felt like the sweetest rebellion.

Chanyeol shrugged, his playful grin never faltering. “Then we’ll deal with it. But we can’t let a little thing like that stop us, right?”

His words, full of excitement and adventure, made it feel like the weight of my life the rules, the expectations disappeared for a brief moment. All that mattered was us.

I took a deep breath, looking down at the distance to the ground below, then back at him. “You really are crazy, you know that?”

“I know,” he said with a wink, then reached out and gently tugged at my hand. “Come on, let’s get away for a bit. I promise it’ll be worth it.”

The decision was made before I even had time to think. I nodded and, with his help, slipped out of the window. The night was cool on my skin, and every movement felt like a secret we were keeping from the world. His hand was firm around mine, guiding me as we crept silently down the balcony, each step sending my heart racing.

We reached the ground and stood there for a moment, staring up at my window, almost as if daring fate to catch us.

“See? Easy,” Chanyeol whispered, his eyes gleaming in the moonlight.

I couldn’t help but laugh, a soft, breathless sound that echoed in the quiet of the night. "You’re unbelievable."

“Maybe,” he said, pulling me a little closer. "But at least I'm unbelievable with you."

For a moment, everything else faded into the background the house, my parents’ expectations, the world outside of us. It was just the two of us, together, under the stars. A part of me felt like this was exactly where I was supposed to be, and yet, I knew this moment was fragile. We had to savor it, like a fleeting dream that might slip away with the morning light.

“Where are we going?” I asked, my voice softer now, a sense of calm washing over me despite the danger.

Chanyeol chuckled and tugged me forward, guiding me down the quiet street. “Wherever the night takes us.”

And as we walked together, under the glow of the streetlights, I realized that it didn’t matter where we were going. The adventure was in the fact that we were together, that we were defying everything that tried to pull us apart.

For once, in the quiet of the night, I felt free.

---

The night felt like it belonged to us just the two of us, sneaking through a world we weren’t supposed to be part of. We talked, laughed, and shared secrets under the sky. There were no rules, no expectations, no pressure. Just us.

But as dawn began to break, and the first light of morning crept over the horizon, I knew our time together was running out. I would have to face my parents again. I would have to return to the life they’d designed for me, the life that didn’t involve Chanyeol.

But for now, in that stolen moment, I was his. And he was mine.

━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━

Chapter 3

It had been months since Chanyeol and I had started secretly seeing each other. Every stolen moment, every hidden kiss, every quiet adventure had only made me more certain that he was the one I wanted. But as much as I cherished our secret, I couldn’t ignore the gnawing feeling in the pit of my stomach. The one that told me it was time. Time to stop hiding, time to confront the world, and most importantly, time to face my parents.

I had always been careful so careful. But the truth was, Chanyeol meant more to me than anything else, and keeping him in the shadows for any longer felt like a betrayal.

So, the time had come.

It started with a text an innocent enough question, but one that made my heart race: “When can I meet your parents?”

I stared at the screen for what felt like an eternity, my thumb hovering over the keyboard. Meeting my parents? It was unheard of. I could count on one hand how many people had ever crossed the threshold of our house, let alone been introduced to my parents. But Chanyeol was different, and if I was going to make this work, he deserved to be seen as the part of my life he was.

I texted back, my fingers trembling slightly: *"Saturday. I’ll make it work."*

I knew it was going to be a challenge. My parents were strict perhaps more than anyone else I knew. They had high expectations for me, for my life, for my future. Chanyeol wasn’t anything they had planned for me. In their eyes, he was too carefree, too “imperfect” to be someone I should be with. But that didn’t matter. Not anymore.

---

The day came faster than I expected. I’d spent hours preparing myself, wondering what excuse I could make if things didn’t go as planned. But there was no turning back now. Chanyeol had agreed to come, and the fact that he wanted to meet my parents meant more than I could express.

Saturday afternoon, the house was pristine as always every corner dusted, every cushion in place. The smell of fresh flowers my mother had arranged in the foyer lingered in the air. My parents would be in the living room, discussing whatever new business venture my father was obsessed with that week. And I would walk in with Chanyeol by my side.

As the doorbell rang, my heart pounded in my chest. I quickly opened the door, greeted by Chanyeol’s familiar, bright smile. He looked a little nervous, but his posture was confident, his hands tucked into his pockets.

“You okay?” he asked, noticing my unease.

“I should be asking you that,” I replied, forcing a smile. “This is a big deal.”

Chanyeol grinned wider, his eyes sparkling with that signature mischief. “I’m fine. Besides, I’ve faced tougher challenges than meeting your parents.”

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn’t help the warmth spreading in my chest. With one last deep breath, I nodded. “Let’s get this over with, then.”

---

We walked into the living room together, where my parents were already seated on the couch. My father was reading a newspaper, while my mother was on her phone, no doubt checking on her latest investments. When they saw us, they looked up with mild curiosity, their expressions quickly settling into the usual reserved politeness they reserved for outsiders.

“Mom, Dad,” I started, my voice steady but nervous, “this is Chanyeol. My boyfriend.”

There was a heavy silence as my parents exchanged looks, their eyes narrowing ever so slightly. I could feel the tension rising as Chanyeol stood there, taller than my father but with a more laid-back presence.

“Nice to meet you,” Chanyeol said, breaking the silence with his usual warmth. “I’m Chanyeol.”

My father’s gaze was cold, assessing, while my mother merely nodded. "I see." Her voice was clipped. "You’re... Chanyeol."

“Yes, ma'am,” Chanyeol said, his tone polite, but I could tell he was already uncomfortable under their scrutiny.

I could feel the tension hanging in the air, thick and suffocating. This was it. The moment I had feared, the moment I had dreaded. Would my parents accept him, or would they shut him out like they had done with every other person I’d ever tried to introduce into their world?

“Chanyeol,” my father spoke up, setting his newspaper down slowly. “What is it that you do? Where do your family’s interests lie?”

I could feel Chanyeol stiffen slightly. He wasn’t used to this type of interrogation. But, to his credit, he didn’t flinch.

“I’m still in school, sir,” Chanyeol said. “I have big dreams, though. I want to work in music. I’m really passionate about it.”

There was a long pause, and I could see my father’s lips press into a thin line, a clear sign of disapproval. My mother, too, raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. I bit my lip, trying to suppress the urge to say something, anything, to defend him.

“And your family?” My mother asked, voice edged with suspicion. “What does your father do?”

Chanyeol glanced at me briefly, probably wondering how much to say. “My father is a mechanic,” he replied carefully. “He runs his own shop, and my mom works as a teacher. We’re not wealthy, but we’re happy.”

My father’s expression faltered for just a moment whether from surprise or disdain, I couldn’t tell. But the tension in the room only grew thicker. This wasn’t going the way I’d hoped.

I glanced at Chanyeol, silently pleading with him, but he just smiled softly at me. I could see the kindness in his eyes, even if my parents couldn’t.

“I respect hard work,” Chanyeol continued, trying to break the awkward silence. “And I think we all do what we can to make a living. But the thing I care most about is happiness. And I’m happy when I’m with Y/N.”

His words hung in the air like a promise, one that cut through the tension in the room. And for a brief moment, I saw my father’s steely exterior soften just the slightest bit, though he quickly masked it.

“Y/N,” my mother finally spoke up, turning her gaze to me. “You know how we feel about your future. About the people you choose to associate with.”

I nodded slowly. “I know. But I’ve made my choice.”

Chanyeol stepped forward slightly, his hand brushing against mine in a subtle, but reassuring gesture. “I care about Y/N,” he said, his voice steady. “And I want to be a good part of her life. I know I’m not what you expected, but I’ll do everything I can to make her happy.”

I could feel the weight of my parents' disapproval pressing down on me, but there was a quiet strength in Chanyeol’s words. A calmness that told me, no matter how hard this would be, he would be there for me.

My parents exchanged one last look. My father cleared his throat, breaking the silence.

“We’ll see how this plays out,” he said, his voice cold but not dismissive. “But for now, you’re welcome here. We’ll see how well you truly match up to our expectations.”

And that was all we were going to get from them.

---

As Chanyeol and I left the living room, I felt both relief and disappointment. It hadn’t gone as well as I’d hoped, but it wasn’t a disaster. There was a small victory in the fact that my parents didn’t outright dismiss him. And maybe just maybe they would come around.

As we walked down the hallway, Chanyeol squeezed my hand, a soft smile on his face. “Well, that was fun,” he said with a chuckle.

I couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re something else. But you did good.”

“Glad I didn’t mess it up.” He gave me a wink, his usual carefree self.

I smiled at him, feeling the weight of the night slowly lift off my shoulders. “Thanks for sticking with me.”

He shrugged, grinning. “No thanks needed. I’m in this with you, Y/N. Always.”

And in that moment, despite the tension in the air, despite the uncertainty of the future, I knew I had made the right choice. Love, after all, wasn’t about meeting expectations. It was about choosing the person who made you feel like you could breathe. And for me, that person was Chanyeol.

━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━

Chapter 4

The weeks that followed the awkward dinner with my parents felt like an emotional rollercoaster. My parents didn’t exactly warm up to Chanyeol, but they didn’t make any major moves to shut him out either. For the first time, it felt like a fragile truce had been formed between my world and his, though it hung by the thinnest of threads.

Chanyeol and I kept seeing each other in secret, savoring the moments when we could escape into the quiet corners of the world where nothing mattered but us. But it was hard to ignore the weight of the situation the fact that he was always just one wrong move away from being cast out of my life by my parents’ demands.

One Friday afternoon, after school, I found myself sitting in the back of the library, books spread out in front of me, though my attention was clearly elsewhere. I couldn’t focus on the pages. I couldn’t focus on anything other than the small note I had gotten earlier that morning from Chanyeol.

Meet me tonight. 8 pm. Same place. – C

The words sent a rush of excitement through me, but also anxiety. I didn’t know what he wanted to talk about, but I had a feeling it was important.

At 7:55, I was already at the usual spot the old tree near the back of the schoolyard where we had met countless times before. It was our secret place, the one spot where we didn’t have to pretend to be anyone other than ourselves. The quiet of the evening wrapped around us like a blanket as I waited for him, my heart thudding in my chest.

At exactly 8:00, I heard footsteps approaching, and then there he was Chanyeol, with his signature grin, his eyes lighting up when he saw me.

“You’re early,” he teased, walking toward me with his usual relaxed pace.

I couldn’t help but smile back, the nervousness I’d felt earlier melting away in his presence. “I guess I was just excited to see you.”

He sat down beside me, the soft rustling of leaves the only sound between us. We sat there for a moment, side by side, neither of us speaking, just soaking in the quiet comfort of the night. But then I noticed the slight tension in his shoulders. His usual carefree attitude was replaced with something more serious.

“You okay?” I asked softly, turning to face him.

He sighed and leaned back against the tree, his eyes trained on the horizon, not meeting my gaze. “Actually, no. I’ve been thinking a lot about… everything.”

The words made my heart skip a beat. “What do you mean?”

He hesitated for a moment, as if gathering his thoughts. “Y/N, I’ve been thinking about your parents, about the way they look at me. And I don’t want to put you in a position where you have to choose between them and me.”

I opened my mouth to speak, but he raised his hand to stop me.

“I’m serious. I know how important they are to you, and I don’t want to be the reason you’re torn between your family and me. I don’t want to be the one who messes things up for you.”

My heart clenched at his words. The thought of losing him, of letting him go just to keep the peace with my parents, was unbearable.

“Chanyeol,” I said, my voice trembling slightly, “You’re not the problem. My parents… they just don’t get it. They don’t understand that love isn’t about status or wealth or reputation. It's about who makes you feel alive, who makes you feel like you can be yourself.”

He turned to face me then, his eyes soft and filled with sincerity. “But if they never accept me, what happens then? What if we keep hiding, keep sneaking around, and it just gets harder?”

I swallowed hard. “I don’t know. But I don’t want to hide anymore. I don’t want to keep pretending that you’re some secret I have to keep tucked away. I want to be able to hold your hand in public, to be proud of who you are. I want to stop sneaking around.”

Chanyeol’s lips curled into a small, bittersweet smile, and he reached for my hand, intertwining his fingers with mine. “Then let’s not hide anymore,” he said softly. “Let’s face them together, Y/N. I’m willing to do whatever it takes to make this work, but I need to know you’re with me.”

Tears welled up in my eyes at his words. For the first time, I realized that we were both in this really in this together. It wasn’t just about me choosing him over my parents. It was about us choosing each other, despite the obstacles that lay ahead.

“I’m with you,” I whispered, squeezing his hand. “I always will be.”

---

The next few days passed in a blur. I couldn’t stop thinking about what Chanyeol had said, about how we had to face my parents together. The anxiety was building, knotting in my stomach with every passing moment. What if they didn’t accept him? What if everything I had worked so hard to protect my relationship with my family came crashing down?

But I couldn’t keep living like this. I couldn’t keep sneaking around. I had to be honest with my parents, with myself, and with Chanyeol. It was time to take that step.

That Saturday afternoon, I made the decision.

I took a deep breath, steeling myself as I walked into the living room, where my parents were discussing some business matter as usual. The atmosphere was familiar, yet the tension in my chest was anything but.

“Mom, Dad,” I said, my voice steady but firm. They looked up at me, both raising an eyebrow as they took in my serious tone. “There’s something I need to tell you.”

I felt Chanyeol’s presence behind me, his reassuring smile giving me the strength I needed.

“Chanyeol and I... we’re not just friends. We’ve been seeing each other for a while now, and I care about him. A lot.”

My parents exchanged a glance, and I could feel the weight of their disapproval before they even spoke.

“This is important, Y/N,” my father said, his voice sharp. “You know what we expect from you. And this... this isn’t the path we planned for you.”

I could feel the tension building, but I stood my ground, looking my father straight in the eyes. “I know, but this is my life. And Chanyeol is a part of it. I’m asking you to try to see him for who he is, not just for where he comes from.”

There was silence for a long moment. My heart was pounding in my chest as I waited for their response. Finally, my mother spoke, her tone softer but still tinged with hesitation.

“We will think about it, Y/N,” she said slowly. “But understand this: your future is still our concern. You need to be careful.”

I nodded, relieved but still anxious. “I understand.”

And just like that, the door was open. The future wasn’t clear, but it was no longer about hiding in the shadows. I had taken the first step.

---

That night, after the conversation, Chanyeol and I stood outside, just the two of us, the cool air settling around us.

“You did great,” he said, squeezing my hand. “I’m proud of you.”

I smiled, my heart lighter than it had been in weeks. “We’ll see what happens. But no matter what… I’m not giving up on us.”

Chanyeol pulled me into a tight hug, and I closed my eyes, letting myself feel the peace that came from knowing we were in this together.

We had started a journey that no one else could walk for us. But for the first time, I felt hopeful. Hopeful that maybe, just maybe, love would win.

━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━

Chapter 5

The days after my conversation with my parents were a mix of anticipation and quiet hope. I couldn’t stop thinking about what my mom had said we’ll think about it. It wasn’t an immediate “no,” but it wasn’t exactly a “yes” either. I kept my distance, giving them space to process everything I had said, to process Chanyeol, to understand that this wasn’t some fleeting teenage infatuation.

Chanyeol, on the other hand, was unwavering in his support. He didn’t rush me, didn’t pressure me. He just let me be, letting me take the lead when it came to dealing with my parents. But I knew one thing for sure he was there for me. And that made all the difference.

Then, one evening, my parents called me down to the living room. My heart skipped a beat as I walked downstairs, wondering if today would be the day they finally gave me their decision. As I entered the room, I found my parents sitting together on the couch, both of their faces serious but not unkind.

“Y/N,” my father said, his voice steady, “We’ve discussed things.”

My stomach churned, my palms sweating, but I kept my posture straight, trying to read their expressions.

“We’ve decided,” my mother began, her tone more careful than usual, “that we’ll accept Chanyeol into our lives. As long as you understand the responsibilities that come with such a relationship.”

I felt a wave of relief wash over me, but it was tempered by the weight of their words. They weren’t welcoming him with open arms, but they weren’t rejecting him either. It was a cautious acceptance one that came with conditions.

“We expect you to remain focused on your studies and your future, Y/N,” my father added. “You’ve always been our priority, and we won’t allow anything or anyone to distract you from your goals.”

I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. “I understand. And I promise I won’t let anything get in the way of that.”

My mother looked at me for a long moment, as if assessing my sincerity. “As long as you’re certain this isn’t just a phase, and that Chanyeol respects the boundaries we’ve set, we’ll allow him to be a part of your life. But don’t expect us to lower our standards. We still expect you to keep up with your responsibilities.”

I nodded again, more firmly this time. “I’ll do my best. I promise.”

There was a quiet pause before my father spoke again. “We’ll have dinner together next week. Chanyeol can come over. But we expect him to behave properly, to show us that he’s serious about this relationship.”

I blinked, surprised but pleased. This was progress real progress. “Thank you,” I said, the words barely escaping my lips as I tried to steady my emotions.

My mother nodded curtly. “We’re not saying this is going to be easy. But we’ll give it a chance. For your sake.”

---

The following week, the day of the dinner arrived. I spent the entire day anxiously preparing for the evening. My parents were still wary of Chanyeol, but they had agreed to let him into our home, which was a huge step forward. Chanyeol, though, seemed entirely unfazed by the pressure. He was confident, but in that warm, calm way he always was, as if nothing in the world could shake him. And that, in turn, made me feel a little calmer too.

When Chanyeol arrived, he looked nervous, but he hid it well behind his usual smile. I greeted him at the door with a soft, reassuring smile of my own.

“Ready?” I asked, my heart pounding in my chest.

He nodded, his hand slipping into mine for a brief moment. “Ready.”

The dinner started off with the usual tension the polite exchanges, the subtle disapproval in my parents’ eyes, the cold formality of it all. My father asked about Chanyeol’s plans for the future, his goals, and what kind of career he envisioned for himself. My mother, though less direct, carefully observed him, testing his responses, making sure he wasn’t just some reckless kid who had come into my life to cause trouble.

Chanyeol, to his credit, handled it all with grace. He spoke confidently but never arrogantly, answering every question with honesty, showing that he was serious about his life and his intentions. He spoke about his passion for music, how hard he worked to support himself, and how much he cared for me. It wasn’t just talk there was sincerity in his words, and I could tell my parents were starting to see that.

But despite the progress, there were still those small, clipped remarks those moments when my parents would remind me of my responsibilities, my future, as if to make sure I knew that Chanyeol wasn’t my whole world. I could tell they weren’t fully convinced yet, but at least they weren’t pushing him away.

As dinner went on, the atmosphere gradually warmed. My father asked about Chanyeol’s family, and Chanyeol spoke with genuine respect for them, mentioning how close-knit they were. My mother, while still cautious, found herself engaging in a lighter conversation about our childhoods, and I could tell that despite the rigid expectations, she was beginning to see Chanyeol as more than just a “dangerous” influence.

After dessert, there was a moment when my mother looked at me and then at Chanyeol, her gaze softening just slightly.

“We’re still not entirely convinced, but you’ve shown us that you’re serious,” she said, her voice more relaxed than it had been all evening. “Y/N, you’ve always been careful with who you let into your life. We’ll give you the benefit of the doubt for now.”

I smiled, feeling the weight of their approval settle on my shoulders like a warm embrace. “Thank you. That means a lot to me.”

My father gave a small nod, his stern face softening just a little. “Just make sure you remember that your future comes first, Y/N. We trust that you’ll make the right decisions.”

“I will,” I promised, my voice steady. “I’ll make sure of it.”

---

As we said our goodbyes that evening, Chanyeol and I stepped outside into the cool night air. He looked at me, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

“Guess we didn’t mess it up, huh?” he joked, his voice light.

I laughed, feeling the tension from the dinner slowly release. “We did good. They’re not fully convinced yet, but… this is a step forward.”

He pulled me into a hug, holding me close. “I told you we could do this together.”

“I know,” I whispered, resting my head on his shoulder. “I’m glad we did.”

For the first time, it felt like the weight of my world my family’s expectations, my love for Chanyeol wasn’t so impossible to balance. There would still be struggles, of course. My parents would still be strict, still have their doubts. But we had made it through this first hurdle, and together, I felt like we could handle whatever came next.

And as we stood there, in the quiet of the night, I realized that love wasn’t about perfection. It was about making room for each other despite the obstacles, about accepting each other even when things weren’t easy. And in that moment, I knew no matter how strict my parents were, no matter what the future held we had each other. And that was enough.

━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━

Chapter 6

The evening after the dinner with my parents, I was still processing everything. There was a quiet sense of relief, but also an unspoken tension that hung in the air. My parents had accepted Chanyeol, but I could feel that they were still holding back, still keeping a close eye on everything.

I was sitting on my bed, absentmindedly scrolling through my phone when I heard a soft knock on my door. It creaked open slightly, and I looked up to see my mother standing in the doorway, her expression softer than usual. I paused, unsure of what she was going to say.

“Can I come in?” she asked, her voice unexpectedly gentle.

“Of course,” I replied, setting my phone aside.

She stepped in and sat down at the edge of my bed, her posture more relaxed than I had ever seen it. She was always so proper, so composed, but tonight there was a warmth to her presence that caught me off guard.

“I’ve been thinking,” she began, her voice quiet, “about what you said at dinner. About Chanyeol.”

I sat up a little straighter, my heart beating faster. “What about it?”

She sighed, a soft smile tugging at her lips. “I’ve been thinking about how you and Chanyeol are so young, and how much it reminds me of your father and me when we were your age.”

I blinked in surprise. I had never really heard her talk about her own relationship with my father in this way. Sure, I knew they had met young, but the details were always kept private, almost like an untold story.

“What do you mean?” I asked, my curiosity piqued.

My mother looked out the window for a moment, lost in thought. “Your father and I… we were very young when we met. I was about your age seventeen, just like you are now. And your father was a few years older, around Chanyeol’s age.”

I leaned in, intrigued. I had always admired my parents’ relationship from a distance, but I never truly understood it. They seemed like the perfect couple structured, controlled, and elegant. But there had to be more to their story.

“My father was very different back then,” she continued, her eyes softening as she spoke. “He wasn’t the serious businessman you know now. He was passionate, driven by his own dreams, but not quite as stable as he is today. When we first met, I never expected we’d end up together. But there was something about him… something about the way he saw the world that captivated me.”

I felt my heart flutter, realizing how much this mirrored my own relationship with Chanyeol. “How did you meet?”

My mother smiled, a faraway look in her eyes. “It was at a summer camp. Your father was there on a scholarship, studying business, while I was there for a leadership program. I remember the first time I saw him he was standing across the campfire, his friends laughing around him. But when our eyes met, I felt like the whole world went silent for a moment. I couldn’t explain it, but I knew, even at that young age, that there was something different about him.”

I couldn’t help but smile at the thought of my mother as a young girl, her eyes wide with wonder and excitement, just like me when I’d first met Chanyeol. “That sounds… kind of magical.”

“It was,” she said with a soft laugh. “But it wasn’t easy. Your father’s family was very different from mine. They were more laid-back, not concerned with status or reputation. My parents were… well, strict. They had plans for me, just like we have plans for you. And they didn’t understand why I wanted to be with him, someone who didn’t fit their vision of what I should be with.”

I could hear the echoes of her words in my own struggles with my parents. “What did you do?”

“We kept it secret at first,” she admitted, a wry smile playing on her lips. “I didn’t want to disappoint my parents, and I didn’t want to make things harder than they already were. But the more time we spent together, the more I realized how much I loved him. Your father was never afraid to show me who he really was, and he never asked me to change, even when everything around us was telling us it wasn’t the right thing.”

Her voice softened, and I could tell this was the part of the story she had never shared with me before. “And eventually, when I couldn’t hide it anymore, I stood up to my parents. I told them that I loved him, and that I couldn’t imagine my life without him. I thought they’d be angry, that they’d push me away. But they surprised me. They saw how serious we were, how committed we were to each other, and they accepted him into our lives.”

I was stunned. I had never known the details, never fully realized the weight of what my mother had gone through for her own love story. “So, they accepted him?”

“Yes,” she said, nodding. “It wasn’t easy. My parents were still strict, still worried about our future, but they saw that we weren’t just playing around. They saw that we were serious, and that our love was real. And eventually, they accepted it. They accepted him. And now, all these years later, your father and I are still together, stronger than ever.”

Her words hung in the air, like a secret finally revealed. “I’m not saying it’s going to be easy for you, Y/N. But I want you to know that sometimes love doesn’t fit the plans we make for ourselves. It doesn’t follow the rules. But if it’s real, if it’s honest, it will find a way.”

I was silent for a moment, trying to process everything she had said. My mother someone who had always seemed so poised, so controlled had gone through a journey very similar to my own. And in that moment, I realized that maybe my parents weren’t as far removed from my struggles as I thought. They had once been young and in love, just like Chanyeol and I.

“Do you think… do you think they’ll come around to Chanyeol?” I asked, my voice small.

She looked at me with understanding eyes. “I think they already have come around. They see that he’s serious about you, that he respects you, and that you’re not making a rash decision. But they’ll always be protective of you, just as I was with your father. It might take time, but I believe that if your love is real, they’ll accept him fully in time.”

I felt a surge of warmth in my chest, comforted by her words. “Thank you, Mom. I didn’t know you went through something like this too.”

She smiled softly, reaching out to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. “We all go through our own challenges, Y/N. But the important thing is that we face them head-on. And that’s what I’m asking you to do with Chanyeol. Stand by him. Stand by your love. And know that you’re not alone in this.”

I smiled at her, feeling a deeper bond between us than I ever had before. “I will. I promise.”

She stood up, smoothing her dress, her usual composure returning. “Good. Now, I think it’s time for you to get some rest. And remember, just because we’re giving Chanyeol a chance doesn’t mean you can forget your responsibilities.”

I nodded, a little chuckle escaping my lips. “Don’t worry, Mom. I won’t forget.”

As she left my room, closing the door quietly behind her, I sat back against my pillows, my thoughts swirling. My mom had given me more than just a glimpse into her past she had given me a sense of hope, a reminder that love wasn’t always easy, but it was worth fighting for. And maybe, just maybe, my parents would come to see that about me and Chanyeol, too.

━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━

Last Chapter: 8 years later, the Wedding

Several years had passed since that tense dinner with my parents, since the quiet moments of uncertainty and fear that had once defined my relationship with Chanyeol. In those years, so much had changed my parents, though still strict and traditional, had fully accepted him into our lives. They saw the depth of our love, the strength in our bond, and as the years went by, they learned to trust it.

Chanyeol and I had grown together, not just as a couple but as individuals. We had faced challenges personal struggles, academic pressures, and the overwhelming weight of expectations but through it all, we had supported each other, never faltering.

And now, here we were about to start the next chapter of our lives.

I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the delicate lace veil that had been handed down through generations in my family. My mother had insisted on it, and though at first I was hesitant, I had come to love the idea of carrying a piece of family history with me on the most important day of my life. The thought of walking down the aisle to Chanyeol, with my parents by my side, made my heart swell with emotion.

I looked at myself no longer the young girl who had secretly snuck around to meet Chanyeol in the dark of night, but a woman who had fought for her love and her future. I had chosen my path, despite the challenges, and now, standing on the edge of a new beginning, I could see how far we had come.

The door creaked open behind me, and I turned to see my mother standing there, her face soft with a rare smile. Her eyes met mine with such pride that I almost choked on the emotions rising in my throat.

“You look beautiful,” she said, her voice thick with emotion.

I gave her a small smile. “Thank you, Mom. I don’t know how I got here… or how we got here.”

She stepped into the room, standing beside me as she gazed at my reflection. “You and Chanyeol have always been strong, even when things seemed impossible. You fought for each other, and that’s what love is it’s not just about the good times. It’s about standing by each other through everything, even when the world tells you it’s not the right choice.”

I nodded, remembering all the hard conversations, the moments of doubt. The long nights when Chanyeol and I had whispered our fears to each other, wondering if the distance between us and the rest of the world would ever be bridged. But we had made it.

“I think you’re right,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. “It wasn’t easy. But nothing that’s worth having ever is.”

My mother smiled, her eyes glistening. “I know. And now, you’re about to start the rest of your life with him. I’m proud of you, Y/N. Proud of both of you.”

Tears welled up in my eyes, and I hugged my mother tightly, holding on to the moment, to the realization that everything had changed. My parents, once so strict, had become pillars of support. My love for Chanyeol, which had once been a secret to everyone but us, was now something they cherished. It had been a long road to get here, but it had been worth every step.

---

The wedding ceremony was held in a beautiful garden just outside the city. It was a quiet, intimate affair just close family and friends. It was everything we had ever dreamed of: simple, yet filled with love and meaning. The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm golden glow over the proceedings as I walked down the aisle with my father at my side.

As I approached Chanyeol, standing at the altar, my heart beat faster. His eyes locked on mine, filled with so much love and anticipation that I almost forgot to breathe. His broad smile stretched across his face, his eyes gleaming with happiness. And for a moment, it felt like time had stopped.

He had come into my life like a whirlwind chaotic, unexpected, but perfect. And now, here we were, years later, about to make a commitment to each other for the rest of our lives.

As I reached him, I took his hands in mine, feeling the warmth of his touch seep into my skin. His grip was firm, reassuring, the way it had always been. It was the same touch that had comforted me in moments of doubt, the same touch that had held me close during our happiest moments. And now, it would be the touch that would carry me through the rest of my life.

“Y/N,” Chanyeol whispered, his voice thick with emotion. “I never thought I’d see this day. But here we are. And I promise you, with all of my heart, that I will love you every day for the rest of my life.”

My voice caught in my throat as I spoke, my words trembling but sincere. “I promise the same. I will love you, through everything, just like we always have.”

And with those words, we exchanged our vows, the promises we had made to each other countless times in our hearts now spoken aloud for the world to hear.

The ceremony was beautiful, filled with laughter, tears, and the overwhelming feeling that our love our journey had finally come full circle. When the officiant declared us husband and wife, I couldn’t help but smile, the weight of everything lifting off my shoulders.

As we walked back down the aisle together, hand in hand, I glanced up at Chanyeol. He squeezed my hand, his eyes full of joy and love.

“I told you we’d make it,” he said with a grin.

I smiled back, feeling the warmth of his words sink into my soul. “I never doubted it for a second.”

We paused for a moment, just standing there, taking it all in. The love we had fought for, the love that had once seemed impossible, was now our reality. We had built a life together, a future filled with endless possibilities.

---

The reception was full of laughter and dancing, a celebration of everything we had overcome. My parents, though still cautious, had beamed with pride as they gave their blessing. My father had even shared a quiet conversation with Chanyeol, offering his approval in his own way, a silent acknowledgment that he now saw the man standing beside me as someone worthy of my heart.

Later, as the night drew to a close, Chanyeol and I stood on the balcony, watching the stars above. The cool breeze ruffled my hair, and I felt content in a way I never had before. The life I had dreamed of, the one I had fought so hard for, was finally here.

“We did it,” I whispered, turning to Chanyeol, my eyes filled with gratitude.

“We did,” he replied, pulling me close. “And this is just the beginning.”

And as I looked up at him, at the man I had loved through every obstacle and challenge, I knew deep down that nothing would ever stop us. We had proven that love, no matter how difficult, was always worth fighting for.

The future was ours. And together, we would face whatever came next just like we always had.

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