Chapter 5 - |Family hate/Convo|

You lie on your bed, phone in hand, texting Rose.

---

**Y/nRoW:** Is this Rose?

**Rose🌹:** Is this the Wang Royeon?

**Y/nRoW:** Yup.

Rose changes your contact name to **Y/nGayRo.**

**Y/nGayRo:** So what are you doing?

**Rose🌹:** Nothing. But can't talk right now. Text you later.

**Y/nGayRo:** Okay, bye then.

---

You exhale, locking your phone just as Dahyun walks in, settling onto her bed and idly playing the piano beside her.

"Hey, Dahyun."

"What?"

"I know you're straight and all… but are you really?"

Silence. A pause too long to be casual.

"Look, I know I shouldn't be telling you this. But I—I don't know," Dahyun finally admits.

"But I thought y'all weren't gay."

"It's just hard to understand. Even having a conversation like this—it's complicated. So stop talking about it."

You let the moment breathe before changing course.

"Do you have a crush on someone at school?"

Dahyun shifts, cautious. "Why are you asking me that?"

"I mean, Jihyo has a boyfriend. But do you?"

"I do. But I can't date them."

"Hmm… and why is that?"

Dahyun's expression tightens. Then suddenly—

"I DON'T WANT TO BE HATED BY MY FAMILY, OKAY?"

She's standing now, voice cracking, eyes glistening.

"This family is shit. I can't even date who I want. My sisters… they have their struggles too, but they don't talk about them. It feels like I don't even know them. But I guess our one motive is not to be hated by our own family. You know?"

You freeze, words failing you. You hadn't realized she was carrying this. That her sisters were too.

"I didn't know you had all that on you."

You stand, stepping closer, offering comfort. Dahyun crumbles, tears soaking into your shoulder.

Then—Jihyo enters.

"Hey, Y—"

You both startle, moving apart like guilt itself.

"What's going on?" Jihyo eyes you suspiciously.

"Nothing," Dahyun mutters.

"Yeah," you echo.

"Right. It better not be something y'all *shouldn't* be doing."

"It's not. What do you want?"

"Dinner's ready."

"We're coming," Dahyun says quickly.

"Don't take long."

---

**Mina's Room.**

"I feel weird, Sana. Every time Y/n is near me."

"What do you mean?" Sana asks, reclining on her bed.

"I just… don't you think Y/n—"

"Hot?"

Mina exhales, hesitant. "Yeah… I think I'm gay."

"Mina, you've *been* gay. You just like Y/n."

"Yeah, I think I do."

"Me too."

"You too?"

"Yeah. And I think our sisters feel the same way. They just keep denying it. Ever since she got here, I overheard someone say she's hot."

Sana leans in. "And earlier today, when Y/n walked down the stairs, Jihyo *blushed.*"

Mina's eyes widen. "What? No way."

"Me too, Mina. Me too."

Jihyo walks in.

"Food's ready."

"Okay, we're coming."

They get up, heading downstairs.

---

**Dining Room.**

You walk down with Dahyun, watching as everyone settles into their seats.

You take your place—Nayeon on your right, Tzuyu on your left.

Your gaze flickers toward the empty seats.

"Hey, where's Mom and Dad?" Chaeyoung asks.

"Oh, don't worry," Jihyo answers. "They have important stuff to do. They'll be home late."

"Oh yeah," Nayeon suddenly remembers. "Tomorrow is our family celebration."

"AY!" The sisters cheer.

You blink. "What's that?"

"It's when all our family comes here and we celebrate together. Mom and Dad made this tradition to stay connected with everyone."

"Oh…"

"And it's *so much fun,*" Dahyun adds.

"It is?"

"Yeah."