Mixed Blood

32: Crossroads: Part 3

"Joshua..." Seungcheol and Jeonghan trailed off at the same time.

"Please leave us," Seungcheol told the helper as he gestured Joshua into his room.

Joshua shyly entered Seungcheol's room. The helper gently closed the door before leaving. Joshua was now awkwardly standing in front of the door, facing the two who were in each other's embrace on Seungcheol's bed.

"Hello, Seungcheol. Hello, Jeonghan," Joshua softly said while playing with the hem of his jacket. The mentioned two found it extremely adorable.

"I heard you wanted to see me? Why? After avoiding us throughout the whole school week, you decided to show up now?" Seungcheol playfully opened the conversation.

"Well... you see..." Joshua stuttered with Seungcheol's straightforwardness.

"Cheollie, you're scaring him," Jeonghan told Seungcheol.

"It was a joke. I just wanted to lighten things up," Seungcheol defended and softened the tone of his voice. "So, why do want to see me, Shua?

"Well, about that, I would like to apologize for avoiding you. It's just that I have problems that I have to deal on my own." Joshua stated, not telling the whole truth.

"Really?" Seungcheol squinted his eyes onto Joshua.

"Do you want to talk to us about your problem?" Jeonghan offered.

"Sure, but maybe later," Joshua answered. "For the meantime, I have other more important things that I would like to say."

"Okay, carry on," Seungcheol allowed him even though he was on a tight schedule.

"So, I am actually here because I learned that you are dying because of a prophecy or something. Is this true?" Joshua did not beat around the bush.

Seungcheol sighed, "Unfortunately, yes. How did you know?"

"I read in our chat group, the one without the Paragons in it. Jeonghan told the others about it this morning."

"Oh my goodness. I totally forgot that you are also part of the chat group." Jeonghan exclaimed, lightly hitting his forehead with his palm.

"So, why didn't you tell me?"

"We actually tried but since you were avoiding us, we couldn't find the right timing to tell you," Seungcheol explained.

"According to what I read, you just need to be bonded with your soulmate to be better, right?" Joshua recalled. "Seeing that both of your eyes are vibrant blue, I assume everything is already alright?"

"Well..." Jeonghan hesitated.

"Unfortunately, it did not work," Seungcheol revealed.

"But why? I thought the Mystics interpreted the prophecy and deciphered that a bond with your soulmate is all that is needed?" Joshua became worried.

"Then, I guess they decoded the prophecy wrong."

"By the way, can I ask you something? Please promise me that you will tell me the whole truth," Joshua looked at the two.

"Sure," the two agreed just a second apart.

"Why didn't you tell me that you are soulmates?" Joshua inquired. "Why did you tell everyone in our group but not me?"

Seungcheol and Jeonghan were both stunned by the question. They both could clearly see the hurt in Joshua's face. Jeonghan faced Seungcheol for support. Seungcheol simply gestured that he got everything under control.