𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘯𝘦 || 𝘫𝘪𝘩𝘢𝘯

𝚜𝚒𝚡

"Can someone please tell me why I agreed to this?"

"You were stupid enough to sign a paper without reading it love" Jeonghan shurgged. "Now stand up and come suffer with me, we ain't got all day you know"

At this, Joshua rolled his eyes and then sighed.

After talking with Minghao about today's mission they were led to a small field in the middle of the building. There they met Kwon Soonyoung, also known as Hoshi, who apparently would train them from then on in close combat until their contract ended.

However, when they had found this out both Jeonghan and Joshua had only groaned in frustration and whined as they walked to the field. And as Jeonghan kept on trying to convince Minghao to take him out of his misery, Joshua's stomach wouldn't stop growling.

If only he had woken up earlier then he wouldn't find himself suffering from starvation at this very moment.

"Ok! Are the two of you ready?!" Their trainer yelled as he approached them. He seemed awfully enthusiastic about working out that his passion blinded them.

"No"

"Oh c'mon! It won't be that bad!" Hoshi chuckled. "I'm sure time will go by faster than you expect!"

"I've been told time suddenly turns slow when you're doing something you don't like," Jeonghan groaned. "Besides, why should I be taught too? Does no one here remember I used to be in the mafia???"

"Actually, no" He placed his hand on his chin. "Then, to start it off, how about you go against me?"

He blinked. "...wut?"

"You know, as in a friendly 1 v 1 match. I'm sure it'll be fun"

Joshua, who was suddenly really interested, turned to them and yelled. "I'm rooting for you Hoshi! Break his leg for me or something!"

Jeonghan tsked. "I won't be going easy on you, you know"

"Me neither" He chuckled. "Are you ready?"

"Always have been"

"Joshua-shi, mind counting down for us?"

"It'd be an honor~" He grinned. "On your marks, get set..."

"Go!"

𝚜𝚟𝚝

"You know, I seriously thought you'd pull a head lock or be on par with Hoshi over there," He sighed. "But after the third time you ended on the floor I realized: wow, he really is pathetic"

"Could you zip it, love?" Jeonghan winced. "Can't you tell my body's aching?"

"Well, guess what? Mine is too" He groaned. "Because of you and your 'skills' we had to do double the laps and push ups we were originally going to do. Oh and may I remind you I was lifted up twice and dropped to the ground by our instructor because you couldn't even stand up anymore?"

"Quit throwing more salt into the wound, Shua" Hoshi said from the side. However, as soon as he noticed the other two give each other a dirty look, the instructor couldn't help but chuckle. "You know, although the two of you are always bickering, you actually enjoy each other's company don't you?"

Both Jeonghan and Joshua turned to look at him in disbelief.

"Excuse me???"

"The two of you were stuck to each other like glue throughout the whole lesson. Sooo, why don't we all go ahead and try to get along?"

"With him?" Jeonghan scoffed "A friendship with that freak oy exists in nightmares"

For the second time that day, Joshua only responded by rolling his eyes.

"Anyways, I guess it's about time you two go get dressed"

"It certainly is Mr. Kwon"

The sudden voice made them all turn to the door.

"OOHHH MINGHAO!!" Hoshi yelled as the other walked over to them. "LONG TIME NO SEE!"

"It has been a while hasn't it?" He smiled and then enveloped him into a hug. "As much as I don't want to admit it, I've missed you a bit Hoshi"

Joshua shuddered. "I don't know what's scarier, Jeonghan's face or Minghao smiling"

"Haha, very funny" Minghao said with a glare. "Get it moving you two, we need to have you both ready by 8 and it's currently 6. Also, Joshua, I was notified you hadn't had breakfast yet"

"Actually, Hoshi here bought me a sandwich and a strawberry smoothie too a while back-"

"It's Mr. Kwon to you"

"But that's too formal!" Hoshi patted Minghao on the back. "They're older than the both of us anyways so it's fine!"

"..If you say so"

Hoshi waved them away. "Go and wait for him by the hallway, I need to speak with Hao here for a bit"

"Make sure you stand by the door where I can see you!"

Jeonghan scoffed. "What are you?! A babysitter?!"

"Knowing I have to take care of you two 24/7 then I guess I might as well be one!!"

As soon as they were far away from the both of them, the burnet couldn't help but sigh. Talking to them for a few minutes was enough to give him a headache.

"They're quite the duo aren't they?"

"Never would I have thought I would have to take care of a mafioso and a freak," Minghao said with a groan. "What did you want to talk with me about anyways? You see, I'm a bit busy right now and knowing them two I can't leave them unsupervised for long"

"Sorry," Hoshi said sheepishly. "I've just...been worried about you"

"..Why?"

"You've been..distant and.." He hesitated. "Quite cold for the past few days. Heck, I didn't even know you were still alive with how you haven't even been answering my texts"

"I've been busy, that's all"

"No, there's clearly something more to it" Hoshi looked at him. "I've known you for a long time now Hao and you've never acted like this. Ever since Cheol hyung was chosen as the president you've been off and nonchalant about everything and-"

"That's enough" Minghao clicked his tongue as he turned around towards the door. "I'm busy right now, let's talk about this later"

"..You know I'm here if you need anything, right?"

"Yeah..I do"

And yet, as Minghao walked away and began to scold Joshua and Jeonghan for doing their usual antics, Hoshi couldn't help but stare in worry from afar.

Even though he said he knew, to Hoshi, those words sounded like nothing but a big fat lie.