Color Me Rainbow || MEANIE ✔

-37 || jeonghan-

a/n: ⚠️TW⚠️ - mentions of abuse

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It was weird. The not feeling thing. Jeonghan didn't feel anything. It was obvious Mingyu and Wonwoo were together now even if they hadn't actually told anyone yet. Even so, Jeonghan didn't feel jealous or sad or angry. He felt fine. It was like the feelings he had for Mingyu were never there in the first place.

He hadn't gotten a kiss from Jisoo yet. He was fine with that too. Yeah, it began with the bet, but whatever this thing is that he has with Jisoo has become a lot more than that. It was more than what Jeonghan could have anticipated.

He felt deep within that Jisoo was his soulmate even if the other male didn't think it was possible.

The party was loud, but it was just how Jeonghan liked it. It was easy to forget the shitty things in his life as he passed dozens of people. He greeted Wonwoo and Mingyu in the kitchen briefly before wandering off with his own beverage. He didn't miss the looks they gave him. In fact, he didn't miss any of the looks anyone gave him, but he was alright with it. With alcohol in his system and a specific person on his mind, he could give a fuck about what people thought.

"Hey, have you seen Jisoo?" Jeonghan asked, tapping Seungkwan on the shoulder.

Seungkwan's been acting differently too. The blonde couldn't figure out why. Every time he asked, Seungkwan wouldn't tell him anything. Yeah, it hurt, but Jeonghan wasn't going to pry unless he felt it was really necessary. He'd give Seungkwan a few more days to tell him on his own.

Seungkwan turned around. He'd been talking to some random guy Jeonghan had never seen before. What happened to Hansol? Jeonghan thought. The stranger put an arm around the red head's shoulders.

"I think he and Chan are on their way over now," Seungkwan told him. He brushed the guy's arm away and pulled Jeonghan into the nearby hallway. Seungkwan said, "We should call off the bet."

"What? Why?" Jeonghan questioned. Why so suddenly when they were basically on their final stretch? All this effort would have been for nothing.

"Because it was a dumb idea," Seungkwan snapped. Jeonghan opened his mouth to respond, but the other shook his head. "You know what? Nevermind. I don't care. Good luck with Jisoo." He grabbed the stranger's hand and together, they stalked off.

Okay then . . . That was odd. He was probably just a little drunk.

With a shake of his head, Jeonghan headed back to the kitchen. He'd ask Wonwoo and Mingyu if they'd seen Jisoo.

He finished off his cup when he reached the kitchen. Mingyu and Wonwoo were nowhere to be found. In their place was Jisoo and Chan. Jisoo turned around as soon as Jeonghan stepped through the kitchen doorway.

"Hi," the blonde said, walking towards them.

"And this is when I take my leave," Chan said, fleeing quickly.

Jisoo's hand immediately Jeonghan's eye. The blonde flinched back. "Sorry, the you get male said. He dropped his hand to his side. "What happened?"

Jeonghan shook his head. He knew Jisoo was going to ask about it, but that's not why he wanted to find him. "I'd rather not talk about it right now."

Jisoo stared at him. "Have you put any ice on it?"

Another head shake. "There's no need."

"No need-" Jisoo grabbed his hand and dragged him to somewhere less crowded. "What do you mean 'There's no need'? Your eye is basically closed and your cheek is back and blue."

Jeonghan couldn't deny it. He could see out of his left eye and his face was throbbing, but it was easy to ignore the pain.

"Are you gonna kiss it better?" Jeonghan said flirtatiously.

Jisoo made a face that said Be serious for once.

"I'm kidding," the other said. "But I'm fine. No need to worry."

"At least let me put some ice on it," Jisoo said. He ran off to the kitchen and came back with a small bag of frozen wontons. He made Jeonghan put it on his face. The cold helped a little.

They sat on the couch in the living room, talking about anything but the Jeonghan's swollen face. They'd grown closer. Jisoo was actually--or so it seemed--putting some effort in this relationship. It was like Jisoo wanted this to work out as much as Jeonghan did.

Maybe that was just what Jeonghan wanted to believe.

After a while, Jisoo gently pulled the frozen food away from Jeonghan's face. "It looks like the swelling's gone down."

"Can we go somewhere else?" Jeonghan asked. Maybe tonight would be the night. It didn't hurt to be hopeful.

They ended up a few houses down at a children's playground. They each found a swing and sat on it. 

"My father isn't happy with my preference of a soulmate," he began. He kind of grinned at Jisoo but he was sure it looked more like a grimace. It hurt to actually smile. "Maybe that was too straightforward."

"Yeah, it's like you want to scare me away." There was a nervous laugh.

"Dad's okay with it now. If a guy is my soulmate, there's nothing he can do about it. He just needed to get his anger out, and I happened to be there."

"Does this happen often?" Jisoo asked, stopping his swing.

"I wouldn't say often . . . Just whenever he's angry. Usually, he doesn't go for the face." Jeonghan didn't like having this conversation. He didn't like talking about it. The only other people who knew were Mingyu and Seungkwan, and even then, he made it clear that they shouldn't mention it when they notice. Either way, he was talking to Jisoo. He at least deserved to know since he was a potential soulmate.

Jisoo stood up and went to stand in front of Jeonghan. The elder remained seated, afraid he might ruin the moment, if that's what this could be called anyway.

The dark-haired male lifted his hand to Jeonghan's face. He stopped about an inch away. "Can I?" he asked.

Jeonghan met Jisoo's grey eyes. He saw something there, but he couldn't quite out his finger on what. He nodded.

Jisoo rested a cool hand on the purple half of Jeonghan's face. It was felt better than those frozen wontons from fifteen minutes earlier. Jeonghan reached up and placed his own hand over Jisoo's. "I'm okay," he said. "I'm used to it."

Jisoo pulled his hand away, disgusted. "Stop saying it's okay or that you're fine." Jeonghan was caught off guard. "I wish there was more I could do for you," Jisoo said softly.

"Stop worrying," Jeonghan said. "None of this is your fault. It's not mine either. We're graduating soon. I'll be out of his line of fire soon enough."

Jisoo leaned forward and kissed Jeonghan's bruised cheek. "I'm sorry this is happening to you."

"Me too," Jeonghan said, completely honest. Like anyone in his situation, he wished things were different. Even so, he wouldn't change anything. He was right where he wanted to be.

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