So Close Yet So Far - Mingyu x Reader

Chapter 9 - Special Visitors

Mingyu and Joshua stood in silence for what felt like an eternity. Joshua was used to eternity. As he stared at Mingyu, he watched his features change. He was shocked; eyes wide at the seemingly calm individual shouting something so out of nowhere. He was confused; eyebrows narrowing as he tried to infer exactly what Joshua meant. It took a second, but he was soon angry; eyes narrow as he looked at Joshua once more. "I'm sorry...what?"

"You need to leave her alone."

"Joshua." Jeonghan tried one more time, but it was like he suddenly turned invisible.

"And who are you to tell me that?" Mingyu asked. He stepped closer to Joshua, who said nothing as he continued to stare right at him. "If anything, I'd like to know what happened so I can fix it. Weren't you the one who was so eager to help me just the other day?"

"That was then and this is now. You're the one who lied to her and made her upset. You seem to have been selfish the entire time and she's the one suffering. And she won't even tell you why because she knows it'll cause you to feel guilty." Mingyu hesitated a bit, his angered expression not once faltering. When he saw Joshua's hand rub his shoulder, jaw clenching a bit as he continued to stand tall in front of him, Mingyu shook his head.

"Joshua," Jeonghan repeated, but Joshua wasn't done.

"She doesn't matter to you, since you have no problem swooning many girls across Asia so they drop everything and follow you home. What did you even give to Mina that had her run after you when you left?"

"What are you even talking about?" Mingyu asked.

"You know," Joshua said simply. "And now Jeonghan and I are here trying to pick up the pieces and make her feel better because you have been seemingly nothing but secretive." He scoffed. "I don't know what she sees in you."

"I can kick your ass, you know that?" Mingyu asked.

"Tch. You won't. Not only because you don't mean that, but she'll never forgive you." Mingyu's eyes darted away for a second at the sassy remark, and Joshua shook his head.

However, Joshua only had one second to feel a new wave of confidence, because Mingyu blurted back with: "What? Do you love her or something?!" Joshua's breath caught in his throat, and piercing pain shot from between his shoulder blades. It bolted down his shoulders and to the tips of each finger, before going back again. Over and over, the ping-pong sensation of this lightning bolt moved, trapped in his body and trying to get out. Joshua's grip on his shoulder tightened before finally loosened. He dropped to his knees, taking a second for his entire body to let out a shaky gasp. "Woah. Shit." Mingyu gasped, stepping back. "What the...?"

"Joshua." Jeonghan hurried to his side, kneeling. Joshua looked over, using his free hand to rub ever-growing sweat off his brow. Jeonghan leaned close. "Stop it. You're going to make a big mistake." He quickly muttered a bitter yet terrified hiss between his teeth. Joshua nodded, shaking his head to bring himself back to reality. Slowly, he could feel his body calming down, the convulsing pains slowly dulling before disappearing to a numb pounding between his shoulder blades.

When he looked up, he saw a hand sticking in his direction. He followed the arm until it reached Mingyu's face. His expression was neutral, no longer angry or ready to start a fight. Reluctantly, Joshua took his hand and stood to his feet. "Whew."

"Are you okay?" Mingyu asked, clear confusion still written on his face like an open book.

"Yeah." Joshua gasped out, nodding his head. He had no energy to continue being jealous of Mingyu. The idea of that feeling alone made his back throb in pain. He immediately felt Jeonghan take his arm.