Joshua shifted uneasily in his seat, his gaze darting around the nearly empty cafe. Despite the cozy, peaceful ambiance, he couldn't shake off the feeling of being watched. The memory of last night's unsettling encounter with a persistent fan replayed in his mind. It wasn't the first time he had dealt with over jealous admirers, but this one had crossed a line, showing up at his apartment building and refusing to leave until security intervened.
His phone buzzed, snapping him out of his thoughts. It was a message from Hoshi "On my way, be there in 5! 😊"
Joshua allowed himself a small smile. Hoshi's energy and optimism were exactly what he needed right now. He sighed, taking a sip of his coffee, and tried to relax.
The door jingled, and Hoshi bounded in, his usual bright smile lighting up the room. "Joshie hyung!" he called, making his way to the table. Joshua couldn't help but chuckle at the nickname.
"Hey, Hoshi," Joshua greeted, his voice betraying a hint of relief.
Hoshi slid into the seat across from him, eyes scanning Joshua's face. "You look tired. Everything okay?"
Joshua hesitated, but then he nodded. "Yeah, just a rough night." Hoshi's expression turned serious, a rare sight. "Wanna talk about it?"
Joshua took a deep breath and recounted the previous night's events. Hoshi listened intently, his brow furrowing as the story unfolded. "That's not okay," Hoshi said firmly when Joshua finished. "You shouldn't have to deal with that alone." Joshua shrugged. "I'm used to it." Hoshi's eyes flashed with determination. "Well, you shouldn't have to be."
Over the next few days, Hoshi stuck to Joshua's side like glue. He insisted on accompanying him to practice, meetings, and even grocery runs. At first, Joshua felt guilty for taking up so much of Hoshi's time, but he quickly realized how much he appreciated the company.
Joshua was getting ready for a quiet evening at home. It had been a long day of rehearsals, and he was looking forward to unwinding with a good book and some music. As Joshua settled onto the couch, his phone buzzed with a message from Hoshi: "I am coming to your home, R u free?"
Joshua typed back a quick response, "Yes, I'm free. See you soon!"
Just as he put his phone down, there was a knock at the door. Joshua's heart skipped a beat. It was too soon for Hoshi to be back, and he wasn't expecting anyone else.
Cautiously, Joshua approached the door and looked through the peephole. His stomach dropped. It was the fan from before, the same one who had caused him so much distress.
Before Joshua could decide what to do, the fan knocked again, louder this time. "Joshua, I know you're in there. Please, just talk to me."
Joshua's hands shook as he stepped back. He reached for his phone and called Hoshi.
"Hoshi, he's back. The fan from before. He's at the door," Joshua whispered, trying to keep his voice steady.
"Stay inside and don't open the door. I'm on my way," Hoshi replied, his voice calm but firm.
Joshua hung up and took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. He knew Hoshi would be there soon, but the minutes felt like hours.
The knocking continued, more insistent now. "Joshua, please! I just want to talk to you!"
Joshua backed away from the door, his heart pounding in his chest. He was about to call security when he heard the sound of footsteps running down the hall.
The fan was still knocking when Hoshi arrived. Without hesitation, Hoshi placed himself between the fan and the door, his expression fierce.
"What are you doing here?" Hoshi demanded, his voice low and dangerous.
