𝐋𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐚 𝐟𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐞 || 𝐒𝐞𝐨𝐤𝐬𝐨𝐨

Chapter twenty-six

Seokmin woke up with a groggy head, the remnants of a nightmare fading away as reality set in. The morning light filtered through the thin curtains, casting a soft glow on the room. He blinked, trying to shake off the haze of sleep. But his eyes snapped wide open when he saw Joshua standing in the room, wearing his clothes.

Joshua's skin seemed to have an ethereal glow, making him look almost otherworldly in the morning light. He was stunning, but Seokmin couldn't help but scoff at the sight.

"We need to talk," Joshua said, his voice calm but urgent.

Seokmin scoffed again, his voice dripping with disdain. "You'll never learn, won't you?"

Joshua's face turned serious, a determined look replacing his initial calm. "Move into my house," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

It was the last straw for Seokmin. He didn't care now if Joshua was a mafia. His face became stern, his brain clouding with anger. He slowly started walking towards Joshua, his steps deliberate and filled with fury. "What did you say?" he muttered slowly, his voice low and menacing.

Joshua, understanding the weight of the situation, started to back away. "It's not safe here, please understand," he pleaded, his voice trembling slightly.

Seokmin glared at him, his eyes filled with a psychotic rage. "You ruined us, you fucker, and you have the shame to come here and sleep like a slut, huh?"

Joshua felt every word like a blow, each one cutting deeper than the last. He took a deep breath, trying to steady his emotions. "The northwest gang has found your location. If you wanna die, then stay here. I'm saying this for your safety, not because I'm a..." He stopped, the word stuck in his throat. "...slut," he finished, his voice barely above a whisper, his emotions threatening to spill over.

Seokmin muttered under his breath, his voice cold and filled with disdain. "It's better to die than to stay with a homewrecker."

Joshua felt the sting of Seokmin's words, each one hitting him like a physical blow. "Please, Seokmin, I want to protect you," he said, his voice desperate. He stepped closer, reaching out to take Seokmin's hand, but stopped when Seokmin jerked his hand back and shouted, "Don't fucking touch me."

Seokmin's voice was filled with a cold, deadly anger. "Listen here, you shit. I'm doing this because I want to protect my child. If you decide to betray me and do anything to my child, I'll hurt you in the worst way possible."

Joshua's heart ached at Seokmin's words, but he knew he had to stay strong. "I understand," he said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper.

Seokmin's glare didn't soften, but he nodded curtly, a silent agreement to Joshua's plea. The tension between them was palpable, but for now, they had a common goal: survive.

Seokmin’s hands moved with swift precision, pulling clothes from drawers and neatly folding them into a suitcase. His hardened expression contrasted sharply with the wide, confused eyes of his child, Seungmin, who sat on the large bed, clutching a plush toy. The spacious room seemed even more expansive, emphasizing the small figure of the child amidst the opulence.

'Daddy, where are we going?' Seungmin’s gestures was small and tentative, his eyes round like boba pearls.

Seokmin paused, his heart clenching at the innocence in his son's signs “We’re just going on a trip, Seungmin-ah. Don’t worry.”

With Seungmin cradled in one arm and the suitcase in the other, Seokmin stepped out of the room. They made their way down the grand staircase, the heavy silence only broken by the soft murmur of Seungmin’s questions.

Joshua stood by the front door, his gaze locked on Seokmin, the muscles beneath his shirt rippling with each breath. Joshua swallowed hard, admiration mingling with a warm, unfamiliar feeling that spread through his chest.

As Seokmin approached, Joshua's eyes drifted to Seungmin, a tender smile playing on his lips. There was a pang of jealousy in his heart – for the fatherly love Seungmin received, and for the bond that Seokmin shared with his child, a bond that Joshua longed to be a part of.

Joshua reached out, intending to gently tug Seungmin's cheek, but Seokmin instinctively moved back, his protective instinct flaring. Joshua’s smile didn’t falter. “Come on,” he said softly, stepping aside to let them pass.

Outside, Joshua slid into the driver’s seat, a flicker of disappointment crossing his face when Seokmin settled in the back with Seungmin. He had hoped, maybe foolishly, that Seokmin would join him in the front. With a sigh, Joshua started the car, the engine’s purr filling the silence.

The drive was long, and soon they arrived at Joshua’s house. Seokmin’s brows furrowed in confusion as he took in the gothic architecture of the sprawling mansion. This wasn’t the modest house he remembered from his first visit. Joshua caught Seokmin’s puzzled expression in the rearview mirror.

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