Betting on Love [JEONGCHEOL] ✓

Chapter Ten: Fragile Temptation

The first thing Jeonghan does when he arrives at university the next day is to search for Joshua. He’s made up his mind—he has to end the dare. It’s not fair to keep playing with Seungcheol’s emotions, especially now that he knows how much the guy is already dealing with. But after checking every spot Joshua could possibly be, there’s no sign of him.

Jeonghan sighs, feeling frustration bubble inside him. This was supposed to be simple. Just tell Joshua it’s over and move on.

"Something wrong?" a voice suddenly asks, snapping Jeonghan out of his thoughts.

He turns to see Seungcheol standing behind him, arms crossed, a look of quiet judgment on his face. Jeonghan can tell Seungcheol’s sizing him up, trying to figure out what’s going on.

Jeonghan quickly shakes his head, forcing a casual smile. "No, nothing’s wrong. Just... thinking about something." He waves it off, then shifts the conversation with a smug grin. "But never mind that. What brings you to me today? Didn’t think you’d come looking for me voluntarily."

He steps closer, his teasing tone masking the inner turmoil still swirling in his mind.

Seungcheol doesn’t flinch, holding his ground as he reaches out with a book in hand. "You left this at my place yesterday."

Jeonghan’s smile falters for a second. It’s the book they were using for their project, and in the rush to leave, he must have forgotten it. He takes the book from Seungcheol, their fingers brushing slightly.

"Thanks," Jeonghan mutters, suddenly feeling a little off balance. For some reason, standing this close to Seungcheol today feels different—heavier, maybe. He wonders if Seungcheol can sense the guilt hovering just beneath his usual confident demeanor.

"No problem," Seungcheol says, but there’s something about his tone that’s colder than usual. He doesn’t look at Jeonghan directly, just shifts his gaze toward the ground.

Jeonghan frowns, tilting his head to the side. "Hey, everything okay with you? You’re acting kinda... off."

Seungcheol shrugs, slipping his hands into his pockets. "Just tired. Didn’t sleep well last night." His response is short, almost dismissive, and Jeonghan can tell he’s not giving the full story.

Jeonghan wants to press him on it, but something stops him. He’s already struggling with his own confusion about everything—adding more layers to Seungcheol’s life feels... complicated. Instead, Jeonghan forces a laugh, trying to lighten the mood.

"Well, maybe I’ll treat you to some coffee later, help wake you up a bit."

Seungcheol raises an eyebrow, finally meeting Jeonghan’s gaze. "What, out of pity?"

Jeonghan’s eyes widen slightly at the comment. Seungcheol’s sarcasm isn’t new, but this one feels sharper than usual, cutting deeper.

"No, not pity. Just... as a thanks for returning my book." He shrugs, trying to brush it off casually, though something inside him stirs uncomfortably.

Seungcheol studies him for a second, then sighs, his expression softening just a bit. "Alright, fine. But don’t think you’re off the hook for being late on your share of the project. You owe me."

Jeonghan smirks, feeling some of the tension lift. "Fine, fine. I’ll make it up to you."

But even as they exchange light banter, Jeonghan can’t shake the uneasy feeling in his chest. He’s still stuck in this tangled mess, and every moment he spends with Seungcheol makes the lines blur even more. He knows he needs to find Joshua and end this game before things get even messier.