Jeonghan always found himself in the middle. Between being the peacekeeper among his friends, between decisions he was unsure of, and now-between Seungcheol and Joshua. It was complicated, messy, and something he never thought would happen.
Seungcheol had always been there. He was the dependable one, the leader, the friend Jeonghan trusted with everything. They had met during their first year at university, both drawn to each other through a magnetic bond neither of them could explain. Seungcheol was serious, almost intimidating at times, but to Jeonghan, he was someone who provided security and a sense of home. Whenever Seungcheol was near, Jeonghan felt safe.
Joshua, on the other hand, had an entirely different energy. He was Seungcheol's best friend, someone Jeonghan had gotten to know over the years, but in a quieter, gentler way. Joshua was warm, charming, and knew how to make Jeonghan laugh when the world felt heavy. He was the type of person who could look at you and instantly make you feel seen.
For months, Jeonghan found himself caught in a confusing whirlpool of feelings for both of them. He loved the way Seungcheol's voice would rumble when he was upset, how his protectiveness flared whenever Jeonghan was in trouble. But then there was Joshua, with his tender smiles and soft touches that sent a different kind of shiver down Jeonghan's spine.
It was a warm evening when things finally started to unravel. The three of them were at Seungcheol's apartment, studying for an upcoming exam, though none of them were paying much attention to their books. Jeonghan sat on the couch, his mind swirling with thoughts of the two men beside him, his heart racing from the proximity of their bodies.
Seungcheol was stretched out on one end, leaning back, his intense eyes occasionally flicking toward Jeonghan. Joshua sat on the floor, leaning against Jeonghan's legs, casually flipping through his notes but clearly distracted.
"You've been distracted a lot lately," Seungcheol finally said, breaking the silence. His voice was steady, but there was something more in his tone-something that made Jeonghan's stomach flip.
Jeonghan hesitated, his fingers nervously fidgeting with the edge of his shirt. "I've just had a lot on my mind."
Joshua glanced up at him from his spot on the floor, his warm gaze meeting Jeonghan's. "You don't have to keep things bottled up, you know? We're here for you."
"I know," Jeonghan replied, his voice barely above a whisper. "It's just... complicated."
The tension in the room grew thick. Jeonghan could feel it, like an unspoken storm ready to break. He didn't want to say it out loud, didn't want to admit the feelings that had been bubbling beneath the surface for months.
"Is it us?" Seungcheol asked bluntly, his eyes locking with Jeonghan's. There was no avoiding it now.
Jeonghan swallowed hard, his heart pounding in his chest. "I... I don't know how to explain it," he stammered, feeling the weight of their stares on him. "I don't know what's going on between us. Between me and you. Me and Joshua."
Joshua slowly stood up, moving to sit beside Jeonghan on the couch. His hand gently rested on Jeonghan's knee, a simple touch that sent sparks through him. "You don't have to explain it all right now. But I think we all know there's something between us. Something we've been avoiding."
Seungcheol leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees as his gaze softened. "We've all been feeling it, Jeonghan. It's not just you."
Jeonghan's breath hitched in his throat. "But... what do we do about it?"
For a moment, none of them spoke. The weight of the situation was overwhelming, but also liberating. There was no more pretending, no more hiding. The truth was finally out in the open.
Seungcheol shifted closer, his presence commanding but tender. "You don't have to choose between us."
Jeonghan blinked, confused. "What?"
Joshua's hand slid up to Jeonghan's shoulder, squeezing gently. "We've already talked about it, Seungcheol and I. We don't want to make you choose."
Jeonghan's mind raced, trying to comprehend what they were saying. "But... how? How can this even work?"
Seungcheol's hand cupped Jeonghan's cheek, turning his face to meet his gaze. "We care about you, Jeonghan. Both of us. And we're willing to share-if you are."
Jeonghan's heart pounded in his chest as Seungcheol leaned in, his lips brushing against Jeonghan's in a slow, deliberate kiss. It was everything Jeonghan had imagined-intense, passionate, and filled with emotions he had been trying to ignore for too long.
When Seungcheol pulled back, Joshua was there, gently turning Jeonghan's head toward him. His kiss was different-soft, tender, a contrast to Seungcheol's, but equally filled with affection. Jeonghan melted into it, his body buzzing with warmth as he realized just how much he wanted this.
When they both pulled away, Jeonghan was left breathless, his mind spinning. "You're serious? You're both okay with this?"
Seungcheol smiled, his hand slipping into Jeonghan's. "More than okay. We've been waiting for you to figure it out."
Joshua rested his head on Jeonghan's shoulder, his voice soft. "We're in this together, Jeonghan. No more hiding."
Jeonghan's heart swelled as he realized that he didn't have to choose. He didn't have to lose either of them. They were willing to share, to make this work, and as strange and unconventional as it was, it felt right.
For the first time in months, Jeonghan felt at peace. He had both Seungcheol and Joshua by his side, and together, they would figure it out.
