Don't Blame Me || Jeongcheol

Chapter 32

Jeonghan's eyes widened at the sudden change in topic, his mind still reeling from the conversation about emotions and vulnerability.

"What?" he asked, a hint of annoyance in his voice. "We're suddenly talking about that now?"

Joshua chuckled, clearly enjoying Jeonghan's reaction. "Oh, come on." he teased. "You're all emotional and vulnerable, it's a good time to discuss something else for a breather."

Jeonghan rolled his eyes, but a small smile tugged at his lips. "Right," he drawled. "Because nothing eases tension like talking about...that."

He gave Joshua a side-eye, a warning in his gaze. "I swear, you're just looking for gossip."

Joshua feigned innocence, his hands up in a defensive gesture. "Me? Gossip? Never."

He grinned, his eyes practically sparkling with mischief. "I'm just trying to be a supportive friend. And a curious one."

Jeonghan huffed, trying to maintain his annoyed facade, but it was hard to keep it up against Joshua's playful demeanor.

"Right. Because supportive friends always want to know the intimate details of their comrade's love life."

Jeonghan let out an exasperated sigh, both amused and slightly embarrassed by Joshua's relentless curiosity. "There's nothing to tell." he protested, even as he could feel a blush creeping up his cheeks.

"Shut up don't lie I heard both of you last, last... month at his room."

Jeonghan's blush deepened, the blood rushing to his cheeks. "You..." he sputtered, at a loss for words.

"You...you heard us?" he managed, his voice a mix of embarrassment and disbelief.

"Of course, I did!" Joshua exclaimed, his grin widening. "The walls aren't exactly the thickest here, you know."

He leaned back, clearly enjoying Jeonghan's mortification. "And let me tell you, the sounds I heard were very...interesting, to say the least."

Jeonghan was sure the embarrassment would consume him whole at this point. He dropped his head into his hands, the heat from his cheeks almost burning his palms.

"Oh my God." he mumbled, his voice muffled.

Joshua chuckled again, his eyes dancing with amusement. "Every sound." he confirmed, clearly enjoying Jeonghan's discomfort.

"It was quite the...educational experience." he added slyly, his tone suggestive.

Jeonghan groaned, the embarrassment almost unbearable now. "Please, stop." he pleaded, his voice strained. "We don't have to talk about this, okay?"

He looked up at Joshua, his eyes a mix of pleading and mortification. "Can we...can we talk about something else, please?"

Joshua relented, a hint of mercy in his expression. "Okay, okay." he said, his tone lighter. "We'll drop the topic...for now."

His smirk though, remained. "But just know, I'll probably bring it up again someday. Just warning you."

Jeonghan tried to maintain his irritated facade, but it was hard against Joshua's infectious laughter.

"You really are the worst." he muttered, though a hint of a smile tugged at his lips.

Despite the embarrassment moments ago, the talk had been helpful. It had cleared some doubts, reinforced some truths. He would talk to Seungcheol, he decided. He would try to make things right.

Jeonghan watched silently as Haneul played, a soft smile on his face. The night was peaceful, the quiet broken only by Haneul's soft giggles.

He let out a sigh, the calmness of the moment contrasting with the tumultuous emotions inside him. Thoughts of Seungcheol, of making things right, of the talk with Joshua, all danced in his mind.