TRAPPED

Chapter 9

The next morning, Jeonghan woke up in an empty apartment. The silence felt louder than before, his mind replaying last night's events like a broken record. His lips still tingled from the force of Seongcheol's kiss, a reminder of the mess they had both created. He felt suffocated, like he was drowning in the weight of emotions he hadn't quite sorted out. The walls of their apartment, which had always felt too small, now seemed to be closing in on him.

He threw himself into his routine, hoping that if he kept busy, he wouldn't have to think about the tension that had been building between them. But even as he made coffee and absentmindedly scrolled through his phone, he couldn't escape the image of Seongcheol's face, the frustration burning in his eyes as he stormed out.

The door suddenly clicked open, and Jeonghan's heart lurched in his chest. His immediate instinct was to brace for another confrontation, but when he looked up, it wasn't Seongcheol.

It was Joshua.

"Hey, you look like crap," Joshua said with a teasing smile, though his eyes softened when they took in Jeonghan's tired expression.

Jeonghan managed a weak smile. "Thanks. Good to know."

Joshua stepped closer, dropping his keys on the counter. "I figured you could use some company. Besides, I didn't want to leave you alone with that brute for too long."

Jeonghan chuckled bitterly. "He's not here. He left last night, after..." His voice trailed off, and Joshua's eyes widened slightly, recognizing the weight in Jeonghan's tone.

Joshua sat on the couch beside him, his hand resting on Jeonghan's shoulder. "Do you want to talk about it?"

Jeonghan shook his head, a heavy sigh escaping him. "No. I don't even know what to say."

"Are you okay?" Joshua asked softly.

Jeonghan looked up, meeting Joshua's concerned gaze. He always felt a sense of safety around him, a comfort that was different from the chaos that Seongcheol brought. Joshua had always been there for him, always steady. A soft hum filled the air as Jeonghan's phone buzzed on the counter.

"I'm fine," Jeonghan muttered, more to convince himself than Joshua. He picked up his phone, glancing at the message that had popped up on the screen. It was from Seokmin.

**Seokmin:** *I heard Seongcheol stormed out last night. You good?*

The message felt like a jab, a reminder that Seokmin, Seongcheol's best friend, was aware of every crack in their broken marriage. Jeonghan couldn't help but feel the heat of frustration rising again. He tossed the phone onto the couch, shaking his head.

Joshua noticed the tension, his fingers brushing Jeonghan's arm lightly. "Want to get out of here? I know a place that has really good coffee, and we can just... breathe. Away from all this."

Jeonghan considered it. Being anywhere but here seemed like a good idea. Just as he was about to respond, the door flew open again, slamming against the wall with the same force that echoed through the apartment the night before. Seongcheol.

The air seemed to freeze as Seongcheol stepped in, his eyes immediately locking onto Jeonghan and Joshua on the couch. The tension in his jaw was visible, his eyes darkening with something dangerous—jealousy.

Jeonghan tensed, instinctively pulling away from Joshua. Seongcheol's gaze didn't waver, his presence overwhelming the room. "Well, isn't this cozy?" he remarked, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he tossed his jacket onto the nearest chair.

Joshua, sensing the tension, stood up, crossing his arms in a casual, unbothered stance. "We were just leaving," he said calmly, though there was a slight edge to his voice, one that Seongcheol didn't miss.