SEVENTEEN | SICKFICS - HURTFICS

SeokSoo | Abduction Part II

Joshua stepped into his office, the familiar scent of polished wood and leather hitting him like a wave. He wasted no time and dialed Mingyu's number, urgency tinging his voice. "Mingyu, I need to talk with you. It's about Lucas."

"Lucas? The one from years ago?" Mingyu asked, surprise evident. "What's going on?"

"Just meet me in my office. We need to discuss some old debts that might come back to haunt us," Joshua replied, glancing around to ensure no one was eavesdropping.

"On it," Mingyu said, and the call ended.

After their quick meeting, Joshua felt a mixture of relief and anxiety. He decided to surprise Dk by picking him up from work, hoping to lighten the mood. "He'll love it," he thought, a smile creeping onto his face.

But when he arrived at Dk's office, his heart sank. The lobby was nearly empty. He approached the guard at the front desk, trying to keep his composure. "Hey, has Dk left yet?"

The guard looked up, shaking his head. "Yeah, he left about ten minutes ago. Said he was taking a taxi home."

Joshua's stomach twisted. "A taxi? He didn't call me?"

"Nope, just left a little early," the guard replied, unaware of Joshua's growing worry.

"Thanks," Joshua said, forcing a tight smile as he turned away. He didn't want to panic, but the nagging feeling from earlier crept back. "Just head home," he reassured himself. "He'll be there."

As he drove home, the silence of the car felt heavy, each moment stretching longer than the last. "What if he needed me?" he thought, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. "What if that call meant something?"

Pulling into the driveway, he tried to shake off the unease, reminding himself that Dk was capable. "He's fine. Just a long day," he whispered, stepping out of the car and heading for the front door.

As he entered the house, he called out, "Babe? You home?" The quiet response was his only answer, and a flicker of worry ignited again in his chest.

"Baby?" Joshua called again, his voice rising slightly. The house felt eerily silent, amplifying his anxiety. He hurried into the kitchen, scanning the countertops for any sign of his boyfriend. Empty.

"Maybe he's just relaxing," he thought, trying to convince himself as he roamed through the living room. The couch was untouched, and the TV remained dark. "Come on, babe. Where are you?"

Panic began to claw at him as he rushed to their bedroom, throwing the door open. "Dk!" he shouted, his heart pounding. The room was just as he left it-no sign of Dk.

"Don't freak out," he muttered under his breath, moving quickly to the bathroom. He knocked lightly on the door. "Dk? You in there?"

Silence greeted him, and Joshua's gut twisted. "This isn't funny. You're scaring me!" he said, voice thick with worry as he turned the handle, pushing the door open. The bathroom was empty.

He leaned against the door frame, frustration boiling over. "Where the hell are you?" He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. "Okay, think. Did he mention any plans?"

His mind raced through the conversations they'd had, trying to find a clue. "Maybe he stopped by a friend's place? No... he wouldn't do that without telling me."

Joshua ran a hand through his hair, pacing back into the living room. "I need to calm down," he told himself. "He's probably fine." But doubt crept in, and he grabbed his phone to check for messages, hoping for anything that would ease his mind.

Joshua rushed out to the backyard, his heart pounding with worry. But as he stepped outside, all his fears dissipated in an instant. There stood Dk, beaming, holding a gift box and a bouquet of flowers.