"Oh man."
Jeonghan groaned when he saw Jihye sprawled and passed out on their bed. Shirt undone.
"Take him back to your room," Seungcheol told Jinseo tiredly.
The other man assessed the situation. "How apt. That we'd both rather be in yours."
Jeonghan and Seungcheol were startled by the pronouncement.
Jinseo's smile was brittle. "Just stating facts. It's why he and I get along. Neither of us want each other."
Jeonghan searched frantically for the right response. He hadn't meant to cause Jinseo any sorrow. He was certain that Cheol would never intentionally inflict any pain on Jihye either.
Cheol only asked, "Do you need help carrying him?"
"No." Jinseo picked Jihye up with ease, who made some noises but didn't resist.
Cheol held the door as Jinseo hauled Jihye outside.
"Jinseo!," Jeonghan called out. Then words failed him.
jinseo carried Jihye towards their room without looking back.
Jeonghan's throat dried up as the door shut.
"You okay?" Seungcheol asked with concern.
"Y-yeah," Jeonghan replied weakly. "Anyway, I'm going to take a shower. We should get the sheets changed. I'll call the-"
Cheol pulled him into an embrace, holding him tightly.
Jeonghan let out a breath. Warmth and relief.
"What a mess."
"Putting it mildly," Cheol agreed.
"Do you think they will be alright?" Jeonghan wondered.
"Jinseo or Jihye?"
"Both, I guess."
Cheol was silent for a moment. Then he admitted, "I'm not sure."
"He liked me in school. I didn't even realise," Jeonghan said with guilt nibbling his mind. "I'm not sure what I would have done if he confessed back then either."
"I know what I would have done," Seungcheol uttered with certainty.
Jeonghan sighed with exasperation. "I'm being serious here!"
"So am I," Cheol protested but added, "But it's good that you both got it out in the open."
"I suppose," Jeonghan was not so sure. "I should check in on him tomorrow."
"I'll look up Jihye too," Cheol said resignedly. It was the right thing to do, nevermind Jihye's erratic behaviour and inexplicable actions.
"He probably misses you," Jeonghan said, sad and knowing.
"He misses a past. Not me."
Jeonghan gave him a tiny, odd smile. Not one of joy or happiness. It was too tight, too raw.
"What is it?" Seungcheol asked.
"I'm so lucky to have you," Jeonghan whispered and it was bounded in so many shades of emotion that Seungcheol couldn't begin to untangle. "To have us."
Cheol could feel his breath ripped. He tightened his hold on Jeonghan.
"Idiot," he murmured.
xxxxxxxx
Unfortunately, Jinseo and Jihye checked out early the next day.
Cheol found a note slipped under the door from Jihye.
'Sorry. It was worth a try though. Don't worry, I'll find someone better than you.'
"What are you going to do?" Jeonghan asked when Seungcheol passed him the note.
Seungcheol raked a hand through his hair. "Not sure."
Jeonghan studied the handwriting. "It's bold."
It was indeed in character, tough and brash. Hiding layers of complexity that Cheol would never understand.
"He doesn't need someone better," Jeonghan said softly. "Just someone right."
Cheol decided then that he didn't want to try to control the outcome.
Maybe one day Jihye would appear unexpectedly again. Or cause another scene. Or that this would the last time they saw one another.
It wasn't exactly the resolution that one would hope for but that was life.
In the end, they both recognised that what they had was physical satisfaction in their youth, driven by boredom and loneliness. Nothing more, nothing less.
Jeonghan, on the other hand, got a call on his phone from an unknown number mid-morning and he took it at the balcony.
"Jinseo here. You still have the same number."
"Hello," Jeonghan greeted and waited.
Jinseo sighed and his frustration was clear over the line. "About yesterday. I won't apologise."
"Nothing to apologise for," Jeonghan assured him.
"Good."
Jeonghan asked hesitantly, "Will you be alright?"
"I'll figure it out," Jinseo replied. "Maybe we can grab a beer with our friends one day."
"That would be great." Jeonghan was hopeful.
"Honestly, it will take a while. A long while," Jinseo emphasised. "You get it?"
"I do," Jeonghan understood that it might never transpire. But Jinseo was leaving the door open.
He said gently, "Thank you."
Silence hung and Jinseo was solemn when he spoke, "I'm glad that I told you."
"Me too." Jeonghan smiled. "Don't be too hard on yourself."
"I know. Well, that settles it. I'll hang up now. Bye."
"Bye."
Cheol was packing their suitcases and looked up when he went back inside. "How did it go?"
Jeonghan hugged his waist from behind, resting his cheek on Cheol's back. "As well as it could be. But I think we left it at a good place."
Cheol wrapped an arm around his. Kept his mouth shut.
He understood that all Jeonghan needed right now was a moment of comfort.
Jeonghan let go when he was ready and there was acceptance in that action.
"There is a nice town to stop by on the way back. Let's have lunch there?"
Seungcheol replied softly, "Sure."
YOU ARE READING
FORTUNE!!|| JEONGCHEOL||
Fanfiction"It's a set," jeonghan whispered. "We have to keep them together. Always." The same words. seungcheol remembered how small jeonghans voice was back then. The hope in his eyes. The nervousness in his hands. He also remembered the tightness under his...
