TRAPPED

Chapter 11

Jeonghan could still feel the imprint of Seongcheol's lips on his as he walked into the club. The vibrant music thrummed through his body, but his mind was far from the chaotic energy around him. Every time he took a breath, he replayed the confrontation from earlier—the anger, the desire, and Seongcheol's words. He was determined to push it all aside, at least for tonight.

Inside, Wonwoo and Soonyoung were already dancing, the flashing lights reflecting off their carefree smiles. Jeonghan tried to lose himself in the moment, joining his friends, but it was impossible to ignore the lingering tension in his chest. Seongcheol's possessiveness still weighed heavily on his mind, and no matter how much he wanted to, he couldn't shake the feeling that Seongcheol's grip on him wasn't just physical—it was emotional, and it ran deeper than he cared to admit.

"Jeonghan!" Soonyoung shouted over the music, pulling him closer. "Why so serious? Have some fun!"

Jeonghan forced a smile. "I'm trying!" he yelled back, though his heart wasn't in it. Wonwoo gave him a knowing look from the side, his sharp gaze cutting through the noise.

"Where's Seongcheol tonight?" Wonwoo asked, casually but pointedly. He'd seen the tension between the two before, and something about Jeonghan's mood suggested that things had escalated.

Jeonghan shrugged, unwilling to delve into the mess that was his life. "Home, I guess. We got into it before I came here."

Wonwoo raised an eyebrow but didn't push further, respecting Jeonghan's desire to keep things vague. But as the night wore on, Jeonghan couldn't help but check his phone every few minutes, waiting for some sign of Seongcheol. He didn't want to admit it, but a part of him expected Seongcheol to show up—demanding, possessive, just like he always was.

Back at the apartment, Seongcheol sat on the edge of the bed, gripping his phone tightly. He had considered following Jeonghan, storming into the club to drag him out, but something stopped him. He knew Jeonghan was pushing back against his control, and chasing after him would only make things worse. But the thought of Jeonghan out there, with those guys—especially Wonwoo—made his blood boil.

He stared at the screen, wondering whether to send a text. His fingers hovered over the keyboard, but nothing felt right. What could he even say? Come back. Don't go out with them. You know you're mine.

Seongcheol's jaw clenched. They weren't even supposed to be together like this. Their marriage wasn't real, just something their parents had forced upon them. But that didn't stop him from feeling like Jeonghan was his, that no one else had the right to be near him—especially not in a club where anything could happen.

In the end, his frustration got the better of him. He sent the only message that felt true to what he was feeling:

Don't do anything you'll regret.

At the club, Jeonghan felt his phone buzz and pulled it out, already knowing who it would be. He rolled his eyes when he saw Seongcheol's message. Typical. The man couldn't stand the thought of Jeonghan being free, not for a single night.

He shoved the phone back in his pocket, determined not to let it ruin his mood. But no matter how hard he tried, Seongcheol's presence lingered, like a shadow following him through every beat of the music.

"I need a drink," Jeonghan muttered, heading for the bar. As he ordered, he spotted Joshua across the room, deep in conversation with Seokmin. A wave of relief washed over him—at least Joshua had shown up. He hadn't been sure, given the complicated history between Joshua and Seokmin.

Joshua's conversation with Seokmin was tense, the air between them thick with unresolved feelings. Seokmin looked as though he wanted to say a thousand things, but he held back, his expression torn between longing and guilt.

"Why are you even here, Seokmin?" Joshua's voice was cold, the hurt from their last encounter still fresh.

"I came because I needed to see you," Seokmin admitted, his eyes flickering with vulnerability. "I miss you, Joshua. I can't stand how things ended between us."

Joshua sighed, looking away. "You hurt me, Seokmin. You don't get to just show up and pretend like everything's fine now."

"I know. I'm not asking for that. I just..." Seokmin trailed off, biting his lip. "I want to make things right."

Before Joshua could respond, Jeonghan appeared at his side, his presence a welcome distraction from the emotional tension. "You two good?" he asked, glancing between them.

Joshua gave a half-hearted shrug. "As good as it gets."

Seokmin looked like he wanted to argue, but the words died on his lips. He took a step back, giving Joshua some space.

Jeonghan offered Joshua a drink, and the two shared a moment of silent understanding. Both of them were tangled in messy, unresolved relationships with men who seemed to have a hold over them, no matter how much they tried to break free.

As the night wore on, Jeonghan found himself dancing with Wonwoo and Soonyoung, trying to shake off the weight of Seongcheol's possessiveness. But no matter how hard he tried to focus on the music, he couldn't escape the feeling that Seongcheol was watching him—his jealousy, his anger, his need to control. It was suffocating, even from miles away.

And then, as if his thoughts had conjured him, Jeonghan spotted Seongcheol standing in the entrance of the club, his eyes locked on him. The intensity in Seongcheol's gaze made Jeonghan's heart stop for a moment. There he was, exactly where Jeonghan had hoped he wouldn't be, yet a part of him had known all along that Seongcheol wouldn't stay away.

The distance between them vanished as Seongcheol pushed through the crowd, his expression hard and determined. Jeonghan felt his pulse quicken, torn between anger and something he didn't want to name. Why did Seongcheol have to do this? Why couldn't he just let Jeonghan live his own life?

Before Jeonghan could react, Seongcheol was standing in front of him, his jaw clenched tight. "We need to talk. Now."

Jeonghan crossed his arms, trying to keep his voice steady. "What are you doing here, Seongcheol?"

"You know why I'm here," Seongcheol said, his voice low and dangerous. His eyes flicked toward Wonwoo, who was standing nearby, and a flash of jealousy crossed his face. "You think I'd just let you come to a place like this with them?"

Jeonghan's anger flared. "Let me? You don't own me, Seongcheol."

Seongcheol's eyes darkened, his hand reaching out to grab Jeonghan's wrist. "You're not going anywhere with him."

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