SHADOWS OF DECEIT

Chapter 2

Joshua was jolted awake by a series of loud, insistent knocks on the front door. He groaned, his mind still foggy from sleep as he stumbled out of bed, his foot catching on the open suitcase sprawled across the floor. The same suitcase he'd barely touched since arriving, its contents still in disarray. He hadn't unpacked—hadn't had the energy or the inclination to organize after the long trip.

As he made his way to the door, he ruffled his tousled hair, wincing at the sharp contrast between the silence of dawn and the urgency of the visitor's knocks. He cracked the door open, greeted by Samuel's bright, boyish grin—his smile as radiant as his ridiculously funky outfit. Joshua squinted, taking in the younger man's mismatched ensemble. Separately, each piece looked like something you'd find at the bottom of a discount bin, but Samuel wore them with a confidence that somehow made it all work. Runway-worthy, perhaps—if the runway had no concept of time and certainly not this early in the morning.

"Good morning, hyung!" Samuel chirped, too loud for the hour, his voice an assault on Joshua's half-asleep senses.

Joshua groaned again, leaning heavily on the doorframe before retreating back into the living room. "Samuel, don't you ever sleep? You're young—you should be sleeping."

With a dramatic sigh, Joshua collapsed onto the couch, pulling a cushion over his face to block out both the light and Samuel's relentless energy.

Samuel, unfazed, sauntered into the apartment, swinging a bag of groceries like he owned the place. "Sleep? Old people sleep because they're afraid of missing life. We young ones? We hate it. We're afraid of missing out." He waltzed toward the kitchen, humming as he began unpacking the groceries, a clear sign he'd intended to stay for longer than Joshua hoped.

Joshua sat up, rubbing his temples as the dull ache of the abrupt morning settled in. "You didn't need to bring groceries," he muttered, though the gesture was appreciated. He glanced at Samuel, now cheerfully arranging food in the fridge like some overly optimistic morning person.

"Oh, I'm here for more than just groceries, old man," Samuel teased, flopping onto the couch beside him. "We need to get you a job. And maybe—just maybe—get you laid while we're at it."

Joshua shot him a withering look. "No, thanks."

Samuel grinned, throwing an arm casually around Joshua's shoulders, far too close for comfort. "Come on, hyung. It's not healthy to go too long without... well, you know. And you'd know better than anyone, Dr. Hong."

Joshua shook his head, exhaling sharply as he stood up. "I'm fine," he said, ignoring Samuel's smirk as he began gathering his things for a shower. The younger man had a way of pushing boundaries with his playful provocations, but Joshua was too tired to engage, and certainly not amused by the not-so-subtle commentary on his personal life.

Samuel's whistle followed him as he made his way down the hall, his voice echoing with unrelenting cheer. "Just saying, a doctor like you ought to be taking better care of himself!"

Joshua gathered his things for a shower, shaking his head at Samuel's antics. Adjusting to the younger man's chaotic lifestyle was going to be far more challenging than he had anticipated.

It wasn't just the loud mornings or the relentless energy—it was the stark contrast between the life Joshua had once known and the unpredictable, free-spirited existence Samuel seemed to embody.

Not until few hours ago, Joshua's world had been one of order and refinement—so meticulously structured that spontaneity felt like an unfamiliar language. His life had been dignified, sophisticated, even bordering on sterile at times. And now, here he was, standing in a small apartment in the alleyways of Japan, far from the carefully crafted life he once held dear.