LOVE BITES -Jeongcheol

9

Jeonghan sat at the kitchen table, scrolling through his phone, a mix of notifications and social media updates flashing across the screen. The glow illuminated his face, but his mind was elsewhere, lost in the aftermath of last night's encounter with Seungcheol. he found himself frowning at the memories that lingered, their sharp edges refusing to fade.

"Last night was fun," Joshua said, entering the kitchen with a bright smile, "It was different to celebrate my anniversary with my friends instead of just alone with Seokmin."

Jeonghan looked up, forcing a smile to match Joshua's enthusiasm. "Yeah, it was... interesting," he replied, trying to shake off the weight on his shoulders.

"I'm really glad you were there. It's always good to have everyone together," Joshua continued, pouring himself a cup of coffee. "But you seemed a bit distracted." He paused, his eyes narrowing slightly, "Even now you do, everything okay?"

Jeonghan hesitated, the words teetering on the tip of his tongue. "Just... thinking about some stuff. Last night was a lot," he admitted, avoiding Joshua's penetrating gaze.

Joshua set his cup down and leaned against the counter, crossing his arms. "What kind of stuff?" There was an undercurrent of concern in his voice, the kind that made Jeonghan feel exposed.

Jeonghan sighed, raking a hand through his hair. "It's just... Seungcheol."

"You know you can't keep baiting him like that. It's only a matter of time before he loses his patience and comes after you."

"I know," Jeonghan replied, staring into his coffee cup. "But it's just so tempting. I need to see how far I can push him. He thinks he knows me, but he has no idea."

Joshua raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. "Or maybe you're just trying to convince yourself that you're okay with everything. You've been through a lot, Jeonghan. Maybe it's time to stop playing games?"

Jeonghan looked up sharply, irritation prickling at his skin. "I can handle this. I'm not scared of Seungcheol."

"I'm not saying you're scared, but—"

"Look, I appreciate your concern, but I'm fine," Jeonghan interrupted, forcing a smile. "I'm in control, and I'll handle Seungcheol how I want."

"Alright, alright," Joshua relented, holding up his hands in surrender. "Just... be careful, okay? I don't want you getting hurt."

Meanwhile, Seungcheol waited for Wonwoo at their usual café, still wrestling with the aftermath of last night. The shop buzzed around him, filled with chatter and the rich aroma of coffee wafting through the air.

"Hey, you look like you've seen a ghost," Wonwoo said, noticing Seungcheol as he joined him at their table, his bag hitting the surface with a heavy thud.

"More like I'm haunted by one," Seungcheol replied, raking a hand through his hair. "I ran into Jeonghan at the parking lot."

"Of course you did," Wonwoo said, his expression shifting to concern. "What happened?"

Seungcheol took a deep breath, the confrontation replaying in his mind like a movie he couldn't stop watching. "He was feeding right in front of me. And then he just... laughed. It felt like he was testing me."

Wonwoo's brow furrowed. "That's risky. You know he's trying to provoke you, right? It's all part of his game."

"I know, but it's more complicated than that," Seungcheol said, frustration creeping into his voice. "He knows exactly how to push my buttons, and I can't shake this feeling that there's more to it. He's not just playing with fire; he's seeing how close he can get to the flames without getting burned."