Mi Appartieni

Chapter Twenty-Three

        "What?!" Joshua whisper-yells, "W-What do you mean cheating on you? Why would you think that?"

Jeonghan shakes his head, "I-I don't know. There have been little signs here and there." Joshua still looks confused, "Signs like what?"

Jeonghan takes a deep breath, trying to stop himself from crying, "He left the house the other day without telling me where he was going. He dodged the question and couldn't look me in the eyes when I asked. He's been secretive about his phone and he's never like that."

Jeonghan runs a hand through his hair in frustration, "And last week, I saw a charge on his credit card for ten thousand dollars. I know it's Cheol's money and he has plenty of it but he always tells me when he's making big purchases like that. I can't help but feel he kept it a secret because he's spending it on someone else."

The tears peak through Jeonghan's eyes. Joshua immediately pulls him into a hug. Jeonghan holds onto him tightly, as if he would fall apart if he let go. "Hannie, Seungcheol worships the ground you walk on."

The two pull away, Joshua keeps his hand on Jeonghan's shaking shoulders, "He loves you so much. There has to be a reasonable explanation for all of that. There's no way he would ever do that to you."

Jeonghan wipes his tears. "I know that, but I'm still so scared. I don't want to lose him." "And you won't. Just... don't do anything crazy until you know everything that's going on. Don't give up, not yet."

Jeonghan nods as he sniffles. Joshua takes a tissue off the bathroom counter and gives it to him. Jeonghan wipes his tears, trying to steady his shaky breathing. 

"Hey." Joshua says, "Look at this." Joshua removes his chef hat and underneath is a plastic rat taped to his hair.

Jeonghan can help the laugh that escapes him. Joshua laughs with him. The two giggle with each other for a little while. 

"How did you get it to stay?" Jeonghan snorts. "A lot of tape." "You're going to rip your hair out later trying to take it out." Joshua chuckles as he puts the hat back on. The two sigh at each other.

"It'll be okay, Hannie." Joshua reassures, "Seungcheol would never, ever do that to you. I'm sure there's a reason for his weird behaviors." Jeonghan nods, "I-I know. A part of me already knew that but didn't believe it. I think I just needed to hear it from you to believe it."

Joshua smiles at his friend and pats his head affectionately. "Come on," Jeonghan says as he wipes the rest of his tears and gathers himself, "Before Seungcheol notices I'm missing." Joshua nods and follows his best friend out of the bathroom.

**

Later that night Joshua is making his way up the stairs to his apartment thinking about the fun night he had. While he didn't want to go, he did have a good time. 

And it's a good thing he went because Jeonghan clearly needed him to talk him off the ledge. There's no way Seungcheol would ever cheat on Jeonghan. There had to be a reason for his weird behaviors.

Joshua unlocks his apartment and steps inside. He takes off his chef hat and tries his best to carefully take the plastic rat out of his hair. "Ow, ow, ow." He flinches as the tape pulls out several strands of hair. Maybe he should have used something other than packing tape.

Joshua places his items on the counter and removes the chef jacket, tossing that on the counter too. It was late. He would clean everything up tomorrow. He normally wasn't one to leave a mess but just this once wouldn't hurt.

When Joshua turns toward the living room he stops dead in his tracks. His heart pounds so violently he's sure it was about to break through his chest. His legs shake and he feels a cool sweat forming on his neck. His eyes are wide and jaw is slack at the scene before him.

Standing on the other side of the room in front of his windows, staring him down intensely and with all the love in the world... was Seokmin.