𝐃𝐈𝐑𝐓𝐘 𝐒𝐄𝐂𝐑𝐄𝐓 || 𝑺𝑬𝑶𝑲𝑺𝑶𝑶

one

The day began with the smallest thing—a silence where he’d expected a response. Seokmin’s fingers hovered over his phone, his last message left unread by Joshua. They’d talked until late last night, but when he’d woken up, his screen stayed stubbornly blank. He tried to shake it off as he got ready, but the silence burrowed its way under his skin, growing heavier with each passing hour.

By the time he made it to campus, the weight was too much to ignore. He found himself drawn to one of the benches outside the building, sinking down with a sigh as he mindlessly scrolled through his phone, hoping for some sign of a reply, a small acknowledgment. Just something to tell him Joshua thought about him the way he’d been thinking of Joshua all morning.

That was when he heard footsteps, light but unmistakable, and a familiar voice calling his name.

“Seokmin-ah!” Jeonghan waved as he walked over, a gentle smile lighting up his face. Joshua trailed just behind, hands in his pockets, his gaze steady, unreadable.

“Hyung,” Seokmin greeted, his heart lifting just for a moment. Jeonghan had always been his favorite; he was warm, a little mischievous, but always dependable. He’d made Seokmin laugh in his lowest moments and had a way of making people feel like they belonged.

But today, the warmth in Jeonghan’s smile made Seokmin feel strange, like something was being held back. He couldn’t shake the odd look Joshua was giving him, a guarded sort of silence.

Jeonghan broke the news with the same warmth. “We wanted you to hear it from us—Joshua and I are dating.”

“Oh…” Seokmin’s voice was small, almost strangled, but he managed to force a smile, looking only at Jeonghan. “Congratulations, hyung. Really… that’s great.”

Jeonghan’s face softened, his smile glowing as he patted Seokmin’s shoulder. “Thanks, Seokmin-ah. You’re the best.”

Seokmin dared a glance at Joshua, who watched him with a hint of amusement in his eyes, something that made Seokmin’s skin crawl. Joshua’s gaze felt like a challenge, a taunt, as if he was daring Seokmin to break.

Seokmin managed to excuse himself, forcing a smile as he stood up. “I just remembered… I have to meet my professor. I’ll catch you guys later.”

“Alright, see you,” Jeonghan said, waving him off with a warm smile.

Joshua’s gaze lingered, unwavering, as Seokmin walked away. He could feel Joshua’s eyes on him, almost as if he were taunting him, reminding him of exactly where he stood: hidden in the shadows, a secret never meant to see the light.

All day, the weight of that moment bore down on him. His friends noticed immediately, of course. They teased him, laughing off his unusually quiet demeanor as they sat in the cafeteria.

“Are you okay, Seokmin?” Seungkwan asked, frowning slightly. “You’re, like, never this quiet.”

“Yeah, are you hiding something from us?” Minghao teased, nudging him. “Secret girlfriend, maybe?”

Seokmin laughed weakly, shaking his head. “I’m just… tired. That’s all.”

Hansol tilted his head, watching him carefully. “You’ve been off all day, man. What’s up? You can tell us.”

Seokmin forced another smile, trying to hide the cracks in his composure. “Really, it’s nothing. I just… have a lot on my mind.”

“Alright, well, whatever it is, don’t let it get to you,” Minghao said, giving him a reassuring pat on the back. “You’re always the one keeping us grounded.”