𝐃𝐈𝐑𝐓𝐘 𝐒𝐄𝐂𝐑𝐄𝐓 || 𝑺𝑬𝑶𝑲𝑺𝑶𝑶

three

The next day, Seokmin's resolve was fragile but resolute. He'd spent most of the night staring at his ceiling, his mind torn between Joshua's cold words and the way he'd clung to Seokmin like he was something to be used, not cherished. Enough was enough. Today, he would stay away.

He arrived late to the campus café, hoping to avoid any chance of running into him. With shaky hands, he grabbed his coffee, sticking close to his friends in hopes that their laughter would drown out his memories. But, as if on cue, Joshua walked in, his eyes cutting across the room. He didn't even glance Seokmin's way, moving seamlessly toward Jeonghan, who greeted him with a warm smile and open arms.

Seokmin kept his gaze on his cup, feigning interest in the swirl of cream, but his stomach twisted as he caught glimpses of them from the corner of his eye-Jeonghan leaning in, Joshua laughing, looking every bit the devoted boyfriend. The jealousy was sharp and sickening, stabbing deeper with every forced laugh from Joshua, every proud touch on Jeonghan's shoulder. Joshua was right. No one would ever believe it.

Just then, Seungcheol leaned over, bumping Seokmin's shoulder. "Hey, you good? You look kind of pale," he said, his brow furrowed with concern.

Seokmin forced a smile, trying to hold himself together. "Yeah, just... didn't sleep well, that's all."

Before Seungcheol could press further, Joshua's voice cut through the chatter. "Hey, Jeonghan, I'll be back. Just need to grab something from the lockers," he said casually, as if he hadn't already planned his next move.

Seokmin's heart sank. He had a feeling he knew what was coming. As soon as Joshua left the room, he excused himself quietly, hoping he could slip away before Joshua got the chance to corner him. But the second he turned down the empty hallway leading away from the café, he felt a hand seize his arm and yank him into an alcove.

"Where do you think you're going, huh?" Joshua's voice was low, smooth, dripping with that cruel amusement he wore so well. He kept his gaze on the wall, making sure no one would see them if they passed by.

Seokmin tried to tug his arm free, but Joshua's grip was firm. "I'm not doing this with you, Joshua. Just... just leave me alone."

Joshua's smirk widened, his eyes glinting as he tilted his head. "Leave you alone? Really, Seokmin?" His voice was mocking, each word laced with sarcasm. "After all the time you've spent clinging to me, begging for my attention, now you're pretending you don't want it?"

Seokmin swallowed, willing himself not to falter. "That was a mistake. I'm done, Joshua. I can't keep doing this."

Joshua chuckled, low and dismissive. "Is that right? Because from where I'm standing, you look pretty lost without me." He leaned in close, his breath brushing Seokmin's ear, making his skin crawl. "Face it, Seokmin. No one else cares enough to make you feel anything at all. Isn't that why you keep coming back?"

Seokmin clenched his fists, his voice wavering with anger. "You don't make me feel anything except miserable, Joshua. I-"

"Oh, spare me the dramatics," Joshua cut in, rolling his eyes as if Seokmin's pain was nothing more than an inconvenience. "You're only miserable because you want something I never promised you. What did you think this was, huh? Some tragic love story?" He let out a bitter laugh. "Newsflash, Seokmin, I'm not interested in being your savior or your boyfriend. I'm just interested in... well, you know exactly what I'm interested in."

Seokmin felt his face flush with a mixture of shame and fury. "Why do you even care if I leave? You're with Jeonghan now. Shouldn't he be enough for you?"

Joshua's eyes darkened, his smirk turning cold and predatory. "You think you can dictate what's enough for me?" His voice was laced with an arrogant, almost cruel edge. "I get what I want, Seokmin. And right now, I still want you. Just because I'm dating Jeonghan doesn't mean you're off the hook. You don't get to decide when this ends. I do."

The words hit Seokmin like a slap, his chest tightening with frustration. "You're a coward, you know that?" he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "You hide behind Jeonghan, acting like some perfect boyfriend, but you're just using people. You don't care about him, and you don't care about me."

Joshua's expression twisted, his grip tightening painfully on Seokmin's arm. "Watch your mouth. You don't know anything about what I feel or don't feel." He leaned in, his voice a menacing whisper. "And let's be clear-you don't get to call the shots here. You're the one who came to me, remember? You're the one who wanted this."

Seokmin's voice shook as he tried to hold his ground. "I wanted something real, Joshua. Not... whatever this is. I'm done. I won't keep letting you use me."

Joshua laughed softly, shaking his head with a smirk. "You're adorable, Seokmin, really. Thinking you can just walk away." He leaned in even closer, his lips almost brushing Seokmin's ear. "Here's the thing-you don't get to decide when I'm done with you. I'll keep coming back whenever I want, and you're going to let me. Because if you don't, I'll make sure Jeonghan knows exactly how pathetic his 'favorite junior' really is."

Seokmin's eyes widened, horror washing over him. "You wouldn't... You said we were keeping this secret."

Joshua's smile was razor-sharp. "Oh, I said you were keeping it secret. That's the whole point, Seokmin. You keep quiet. You let me have my fun. And if you try to walk away? Well, I can't promise I'll keep your little 'mistakes' to myself." He leaned back, finally releasing Seokmin's arm with a shrug. "So, be a good junior, and stop pretending you're anything more than what I've made you."

Seokmin's voice shook, his eyes wet with frustration and shame. "You're... you're a monster, Joshua."

Joshua merely smirked, adjusting his collar as if nothing had happened. "Call me whatever you want. Just remember, Seokmin, you're the one who keeps coming back." He turned and began walking away, pausing only once to throw a final glance over his shoulder, his voice soft but laced with venom. "Oh, and one more thing-try not to look so heartbroken around our friends. It's pathetic."

As he disappeared down the hall, Seokmin sank against the wall, the weight of Joshua's words pressing down on him like an anchor, leaving him more broken and trapped than ever.