Joshua had always known that love came with its own ups and downs, but never had he thought his heart would feel so heavy in the relationship he cherished most. For years, he and Jeonghan had been inseparable. Their university days were filled with laughter, late-night study sessions, and promises whispered under moonlit skies. But recently, something had changed. A strange distance had crept between them, like an invisible wall growing thicker with each passing day.
"Hey, hannie," Joshua said one afternoon, mustering his usual gentle smile. He leaned against the doorframe of their shared dorm room, hopeful and warm. "Do you want to go out tonight? Maybe grab dinner or see that new movie everyone's talking about?"
Jeonghan didn't even look up from his laptop. His hair fell over his eyes, casting shadows that seemed to reflect the coldness in his voice. "I can't, Shua. I'm... busy," he replied, his tone devoid of the affection it once held. "I have a group meeting at the university."
Joshua's smile faltered, but he tried to brush off the sting. "Oh. Okay," he said softly, fingers curling slightly around the edge of the door. "Maybe some other time?"
Jeonghan gave a vague nod, his focus never straying from his screen, and Joshua's heart sank further. It had been weeks now. Weeks of canceled plans, lonely dinners, and nights spent sleeping apart. Their bed, once a haven of warmth and comfort, felt colder than ever. Jeonghan had taken to sleeping in the other room, using the excuse of needing space to concentrate on his studies. Joshua believed him, or at least he tried to.
One evening, as twilight painted the sky with hues of deep indigo, Joshua hurried home from his part-time shift at the nearby café. The air was crisp, biting at his skin as he walked through the dimly lit campus, clutching his coat tighter. Exhaustion weighed heavy on him, but he still found himself eager to return home, to the place he shared with Jeonghan. Even if things were strained, it was still home. And maybe, just maybe, tonight would be different.
Joshua opened the door to their shared apartment quietly, the familiar creak of the hinges barely making a sound. He stepped inside, slipping off his shoes with practiced ease, but as he took a step forward, a gut-wrenching sight froze him in place.
There, in the soft glow of the living room light, stood Jeonghan and Seungcheol. They were close, too close. Seungcheol's hands were cupped around Jeonghan's face, and Jeonghan's fingers clutched at Seungcheol's sleeves. Joshua's breath caught in his throat as he saw them lean in, lips meeting in a kiss so tender it made Joshua's chest ache.
The world seemed to tilt off its axis. The walls, the ceiling, even the floor beneath Joshua's feet felt like they were crumbling. His heart pounded painfully, each beat echoing in his ears like a broken symphony.
Jeonghan and Seungcheol broke apart, startled by the sound of Joshua's backpack slipping from his numb fingers. Jeonghan's eyes widened in shock, and he took a step back from Seungcheol.
"Joshua..." Jeonghan whispered, his voice almost trembling.
Joshua's face crumpled, his wide eyes glistening with tears that refused to fall. "How... how could you?" he managed to choke out, his voice cracking under the weight of his disbelief. "I thought... we were happy. I thought you loved me."
Jeonghan's expression wavered, guilt flashing in his eyes before he looked away. "Joshua, I'm sorry," he started, but his words felt like empty echoes. "I... I still love you, but... you've been so... needy, and I-"
Joshua felt a bitter laugh slip from his lips, one that sounded nothing like himself. "Needy?" he repeated, his voice quivering with a mix of sorrow and disbelief. "I only wanted to spend time with you, Jeonghan. I wanted to feel close to you, but you kept pushing me away." His voice grew quieter. "How could you do this to me?"
