Responsibility | Jihancheol FF | Seventeen FF

71

The house slowly began to settle after the heated exchange between Hansol and Seungkwan.

By the time Seokmin arrived, Joshua had already locked himself in his bedroom. Seokmin knocked softly.

"Joshua Hyung, it's me," Seokmin called. "Open the door, okay? I just want to talk."

There was no response. Seokmin leaned closer to the door, his ear pressed against it. He could hear muffled breathing, almost like someone trying to hold back sobs.

"Josh hyung," Seokmin said more firmly, his tone full of concern. "Please, let me in. I'm not going anywhere until you do."

Joshua's voice came through the door, strained and shaky. "Just... leave me alone, Seokmin. I need to be alone."

"No, you don’t," Seokmin countered gently. "You don’t need to deal with this by yourself. Whatever you're feeling, it's okay. You don’t have to hide."

"You don’t understand," Joshua snapped suddenly, his voice cracking. "You don’t know what it’s like... to feel this... powerless.this sad..."

Seokmin took a deep breath, trying to stay calm. "Then help me understand. Let me in, Joshua. You can’t just lock yourself away every time things get hard."

Still, Joshua remained silent. Frustrated but determined, Seokmin rested his forehead against the door. "You’re not the only one hurting, you know. Seungkwan's been struggling too. Don’t you think he needs us—needs you—right now? I know you're scared, but so is he."

The silence stretched, and Seokmin was about to speak again when the sound of the footstep interrupted . Moments later, Seungcheol appeared, his face a mix of worry and frustration.

"What’s going on?" Seungcheol demanded, glancing at Seokmin and then the locked bedroom door.

Seokmin stepped back, running a hand through his hair. "Joshua  Hyung locked himself in. He won’t come out. He’s... not okay."

Seungcheol’s jaw tightened as he turned to the door. "Joshua Hong," he called, his deep voice commanding. "Open this door. Now."

There was a pause, and then Joshua's muffled voice replied weakly. "Seungcheol... please, just leave me alone. I can’t do this right now."

"No," Seungcheol said firmly. "You don’t get to shut us out like this. I get that you’re overwhelmed, but hiding isn’t the answer. Open this door, or I’m coming in."

Seokmin looked at Seungcheol with wide eyes, whispering, "You’re not actually going to break the door, are you?"

Seungcheol ignored him, focusing on the door. "Joshua, I know you’re hurting. But  Let me in so we can talk, or I’ll figure out another way to reach you."

A tense silence followed. Seungcheol's voice softened. "You’re not alone, Joshua. I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere."

The sound of the lock clicking open was almost immediate. The door creaked as Joshua opened it just a crack, his red-rimmed eyes peeking out.

"Go away..." Joshua whispered, his voice trembling.

Seungcheol didn’t hesitate. He stepped forward, pulling Joshua into a tight hug. Joshua resisted for a moment before collapsing against him, tears spilling onto Seungcheol’s shoulder.

Seokmin watched them, wrapping his arms around both of them moment after  "See?" he said softly. "We’re here, Joshua hyung Whatever it is, we’ll figure it out together."

Joshua didn’t respond, but the way he clung to them spoke volumes.

-

Meanwhile, back in Seungkwan’s apartment, tension hung heavy in the air.

Hansol, who had stayed behind, stood outside the door, his fists clenched at his sides.

"Seungkwan," Hansol called, his voice steady but laced with frustration. "Open the door. We need to talk."

From the other side, Seungkwan’s voice was sharp, almost biting. "I have nothing to say to you, Hansol. Just leave me alone!"

Hansol exhaled slowly, trying to keep his composure. "No, I’m not leaving. You can’t just shut me out like this. We were literally just talking about how you shouldn’t deal with things alone."

There was a loud thud, like Seungkwan had thrown something against the wall. "Why do you even care? You’re only here to feel better about yourself! You want to play the hero, don’t you?!"

Hansol flinched at the words but didn’t back down. "That’s not fair, and you know it! I care about you because you’re my lover, not because I’m trying to be some savior."

Seungkwan laughed bitterly. "Lover? Really? Lover don’t dig through each other’s private lives, Hansol! You had no right to look at those papers!"

Hansol’s voice rose, unable to contain his anger any longer. "I wasn’t digging! I found them by accident, and I only looked because I was worried about you! God, Seungkwan, do you even hear yourself? You’ve been drowning, and I didn’t even know!"

"Well, now you know!" Seungkwan shouted, his voice cracking. "So what? What are you going to do about it? Fix me? Newsflash, Hansol: I don’t want to be fixed. I’ve been dealing with this for two years. I don’t need your pity!"

Hansol slammed his palm against the door in frustration. "It’s not pity! It’s... it’s anger. I’m angry because you’ve been hurting so much, and you didn’t trust me enough to tell me... ."

There was a long silence from the other side. Then, Seungkwan’s voice came, quieter but no less sharp. " I couldn’t let you—or anyone—see how broken I am."

Hansol leaned his forehead against the door, his voice softening. "You’re not broken, Seungkwan. You’re human. And humans... we struggle. We hurt. But we don’t have to do it alone."

"Spare me the clichés," Seungkwan muttered. "You don’t get it. You’ll never get it."

Hansol clenched his jaw, his own frustration threatening to boil over again. "You’re right. I don’t get it—not completely. But I want to. I want to be here for you, Seungkwan. And you’re making it impossible."

Seungkwan’s voice cracked, his anger giving way to raw vulnerability. "I didn’t ask for this, Hansol. I didn’t ask to feel like this every day. I didn’t ask to feel like a burden to everyone around me!"

Hansol pressed his hand flat against the door, his heart aching at the pain in Seungkwan’s voice. "You’re not a burden. You’ve never been a burden to me, Seungkwan."

Seungkwan’s laugh was hollow. "You say that now, butYou’ll leave, Hansol. Just like last time."

Hansol’s voice broke, emotion threatening to overwhelm him. "I’m not leaving. Do you hear me, Seungkwan? I’m not going anywhere. You can push me, scream at me, slam all the doors you want—but I’m staying right here. Because I care about you too damn much to walk away."

There was silence again. Then, the faint sound of Seungkwan’s sobs filtered through the door.

Hansol slid down to the floor, sitting with his back against the door. "I’m staying, Seungkwan. Even if you don’t let me in right now, I’ll be here. Just... don’t shut me out forever, okay?"

From the other side, Seungkwan’s voice came, broken and trembling. "I don’t know how to let you in, Hansol. I don’t know how."

Hansol closed his eyes, his own tears slipping down his cheeks. "That’s okay. We’ll figure it out together. Just take your time, Seungkwan. I’m not going anywhere."

" Go! "

---
Seems like I am the problem!

😌