𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐃𝐎𝐖𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐒𝐔𝐍𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐄 || 𝑺𝑬𝑶𝑲𝑺𝑶𝑶

chp11

Joshua thought he was getting somewhere. He truly did. Ever since the amusement park date, Seokmin had been smiling more—those wide, sunshine-filled smiles that made Joshua's chest ache in the best way,

Joshua knew he had to be careful, but careful wasn't easy when the thought of losing Seokmin hovered like a storm cloud in his mind. The days that followed Jeonghan's return were a blur of classes, shared meals, and quiet moments where Seokmin’s fragile smiles haunted him. Joshua became hyperaware of everything—every falter in Seokmin’s voice, every time his sunshine dimmed, even slightly. he kept Seokmin close, refusing to let him drift too far. Most nights, Seokmin ended up at Joshua’s apartment, curled up on the couch, wearing Joshua’s oversized shirts, sometimes dozing off mid-conversation.

But even with those small, beautiful moments, there was still something. Something that didn’t sit right. A subtle tension in Seokmin’s shoulders when certain topics came up, a flicker of something unspoken in his gaze whenever Joshua pressed a little too hard.

Joshua was determined to uncover it. He had to.

It was on a quiet afternoon in the university café when the breakthrough came—not from Seokmin, but from Soonyoung.

“So, you’re really serious about him, huh?” Soonyoung asked, leaning across the table with a teasing grin.

Joshua glanced at Seokmin, who was standing in line for drinks, before turning back to Soonyoung. “I’ve always been serious about him,” he replied, a hint of defensiveness in his tone.

Soonyoung rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah. But I mean, you’re actually making him happy now. It’s good to see. He’s been through a lot.”

Joshua frowned. “What do you mean?”

Soonyoung tilted his head, as if Joshua should already know. “You know… with his parents and all that mess. It’s no wonder he was so—”

Joshua’s heart dropped. “Wait. His parents? What mess?”

The realization dawned on Soonyoung’s face too late. His eyes widened, and he raised his hands defensively. “Oh no. Did I just—? Crap, I thought you knew.”

Joshua leaned forward, his voice low but firm. “What are you talking about, Soonyoung?”

Soonyoung hesitated, glancing toward Seokmin, who was still busy at the counter. “Look, it’s not really my place to say. But… his parents have been fighting for years. Like, badly. And I heard they’re on the verge of a divorce now. It’s been rough on him, especially since Wonwoo… well, you know.”

Joshua didn’t know. He didn’t know any of this.

“What about Wonwoo?” he pressed.

Soonyoung sighed, clearly regretting his slip. “Wonwoo left. Years ago. Just… packed up and left with his fiancée. I think Seokmin’s been carrying a lot of the weight ever since.”

Joshua sat back, his mind reeling. How had he missed this? How had Seokmin hidden something so heavy from him?

“Don’t tell him I told you,” Soonyoung added quickly. “He’d kill me. But… just take care of him, okay? He deserves that.”

Joshua nodded absentmindedly, his eyes drifting to Seokmin, who was now walking back toward their table with two cups in hand.

That evening, Seokmin was at Joshua’s apartment again. He was sitting on the floor, sorting through a stack of papers for a group project, while Joshua sat on the couch, pretending to read.

But Joshua couldn’t focus. His mind was racing, replaying Soonyoung’s words over and over. The fights. The divorce. Wonwoo leaving.

“Seokmin,” he said suddenly, breaking the silence.