SHADOWS OF DECEIT

Chapter 32

Joshua's phone buzzed, the screen lighting up with Samuel's name. He frowned at the timing—his shift still had an hour to go. Answering, he was greeted by Samuel's familiar voice, casual yet clipped.

"I'm picking you up early today," Samuel said. No explanation, no room for negotiation.

Joshua hesitated, leaning back against the nurse's station. "An hour earlier? Why?"

"I've got my reasons. Just be ready." Samuel's tone was sharp, almost dismissive, but there was an edge underneath that Joshua couldn't ignore.

He sighed, realizing there was no point arguing. "Fine. I'll meet you out front."

After ending the call, Joshua informed Eunchae about the remaining work on his desk. She gave him a knowing glance but said nothing as he gathered his things and headed toward the lockers. Changing out of his scrubs, Joshua grabbed his bag and stopped by the reception desk to check out.

"Sakura," he began, his voice calm as he leaned against the counter. "I'll be stepping out for the rest of my shift. Jeonghan's expecting me for physiotherapy."

Sakura glanced up from her computer, her fingers pausing mid-typing. "Got it. I'll adjust the schedule. Yunjin will cover your last hour, but that means you're on early tomorrow morning."

Joshua nodded with a faint smile. "Understood. Thanks."

As he stepped outside, the crisp air hit him, a welcome contrast to the sterile atmosphere of the hospital. He spotted Samuel's blue Fiat parked by the curb. It was hard to miss—the little car stood out, much like its owner, in all its battered glory. Joshua crossed the parking lot and opened the passenger door, sliding in.

The moment he glanced at Samuel, his breath caught. The younger man's face was a canvas of fresh bruises and scrapes, the discoloration vivid under the harsh sunlight. A gash near his temple, poorly cleaned, stood out like an accusation. His knuckles were raw, the faint traces of dried blood still visible.

"Samuel," Joshua gasped, his eyes wide as he instinctively reached out to touch the younger man's face. "What the hell happened to you?"

Samuel flinched at the contact, his jaw tightening. "It's nothing," he said brusquely, starting the car with one hand while brushing Joshua's concern aside with the other.

"Nothing? You look like you went three rounds with a grizzly bear." Joshua's tone sharpened, his hand still hovering, unsure whether to press or retreat.

"I said it's fine," Samuel snapped, his grip tightening on the wheel. The engine roared to life, filling the heavy silence that followed.

Joshua leaned back, his chest tightening with a mix of anger and worry. He studied Samuel's profile—the clenched jaw, the flicker of something darker in his eyes. It wasn't just the injuries. Something was gnawing at him from the inside, something Samuel clearly wasn't ready to share.

"Hyung could you stop pestering me for a while." Samuel asked, breaking the silence as he pulled onto the road.

"For now yes," Joshua replied, his voice quieter now, his earlier frustration tempered by unease. "But I'm not dropping this. We'll talk about it after."

Samuel scoffed, his lips curling into a bitter smirk. "Sure, hyung. After."

The way he said it made Joshua's stomach churn. It wasn't a promise; it was a deflection, and Joshua hated how easily Samuel could pull it off. He shifted his gaze to the passing streets, the familiar route feeling foreign with the tension thickening the air inside the car.