The morning light filtered softly through the curtains, casting a faint glow over the room where Joshua lay. His fever still clung to him, his body weak, but when he woke up, it wasn't the discomfort that weighed on him the most. It was the sight of Seungcheol and Jeonghan standing at the foot of his bed, holding a tray of food, their eyes filled with concern.
Joshua blinked at them, his heart heavy with confusion. Just yesterday, they had barely acknowledged him wrapped up in their own world, leaving him on the sidelines, as they had been for days. Why now? Why were they suddenly caring?
"baby," Jeonghan spoke softly, his voice gentle as he moved closer. "You didn't eat anything last night. You need to eat something, for your health."
Joshua didn't respond. His gaze shifted to the tray, but there was no appetite, no desire to accept the gesture. It felt too late. He pulled back slightly, not wanting the food or the affection they were offering. The silence hung in the air, thick with the emotions he didn't know how to express.
Jeonghan, seeing Joshua's reluctance, gently brought the spoon closer to his mouth. "Please, Joshua. Just a little bit. You'll feel better."
But Joshua shook his head, his lips pressed tightly together. He didn't want it. He didn't want their concern after being neglected for so long. His heart ached at how easily they had ignored him for days, how they had prioritized each other while he sat alone, and now, suddenly, they wanted to care for him?
"Joshua," Seungcheol said, stepping forward with a deep frown of worry, his voice quieter than usual. "Please eat. We're really worried about you."
Joshua's chest tightened at the sound of Seungcheol's plea. His eyes welled up with tears, and he turned his head away, refusing to look at either of them. "I don't want to eat," he said, his voice barely above a whisper but filled with hurt. "Please... go. I don't want to see you guys."
Seungcheol and Jeonghan exchanged a heartbroken glance, the pain in Joshua's words cutting deep. They had known this would be difficult, but hearing Joshua, their sweet, gentle boyfriend, tell them he didn't want to see them it shattered them both.
Jeonghan's voice trembled as he tried again, his own eyes wet with unshed tears. "Shua we're sorry. Please, just-"
"I don't want to talk to you!" Joshua interrupted, his voice rising as the tears finally spilled down his cheeks. "You're bad. You... you ignored me for days, and now you suddenly care? I don't want to talk to you."
Seungcheol stepped closer, trying to reach out, but Joshua shook his head fiercely, pulling further away. The sight of his tears, the heartbreak in his voice, made Seungcheol and Jeonghan feel helpless.
"Please, shua just let us-"
"No," Joshua whispered, his voice cracking. "Go away. I don't want to see you right now."
The finality in his words left Seungcheol and Jeonghan frozen in place, guilt and regret swirling in their hearts. They wanted nothing more than to hold him, to make up for the pain they'd caused, but it was clear that Joshua wasn't ready to hear their apologies or accept their care.
Reluctantly, Seungcheol and Jeonghan left the room, leaving Joshua alone once again. As they walked down the hallway, Jeonghan's tears finally broke free, spilling down his cheeks. He wiped them away quickly, but Seungcheol could see how much it hurt him too.
"I don't know what to do," Jeonghan whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "We hurt him so much."
Seungcheol wrapped an arm around Jeonghan's shoulder, pulling him close. "We'll fix it," he promised, though the weight of their mistakes hung heavy in his voice. "We have to."
