A Book of (Un)happy Tales

Forever Marked by You [Jihan]

Hong Jisoo/Yoon Jeonghan, implied Choi Seungcheol/Yoon Jeonghan

Angst, Comfort, Romance/Office AU/PG-15

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-<>-||-< Forever Marked by You >-||-<>-

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It was a nightmare, the first time Yoon Jeonghan saw his former boyfriend in seven months.

He could not believe his eyes. It really was Hong Joshua; his ex-boyfriend. The same Joshua who had profusely told him how much he loved him; how much he could not live without him. Who would have thought that said ex-boyfriend would someday turn up in his office and become his new boss?

From now on, he would have to meet him every day. He would have to work with him. Every. Fucking. Day. Thankfully, they were not in the same room. He prepared himself for the worst, but who was he kidding?

He would never be over their breakup; everything had been so bizarre and quick, and the next thing he knew, Joshua had unilaterally decided to cut ties with him. Just like that. When he demanded an explanation, it was Joshua's mother that answered to him. He was then made aware that Joshua left him for a woman and that their 3-year relationship was built upon lies.

Every time Joshua slept with Jeonghan, a sense of guilt enveloped him, so bad that he had to sleep with a woman just to make himself feel better. Somehow. Falling in love with Jeonghan was a mistake, his mother said. But the cruel thing was, it felt like the mistake was Jeonghan's, for trusting him -- for loving him.

Sure, bold of me to assume straight men wanted something serious with someone like me. He was probably just curious about sex between men...

That was what Jeonghan kept telling his sorry self at night, to help him sleep. To justify the breakup. Just when he had finally started to open his heart for someone new, he had to see Joshua again. The universe was clearly playing a trick on him. And as much as he wanted to avoid Joshua, he could not -- not when Joshua was, well, his boss. His misery did not stop there, unfortunately.

When he was hanging out with his fellow gay friend from work, Seokmin, at this new dine-in café, he found out that it was owned by none other than Joshua's supermodel fiancée, Cho Tzuyu. The man even tagged along to the grand opening, garnering attention from people. They were called the perfect couple of the century -- as exaggerated as it sounded, Jeonghan could understand why and probably agree with it.

"Wow... Did I just meet the famous Cho Tzuyu? THE Cho Tzuyu??" Seokmin slapped himself in the face.

Jeonghan listened to Seokmin being starstruck as he played with the paper straw for his banana milkshake -- and for some reason, nervously.

"And you see all those women leering at our boss? They have no shame! They think they'll stand a chance against Queen Tzuyu!? The audacity!" Seokmin scoffed.

"Well, people will always line up for him, even if he already has someone. Then he'll tell her how much he loves her; how much he can't live without her." Jeonghan told Seokmin absentmindedly.

"That was so... insightful? You sounded like you know him well, Yoon Jeonghan." Seokmin was compelled to comment, raising one of his perfect eyebrows suspiciously.

Jeonghan came to his senses and tried not to panic.

"Huh? I-I mean, how else is he going to keep Tzuyu by his side, right?!"