The Deal * Seokmin x Joshua

Twenty nine

As soon as they left Jaehyun walked over to the counter. "I didn't know you knew that Joshua guy," Mingyu said as he grinned at his friend. "Oh, Joshua, he's my ex actually. Small world." His smile seemed a little forced and Jeonghan eyed the two younger men with amusement. "Oh, really? I guess that was awkward," Mingyu ran a hand through his dark hair but Jaehyun just laughed again. "We ended on good terms. It wasn't real serious anyway we were just messing around." Jeonghan snorted under his breath. He was perceptive and the interactions he'd had with Joshua had shown him a person putting up a front with a soft and sentimental heart inside. He couln't picture Joshua in any sort of relationship with this guy.

"Anyway, seems like a good excuse for a party!" Mingyu grabbed his phone out as he hopped around in excitement. "Gyu," Jeonghan frowned at him as he almost knocked over a tray of brownies. "Sorry," the tall man whispered as he winked at Jaehyun. "Time to get the whole gang back together. Eunwoo will be so excited, we can have a party at Yugyeom's share house, his friends won't care. Their place is always trashed anyway." Jeonghan watched Mingyu tap frenetically at his phone with a huge grin on his face as his friend leaned casually against the door frame of the kitchen.

"Invite Joshua," Jaehyun said and Mingyu frowned. "I don't know him that well. I don't have his number. Don't you?" Jaehyun shook his head. When Joshua left so suddenly he'd cut off all contact including blocking Jaehyun from his social media and changing his phone number. Jaehyun was dying for more of a glimpse into this new life his ex was carefully cultivating after being shout out so unceremoniously.

"I have it," Jeonghan offered up. "I'll let him know." "Awesome," Jaehyun smiled in a way which was really quite unsettling. "Make sure he brings his new boyfriend." Jeonghan nodded his agreement and turned back to his tray of baking as Mingyu began to walk Jaehyun out without saying goodbye.

"Your friend seems like a real jerk," Jeonghan said without looking up from his tray of brownies when he heard Mingyu return to the room. "You know hyung, people say that about you," he clapped back and Jeonghan shrugged. He knew he had his own issues. He'd even acted like an asshole to Seokmin before he knew the truth of what was going on with them. Before he understood that they were two lost souls searching for something not knowing it was right under their noses. Joshua was smitten, he'd admitted the depth of his feelings, and Jeonghan could tell Seokmin felt the same.

He could tell the moment the boy walked in and expressed his disgust at Jaehyun's choice of coffee. Seokmin knew how Joshua liked his coffee because he knew him, the real Joshua, not the fake persona he was trying to portray. And that was real love. True feelings found in something as simple as a cup of coffee and expressed in such a quiet and genuine action.

Jeonghan wouldn't interfere with things between Joshua and Seokmin. It wasn't his place. But he would sure as hell keep an eye on this Jaehyun guy and hopefully keep him from causing too much damage if he could.

"Jaehyun is very good looking," Seokmin said warily as they wandered across campus. It was unspoken between them now that they would naturally gravitate to Joshua's apartment and that was where they seemed to be heading in the glow of the afternoon sun. Clouds were rolling in from the west and Seokmin wondered if it might storm later. Until then the sun continued to shine and cast a rainbow of hues across the fast gathering clouds, tinting the heavy greys and purples with gold and pink and light. It was beautiful but paled in comparison to Joshua's warm smile as the older turned towards him.

"Yeah, I guess, but he doesn't have a lot else going for him." Joshua's smile faded fast at the immediate mention of his ex. He didn't really want to ruin their time together talking about him but Seokmin was insistent. "So, did you break up because you were moving? Or like-" Seokmin's mouth dropped open. "Hyung are you guys getting back together? Did he come here for you?"

Joshua shook his head vehemently. "No way." He scowled and chewed his bottom lip. He didn't know how to assure Seokmin things were over without being too obvious or overbearing. He took a deep breath in, exhaled, and told the truth.

"Jeffrey-I mean Jaehyun, he broke my heart. He used me, for my stuff, for my money, for my body...." Joshua's voice wavered but he continued. "He was so closeted. He would never hold my hand in public, wouldn't introduce me to his friends, would never tell his parents about us." Seokmin's blood ran cold at that word he was most afraid of.

Used.

The word that played constantly on his mind. This Jaehyun guy had used his precious Joshua and treated him so callously and hurt him almost beyond repair. Seokmin could tell by the shiver in Joshua's body, the beginnings of tears in his eyes, the concealed tremble in his voice. But wasn't Seokmin doing the exact same thing? He wasn't afraid to hold his hand, to show off his reverence, to parade Joshua in public like he deserved. And if Joshua agreed he knew his parents would love the older boy and welcome him into their home. They weren't the most progressive people in the world but they valued their sons happiness over any of societies stigmas and prejudices.

The thought of taking Joshua home to his family made his stomach warm and fluttery but soon he remembered that word that struck into his core with painful shards of ice.

Used.

He hated the thought of Joshua ever feeling used by him. He would have to start being more careful with his words and actions.

"Are you okay?" Joshua pulled on his hand a little and Seokmin realised he'd been spacing out. "Yeah, just mad I guess, you deserve better hyung. You deserve someone who will treat you like a prince and spoil you." It was his turn to control his wavering voice now as he choked out the words.

Joshua just squeezed his hand a little tighter and smiled to himself. Now he had Seokmin no one else would be able to compare. No one would ever measure up to the addictive and charismatic charms of Seokmin's joyful innocence. And no one would ever have the same dichotomy or duality, balancing the adorable and lovable with the sexy and the seductive. Joshua was smitten and couldn't see himself ever falling for anyone the way he'd fallen for Seokmin.

He didn't know how to tell him so he just squeezed his hand tighter as they walked towards his building before it started to rain.

The first few drops were falling as they jogged laughing to the door. The backpack on Seokmin's back was almost permanent these days and indicated to Joshua that Seokmin had every intention of staying over. It made Joshua smile as he unlocked the door to his apartment and they made their way inside. Seokmin tossed the backpack down on the floor and Joshua picked it up. "I made space for you," he said with a sudden rush of heat to his face at his boldness. He was determined to make room in his life for Seokmin and show him that he had a place in it permanently.

Seokmin took the bag and followed Joshua into his bedroom. One side of the closet had been cleared and there were empty drawers and hangers waiting for his things. The only garment already hanging was the luxurious navy blue robe that Joshua had bought him. "You can leave stuff here and you won't have to carry that backpack around," Joshua stumbled a little and felt the pink in his cheeks rise up to the tips of his ears. Seokmin grinned brightly as him and began to pull his T-shirts out of his bag and hang them up. He was just finishing when Joshua's phone buzzed and he sat on the edge of the bed to check it.

"There's a welcome back party for Jaehyun tonight," Joshua said softly. "We're invited." "Then we'll go," Seokmin turned and grabbed Joshua's hands in his. This was the perfect opportunity to show Jaehyun who had the upper hand.