i'm your a to z | jihancheol

joshua's (surprisingly) not a coward

chapter 35

Jeonghan wasn't sure what he'd expected when his best friend told him he was bringing him to a "surprise place" and it definitely wasn't an amusement park but during his time, he realized he had almost never been happier than he had been. He couldn't remember how to not smile the whole time he was with Joshua as they spent their time in the amusement park.

He felt great.

"C'mon Han let's go on the Ferris Wheel!" Joshua suggested to which the other couldn't deny.

At the moment, Jeonghan forgot he had a fear of heights until they were at the top of the wheel and all he could do was cling onto his best friend. He scowled at the fact the American was laughing at him but couldn't really complain since he was hugging him as he did.

Joshua was warm, he thought, closing his eyes as they were brought back to the ground.

"Didn't know you were such a baby," the American teased once they'd gotten out.

"Don't tell anyone- hey, I'm not a baby!" he huffed which probably contradicted his argument but he didn't really care since it was quite fun to him.

"Sure you aren't."

"Quit being sarcastic!"

"Never."

Jeonghan could only roll his eyes as he watched the younger check the time before walking into the food court. He ordered the both of them crepes and the elder's eyes lit up once he'd heard. He loved the food although he wasn't sure how Joshua knew what he wanted already. Maybe just a coincidence, he assumed and sat down with his strawberry crepe in hand.

"Hey, Jeonghan, can I tell you something?" the younger asked, which had confused Jeonghan seeing his real name was never used whenever they were alone.

"Sure go ahead."

"You know that I like you, right?"

Jeonghan continued to eat in silence to process what had been said. This time, he wasn't sure if he was the one being dense or if the other hid it well. In all honesty, he was surprised Joshua wasn't a coward.

"Do you really?" he finally asked and Joshua nodded. "Because I like you too."

Jeonghan watched as his friend gave him a questioning look then his jaw dropped in realization. Oh, so he was being serious. So maybe Jeonghan wasn't the best at realizing how other people felt.

"Oh, shit you're not joking?" Joshua asked but he didn't need a verbal answer when he saw the smile on the elder's face. "So what does this make us?"

"What do you want us to be?"

"I'd say boyfriends but I understand if you don't, like that's cool and-"

"Why wouldn't I want that?"

Once again, the American's jaw dropped to which Jeonghan could only be amused by. He decided Joshua was cute when he was surprised and reminded himself to surprise him a lot more.

"Because you know..." he began, his words trailing off as he glanced down. "I wasn't sure if you were ready or if you were still hung up on your ex or whatever."

"I'm over him," Jeonghan informed and told the other of the story at the store, although he didn't know how he hadn't brought it up earlier.

"Oh then that's good," Joshua awkwardly replied before looking up at his best friend with a small smile. "So... would you want to be my boyfriend?"

"Of course," Jeonghan answered and let out a small laugh as he stood up.

"Okay great," the younger replied and followed the actions before holding out a hand. "It's getting late, let's head back."

Jeonghan nodded and took his best friend's -no, his boyfriend's- hand to walk back to the car.

"How was your date?" Seungcheol asked from the couch when Joshua and Jeonghan entered the living room.

"You told him?" Jeonghan asked his boyfriend, who only shook his head. It was then when he remembered he was the one who told Seungcheol. How did he assume it was a date?

Or was Jeonghan the only one who didn't know?

"It was fun, Jeonghan's scared of heights," Joshua informed with a nod.

"Joshuji!" He was lucky Jeonghan was in a good mood or he would've hit him upside the head. "I told you not to tell anyone!"

A laugh could be heard from the oldest of the three. Jeonghan turned his head towards him to see him watching the two with a look in his eyes that he'd never seen from Seungcheol. Was it fondness?

"It's okay, I'm afraid of them too sometimes," Seungcheol admitted and stood up from the couch to walk towards the two younger men.

"That's surprising," Joshua commented what Jeonghan had been thinking.

"Yeah, yeah shut it," he muttered and placed a hand on both of the boys' heads. "Congrats on your relationship, kids, I knew you could do it."

He ruffled their hair before walking past them to go upstairs. Although it wasn't rare anymore, Seungcheol being nice would never not be surprising to Jeonghan. Because of it, it took him quite a while to understand what he said.

"You told him?" the Korean male asked. "When?"

"He asked and right before we were heading back," he answered and walked towards the staircase. "Anyways, it's late, come to bed with me."

Jeonghan nodded and followed his boyfriend into his room. Not a word was spoken as he was pulled onto the younger's chest and a hand was being run through his hair. Jeonghan couldn't help but smile hearing the other hum a song he wasn't familiar with -he'd have to ask when he woke up.

"I love you," were the last words he heard in English before he fell asleep.