i'm your a to z | jihancheol

an escape

chapter 39

With a yawn, Joshua opened the door to Seungcheol's house after a long day at work. Working at a gang's hideout was tiring especially when the authorities had come. He didn't hate his job-in fact, he enjoyed it-but it had its tiring moments.

Then again, that's every job, he thought as he slipped off his shoes to make his way into the kitchen. He was hoping to greet either his boyfriend or his friend.

What he hadn't expected was to see Jeonghan bent over on the floor sounding like he was crying with Seungcheol standing above him, indifferent as he always was towards the boy.

"Jeonghan?" Joshua called walking over to kneel down beside the crying man. He then looked up at the eldest to mouth the question: 'What happened?'

"Joshua?" Jeonghan looked up, seeming to take a moment to realize who it was before wrapping his arms around his boyfriend's neck.

"Yes Hannie I'm here," the younger assured while hugging his boyfriend, still confused as Seungcheol kept silent. "What's wrong?"

"Seungcheol," was all he mumbled without lifting his head up from the youngest's shoulder. Of course, it was Seungcheol. Joshua couldn't help but get angry at the thought; what had Jeonghan ever done to have the elder hate him? Despite all his attempts to make things better between them, his attitude never changed.

"What'd you do?" he asked in a stern voice as he looked up.

"I called him poor." Seungcheol answered.

"You fucking what?" Joshua asked standing up, trying his best to keep his anger under control. He didn't quite know what Jeonghan's exact situation was but he knew it was a sensitive topic. "As his friend of many years, shouldn't you have known not to?"

Without breaking his gaze from the eldest, Joshua pulled his boyfriend up.

"It wasn't that serious," he mumbled with a shrug, earning him a slap across the face.

That had surprised all three of them, especially the fact it had come from Jeonghan. Not a word was spoken and time seemed to slow down after that moment.

"Can we leave?" he asked, the question directed towards his boyfriend.

"Yeah," was all he said, followed by him telling Jeonghan to pack his things.

Seungcheol seemed surprised but didn't try to stop them. As he packed only a few things for the night, Joshua booked a hotel nearby. He'd have to find a permanent place to stay later but it'd have to do for a few days. Anything to get Jeonghan and Seungcheol away from each other.

It was a shame because while he quite enjoyed Seungcheol's company, it clearly wasn't good for Jeonghan. Not until the eldest got his act together and stopped saying things he didn't mean.

"You ready?" Joshua asked, standing by the older boy's doorway. He was answered with a nod and held Jeonghan's hand on the way out, only nodding a goodbye to Seungcheol.

The hotel they'd arrived at was a rather nice one; nothing too big but nice enough to stay for a few days. Joshua had to admit he liked the minimalist style, although his boyfriend disagreed with it. He only rolled his eyes after deciding against arguing and instead suggested they watch a movie and play a game of cards.

Anything to get Jeonghan's mind off what happened earlier.

Why did so many bad things have to happen to him? Joshua began to question in his mind. He didn't deserve any of it. Jeonghan was a kind boy who deserved the whole world. What did it give him? It gave him hell.

Joshua took a while to realize he was crying, quietly thanking God that his boyfriend was fast asleep.