Chapter Text
Pink silky hair brushed back in his professional attire. A lazy smile with a flying kiss towards every frantic gaze from the lady employees. Sometimes the men too but that’s on the rare occasion. When his hair aren’t pushed back and he would look a little less of a heterosexual man. Anyway, that’s Joshua Hong, the CEO of Light Soft.
Yoon Jeonghan’s boss.
About a thing or two would make one’s mind question. Why does the CEO have pink hair? Or why does he look quite older than his actual age? Questions that bothers Jeonghan’s little brain for every step he puts inside his boss’ office. He was his assistant and unfortunately, that involved being around the guy for almost the entire day. Nobody knows Joshua Hong more than Yoon Jeonghan does and that was only a small fact. If it wasn’t for the godly high amount of pay rate at the company, he wouldn’t have stayed for eight years.
But! He’s a desperate man raising a kid on his own. Don’t forget the constant longing for his ex fiancé that he misses on a daily. Nobody is allowed to judge or point a finger at him, though. They separated not too long ago. By that he meant five years ago.
Sadly, Jeonghan played boo boo the fool with his hot mess of an ex and got pregnant on their first year of staying together. That’s a toast for his intelligence. However, he’s happy that his baby boy, Chan was born because he’s the only thing he needs in order to survive — literally. Everything he does now are all for the boy and he wakes up every morning for his wonderful sunshine. He couldn’t ask for anything more. It’s all he ever wanted.
A loving son and an edurable lifestyle. Of course, he misses Chan’s father but he can’t let the kid see. Every night he would speak to Chan who’s sound asleep and apologise a million times. Not for doing anything wrong but for raising him as a single parent. It was tough for him but he knows it was tougher for the kid. Jeonghan was only a simple man and there’s nothing he could do except hear the repetitive words coming from Chan’s lips. The continual advice of “Please, love again, dad”.
And it hurts and pains him a lot. The kid was almost ten years old and celebrating his birthday in a couple of weeks. He hadn’t kept a closed lip for a while now. Jeonghan has been struggling to get his ex to attend Chan’s birthday parties for the last five years. However, he would always come a week later reasoning with his busy schedules. Jeonghan’s had enough of it already. It seemed like Chan did too.
“Hmm. You dyed your hair red.” Joshua commented as he span himself on his chair like a child. “I like it.”
“Thanks.”
Joshua called him in for an emergency. Supposedly that’s what he had said on the phone. One more thing about this guy — he loves playing games. Toying with people to be exact and making them want to quit their job. No wonder he was a CEO of a gaming company.
“You’re supposed to say a compliment back about my pink hair,” Joshua whined. “You’re silly.”
“Well, sir, lying isn’t part of my job,” He confronted.
Sighing and the superior stopped spinning. “You’ve got a terrible personality. No wonder you’re still single.”
Jeonghan couldn’t stop himself from gasping loudly. “E-excuse me!”
“You’re excused.” The CEO motioned him to leave with an innocent smile. “Shu~ Shu~”
None of that was new to Jeonghan. Part of working with somebody who’s young and is a billionaire obviously involved childish remarks. Everybody loved him for his good looks but when that mouth of his opens, oh boy. Employees would stab their own eyes to blind themselves. There’s no doubt his appearance were on the top and maybe definitely he knew that about himself. Hence the very shit personality.
A few secrets were dropped a couple of years ago and Jeonghan made a promise to keep quiet about the information in exchange for a higher work payment. Apparently, Joshua Hong loves to be childish because of one sensitive reason. That being-
Yoon Jeonghan was about to exit the said office until the man called for his name again. “Yoon Jeonghan!”
Turning around and he sees his boss with his two legs crossed and his feet on his table. A mysterious envelope in his hand keeping his eyes occupied. Jeonghan quickly rushed forward because that must be for him. With his amazing, above the top and high level vision, he saw its back, to: Jeonghan and Chan ♡.
“This came in this morning. It’s for you. Looks fancy; seems like you’re invited to a wedding.”
Jeonghan half laughed. “How can you be so sure?”
“The layout of the outside says it all.”
There was not a possible reason for Jeonghan to receive a wedding invitation. He hardly knows anybody other than past relationships and Seungkwan who baby sits Chan. Seungkwan is just as single as he is — more desperate too. There’s no way it could be Seungkwan. And~ he’s only been in one (1) relationship.
“Oh no.”
He scans the invitation with his eyes. It seems like Chan’s father was trying to get himself killed and completely erased from Earth’s history. The wedding was on the same day as Chan’s birthday. Jeonghan was already preparing himself to use that as an excuse to be absent for the hurtful event but now there was no running away. He can’t be away at his son’s birthday. He isn’t an asshole unlike his ex.
No matter how much he had been trying to avoid the man who had caused him pain, he couldn’t bring himself to not attend. Weddings were special and only done with commitments. Something he couldn’t do with Jeonghan. There’s nothing else left for Jeonghan to do except to be happy. However, those feelings won’t leave that easily. It seems that his ex was completely aware of it too and probably didn’t want to invite Jeonghan. Just his son although to be able to see the kid, he must also see the crazy Yoon Jeonghan.
Something about it hurt Jeonghan’s pride, though. Despite the honest and brutal truth. He may still be in love with him but he will never let that man see through him. Whatever it takes to hide his feelings for that guy, he will do. As long as it isn’t illegal.
“Look, you don’t have to show him that he doesn’t affect you anymore,” Joshua said. “Just be there. For Chan and I’m sure your kid would understand if you have your little breakdown again.”
His eyes left the paper and landed on the CEO’s soft features. “How’d you know it was him?”
Joshua laughed. “Well, you see, your social life is not that big. You only have Seungkwan and your ex. Seungkwan’s a hopeless romantic — like yourself — we only had one option.”
”You’re unbelievable.”
As an assistant, Jeonghan had learnt different facts about Joshua. Some may even think he was obsessed or a stalker in disguise. Ironically, he despise everything about the man. Starting with his personality of never being able to do anything other than being a CEO. Or the fact that he loves dark coffee and almost fired Jeonghan for not knowing that on his first day. There were a lot of things he knew about the man. And for Joshua to also know a bit of information about him was... heartwarming.
Most of the employees wonder how Jeonghan hasn’t been fired yet. Well, his first reason is that he holds too much information about Joshua. Blackmailing the young CEO was his only way of keeping a job he doesn’t bother doing correctly. Managing Joshua’s meetings and schedules were too much for him.
After rolling his eyes, Jeonghan left the office and massaged his temples. It was currently lunch for him and he had called Seungkwan to join him at the nearby café. Chan was attending his dance class at the moment. Jeonghan figured that Seungkwan also received an invitation given that he was also a close friend of his ex. He was sure that Seungkwan will give him an advice on how to get through everything about the wedding.
“Just rent a boyfriend for a day or something,” Seungkwan told and deliciously ate his small piece of cake. “It won’t be obvious if you bring a supposedly boyfriend at the wedding. He’ll think you finally moved on after all these years.”
Scoffing and Jeonghan glared at his best friend. “And which idiot would play boyfriend with me? There’s barely any advantage on their part...”
Seungkwan stops eating and have it a thought. “Which is why you would turn it into a disadvantage to not date you instead. Then they’ll have an advantage.”
“What do you mean?”
“Blackmail them!” Seungkwan yelled.
Blackmailing didn’t need a definition in Jeonghan’s vocabulary. Like what he had mention, he lived through the obstacles of his job by blackmailing his boss. The only man who shouldn’t be experiencing his jokes. The person who can turn his life upside down but chooses not to.
Shaking his head and he took a sip of his coffee. “Who would I blackmail?”
“Chan’s dance teacher’s cute. Maybe try speaking with him. Get him drunk and spill all the tea.” Seungkwan sighed upon seeing the unchanging look on Jeonghan’s face. “Mate, if you really don’t want your reputation ruined, you need to do this somehow.”
“I’m sure I’ll find a way.” He muttered under his breath.
Returning to the building and Jeonghan looked drained. A few colleagues of his asked what had gone wrong but he couldn’t bring himself to ensure he was alright. Maybe because he was not and he had to conceal every part of his feelings somehow.
Meeting the person who used to love him was hurtful enough already. Let alone seeing him at his wedding when Jeonghan’s feelings haven’t completely healed. He was Chan’s father and being with the kid reminds Jeonghan all the sweet moments they spent together. Unfortunately, being the family they were cannot come back.
Chan and himself may miss the man but they would never ruin a happy couple. They will both accept the new information. As difficult it may be. They have each other at the end of the day and that’s enough to keep them happy.
Inside his office at Light Soft, he stared at the black screen of his computer. Beside it was a picture frame of Chan, the kid’s father and himself. The three of them were smiling wildly with pure happiness. It was then at the park where Jeonghan thought they had a chance to get back together. However, later on that day, he was introduced to his new partner. Everything about the memory stings Jeonghan’s chest.
He was never to cry or to show he was hurt. Emotions and feelings were to be kept and locked inside. If he were to be hurt, Chan will hurt more and he knows this. Acting strong and acting like a thick wall is all he could do to protect the only jewel in his life. His child should be the only thing that matters. But he feels longing inside of him too.
“Yoon Jeonghan, come to my office.”
Hearing his name, he immediately looked towards the door where the voice had come from. He only sees Joshua’s body walking away. His coworkers — sharing the same office — gave him a knowing look.
Yoon Jeonghan was a lazy assistant of the CEO and there had been rumours. Crazy, made up stories of why Joshua was keeping Jeonghan in the building. Some were hysterical and even magical. Apparently Jeonghan gave the superior man a potion. Maybe he’ll consider that idea. Some rumours were quite... absurd. Others claim Joshua to be a sugar daddy of Jeonghan. He’s at loss for words at this point. The rest were all about being in a relationship, which he cannot ever see happening.
Lazily he walked to the said office and trespassed without a knock. Flopping his body on the leathered chair as he placed his chin on his palm supported by the table. “What do you want?”
“I feel a little lonely today,” said Joshua. “Let’s get a drink.”
Fixing his posture and he sighed heavily. “I already told you this. My time after work cannot and will not be spent with you.”
Humming in response. Joshua closed the gap between them and invaded the personal space of his assistant. Jeonghan remained unbothered by the small gap. He was just worried and nothing could be more stressful than his ex’s wedding he had to attend. Unless he follows Seungkwan’s plan.
“Come on! It’s just one night. I promise I won’t cause any problems at the restaurant like last time.”
The last time they drank together was when Light Soft was going through a depression and Joshua was entirely stressed out. He caused a huge scene at the chicken place and yelled at everyone who didn’t have any games under Light Soft. They were, of course, kicked out. A memory Jeonghan can never forget and a receipt to use if ever he needs anything.
Wait-
Blackmail.
Seungkwan’s plan.
“Who knows, I might say something useful for you to use in the future.” Joshua leaned back and smiled suspiciously.
“And that’s everything I need you for.”
Joshua laughed. “So let’s get a drink.”
It was at that moment that Jeonghan realised how low he had gone. He was in the midst of getting his boss drunk — in order to make him speak the unspoken words. For his little ass to have something to use against his boss. Never in all his years of living did he imagine that he would be begging his boss to become a fake boyfriend.
Joshua must have found a new place to drink at. It was a small pizza place with a flickering sign that indicated they were “open”. It was dry, the entire pizzeria was. Both man wearing loose ties with cheese filling their mouths. After working for several years together they weren’t as close as people would imagine. In fact, they were not even colleagues. Joshua was just someone who Jeonghan worked for.
“We can’t drink here.” Joshua lied with food in his mouth disgustingly falling everywhere. “So what’s the plan.”
Choking and Jeonghan glares. “Stop acting like we’re close. My plan is none of your business.”
“Whatever you say.”
Turns out Joshua had lied about restricted drinking because before they both knew it, they finished six bottles each. Jeonghan already figured he lied about the no drinking rule, anyway. Both of them slurred words the other could not understand. He was struggling to comprehend anything from Joshua’s lips and he knew he needed to. He can only hold something against Joshua if he hears unrevealing secrets.
He was definitely drunk at this point. Seungkwan had gotten familiar with this routine. Thus Chan might have stayed with Seungkwan for the night. While Jeonghan himself will somehow find a way to get home. An idea hadn’t appeared in his head yet.
“I... h-have something... to say,” Joshua slurred with his eyes barely open.
Smirking as Jeonghan nodded. “G-go ahead...”
“I am... an asshole.” Laughed Joshua then frowned after getting hiccups. “I... I like o-one of my... e-employees.”
That was the last thing Jeonghan remembered before he smiled widely. “Bingo!”