Chapter Text
The hour before Seungcheol arrives at the apartment is the only time Jeonghan has to himself. Trapped between the slow trudge of time at his pharmacy job and *Seungcheol*, this hour is the only time he has to disentangle the winding thoughts in his head.
Sometimes, when the day went by smoothly, he’d read something, maybe settle into the red suede couch Seungcheol convinced him would be a good addition to *their* apartment a while after they started their engagement. The book would transport him into a world of fantasy, a happy respite he slipped into so easily after the smooth passage of his day.
Not this day.
Jeonghan steps into the hot stream of the shower and lets the hot water run down his skin, working its magic on his sore muscles. The store has just been a bit too hectic, his manager a bit too strict. When he steps out, his long blond hair falls in waves, framing the face he knows is attractive but cannot bring himself to care for beyond the bare minimum. After all, what good is attractiveness when there’s nobody left to appreciate it?
He stands in front of the mirror for a while, watching water droplets run down the side of his cheeks, a cruel mimicry of the tears he has been unable to shed since months ago.
Keys jangling in the doorway snaps him out of his reverie, as he quickly wraps a towel (white, of course, Seungcheol wouldn’t have it any other way) around his waist and fumbles with his phone to check the time. It’s only been 23 minutes since he got home - Seungcheol shouldn’t be back so soon. Jeonghan sighs and silently mourns the 37 minutes he lost.
Getting dressed at an appropriate pace, he steps out of the shower with wet hair and a smile plastered onto his face. Seungcheol sits on the sofa, shoulders slumped and face haggard with exhaustion. He runs a large hand down his face and sighs into it so deep Jeonghan worries he’s going to start crying.
He feels a pang of sympathy rush through him.
As much as he didn’t want to marry the man, he was a good person and didn’t deserve to be worked into an early grave. If he were just a friend, Jeonghan would walk over, sit next to him and ask what’s wrong while trying his best to comfort him.
Resolutely swallowing and ignoring the golden band burning on the fourth finger of his left hand, he does just that.
“We’re being sued.” Seungcheol’s voice cracks with a strange combination of fear and fatigue Jeonghan has never heard before. He’s still young, set to inherit Choi Incorporated from his parents but already working as the head of his branch. The responsibilities piles high on his shoulders, and he carried them most days with dignity, poise, and a sense of self-importance. It’s on days like this, with Jeonghan alone, that he crumbles into what he truly is.
Just another man. His friend, nothing more. The legacy he inherits will be like a suit he has to fit into, but that doesn’t change who he is.
And it certainly doesn’t make Jeonghan love him.
A sudden burst of elation snaps through his body like a lightning bolt. Thankfully, before it has the time to show on his face, a more intense wave of guilt takes its place.
His fate as Seungcheol’s fiance had been sealed by his own parents. Their initial disgust at his sexuality and the ensuing chaos it caused was buried as soon as they could weaponise it. When the wealthy oldest child of Choi Incorporated fell in love with Jeonghan at, quite literally, first sight, he swore he saw his parents’ eyes light up with greed. Their engagement was finalized not even a month afterwards, and by then lost everything precious to him. His freedom, and *Joshua*.
He misses Joshua. He misses the way his corners of his eyes crinkled when he smiled at him, misses the sound of his laugh as he jabs Jeonghan in the ribs after being the victim of yet another prank. Seungcheol’s suffocating, faultless kindness could not make him forget the waves of euphoria from that day Joshua lost a bet and had to give him piggy-back rides everywhere, but took his revenge by running everywhere instead and making the ride as bumpy for Jeonghan as possible.
He doesn’t understand why his parents weren’t disgusted by Seungcheol’s sexuality, welcoming him into their home with open arms after they threatened to ostracize their own son for the same reason. Apparently, being gay didn’t matter when you’re the heir to a multi-million dollar corporation.
Seungcheol’s company being sued potentially means him losing his money. In that case, maybe he could convince his parents to dissolve the engagement and be nothing more than friends with Seungcheol. Jeonghan’s knows he’s utterly terrified of being alone, so he clings to that foolish hope that maybe, just maybe he won’t lose anyone at the end of all of this.
He gingerly lowers himself down onto the red fabric, hands coming up to massage the tension from Seungcheol’s shoulders. It is the least he could do, but it doesn’t help him squash down that rolling pit of guilt and sick, sick hope either.
“We don’t know who it is, but apparently we’ve breached a contract and they’re…” Seungcheol’s voice breaks here, a testament to how badly he’s feeling the stress from this case. He takes a deep breath before continuing. “They’re threatening to sue for 1 billion won - if I lose this my father will replace me and give everything to my younger brother. A mistake like this will be unforgivable.”
Jeonghan knows how important the company is to Seungcheol, knows that he’s spent his whole life working towards taking over one day. He swallows, curbing the flooding elation and hopes to whatever god is up there that he doesn’t start smiling.
“Surely they can be reasoned with - your father will have internal lawyers to help you with this case?” Jeonghan asks, voice as steady as he can make it.
“He’s refusing to help. Says that if I can’t deal with this myself, I’m unfit to lead.”
That makes sense. Jeonghan knows a lot about asshole parents, and knows that 1 billion won doesn’t dent Mr Choi’s pockets at all, if the apartment he currently lives in has anything to say about that.
“I’ll have to hire a lawyer, Han. There’s a firm that specialises in contract law, but I’ll have to get to know someone before they take on this case. That might mean I come home later, or invite them over to dinner sometime.” Seungcheol says.
“Right. That’s ok. Just let me know beforehand, and I’ll be out when they’re over” Jeonghan replies, thinking that he might actually enjoy more time out of the house.
Seungcheol’s face lights up in a genuine smile, lips curling in sincerity.
“Thanks Hannie. I’m sorry about the change, but it’ll only be for a few months, I promise”.