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"Hey Hannie. Can you help me decorate my workshop for next pottery class?"
"Oh I'm sorry baby but I promised Cheol to help him monitor his exercise."
"Oh, nevermind," Joshua smiled softly.
"Shua, I bought your favorite cake that I promised."
"Oh, but that's tiramisu, Jeonghan's favorite. I love black forest, though," Joshua scratch his head.
"Yea, but you eat those too, right? I already kept my promise," Seungcheol grinned.
"Yeah, of course, " Joshua muttered.
Joshua woke up from slumber with aching lower body, alone in their enormous bed. All he wants after a rough night was cuddles from his partners, but both of them were absent. He went down to kitchen limping, finding them having breakfast. They looked so happy with just two of them making his heart aching. He didn't want to bother them so he turned back to their room again.
"Shua? We thought you won't wake up this early so we don't prepare breakfast for you. Do you want anything? Jeonghan spoke first from the table.
Joshua turned back. "No, thank you. I don't have the appetite. My body still tired, " Shua chuckled softly.
"Sorry for being rough last night. Go get some rest. Me and Jeonghan are going out for groceries, " Seungcheol said.
"Just the two of you? " "Yes, you need rest though, " Seungcheol said before getting up to kiss his forehead. "Have a good sleep, baby. "
Shua was stunned. No, it's not because the kiss or the pet name, he was used to it. It was because he realised something.
Jeonghan and Seungcheol enjoy each others company more when it's just two of them.
Jeonghan and Seungcheol have been dating since high school. It was in college when Jeonghan met Joshua and felt attracted to him then asked Seungcheol to date him, leading them into this polyamory relationship. They've been together for three years.
Joshua knows Seungcheol loves Jeonghan more. He always does. But they convinced him that they love each other equally. But he knows that's not totally the whole truth.
Only their group of friends know that they're in relationship, other people only knew about Jeonghan and Seungcheol's relationship. Polyamory relationship is not openly accepted in norms.
Therefore, many people would called Joshua the third wheeler when they're on a date. But what hurts more, Jeonghan and Seungcheol used to defend him and explain the real thing but lately they simply asked Him to laugh it off. They convinced Shua to not give a fuck about it because they still love him nonetheless. Liars.
Shua was lying on his bed with Jeonghan in the middle and Seungcheol next to him, snuggling into Jeonghan's neck. He can't fall asleep. He keep thinking about all the shit talks from Jeonghan and Seungcheol's friends and family about how he ruined a perfect couple, how he brings trouble to the ideal boyfriends, how he's practically a loser compared to his partners.
Shua often feels like he's nothing but a burden to his lovers. Heck, he knows even his partners feel the same. Both Seungcheol and Jeonghan are well paid. They're employed at the same big company, which means they can spend more time with each other. While Shua, he's working on his pottery class business, handling his own workshop. That is his dream, everybody knows that.
Except his lovers. No, they know about his ambition, really well. But somehow, they fail to understand and to show their support.
"Babes, don't you think Italy is nice? You know, the pottery industry there is quite big, " Shua said one day, while watching TV with his lovers.
"I don't know Shuu. I think of moving to Canada. The company has a bigger branch there. And you know, pottery ain't getting you anywhere." Seungcheol answered nonchalantly before Jeonghan slapped his tight before smiling apologetically at him.
Shua wondered. Who is he to them? Is he nothing but a house husband? Do they think Shua is stupid? Do they think Shua has no feeling? do they actually love Shua all was it all just lust.
Shua get up slowly, trying not to wake Jeonghan up. He glanced at the luggage by the door which he already packed the day before, without any of his boyfriends noticing. They never do.
He already sent most of his things to his new apartment, which was previously in the dressing room. He only left some important things that can be handy. The only thing that brought up suspicion was when Jeonghan asked to borrow his hairdryer and he told him that it was broken so Jeonghan shook it off and borrowed from Seungcheol.
He grabbed all his belongings, his luggage, a sweater, and the frame with their pictures. He went to kiss his boyfriends, trying hard not to tear up. He left the house quietly, walking to the bus stop.
He didn't know who to call. It's 2 am and it's impossible to find Uber at this hour and he has his flight at 6. He can't ask Soonyoung and Jihoon for help, they're going to tell Seungcheol. He scrolled through his KakaoTalk and found a contact that will always be online at this hour.
"Oh, hyung. What's wrong?"
"Hi, sorry for disturbing. Are you busy? "
"Not really. I'm playing games. What happened? "
"Can you fetch me at my apartment? And drive me to the airport?"
Silence.
"I'll be there in 5."
"You sure you don't need me to send you inside? " Wonwoo asked concernedly. Joshua nodded. "I already bothered you much by asking you to send me here."
Wonwoo cupped his face, stroking his cheek softly, "You are never a burden, hyung," before pulling him into a tight hug. "Call me when you arrived," he whispered.
Joshua patted his back. "I'm so thankful that you are here. It's just, if they ever look for me, tell them I still love them very much and they deserve happiness on their own," Joshua said softly with tears running down his cheeks.
Wonwoo pulled away a little and pecked Joshua's head. "Be safe, hyung. Remember, you deserve happiness too."
Shua nodded. He patted Wonwoo's shoulder before walking away. He gave him a little wave before entering the airport.
Leaving Wonwoo standing by his car, sighing.
Joshua walked through the airport, feeling free. It's time to live for yourself, Shua. He scrolled through his phone, blocking everyone except his family and Wonwoo, deleting all his social media. He wants to be a new person.
He walked confidentally into the boarding gate, ready to leave South Korea. Probably, forever.
"Joshua, answer the fucking phone, the hell why can't I reach him!! IT'S BEEN FUCKING THREE DAYS!" Seungcheol groaned loudly.
"Cheol, it seems like he blocked us everywhere, even on his SNS. " Jeonghan massaged his temples. "Fuck, what have I done to him...."
"It's nobody's fault, Han. He just have to tell us if he wanted to break up, everything will go well, " Seungcheol sighed. "WHAT THE FUCK!?" Seungcheol threw his phone on the table causing Jeonghan to flinch.
Bip bip
They both glanced at the door. Jeonghan groaned before lazily get up to open the door. Wonwoo was standing right at the door.
"Wow, you look miserable hyung, " he chuckled as he got into the house.
"What do you want? " Seungcheol asked, voice was cracked.
"Oh, you two are looking for Shua hyung, right? He said, if you guys are looking for him, he wanted you to know that he truly loves both of you but he thinks you two deserve happiness together, " Wonwoo said with a smug smile.
Seungcheol quickly get up to grab Wonwoo's collar. "Where the hell did you keep him away from us!? " Seungcheol yelled.
Wonwoo collected himself before slowly pushed Seungcheol away. "Trust me hyung, I want to know too. But the last thing he texted me was that he's arrived safely and told me not to get worried and I can't contact him anymore. I guess he changed his number.."
Seungcheol backed away a little before falling onto his knees. "No.... It's all my fault. I don't deserve him. I don't deserve him. I don't deserve him," he kept ranting it over and over again.
Jeonghan was quick to pull him into a hug whispering sweet nothings. "No, we don't deserve him. Seungcheol, please get yourself together."
Wonwoo cleared his throat. "I don't know what happened between you guys and how Shua hyung felt, but I believe you hurt him too bad because I've never see him crying as hard as that night. "
"Jeonghan hyung," he called. Jeonghan looked up and saw the thing Wonwoo was handing. An envelope.
"He asked me to give it to you if you ever regret it. I almost thought I would never hand this to you."
Jeonghan grab it from Wonwoo. His tears burst out when he saw the words on the envelope.
"All I can say hyungs, just respect his decision and never stop loving each others. That's all he ever wants. Take care, you two," Wonwoo said before leaving.
Two years later...
Joshua was arranging his potteries when he heard the bell rang. "I'm sorry but we're closing, " he said without looking at the person.
"Joshua-ssi?" he quickly turned around to see the person. "Wonwoo? Wonwoo! " he ran to hug his friend.
"How do you do? " he asked the younger. "Good, you? " "Never been better, " Shua softly smiled.
"Umm, how are.. they? " Shua carefully asked. Wonwoo patted his head. "It's quite hard for them but I think they're doing better now, but I promise you they still love you," Wonwoo smiled at the smaller. Joshua felt his face reddened.
"Oh, anyway. I'm here to tell you, I'm getting married, " Wonwoo said showing his ring finger. Joshua squealed. "Mingyu proposed to you? And you came all the way here to tell me about this? You could've tell me through the phone!!" he squaled.
Wonwoo laughed hard. "C'mon, where's the fun if I can't say it right to your face? " Shua hit his arms playfully.
"So, when's the wed?" "September. You're coming right? " Wonwoo asked hopefully. Joshua sighed. "They'll be there, won't them?"
"You don't have to come if you don't want to. I know how hard it was for you." Shua smiled. "Of course I'll be there for your big day. Besides, I'll bring a plus one, too," he grinned cockily. Wonwoo raised an eyebrow.
"Hyung, where do you want me to put these boxes? " a young man suddenly entered the store. "Over there, thank you, baby," Joshua giggled. Wonwoo stared at him suspiciously.
Joshua smugly grinned. "You owed me the whole story, hyung," Wonwoo crossed his arms. Joshua just giggled. "I owed you a whole movie, Won."