Chapter 24

Joshua pov.

"Where have you been? Where's Hoshi" Dk asked as soon as I arrived at Hao's residence. I was a little calm as I entered.

"I had a thing to do." I said and he looked at me confused. I originally wanted to go back with Hoshi but unfortunately he was still hung up on his father's anger at the moment. He doesn't seemed to mind though.

"And Hoshi's still smoothening things up to his father." I said. Then Dk suddenly hugged me, I was caught off guard.

"What's this for? Can it wait till we're actually inside the house?" I asked and he just snuggled more. I hugged him tight and even gave him a soft kiss on the cheeks.

"Thank you. For what you did... I was so scared." He whispered and I just smiled at him.

"I told you. I always have your back." I said and he held my hand.

"I know. But my dad... " He said as we entered the house.

"Don't think about him right now... let's just think of us and us alone." I said and he nodded. I don't wanna bring up his father because I don't wanna lie to him. He's been through enough earlier, he's not gonna like to hear his father messing up even more.

Hao's maids gave us some tea and some biscuits. They were really welcoming and I appreciate what Hao has done. He even gave us a change of clothes as soon as we entered.

"Where is Hao?" I asked and Dk smiled.

"He's in the shower. He wanted to change because he told me that they have been traveling for the past few days. I was wondering how they arrived here in just a day. You really know how to surprise me and apparently my father too." He opened up and I nodded.

"You know he's going to give you a hard time right? I feel like he's not gonna take this situation lightly. I called Grangran and she told me that he was not happy at all. Oh an grangran told me that we are so unfair leaving her alone, maybe we should send her something to ease her mind." Dk said and I stayed silent.

"I'm sure gonna contact granny and let her know we're fine. She's one in your family I like to be completely honest. And about your dad... Let him be. He's not right in this sense." I said and Dk just nodded.

"Are you sure? My father is a powerful man." Dk said with sadness in his voice.

"I built my own name from scratch. I can do it all over again if it makes your life even a little easier. What's a little bit of sacrifice for someone you love right?" I smiled at Dk and he smiled but not reaching his eyes. I could see he was worried. To be honest, I am too.

"Hey.. look at me." I said to him as I cupped his face and made him look at me. He was pouting but really sad.

"What?" He asked.

"We're gonna be fine." I said and he looked away..

"Maybe if I just agree to his wishes, he can go easy in you." He said softly.

"Then you'll be the sad one." I said.

"Yeah but better than you taking all the ammunition from my father." He said and I shook my head.

"I'm tough. You're a little buffer than me but I a rock. He's gonna have a hard time breaking me." I said to him and he hugged me tight again.

"Thank you." He said and I kissed him a little and he smiled.

Then suddenly the door opened wide to reveal Hoshi posing like an idiot.

"Alright!! Let's get this party started!!!!! I'm backk ITALIA!" Hoshi said while entering the house like he owns the place.

"Did your dad give you a hard time?" Dk asked.

"Nahhhhhhhh he gave me cake." He said and I laughed.

"Cake? What for?" Dk asked.

"I pretended to cry in front of him and didn't stop until he got guilty." Hoshi said.

"You're really built different." I said and he laughed.

"Your father might let you get away with it.. but how about your mom?" I asked.

"She's a sweetheart, she can never hate me." Hoshi bragged.

"Seriously dude?" I asked.

"Actually my dad just gave me a lot more of paperwork duties but it's fine, Hao's giving me a hand with those anyway." Hoshi bragged as he grabbed cookies from the cookie jar on the counter top.

"When did I agree to that?" Hao said as he wipes his wet hair with a towel.

"Right now!" Hoshi said and Hao just chuckled. Hao really has a soft spot for Hoshi but he refuses to show it to people. It's cute.

"So what do you guys wanna do?" Hoshi asked.

"Uhm it's late and you guys just literally got off the plane... aren't you guys tired?" Dk asked.

"It's fine!!! I feel fine. Hao's obviously fine too. Let's go swimming." Hoshi suggested.

"Dude, I'm in my towel, and my hair is still wet. Do you even think I'm in the mood for a swim?" Hao asked and Dk chuckled a little. Hoshi is not that smart in observing.

"Come on!!' You're always bragging about your indoor pool and sauna! Let's go!!! I need to relaxxxxx and maybe get a massage??????" Hoshi asked again.

"You guys go. I'll make something for you guys. What do you guys have in mind?" Hao asked.

"Sure?" Dk asked excitedly.

"Yeah why not. I'll make you guys pizza. Jun just sent me a recipe. I'll try to follow it on the dot." Hao said and Dk hugged him.

"Thank you so muchhhhhhh!!! I love pizza after a swim!!" Dk said.

"You guys go swim. Hoshi really wants to take a dip. I'll go help Hao." I said and kissed Dk's head. He nodded and Hoshi was already throwing his clothes away. Dk also ran with Hoshi, sometimes I forgot that they are both crazy like that. Are they planning to swim butt naked?

"Dude, your maids are gonna have a hard time with them." I commented and

"Don't worry about them." Hao said. He sounds so tired of both of them. I chuckled a little and then we started making pizza. It was a little of korean italian pizza because we made one pizza with kimchi. Just said it was good so we did what we are told. Jun is video chatting us right now.

We stayed and ate at Hao's residence. The next day we decided to fly back home. We all went back to work as usual. But as soon as I arrived back to work, it was never the same as the last time...

I realized how big of a wall I was breaking...

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I was back at work the following day the office felt different. I could hear whispers lingering in the hallways and eyes following me more than usual.

"I don't know if people really missed you dude but they are talking about you nonstop. I heard one of them saying that you're slacking up at work. Is that even possible? You're the most hardworking person here." Hoshi asked me and Hao.

"You heard all that? I thought you only got coffee?" Hao asked in disbelief.

"Yup. It's a little confusing hearing those comments about you. Usually people worship you here." Hoshi commented.

"I would not usually say and use the word worship but in this case Hoshi's right. Something is wrong with the video of the office today." Hao commented back.

"I noticed that too. And for some reason I have more workload than usual.." I said as I hold on to unfinished paperwork in my hands. I looked at my table and it was even more than usual. It's definitely not normal.

"Let's not overthink this first but I have to get this. Bye guys." Hao said as he took the phone call. Hao's been occupied all day too. What the hell.

My inbox was flooded with sudden urgent tasks. Many of them have conflicting deadlines and many of them are impossible to do without burning out. A meeting at 2 pm and a synchronous deadline at 2:30?!? How is that even possible to accomplish at the same time?

Then, all of the sudden our boss called me in for a secret meeting, he sat down in front of me and gave me a piece of paper.

"Joshua. I don't know what happened but your performance is under review starting immediately you'll be assisting three department simultaneously." Mr. Kwan said to me all of a sudden. I looked at the mountains of papers in front of me and looked back to him.

" Sir with all your respect, my usual workload can only be with two departments at max or else the paperwork would be sloppy and and refine, and I'm not saying this for myself, but this one is a personal rule set by you." I said to him.

"It is unusual, but the orders came from the top. I have no control. I have no idea what happened, but it seemed like you are being targeted." He commented and I looked at him. I stayed silent because I didn't need to ask who the top meant. Dk's father was doing this and started moving the pieces.

"My workload is high as it is. How can I juggle all of this? And Hao and Hoshi can't help me too. They are swamped." I complained to him. He looked really uncomfortable and even wanted to console me.

"Joshua, this order was directly from the top. The only thing I can do is say that you can finish them or not. And you know they wont take it lightly if you refuse an order." He said to me and I breathed in deeply trying to calm myself.

" Is there anything you can do?" i asked him sincerely.

" Joshua, my hands are tight. I want to help you, but your performance is under review. The request was sent early this morning as soon as you clocked in" he said and I nodded. I know that something would happen, but I didn't think it would happen this fast. He's really not making my life any easier.

"Can you atleast lessen Hao's and Hoshi's workload so that I can get help from them?" I said and he nodded. I knew he wanted to help.

I went outside the office after the meeting with my jaw tight, ignoring the growing ache in my shoulders, and in my head. But I wouldn't give him the satisfaction of breaking me so I pushed through the day.

"This will pass" i said to myself.

But the day passed by and nothing changed every day. Mountains of paperwork were given to me. 2 days... 3 daysss... and a week has passed. Hao and Hoshi also was piled up with more load than usual. He's not only targeting me but my friends as well.

"Joshua.. let me help you with that." Dk suddenly said as he grabbed some of the papers in front of me and placed them in his table.

"You're more exhausted than usual. What is up with this workload. I don't see other people doing as much as you are doing this week. Is the boss having a bad week this time?" Dk asked. I can't complain to him because it's his dad.

"It's no problem. I'm just catching up the work from the days of my absence. It's late, maybe you should go home ahead of me." I said trying to act normally. I just knew that if I said something, this would crush Dk. His father wants to see me suffer and I don't want DK seeing me like that. I smiled at him and he smiled back.

"I'll wait for you." He said and I just smiled. If I insisted more he would know something is up.

—————————————————————————-Days later...

Dk was assigned into another project. It's actually a good thing. This way you won't be able to see that things his dad is willing to do just to keep us both apart.

"Dude this is seriously more than we can handle." Hoshi complained.

"I know, we expected this backlash towards us but this is borderline slavery. Even my other friends thinks that this is too much work. 3 meeting per day? And an intern every other hour? It's like he wants us dead." Hao complained. This was new because he's usually the calm one.

"I feel like this is my fault... you guys can go ahead. I can finish this up if I stay a little late." I said honestly.

"Dude. The three of us are exhausted. Even if we leave you here alone, that wont help our situation from improving." Hoshi said.

"I'm sorry you guys." I said with guilt.

"I blame Hoshi." Hao said and Hoshi's face was shocked to the core.

"Dude?!?" Hoshi said and the three of us laughed. Well then.. I'm still glad we are still sane.. atleast I think we still are. With all the late nights we are having it's not a surprise that all three of us would be losing our minds at one point.

"Come on! You guys stop messing around. Let's finish this and go home." I said. Then they got back to work. I then felt something in my pocket, my phone was vibrating.

"Just got home! My new boss was a nightmare. But can't wait to see you. Love you." —Dk.

"Alright stop smiling and staring at your phone.." hao said and I punched him. He's a little silly.

—————————————————————————- A week passed and nothing has changed.

"Joshua let's finish this tomorrow... we need to get some sleep. 2 days of working overtime is seriously bad for the three of us. Hoshi's face is unrecognizable already. " Hao said as we pulled another all nighter.

"Hey!!!! I'm still cute. Woozi tells me sooo... but yeah he's right. I'm dying!!!!!" Hoshi complained.

"You're right. Let's call it a night. See you guys tomorrow." I said as we packed up our things. They went ahead of me as I was closing my office.

"See you tomorrow!!! Wait see you later... can't believe it's already 2:00 in the morning. Anyway. Take care Joshua, text when you get home." Hoshi said but he's clearly out of it already. He's rambling like an idiot. I closed my eyes for a little while and massaged my head.

"You seem tired?" I was shocked by the sudden voice in front of me. I looked up to see it was Dk's father. In the flesh.

"Good evening sir, to what do I owe this pleasure?" I asked sarcastically.

"Let's skip formalities Joshua. Break up with my son." He suddenly said and I looked at him like he was insane.

"What?" I asked him to make sure I was hearing him right.

"You heard me." He said and I looked at him. More like glared at him.

"You told me that you don't care who your son is dating." I said to him reminding him of the conversation we had on the hotel.

"I did say that." He said.

"So you're actually a homophobe?" I asked him and his face changed.

"Nonsense. I don't care that a guy is dating him. He can date a rock and I wouldn't care. Are you just speaking nonsense now that you lack sleep or rest?" He asked with mocking on his tone. What the hell is his problem .

"Then why should I break up with him?" I asked him.

"Because I don't like you putting ideas in his head.." he said and I scoffed.

"You don't like me because you can't control your own son? Isn't that a little selfish sir?" I asked him and I could see him getting agitated.

"You be careful now. I'm still your supervisor and superior." He said to me and I chuckled a little.

"Then what you're asking me is unprofessional." I added.

"You brat. Do you think you can do anything you want? With my son?" He started to raise his voice. Honestly I don't need this right now. I have a migraine and he's not even helping. 

"He's not gonna like that you're talking to me like this." I told him and he just laughed a little as if what I said was a joke.

"But you're a bad influence to my son. You keep putting ideas in his head that are not helping his future. Without you in the picture, he's gonna come back to me and be in his rightful place beside me, his family." He said and I looked at him. Glared to be specific.

"Sir, I can't do that. If you knew your son well as I do, you would know that he doesn't wanna do all that. He wants to succeed in his own ways." I said to him and he looked at me with disapproval.

"Why are you so stubborn." He asked and his voice raised a little bit.

"Sir, I need you to understand that your son can make decisions on his own. I don't influence him into doing what I want. He does what he wants because he's his own person. And he knows that. I hope you understand." I said to him as I started packing up my bag.

"Joshua. If you give up. Everything right here will be gone. No more paperworks and meetings and urgent tasks. You understand that right?" He said.

"I'm sorry sir." I said and walked out the room.

"If you go now, I will make sure that everyday you spend on this fucking building will be hell and you know I'm not one to go back on my own word." He's threatened me.

"Sir, that wont stop me from being with Dk. Now if you don't want your son to be happy then by all means continue what you're doing. But once you broke an already broken bridge, I don't think building it back up is as easy as the first time." I said to him. He didn't say anything.

"You are unbelievable." He murmured.

"Sir I'm going home. And I suggest you do too. Nothing will change even if we talk. Unless you change your mind." I said and just as I timed it well the elevator doors closed.

—————-// 30 mins laterrrr——————//////////

That night I went back to our place. Dk opened the door for me.

"You're late again..." he said with sadness in his voice.

"I got stuck at work again" I said to him while giving him a kiss on the cheeks as I entered the house.

"Want me to give you a massage?" He asked. But I didn't answer. I just sat down on the couch.

Dk sat beside me and leaned his head on my shoulder.

"It's my dad isn't it? He's punishing you." He whispered. Of course he's gonna know.

"Nothing I can't handle." I said to him and smiled. Dk placed his hands on mine.

"I'm sorry I know you did something for me that night you and your friends. My dad hasn't said a word to me, but I can feel it. I can feel that he's making you suffer because of me." He said to me as he squeezed my hands. I looked at him and I saw his worried gaze.

" I just couldn't let him take the choice away from you. You deserve to tell the world who you are on your own terms,  not His. So maybe I pissed him off a little." I said and he inhaled deeply.

" You're suffering because of me." Dk whispered with tears almost spilling up his eyes.

" No. I am suffering because your dad doesn't know how to love without controlling you and that's not your fault." I said to him and he looked as if he was about to cry anytime.

" I don't care about the company the legacy and any of it. I just don't wanna lose you because of him. I love you so much. It hurts." dk said as he hugged me.

" DK you won't lose me. He can tire me out as much as he want. He can throw everything at me, but I'm not going anywhere unless it's beside you." I said to him and reassured him.

He hugged me and gave me as soft kiss on the lips. Even though his father was making everything to keep us both apart. I won't let him win.

I took a quick shower and thought about what happened in the office. I should keep that to myself. Dk would feel a lot worse because of his father saying all that. It's too much for him right now. I let the warm water run down my body and I felt more relaxed. I needed this.

As soon as I got out of the shower, Dk was already in bed holding on to a blow dryer.

"Wanna dry off my hair for me? Aren't you sleepy already?" I asked while smiling at him. He shook his head and told me to sit down. I did what he told me and sat on the edge of the bed. He dried off my hair and I just smiled at his cute gestures.

"There you go. Dry and smells so good." He said as he inhaled the scent of my hair. He even kissed it and kept the blower away. I grabbed him by the hand and pulled him into my side. I gently gave him a kiss and held on to his neck to steady him into the kiss.

"Thank you." I said and he looked at me in shock.

"What was that for?" He slapped me jokingly.

"I'm just happy." I said honestly and he scrunched up his nose.

"Come on let's go to bed. You need the rest. And because you're exhausted.. I'll be the big spoon tonight." He suddenly announced and tap the bed inviting me to lay next to him.

"You like being the small spoon" I commented.

"Tonight I will be the big spoon. Take it or take it." He said and I chuckled. It's been a while since I smiled like this. He was just being the cutest.

He hugged me from the back and I held his hands and kissed it. His legs crossed over my body like he was making me a body pillow. I don't think this benefits me but rather it benefits him.

"Come on. I know you like snuggling into me. Stop pretending." I said and faced him. He smiled automatically and hugged me tight. I pretended to fall asleep because he was looking at me closely like he was waiting for me to doze off.

I closed my eyes and steady my breathing. I then suddenly felt Dk kissed my nose, it felt like he was sneaky. Kissed my temple, my jaw, my shoulder, my neck... by the tenth kiss, I gave up.

"You're not subtle you know. You can't even wait till I'm asleep?" I said and he looked at me like he was caught.

"Sorry, I missed you so much. We don't get to hang out anymore.. and you didn't even stopped me." he whined.

"Alright you win. One more and we sleep." I said trying to stop myself from jumping onto this cute guy right here. He's making it so much harder for me really.

I gave pulled him closer into a soft kiss. He responded right away and his hands traveled to my cheek and pulled me closer too. My heart was beating faster and faster and our breathing was paced. I pulled away and gave him another small peck on the lips.

"I love you." I whispered.

"I love you too. Maybe more than you." He said as he hugged me closer and placing his head on my chest.

"Not possible." I said as I kissed his head.

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Author's note:

I feel so bad for Joshua.... 😭😭😭