Joshua didn't understand when it happened, but he was happy that it did.
Being left alone at his own wedding, and to save him the embarrassment when his father asked for the brown-haired smiley man to marry Joshua, Joshua didn't like it. He wanted...
Joshua stood amidst the bustling aisles of the supermarket, his eyes scanning the shelves as he checked off the last item on his grocery list. A satisfied smile played on his lips as he turned around to find Seokmin trailing behind, pushing the laden trolley with determined strides. The fluorescent lights overhead cast a sterile glow over the scene, illuminating their surroundings as they navigated the maze of aisles.
"Is that all? Damn, I never knew we needed this many things," Seokmin exclaimed, his voice tinged with a hint of exasperation as he knelt beside one of the towering stock stalls. Joshua couldn't help but chuckle at Seokmin's bewilderment, a playful glint dancing in his eyes as he reached for the oversized box of ramen and added it to the trolley.
"I mean, of course you wouldn't know if you've been surviving on fast food, Mr. Lee," Joshua teased, his tone light and teasing as he gently ribbed Seokmin. A sheepish smile tugged at Seokmin's lips as he shrugged in response.
"Work," Seokmin offered simply, his expression apologetic as he resumed his task of pushing the trolley through the bustling aisles.
But before they could move on, Joshua remembered one more item. "Wait, we need to buy tissues too," he exclaimed, leading Seokmin back down the aisle to where the tissues were stocked. However, they were placed on the highest shelf, just out of Joshua's reach.
"Ugh," Joshua groaned, standing on tiptoe and stretching as far as he could, but the tissues remained just beyond his grasp. Suddenly, a large frame loomed up behind him, and before he knew it, Seokmin had reached over his shoulder and effortlessly plucked the box of tissues from the shelf, placing it gently into Joshua's waiting hand.
"You don't need to worry when I'm right by your side," Seokmin murmured softly, his warm breath tickling Joshua's ear. Joshua felt a blush rise to his cheeks as he bit his lip nervously, feeling a sudden fluttering in his chest.
Their tender moment was interrupted by a throat-clearing sound, and they quickly scrambled apart to make way for an elderly lady passing between them. Seokmin scratched his head in embarrassment as he realized they had been blocking the aisle, but before he could apologize, he heard it—the sound that made his heart skip a beat.
Joshua's laughter.
It bubbled up from deep within him, infectious and melodic, filling the air with its joyful resonance. Joshua laughed so hard that he clutched his stomach, the tissues box dangling forgotten from his hand. The look of embarrassment on Seokmin's face was priceless, but amidst it all, there was something else—something beautiful.
And Seokmin swore he had never heard anything as beautiful as Joshua's laughter. It was like music to his ears, a melody that he wanted to hear again and again. He found himself drawn to Joshua in that moment, captivated by the genuine warmth and joy that radiated from him.
"Can you laugh once more?" Seokmin found himself blurting out, his heart pounding in his chest as he looked at Joshua with hopeful eyes.
"What?" Joshua's voice was filled with surprise as he glanced at Seokmin, his cheeks still flushed from laughter.
"Your laugh. It's so beautiful to hear. Can you laugh once again?" Seokmin's request hung in the air, tinged with a vulnerability that made Joshua's heart ache.
Joshua bit his lip nervously, his own embarrassment now evident as he shook his head. "Please?" Seokmin pleaded, folding his hands in front of him with a pleading look in his eyes.
"What? No! Are you crazy?" Joshua chuckled nervously, suddenly feeling self-conscious under Seokmin's intense gaze. With a quick glance, he turned away, leaving Seokmin and his racing heart behind, the echoes of his laughter lingering in the air like a bittersweet melody.
As they walked home, the tension that had filled the air at the supermarket began to dissipate, replaced by a sense of warmth and comfort. Joshua stole glances at Seokmin, unable to shake the image of his sheepish smile from his mind. Despite his initial embarrassment, Joshua couldn't deny the fluttering feeling in his chest whenever he looked at Seokmin.
As they reached their apartment building and made their way up to their floor, Joshua's heart raced with anticipation. He couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted between them, that perhaps this awkward encounter at the supermarket had brought them closer together in some inexplicable way.
When they finally reached their apartment, Joshua hesitated at the door, unsure of what to say or do next. But before he could gather his thoughts, Seokmin spoke up, his voice tentative yet hopeful.
"Joshua, I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable back there," Seokmin said, his eyes filled with sincerity as he reached out to gently grasp Joshua's hand. "I didn't mean to embarrass you. I just... I wanted to hear your laughter again. It's like music to my ears, and I couldn't help but ask."
Joshua felt his cheeks flush with warmth at Seokmin's words, his heart pounding in his chest as he looked into Seokmin's earnest gaze. Despite the awkwardness of the situation, there was something undeniably sweet about Seokmin's confession, something that made Joshua's heart swell with affection.
"It's okay, Seokmin," Joshua replied softly, his voice barely above a whisper as he squeezed Seokmin's hand gently. "I... I actually liked hearing you say that. It made me feel... special, in a way."
Seokmin's eyes widened in surprise at Joshua's admission, a faint blush coloring his cheeks as he looked down at their intertwined hands. For a moment, they stood there in silence, the weight of their unspoken feelings hanging heavy in the air between them.
But then, without a word, Seokmin reached out and pulled Joshua into a warm embrace, wrapping his arms around him and holding him close. Joshua's heart skipped a beat at the sudden display of affection, his breath catching in his throat as he melted into Seokmin's embrace.
In that moment, everything else faded away—the awkwardness, the tension, the uncertainty. All that mattered was the warmth of Seokmin's arms around him, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat against Joshua's chest.
And as they stood there, lost in each other's embrace, Joshua felt a sense of peace wash over him. Despite the challenges that lay ahead, despite the uncertainties of the future, he knew that as long as he had Seokmin by his side, everything would be okay.
For in that moment, in the quiet comfort of their shared embrace, Joshua knew that he had found something truly special—a love that was worth fighting for, a love that would endure the test of time. And as he leaned into Seokmin's embrace, his heart filled with gratitude for the sweet moments they shared, and the promise of many more to come.
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Vaish
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