A thousand roses | SS

Chapter 13: Surrounded with happiness

Morning arrived as usual for Joshua, waking up just after dawn. He followed his routine—taking a refreshing bath, tending to the plants, and tidying up around the house. Then, it was time to wake up Seokmin, sharing a few morning kisses and greetings before preparing breakfast for him and seeing him off to work. It had become a comforting routine for Joshua, one he had grown content with as he settled into life in Japan, which he found to be a wonderful place.

During the day, Joshua often spent time with Aunt Yumi, a widow who had a passion for making wax candles. She would often gift some of her creations to Joshua, adding warmth and light to his home. In the evenings, he would take leisurely walks in the garden, enjoying the sounds of children playing in the nearby buildings.

Returning home about an hour before Seokmin's expected return from work, Joshua would begin preparing dinner. This was his daily life now, and he wouldn't trade it for anything.

However, today brought an unexpected surprise when Joshua's mother-in-law, Seokmin's mother, arrived at the door at 8 in the morning. "Hi, my baby!" Mrs. Lee greeted warmly as she entered, handing her bag to someone unseen behind her. Joshua found himself enveloped in the small, yet sturdy, arms of Mrs. Lee.

"Hi, Mom," Joshua replied with a smile as she guided him towards the couch. "I was so excited to meet you! How have you been?" Mrs. Lee squeezed his cheeks affectionately, eliciting a laugh from Joshua. It still amazed him how readily Seokmin's family had accepted him, despite his status as a leftover at their wedding.

They had even convinced Seokmin to marry him. Joshua couldn't help but be reminded of the generosity and kindness of Seokmin's family, particularly his mother, who shared Seokmin's loud and bubbly personality, right down to their matching smiles.

Joshua settled onto the couch beside Mrs. Lee, feeling a sense of warmth and familiarity wash over him in her presence. "I've been doing well, thank you for asking, Mom," he replied, returning her affectionate smile.

Mrs. Lee beamed at him, her eyes sparkling with genuine joy. "I'm so glad to hear that, my dear. You know, you've brought so much happiness into Seokmin's life. He's truly lucky to have you," she said warmly, patting Joshua's hand reassuringly.

Joshua felt a rush of gratitude towards Mrs. Lee for her kind words. Despite their initial concerns, Seokmin's family had embraced him wholeheartedly, treating him with love and acceptance from the very beginning.

"Mom?" Joshua turned around to see Seokmin sauntering into the hall, looking like he'd just rolled out of bed, likely due to the commotion of his mother's arrival.

"Yeah, your mom..." Mrs. Lee replied, folding her hands over her chest, her nose scrunching up in a sassy manner. "You said you'd be bringing my dear in-law over to the house, but you never did, so I decided to take matters into my own hands." She tilted her head, her energy still as loud and energetic as ever, even at her age.

Seokmin rolled his eyes at his mother's dramatics, a smirk playing on his lips. "Mom, you're relentless," he teased, shooting Joshua an amused glance. He knew his mother's unexpected visits could be overwhelming, but he also knew that she meant well.

"Aw, come on, Mrs. Lee, you know I always bring Joshua over when I can," Seokmin defended himself, trying to placate his mother's sassiness.

"Yeah, but I still miss him" his mother says and seokmin just shakes his head reaching for the newspaper.

"Y'all couldn't have possibly forgotten about me, right?" Another voice chimed in as a figure walked in, dragging a huge luggage behind him.

"Oh, my baby! I'm so sorry..." Mrs. Lee exclaimed, getting up to grab the bag from the man, who groaned and slumped down on the couch.

"Eww, get off me," Seokmin protested, pushing his brother away. "Shut up," Seungkwan retorted, trying to rub his sweat onto Seokmin, who smacked his arms in disgust.

"Hi, hyung," Seungkwan greeted Joshua, turning to him with a tired grin.

"Hi, Seungkwan. How are you?" Joshua replied with a smile.

"I'm kinda tired of this family, you see—" Seungkwan started his rant, and Seokmin immediately interjected, leading to a sassy back-and-forth between the brothers. Joshua simply shook his head at them, used to their antics by now.

"I'll bring some drinks for y'all," Joshua said, excusing himself to the kitchen. This was the family he had been gifted—or rather, blessed—with. Every day was filled with people spreading love for each other, something Joshua was definitely getting used to.

"I will get diabetes if you put this much sugar," Joshua yelped, turning around to see Mrs. Lee walking in, her lips curved into a smile. "Sorry about that—" Joshua hurriedly began to clean the table.

"Don't be," Mrs. Lee said, leaning against the counter table. Despite having two children, one married and the other in their third year of university, she still radiated beauty and vitality.

"Is he taking good care of you? If not, I'll spank him and send him flying to the moon, just tell me," Mrs. Lee said with a hint of teasing, making Joshua laugh. Seokmin was such a good husband to him, and Joshua couldn't get enough of it.

"He is," Joshua said with a proud smile, and Mrs. Lee smiled, patting his cheeks affectionately.

"I'm glad," she said with a soft sigh. She had always worried about who would look after Seokmin once she started to age and grow old. Looking back at Seokmin, she remembered how busy he had always been with work. She had feared he would never experience teenage love or make those silly promises, or stay up late for someone. She had been worried sick that Seokmin would be left alone forever. Then, the miracle at Joshua's wedding happened. She was so glad that Seokmin now had someone for whom he would come home a bit earlier, smile a bit more, laugh a bit more.

"Thank you for coming into my son's life," she said, her eyes stinging with tears as she looked at Joshua, holding his hands tightly.

"No," Joshua said softly, looking down. "Thank you for accepting me, thank you for making me happy," he said before leaning into her arms. She was just like his mother too, always there to care for him.

"Shh... my baby, you deserve the world. Don't cry," Mrs. Lee whispered soothingly, holding Joshua close.

Here was a woman who had welcomed him into her family with open arms, treating him as her own son from the moment they met. Her unconditional love and support meant the world to him, and he couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by the depth of her kindness.

Mrs. Lee gently brushed a stray tear from Joshua's cheek, her touch tender and reassuring. "You're such a dear soul, Joshua," she murmured softly, her voice filled with warmth and affection. "I'm so grateful to have you in our lives."

Joshua looked up at her, his eyes shimmering with emotion. "And I'm grateful to have you as my family," he replied, his voice choked with emotion. "You and Seokmin mean everything to me."

Mrs. Lee smiled fondly, squeezing Joshua's hand in reassurance. "We feel the same way about you, my dear," she said, her eyes shining with love. "You've brought so much joy and happiness into our lives, and we're truly blessed to have you."

-----

-Vaish

Having good in laws is like wining a huge amount of lottery.