Seventeen One-Shots

A Moment of Clarity: Joshua x Reader

The city lights twinkled below, and you just finished typing up the final report for the day. Most everyone had already left the office, with the exception of the dull murmurs of certain voices that sometimes lurched out from some far corner of the building. Past 8 PM, you were now resolved to the quiet rhythm of your keyboard and the occasional sip from the now-cold cup of coffee.

Just as you had begun to hit "send" on the final email, the door to your office creaked open. You jerked your head up somewhat startled, to see Joshua Hong, the CEO of the company, standing in the doorway. His suit was tailored, plain, and crisp, his tie still tightly knotted. Despite the formality in his appearance, his eyes were warm as they met yours.

"Working late again?" Joshua's voice was smooth, carrying a thread of amusement. He stepped further into the room, pulling the door shut behind him with a soft click.

You sat up a little straighter in your chair, suddenly feeling very aware of how disheveled you must look. "Mr. Hong, I didn't realize you'd still be here."

Joshua laughed softly and crossed the room with such grace it seemed hardly an effort. "Joshua, please. It's just me. Besides, I had some papers to review and thought I'd check on my favourite secretary."

Your cheeks flushed slightly at his compliment. "I'm just finishing up some reports. I didn't mean to keep you."

He waved off your concern with a casual gesture. "Nonsense. I enjoy the company."

As he sat in the chair across from your desk, you could feel the energy shifting. It was the look in his eyes that was somehow not professional; it was very personal. Those late hours spent at the office had been close to many times ending in personal conversations rather than work-related. That was when you'd started to appreciate Joshua's kindness and insight.

"So, how was your day?" you asked, trying to lighten things up despite the undeniable tension in the room.

Joshua's eyes softened as he regarded you. "Busy but not without its moments of clarity. How about yours?"

You hesitated, looking back at the stacks of paperwork and the blinking cursor on your screen. "It's been ... intense. But I'm almost done."

Joshua leaned forward slightly, his face in thought. "Listen, I really do appreciate how hard you work. That doesn't go unobserved, okay?"

His words held further meaning tonight, but you had the feeling you'd heard this before. You raised your head to meet his gaze, looking for the truth behind the words. "Thank you, Joshua. I really appreciate that."

It was held in that silence—a moment filled with unstated understanding. Joshua's eyes settled onto yours, and your heart picked up pace. It was weird, as if time had thunked to standstill, and the professional distance that had always been there was suddenly getting blurred.

Joshua got to his feet and went to the window, looking out over the city. "Sometimes, I wonder if all this—" he gestured broadly at the skyline "—is worth it."

You went to stand beside him at the window. The city lights danced in your eyes, illuminating soft reflections on your faces. "It is. But only if you have people who believe in what you're doing."

Joshua turned his head just a little to the side, but he still watched the horizon. "And I do. People like you."

The weight of his words settled into your silence. You had always looked up to Joshua's commitment and drive, but tonight, it felt like you saw a different side of his vulnerability.

"Do you ever feel like, um, needing to stop for a bit?" you asked softly, your voice barely audible.

Joshua finally turned to face you; his expression was earnest. "I think about it often. But it's hard to step back when you are so invested."

You nodded in comprehension. It was a struggle you knew well, juggling the call of duty with the need for personal time. Shared sense of sacrifice.

Without thinking, you put a hand on his arm. The reassurance in the gesture was unmistakable. His eyes moved down to your hand briefly before looking back up into your eyes. The connection between you two was electric, almost as though the air around you was charged with an unsaid tension.

Joshua's hand slowly covered yours, and there you were, standing, both of you equally silent, acknowledging the sudden shift in your relationship. The professional distance that had always kept you apart was a faint memory now.

He inclined a little, his breath warm against your cheek. "Is it wrong to want something more... personal?"

Your breath caught in your throat, and only a soft "No, not at all" managed to come out.

He bridged the space between you with a gentle, deliberate motion. His lips met yours in a tender, yet intense, kiss—a kiss saturated with all of the unspoken words and emotions that had grown over time. It was this clear to both of you: whatever it was that you shared went beyond the confines of professional roles.

The kiss deepened, and you felt yourself melt into the embrace; your heart pounded with excitement and uncertainty. This was a kiss pregnant with promise, possibility—the promise of a different kind of future than what one had envisioned.When the kiss finally broke, you both pulled back some and pressed your foreheads together.

Joshua's eyes held yours before he finally spoke again. "I've wanted to tell you this for a long time."

You smiled, feeling a warmth spread through you. "I'm glad you did."

Joshua's fingers just barely touched your cheek, his thumb brushing away a stray tear you hadn't known had fallen. "I'm so glad. It's been so much through these past years, and I wouldn't want it any other way.

The office settled into silence, but this time it was a comfortable silence, the feeling of something just having restarted. You kind of felt at peace just standing there wrapped in his arms, Joshua's arms.

The future was uncertain, but for now, you were content to just be in this moment—the place of clarity and connection that was so long overdue. Joshua's presence reassured you that, among the chaos, in the middle, right amidst the chaos, it is always possible for something beautiful to exist.

And as both of you stared at those city lights again, you knew that whatever was bound to happen, you would confront it together.

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Word count: 1055

Author's note: This is my first time publishing my work so please let me know if I have spelling or grammar mistakes. The same book has been posted on Quotev and Tumblr (hwashua-luv). Each oneshot will be posted on Instagram (hwashua._.luv1708). Requests are also open <3