𝐖𝐄𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐀 𝐒𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐄 𓍯 [ꜱᴇᴏᴋꜱᴏᴏ]

𝘈 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘚𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘦

⸻ 𓍯 ⸻

Joshua wasn't sure when it happened, but somewhere between those awkward coffee shop meet-ups and the quiet moments they shared after group, Seokmin had become a part of his routine. It felt strange, having someone around who seemed to genuinely want to be there. Someone who didn't press too hard or expect too much. Seokmin just... existed, and somehow that made Joshua feel less like he was floating aimlessly in his own head.

After every session, Joshua would hang back for a bit, waiting for Seokmin to finish talking with Yuri or saying goodbye to the others, and then they'd walk together, the tension of the therapy room melting away as they stepped outside into the cool air.

Today was no different. They walked the short distance to the coffee shop, Seokmin filled the silence with easy chatter, talking about some new song he'd heard or how his favorite show was getting a new season. Joshua didn't say much, but he didn't have to. Seokmin didn't seem to mind.

When they arrived at the shop, Seokmin held the door open with a flourish. ❝After you, my good sir,❞ he said with a grin.

Joshua rolled his eyes but couldn't help the small smile that tugged at his lips. ❝You're ridiculous.❞

❝I know,❞ Seokmin replied cheerfully, following him inside.

They slid into their usual booth by the window. Seokmin ordered his usual-something sweet with way too much whipped cream-while Joshua stuck to his black coffee. As the barista handed Seokmin his drink, Joshua couldn't help but comment.

❝They're seriously going to start charging you extra for that whipped cream.❞

Seokmin took a dramatic sip, wiping away a bit of cream from his upper lip. ❝Nah, they love me. I think it's the smile.❞

Joshua snorted, shaking his head. ❝You think everyone loves you.❞

❝Because they do,❞ Seokmin shot back, grinning from ear to ear. ❝Besides, it works, right? You're smiling.❞

Joshua glanced down at his coffee, realizing that he was, in fact, smiling. He hadn't even noticed it creeping up on him. It was strange-how easy it was to smile around Seokmin, to let go of the heaviness he usually carried.

These moments, sitting in the coffee shop, were different from anything Joshua was used to. The conversations were light, even if they didn't always talk about the important stuff. It was enough to just be-to sit across from someone who didn't expect anything from him except his presence.

Seokmin leaned back in his chair, watching the people outside the window for a moment before turning back to Joshua. ❝You ever think about doing something spontaneous?❞

Joshua raised an eyebrow. ❝Like what?❞

❝I don't know. Just... something random. Like, what if we just left right now and went somewhere? No plan, no thinking, just... go?❞

Joshua blinked, the idea so foreign it almost made him laugh. ❝That's not really my thing.❞

❝I figured,❞ Seokmin said, grinning. ❝But it could be fun, right? Sometimes you gotta shake things up.❞

Joshua shook his head, still smiling. ❝Maybe for you. I think I'll stick to my coffee, thanks.❞

Seokmin shrugged, not pushing the idea any further, but there was still that spark in his eyes. He always had that-an energy that made Joshua feel like maybe the world wasn't as heavy as it seemed. It wasn't that Seokmin didn't have his own struggles. Joshua knew that. But somehow, Seokmin carried his burdens with a lightness that Joshua couldn't understand.

And that lightness-it was contagious.

Sitting there, listening to Seokmin talk about random things, Joshua found himself forgetting about the weight of the therapy sessions. He wasn't thinking about his own issues or the things he usually tried to avoid. Instead, he was laughing at one of Seokmin's stupid jokes, sipping his coffee, and feeling... okay. Maybe even happy, in a way he hadn't been in a long time.

It was strange to admit, but these coffee meet-ups had become the reason Joshua smiled. Not just because of the silly things Seokmin said, but because for those few hours, Joshua didn't feel alone. And that was enough.

⸻ 𓍯
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[Unedited]