asthma | ss

6

joshua and seokmin were finally friends.

after their little outing with jeonghan, they had grown closer.

joshua adored seokmin, like really adored him. he’d always pinch the younger boy’s cheek or compliment him. seokmin found it strange at first, but he couldn’t deny he enjoyed it.

if anyone tried bullying seokmin, joshua would make sure to get even. seokmin found it both amusing and worrying. he hated when people got hurt because of him. he didn’t want anyone to suffer because of him.

now, joshua was sitting on the school bench, waiting for seokmin, who was bringing him a surprise.

over the two months of knowing each other, joshua had been the one giving seokmin gifts, though seokmin always tried to reject them after learning the price.

soon, seokmin appeared, running slowly, and joshua frowned, standing up. “he shouldn’t be running,” he thought, concerned.

he saw the small box in seokmin’s hand and gently took it. “you shouldn’t be running... it’s bad for your asthma,” he said, leading seokmin to the bench.

seokmin smiled apologetically, letting joshua guide him and rub his back.

sitting down, seokmin fidgeted, avoiding joshua’s gaze. “what’s wrong?” joshua asked.

seokmin hesitated. “t-the gift... i-it’s cheap…”

without hesitation, joshua opened the box. inside were two bracelets—one pink and one red, each with their initials.

“the red one is for me, and the pink one is for you…”

seokmin breathed deeply before speaking. “i-i thought you wouldn’t like it…”

joshua smiled, gently taking seokmin’s hand and putting on the red bracelet. “they’re cute…” he mumbled.

seokmin looked at him shyly. joshua handed him the pink bracelet and held out his hand. “wear me, please?”

seokmin nodded, a smile tugging at his lips. “i-i find it c-cute too…”

“i love them,” joshua said softly.