ӄʏɛօʍֆɦʊ ʟɨȶȶʟɛ ֆքǟƈɛ օռɛֆɦօȶֆ

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It had been a long day for Seokmin, filled with meetings, photoshoots, and the constant pressure that came with being the heir to his family's conglomerate. Normally, Seokmin's bubbly, sweet personality kept him smiling through it all. But today, it was all too much. As soon as they got home, Joshua could sense something was off. Seokmin was unusually quiet, his usual cheerful energy dimmed, his face scrunched up with frustration.

"Seok, you good?" Joshua asked, his voice calm as ever as he followed Seokmin into the living room.

Seokmin didn't answer right away. Instead, he flopped onto the couch, crossing his arms tightly over his chest and pouting. He kicked his feet against the edge of the couch, glancing up at Joshua with a frustrated frown.

"No!" Seokmin suddenly burst out, glaring at Joshua. "I'm not okay, Shua hyung!"

Joshua raised an eyebrow. He was used to Seokmin being expressive, but this was different. The tension in Seokmin's voice, the way his lips trembled as he spoke, all pointed to one thing: he was about to throw a tantrum.

"What's wrong?" Joshua asked, his voice patient, though he braced himself for what was coming.

Seokmin sat up, puffing out his cheeks, his eyes flashing with frustration. "You didn't even hug me earlier at the event! You just stood there like you were guarding a wall or something!" His voice rose, and he huffed, kicking the couch again for emphasis. "You don't care about me! You're always so cold!"

Joshua blinked, slightly taken aback by the sudden outburst. Seokmin's tantrums weren't exactly new, but they usually came in quieter, more playful ways. This time, though, he was genuinely upset, his cheeks flushed with emotion.

"Seok, I'm your bodyguard," Joshua explained softly, trying to reason with him. "I'm supposed to keep you safe in public, not-"

"I don't care!" Seokmin interrupted, standing up now and stomping his foot like a child. "I wanted a hug! And you didn't give it to me! You're mean, Shua hyung!"

Joshua let out a soft sigh, running a hand through his hair as he watched Seokmin's tantrum unfold. He was cute, even when he was upset, but Joshua knew better than to say that out loud right now.

"You know I care about you," Joshua said, his voice steady, but with a hint of softness that he reserved just for Seokmin. "I'm just doing my job. But come here."

Seokmin pouted, glaring up at Joshua for a moment longer before his resolve cracked. He took a hesitant step forward, his arms still crossed as he eyed Joshua skeptically. "Only if you're going to hug me."

Joshua couldn't help but chuckle softly under his breath. "Yeah, I'll hug you."

With that reassurance, Seokmin threw himself into Joshua's arms, wrapping his arms around Joshua's waist and burying his face into his chest. Joshua held him close, his hand gently rubbing Seokmin's back as the younger man continued to pout against him.

"You're still mean," Seokmin mumbled, though his voice had lost its sharpness.

"I'm not mean," Joshua said quietly, his voice softening further as he held Seokmin tighter. "I'm just trying to protect you."

Seokmin sniffled, still clinging to him, but Joshua could feel him calming down. "Next time, I want my hug. Right away."

Joshua smiled slightly, resting his chin on top of Seokmin's head. "Okay, next time, I'll hug you right away. Promise."

Seokmin finally relaxed, his tantrum fading away as he stayed in Joshua's arms, feeling the steady beat of Joshua's heart against him. He might throw fits, but in Joshua's arms, he always found his calm.

𐙚𓏲⋆ ִֶָ ๋𓂃 ⋆ᡣ𐭩