Joshua couldn't shake the feeling that something was different, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. The members of Seventeen, despite their recent attention and kindness, were still the same people he had always known, weren't they? They were just being nice because they felt guilty. But somewhere deep inside, he couldn't ignore the small voice that whispered maybe they really do care.
One evening, as Joshua was walking with Minhyuk through a quiet part of campus, his thoughts couldn't stay silent any longer. The confusion and the growing uncertainty in his heart led him to finally ask the one person he felt he could confide in.
"Minhyuk..." Joshua started softly, his voice tinged with hesitance. "I don't know what's going on with the others lately. They've been treating me so differently... I want to believe that they really mean it, but I'm not sure. I don't want to get hurt again."
Minhyuk, who had grown to care for Joshua deeply, could see the uncertainty in his eyes. He gently placed a reassuring hand on Joshua's shoulder, looking at him with warmth and honesty.
"Joshua," Minhyuk said softly, "I think they really do care about you. I can see it in the way they treat you now, the way they look at you. They've realized their mistakes, and they want to make it right. But you have to give them a chance. You're not the only one who has been hurt you've all been keeping distance, and now they're trying to close that gap. I know it's hard, but maybe you should trust them. Just give them a chance to prove it."
Joshua thought about Minhyuk's words, feeling a flicker of hope. He had never imagined that the Seventeen members could feel that way about him, not after everything that had happened. But there was something in Minhyuk's voice, something genuine, that made him want to believe.
"I... I guess you're right," Joshua said quietly, nodding. "I'll give them a chance. Maybe I've been holding back too."
The next day, the members of Seventeen took Joshua on a surprise trip to the beach. It was a warm, sunny afternoon, the sound of the waves crashing gently against the shore. Joshua had no idea what to expect, but as they walked along the sand, he noticed how they all seemed so serious, so different from the teasing, carefree group he was used to.
When they reached a quiet spot by the water, the members of Seventeen gathered around him, standing in a half-circle. Joshua felt his heart beat a little faster, unsure of what was going on.
Seungcheol, who had been one of the first to start showing Joshua more attention, stepped forward, a look of sincerity on his face. "Joshua," he began, his voice steady but soft, "we've made a lot of mistakes in the past. We hurt you, we took you for granted, and we never realized how much we were pushing you away. But we've learned. And now, we want to show you, not just with words, but with actions, how much you mean to us."
Joshua blinked, his heart racing. Was this really happening?
Wonwoo stepped up next, his usual cool demeanor replaced with warmth. "We're sorry, Joshua," he said quietly. "For making you feel like you weren't enough. You've always given so much, and we never appreciated it the way we should have."
One by one, the members spoke, each one offering their own heartfelt apology. Joshua was overwhelmed by their sincerity, feeling a mix of emotions relief, hope, and something deeper, something he hadn't allowed himself to feel in a long time.
Finally, it was Chan who stepped forward, his expression more vulnerable than Joshua had ever seen it. "Shua hyung," he began, his voice full of emotion, "we're not perfect. But we want to make things right. We want to show you how much we care. We've always cared, even if we didn't know how to show it. Please... will you give us a chance?"
