Seventeen Oneshot

mistake-seoksoo pt2

Joshua hadn’t stopped thinking about Seokmin since the day he left. Weeks had passed, but the guilt gnawed at him every day, a constant reminder of how he’d let his own mistakes ruin something beautiful. And then, one night, when his phone buzzed, he saw Seokmin’s name. It felt like a lifeline.

“Seokmin?” he answered, his voice laced with hope and fear.

There was a pause on the other end, a pause that seemed to stretch on forever before Seokmin spoke, calm but guarded. “Joshua, I don’t know why I’m calling. Maybe I needed to say goodbye, or maybe… I just wanted to hear your voice.”

The words stung, but Joshua clung to the fact that Seokmin had called him at all. “Please, Seokmin. Let me see you. I know I don’t deserve it, but please… just once.”

They met in a quiet park the next evening, the chill in the air mirroring the frostiness in Seokmin’s eyes. Joshua’s heart ached just looking at him, seeing the hurt he had caused etched deeply in his expression. He wanted nothing more than to reach out, but he knew better.

“I’m here,” Seokmin said, arms crossed, voice steady. “So say what you need to say.”

Joshua took a deep breath, his voice breaking with regret. “Seokmin, I messed up. I threw away the best thing in my life. I was selfish, and I hurt you. I’m sorry… I can’t go back and fix it, but I’ll do anything to make it up to you.”

Seokmin’s face softened slightly, but he shook his head. “Joshua, you can’t just apologize and think everything will be okay. I gave you everything, trusted you… and you betrayed me.”

Joshua’s heart sank. He didn’t know what he had expected, but Seokmin’s words cut deeply. “I know. And I don’t expect you to forgive me. But I’ll spend the rest of my life proving I’m worthy of a second chance.”

Over the next few weeks, Joshua did everything he could to earn back Seokmin’s trust. He sent heartfelt messages, leaving flowers on Seokmin’s doorstep and writing letters filled with his deepest regrets. But each time they met, Seokmin remained distant, polite but resolute.

One rainy afternoon, after yet another meeting where Seokmin refused to let him back in, Joshua found himself reaching the breaking point. As Seokmin turned to leave, Joshua dropped to his knees, his voice shaking.

“Seokmin, please. I’m begging you,” he pleaded, not caring about the damp ground beneath him or the curious looks of passersby. “I know I don’t deserve you, but please… give me one more chance.”

Seokmin turned, his expression unreadable, and for a moment, Joshua feared he might walk away forever. But instead, Seokmin sighed, reaching down to help him up.

“Joshua… get off the ground,” Seokmin said softly. “This isn’t about begging or grand gestures. It’s about trust. And right now, I don’t know if I can trust you.”

Joshua stood, still holding on to Seokmin’s hand, his heart pounding. “I’ll wait, Seokmin. However long it takes. I’ll prove myself to you.”

And so, he kept trying, day after day, week after week. Each encounter felt like an uphill battle, but Joshua never faltered. Slowly, he saw Seokmin’s walls start to crack, though Seokmin remained guarded, his responses polite but distant.

The days with Seokmin had been cautiously civil, the air still tinged with a distance that made Joshua’s heart ache. But as time passed, he felt the beginnings of something familiar between them—faint smiles, shared glances, and moments where Seokmin’s walls seemed to soften, if only slightly.

One evening, they found themselves sitting together at a coffee shop, the soft hum of jazz playing in the background. Joshua had brought Seokmin a favorite pastry, hoping it would bring a smile to his face. And it did—Seokmin’s lips curved just slightly as he took a bite, and Joshua couldn’t help but feel his heart flutter at that small victory.