Responsibility | Jihancheol FF | Seventeen FF

66

D1

At 9:30 at night.
Seokmin stood outside Joshua’s apartment door, his palms sweating as he clutched a bouquet of balloons. Each one had a quirky pickup line written on it, courtesy of his brother Chan, who insisted this was a foolproof plan.

“Trust me, hyung,” Chan had said. “Single dads love balloons. They’re whimsical. Endearing. And these lines? Irresistible.”

Seokmin reread the messages. One said, "Are you a magician? Because whenever I look at you, everyone else disappears." Another read, "I might not be a photographer, but I can picture us together."

With a deep breath, Seokmin knocked on the door. After a moment, Joshua answered, peaking behind, Jeongin, who looked less than impressed because being sleepy.

“Hi!” Seokmin said, voice cracking. He shoved the balloons forward, accidentally bopping Jeongin on the nose.

Joshua blinked. “Oh… balloons?”

“They’re… for you! I mean, for both of you!” Seokmin blurted.

Jeongin frowned. “I don’t like balloons.”

Seokmin panicked. “Oh! That’s okay! I also brought… candy!” He fumbled in his pocket, pulling out a squished chocolate bar. It was melted beyond recognition.

Joshua chuckled softly. “Thanks. That’s… thoughtful?”

As Seokmin scrambled to recover, Jeongin took one of the balloons, read the pickup line, and said, “Daddy, what’s a photographer?”

Joshua sighed. “It’s complicated.” He gave Seokmin a small smile. “Thanks for the effort, but maybe… next time.”

Defeated, Seokmin trudged home, where Soonyoung and Chanwere waiting.

“What happened?” Hansol asked.

“I think I traumatized his kid,” Seokmin groaned.

“Maybe tomorrow will be better,” Soonyoung said, trying not to laugh.

---

D2

Seokmin decided to borrow Jungkook’s dog, Bubbles, to stage a “coincidental” meeting. Dogs, after all, were perfect icebreakers.

“Just don’t mess this up,” Jungkook warned. “Bubbles is sensitive.”

Seokmin spotted Joshua and Joshua with His mother  at the park and casually strolled by with Bubbles. Except Bubbles wasn’t strolling. He was dragging Seokmin behind him like a sled dog.

“Seokmin?” Joshua said, clearly surprised.

“Oh, hey! Fancy seeing you here!” Seokmin gasped, struggling to control Bubbles, who was now sniffing Jeongin’s shoes aggressively.

“Is this your dog?” Joshua asked."I never saw him in Residence before?"

“Uh, yeah! Totally! We’re, um, best friends!” Seokmin said, just as Bubbles decided to pee on Joshua’s leg.

Jeongin burst out laughing while Joshua froze in disbelief.

“Oh my gosh, I am so sorry!” Seokmin grabbed a handkerchief and started dabbing Joshua’s jeans. “He’s usually very polite, I swear!”

“Maybe you should get him a leash that works,” Joshua's mother said, but his lips twitched into a reluctant smile.

“Right. Of course. I’ll… go now.” Seokmin dragged Bubbles away, swearing he’d never borrow a dog again.

"He can't even lie!" Joshua's mother said and they laughed.
---

D3

For his final attempt, Seokmin enlisted Soonyoung and Seungkwan to help him set up an impromptu karaoke session outside Joshua’s apartment.

“This is your element,” Soonyoung said. “Show him your talent!”

Chan nodded. “You’ll win him over with your voice. Trust me.”

Jihoon peeked out from behind his grand mother, giggling at the spectacle, "what you doing MinMin? ”

Joshua rubbed his temples. “It… seems like new..”

Halfway through the chorus, Soonyoung appeared, wearing sunglasses and pretending to be Seokmin’s manager. “Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for witnessing the greatest love confession of the decade!” he announced dramatically.

Joshua froze in place, "Love... Confession?"

"You did well seokmin shi!" His mother walked forward patting Seokmin on shoulder...

'what the heck you mean by love confession? 'Joshua's inside churned hardly..