BLOSSOMED | SEOKSOO FF

PART 51

The night before the wedding was as chaotic as it was memorable. The living room of Mingyu and Wonwoo’s house was alive with laughter, the clinking of glasses, and the gentle hum of conversations that grew louder as the evening wore on. In the center of it all was a small, lively group: Mingyu, Soonyoung, Seungcheol, and Seokmin, gathered around the coffee table for what could only be described as the ultimate boys’ night.

The air buzzed with camaraderie, the snacks were piled high, and the drinks were flowing—a prelude to the larger celebration awaiting them the next day. It was a chance to relax, reminisce, and let loose before Mingyu and Wonwoo’s big day.

Soonyoung, ever the entertainer, was the first to spark the conversation, his grin as mischievous as ever. “You know, Jihoon never admits how insane it is juggling two kids and work. The man’s got skills, but sometimes...”

“Don’t even start,” Seungcheol interrupted with a dramatic groan, leaning back in his chair. “Try dealing with Jeonghan pregnant. I’m telling you, the mood swings are on another level. Yesterday, he cried over a cereal commercial. A cereal commercial, Soonyoung.”

Mingyu snorted, typing something into his phone. “Mood swings are no joke, man. Just wait until Jeonghan demands something impossible in the middle of the night. Wonwoo warned me—pregnancy is no walk in the park.”

As the laughter rippled through the group, Seokmin remained quieter than usual. His smile was present, but his mind was elsewhere. His thoughts drifted to Jisoo, his partner, and the uncertainty he had been wrestling with for weeks. Their relationship had grown stronger, yet Seokmin couldn’t shake the doubt lingering in his heart. Every time he considered proposing, memories of past mistakes resurfaced, holding him back.

Noticing the slight furrow in Seokmin’s brow, Soonyoung tilted his head, his curiosity piqued. “Alright, Seokmin, spill. You’ve been way too quiet tonight. What’s going on?”

Seokmin hesitated, swirling the drink in his glass. “I don’t know... I just keep thinking about Jisoo. About everything I’ve done. I hurt him so much before, and I don’t know if I deserve to ask him for forever.”

Mingyu paused his note-taking, glancing up with a raised brow. “Seokmin, you’re not that guy anymore. Jisoo sees that. We all do. You’ve changed, and you’ve been proving it every single day.”

“Exactly,” Seungcheol added, his tone gentle but firm. “None of us are perfect. God knows Jeonghan could write a novel about my screw-ups. But what matters is showing up and doing better. Jisoo stuck by you for a reason. He believes in you.”

Soonyoung, leaning forward with a knowing smile, chimed in. “If you’re waiting for the perfect moment, NEWSFLASH —it doesn’t exist. Look at me and Jihoon. We’ve got two kids, and we’re still figuring it out. But it’s worth it because we’re building something together.”

Seokmin sighed, his gaze fixed on the swirling liquid in his glass. “But Jisoo... he was always there, all those 8 years. Even when I wasn’t. I don’t want to hurt him again.”

Mingyu set his phone down, his expression softening. “Seokmin, the fact that you’re this worried about doing right by him says everything. You’re not going to hurt him. If anything, not taking this step could hurt more. Jisoo’s been waiting for you to believe in yourself the way he does.”

The room fell quiet, the weight of Mingyu’s words settling over them.

Finally, Seungcheol raised his glass with a sly grin. “Alright, enough brooding. Here’s the plan: you’re going to propose. And when you do, you’re going to knock Jisoo off his feet.”

Soonyoung grinned, nudging Seokmin. “Yeah, picture it. Jisoo’s been dropping hints forever. If you don’t do it soon, I’ll do it for you.”

Seokmin couldn’t help but laugh, the tension easing from his shoulders. “You guys really don’t let up, do you?”

“Nope,” Mingyu quipped, away on his phone again. “Besides, what’s a wedding without some good proposal stories to top it off?”