The rehearsal studio buzzed with energy as Seventeen worked tirelessly, perfecting their choreography for their upcoming performance. The air was thick with determination and the occasional burst of playful banter, mostly between Joshua and Seokmin. Ever since they debuted, Joshua and Seokmin had been known for their playful rivalry. Whether it was fighting over who hit a note better during vocal practice or arguing about who executed a dance move more cleanly, their constant bickering had become a regular source of entertainment for the rest of the members. Even when the argument had no clear winner, the two would keep going, never backing down.
"Yah, Seokmin!" Joshua's voice rang out as he wiped sweat from his brow. "You call that a high kick? Even Hoshi could do better blindfolded." The rest of the group burst into laughter, and Seokmin, pretending to be offended, dramatically placed a hand on his chest.
"Oh, you wound me, Shua!" Seokmin shot back, narrowing his eyes with mock hurt. "At least I don't almost fall over every time we do the spin move. Maybe I should lend you some of my grace."
Joshua rolled his eyes. "Please, as if you could teach anyone about grace."
It was the same teasing back-and-forth they always had. Despite their seemingly endless bickering, there was an undeniable chemistry between them that had the other members constantly teasing. Every time Seokmin threw a comment Joshua's way, or every time Joshua made a playful jab at Seokmin, there was always a hint of something deeper, something unspoken that lingered beneath the surface.
Jeonghan leaned over to Seungcheol, grinning. "I bet you they end up together," he whispered, earning a chuckle from the eldest member.
As the practice continued, the group ran through the choreography one more time. It was during a particularly sharp turn and leap that disaster struck. Joshua, already tired and running on adrenaline, misjudged his landing. His ankle twisted at an awkward angle, and with a painful gasp, he crashed onto the floor. The music stopped abruptly, and a wave of concern spread through the members.
Seokmin's reaction was instant. "Joshua!" he shouted, voice full of alarm. He dropped everything, rushing to Joshua's side faster than anyone else. His usual playful demeanor was gone, replaced by genuine panic. He knelt down beside Joshua, his hands trembling as he gently touched Joshua's shoulder.
"Are you okay?" Seokmin's voice was breathless, his eyes wide with worry. Joshua winced, trying to sit up but failing as pain shot through his ankle. He bit his lip, looking up at Seokmin, surprised by the intense concern on his rival's face.
"It hurts," Joshua admitted, his voice soft, almost vulnerable. Seokmin's heart twisted in his chest. He had never seen Joshua look so fragile, and the thought of Joshua being in pain made something ache deep inside him. Gone were the playful arguments and teasing remarks; all that mattered now was making sure Joshua was alright.
Without a second thought, Seokmin gently scooped Joshua up into his arms, lifting him as though he weighed nothing. Joshua's eyes widened, and a faint blush crept up his cheeks. "W-What are you doing?" he stammered, feeling his heart race.
Seokmin's jaw clenched as he looked down at Joshua, his voice firm. "Taking you to get this looked at. You can't walk on it." There was no teasing in his voice, no hint of their usual rivalry. Joshua felt a rush of emotions he couldn't quite describe. All he knew was that the way Seokmin held him, so carefully and protectively, made his heart skip a beat.
The other members watched the scene unfold, exchanging knowing glances. "Well, well," Jeonghan said with a smirk. "Looks like our playful rivalry just got interesting."
Once Joshua was seated on the couch with an ice pack on his ankle, Seokmin stayed by his side, refusing to leave even when Hoshi offered to get water or Vernon suggested giving them space. Seokmin's hand hovered over Joshua's, his fingers twitching as if he wanted to hold it but was too nervous to follow through.
"Why are you... so worried?" Joshua asked softly, his voice breaking the silence between them. Seokmin's eyes flicked up to meet Joshua's, and for the first time, there was no playful competition, no barriers between them. Just raw, unfiltered emotion.
"Because," Seokmin said, his voice cracking. He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. "Because I care about you, okay? More than I probably should." His cheeks flushed a deep red, and he looked away, embarrassed. "All that teasing... it's just been a way to cover up how much I actually like you."
Joshua's breath caught in his throat. The teasing, the bickering, the rivalry it had all been a way to get closer to each other. He realized now that the tension they shared wasn't just from competition but from something far more tender and heartfelt.
A soft smile spread across Joshua's lips. "I like you too," he admitted, his own blush deepening. "I guess our rivalry was just a distraction, huh?"
Seokmin's eyes lit up, and a grin slowly replaced his worried expression. "So... does this mean we're not rivals anymore?"
Joshua chuckled, the pain in his ankle temporarily forgotten as he reached out to take Seokmin's hand. "Maybe not rivals. But if you want, we could be something else?"
Seokmin's grin widened, and he gently squeezed Joshua's hand. "I'd like that. A lot."
The rest of the members, who had been eavesdropping shamelessly, burst into cheers and applause, making the two jump and laugh. Hoshi clapped his hands, his eyes shining with excitement. "Finally! It's about time you two figured it out."
Jeonghan leaned over, whispering to a beaming Seungcheol, "I told you they'd get together eventually."
As Seokmin and Joshua exchanged a shy but heartfelt smile, the room felt lighter, warmer. The rivalry that had defined their relationship for so long had finally given way to something far more genuine and beautiful - love.
Hi everyone, I just wanted to give you all a quick update.
Unfortunately, I lost all my story drafts, including the ones I had saved in my Notes app. I accidentally deleted them, and I feel terrible about it. That means I have to start from the beginning and rewrite everything. I know it's frustrating, and I'm really sorry for the delay.
To avoid making you wait too long, I've decided to post a completed JiHanCheol book I've been working on! It's ready to go, so I'll start posting that while I work on rewriting the other stories.
Thank you so much for your patience and understanding it means a lot to me.
