It started with a smirk.
A tiny one. Barely there. But it was real.
Mingyu had just returned from the gym, a towel slung around his neck, hair messy, sweat still dripping down his temple. He walked into the dorm living room and dramatically collapsed on the couch.
“My legs are gone. I’m a noodle. Someone carry me.”
“Maybe try using your arms next time,” Joshua said from the kitchen, barely glancing up from his tea.
Mingyu blinked.
“Did he just..” Vernon leaned forward.
Joshua finally looked up.
And smirked.
“Oh my God,” Jeonghan whispered smiling. “He’s back.”
From there, it was little moments.
Joshua walking into the practice room with an iced americano and handing it to Seungkwan with a wink.
“Got it without asking. I still know you better than yourself.”
He poked fun at Seungcheol’s snoring, called Jun “the drama queen of 2025,” and even dared to steal a spoonful of Seungkwan’s tangerine sorbet while making direct eye contact.
It was chaos.
It was comfort.
It was Joshua.
Joshua’s POV
I stepped out to the balcony alone today. The sky was pink, soft clouds floating above the skyline. I had a sweater draped over my shoulders. The breeze was gentle.
I called her.
“엄마?” (Mom?)
“Shua-yah!” her voice instantly brought tears to my eyes. “My baby. How are you?”
“I’m okay now,” I said quietly.
She didn’t ask why I hadn’t called earlier. She didn’t scold me. She just listened as I talked. About how I’d been scared. About how my members.. my boyfriendshad never left my side. About how I was smiling again. Slowly, but surely.
“I saw the press conference,” she said. “Your boyfriends loves you very much.”
I bit my lip. “They do. I didn’t know how much I needed them until I almost… until everything happened.”
She was quiet for a moment.
Then, gently
“God gives you people like that when you forget how much you matter.”
I couldn’t speak.
Tears rolled down my cheeks, but they were warm not heavy.
She added, “You’ve always been my sunshine. Don’t let anyone dim that light.”
“I won’t,” I whispered.
“Promise me?”
“I promise, Mom.”
Later that night, Joshua walked into the dorm living room with a sparkle in his eye.
He stood in front of all twelve members and cleared his throat dramatically.
“I have an announcement.”
They paused, forks mid-air, controllers in hand, Jun halfway through a hair flip.
“I think I’m ready to go back on live.”
“Like… Weverse Live?” Minghao blinked.
Joshua nodded. “Just me. Talking. Smiling. Reclaiming the space that tried to bury me.”
Seungcheol stood first and walked over. He hugged Joshua tightly proud, emotional.
Jeonghan followed. Then Hoshi. Then all of them, wrapping around him, laughing softly.
“Alright, alright,” Joshua chuckled. “I get it.”
“You sure you’re ready?” Wonwoo asked, gently.
Joshua nodded, eyes shining.
“I’m not just ready. I want this. I want to remind them who I really am.”
That Night
Joshua sat in front of the camera. Alone. Calm. Smiling.
And when the live started, the comments poured in.
> “Joshua, we missed you!”
“You look healthy again 🥺”
“I’m sorry for what you went through. You didn’t deserve it.”
“SEVENTEEN is SEVENTEEN because of you.”
He smiled softly.
“Hi, everyone. It’s been a while,” he began.
“I just wanted to say thank you. For those who stayed. For those who came back. And even for those who may still be unsure… I’m not going anywhere. Because I have twelve reasons to stay right here.”
He winked.
“And maybe… a thirteenth reason. Me.”
----------------<THE END>----------------
