❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎

Seokmin was determined to make Joshua flustered because he found it unfair that he always fell for Joshua's antics.

As the two got in the car and buckled themselves up, Seokmin purposely spread his legs and leaned back, cracking his neck.

The veins in his arms flexed as he took off his suit jacket and rolled up his sleeves. He took out his tie and unbuttoned the first two buttons on his dress shirt.

He fought hard to not show any expression and pretend like it was normal for him.

Joshua's eyes naturally gravitated towards Dokyeom and when he saw what Dokyeom was doing, his heartbeat picked up and he started to get hot all of a sudden.

Seokmin glanced at Joshua, smirking at the fact that he had gotten a reaction out of him. "Wh-what are you even doing?" He stuttered and Seokmin chuckled, Joshua's stutter had sealed in his victory.

"Just stretching." Seokmin shrugged, cooking his head back and closing his eyes. Joshua gulped and faced the window, refusing to look at Dokyeom again.

"But, you said we're going to check out Christmas decorations... it's still November though." Seokmin reminded Joshua who was still turned away from him.

"Yeah, exactly, all the stores have probably put up their decorations already so we need to hurry and put up ours... also it's the 2nd of December." Joshua finally faced Dokyeom, showing him his phone screen.

Seokmin's mood changed instantly, the smirk vanishing from his face and his legs closing as he looked downwards at his hands.

Today was the 4th anniversary of Mingyu's death. He hadn't even remembered. He was such a dick. Such a horrible friend.

He had to get out of there. He needed some fresh air. His head had started to push out thoughts which went around in circles only confusing and saddening Seokmin more.

As the memories of that night flooded his brain, Seokmin's eyes teared up. He thought he was over it. He really did.

But in reality, he wasn't.

He was still stuck in that night, that dreadful night where everything changed. The night which made Seokmin realize that he needed to retire.

Joshua put his phone back in his pocket when he noticed a droplet of water fall unto Dokyeom's hands. He looked up to see Dokyeom's eyes filled with tears, slowly spilling over the edge.

What was wrong?

Joshua moved closer to Dokyeom, turning Dokyeom's face towards his. "Are you okay? What's happening?" Joshua asked, taking out the handkerchief in his suit pocket.

He had never seen Dokyeom this emotional before, and he desperately wanted to know why he was and who made him feel so sad.

"I'm fine." Seokmin lied, trying to take the handkerchief but Joshua pushed his hand away and cleaned the tears himself, patting Dokyeom's face.

The two stared into each other's eyes as Joshua gently patted away Dokyeom's tears. He didn't want to pressure Dokyeom into telling him anything. After all, they were just a boss and a secretary, but damn did he want to know.

"You don't look fine, but I know, it's not my business." Joshua replied, cleaning the last tear before folding and placing his handkerchief back.

"Thank you." Seokmin murmured before taking a deep breath. His chest was getting heavier by the second, the weight of his past had come back to haunt him like always. Always on this day. He was reminded just how despicable of a person he was.

That is, if he was even worthy enough to be acknowledged as a human.

The ride came to a stop as the car parked and Seokmin and Joshua got out, walking down the street. It was a huge shopping center with various stores, all decorated for Christmas.

While Christmas was a holiday that brought joy and smiles to people's faces, it was the exact opposite for both Joshua and Seokmin whose spirits didn't seem to brighten up at the sight of the decorations.

"Are you decorating the company too or is it just your other franchises like the mall and all the other buildings?" Seokmin asked as he inspected all the stores and their decorations.

"Franchises only, a Christmas themed office would only upset me." Joshua answered, wearing his sunglasses. Seokmin questioned his motives in his head but said nothing out.

"You don't really like Christmas right?" Seokmin pondered and Joshua nodded as they walked down, taking pictures and notes of certain adornments.

"Never did, never will." Joshua responded, the soles of his shoes making cracking sounds against the light snow. Seokmin also hated Christmas, for various reasons, but he couldn't let Joshua know that.

He had to be Dokyeom.

Not Seokmin.

After an hour of scanning shops and taking pictures and notes, the two decided to stop at a café to decide on what to do and also to take a little break.

Seokmin ordered two black coffees and paid before taking the cups to the table Joshua had chosen, by the window.

He slid Joshua's towards him and opened his own, taking a sip. The hot liquid scratched his throat, burning it slightly as it went down. Seokmin let out a sigh of relief.

He hadn't been able to drink coffee in a while, in order to heal faster. He also hadn't been able to smoke in a while. That was taking a toll on him.

"Thanks." Joshua said before also taking a sip and dropping the cup down.

Seokmin focused on Joshua while Joshua focused on his laptop which he was using to make some sort of prototype for his designs. Seokmin admired and envied Joshua.

He had never seen someone who worked so hard and cared about their job so much until he met Joshua. He was on a different level. Immensely dedicated, determined and loyal towards his work.

In times like this, Seokmin was reminded of just how pathetic he and his job were. He killed people for a living, he let people die for a living.

And he didn't regret it, he'd never regretted it.

The flashbacks to that night kept coming to Seokmin to the point where he had to wash his face in the toilet of the café and bring himself back to reality.

As Seokmin looked at his reflection in the toilet mirror, blood started to drip down the glass and he moved himself away but there was blood on his hands to, he turned towards the door and there he was.

Mingyu, half dead, crawling towards him with his hand out. "Save me Seokmin... please." He begged, droplets of tears falling unto the floor, his voice coarse and cracked.

Seokmin stepped backwards but Mingyu didn't give up, going closer until Seokmin hit the wall, falling to the floor.

"Dokyeom!" Joshua's voice managed to break him out of his hallucinations, the blood and Mingyu instantly disappearing. Seokmin started to hyperventilate as he kept his hand on his chest and his eyes watered again.

Joshua, not knowing what to say, pulled Dokyeom into a hug and gently pat his back, trying to calm him down.

In Joshua's arms, Seokmin felt safe but he was hurting, he was hurting so much. His past had found its way back to him. As a reminder, that he deserved nothing good in life.

He hated the 2nd of December.

❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎

Ⓒ︎𝐎𝐇𝐖𝐀𝐘𝐎𝐇𝐖𝐀𝐘𝐎𝐇
𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝 - 06/10/2024
𝐄𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 - N/A