Chef's Kiss || Joshua

24

"Are you ready?" Sunhee asked

"I'll never be" Yumi replied

The three of them walked in to be welcomed by the warm smiles of the boys.

Dk came rushing in, with his makeup half done, and hugged Sunhee, Yumi looked at them wondering if Joshua looked at her the way Dk looked at Sunhee.

Areum was already sitting with Scoups by her side when Yumi felt an arm wrapping around her.

"Sweets" Joshua whispered and kissed her neck "You're here"

Nerves came washing over her as she remembered the staff was there with them.

Joshua feeling her flinch, he squeeze her waist "they signed a NDA, we're ok"

Yumi pondered for a moment before turning to him and giving him a quick look " still...don't feel too comfortable"

"Wanna go to a calmer place? I'm already done. I can go with you "Joshua reassured her

Yumi nodded and it didn't take long until Joshua grabbed her hand and took her out of the room.

While not letting go of her hand, he took her to a quiet room.

"Is here better?" He asked

"Just me and you? Perfect" she flashed him a smile "You know what happens at times like this in my books?"

Joshua's eyes widened but he didn't flatter "What happens sweets?"

"I know you know.... I saw how you read with me when we're in bed"

"Well I have too, your whole attention is on the book"

"And your attention is on me?"

"Always. What happened really scared me....I thought you were gone" he said looking at her and trying to read her thinkings "When I woke up and you were gone it broke me"

"I'm sorry. I just wanna buy some things and surprise you with breakfast in bed"

"Are you ok? We didn't talk much about it.... I heard you one time on your phone with your mom but nothing more"

"I'm ok. I'm trying to move on from it and trust me when I say you do help me. A lot... even more than my fictional boyfriends"

"That's a huge compliment" he laughed " but am I? Because I'm here if you need to talk" he briefly patted her hair and smiled down at her "or to do something else"

"Are you offering me to use you?" She giggled

"Like your books... should I lean more or growl a bit" he wondered

"Babe you can't pull a growl" Yumi said wrapping her arms around him "but A plus for effort"

"You're really ok?" He placed a hand over her cheek

"I'm not a talker but I promise you if I need to talk I'll come to you"

"That's my girl" he kissed her softly

Yumi and Joshua found themselves carefully leaving the room.

A muffled noise echoed around a corner, catching their attention. Joshua's eyes narrowed slightly, sensing someone close.

Yumi instinctively moved closer to him"Did you hear that?" Yumi whispered, her eyes "who is it?"

As they turned the corner, the source of the noise became clearer. Joshua gently pulled her behind a nearby equipment crate, shielding her or trying to.

"Yeah babe that doesn't work" Yumi couldn't help but laugh at Joshua's sudden protective gesture.

He grinned sheepishly, his cheeks flushing slightly. "Sorry, I just... I didn't want anyone to see you," he admitted, his voice filled with a mixture of embarrassment and affection.

Yumi reached out and gently squeezed his arm, her touch a silent reassurance of her love and appreciation for him. "It's okay," she said softly, a fond smile on her lips.

Just then, as they stood there together, lost in their own little world, Joshua leaned down and pressed his lips to hers in a sweet and tender kiss.

But their private moment was soon interrupted by the unexpected arrival of Jaemin, who walked by with a mischievous twinkle in his eye. "I didn't see anything," he quipped with a grin, his words causing both Joshua and Yumi to burst into laughter.

"Thanks, Jaemin," Joshua said, still grinning as he wrapped an arm around Yumi's shoulders.

"Yeah, who is he?" Yumi whispered

"Part of NCT, he must be here with Taeyong"

"So it's safe?" She looked at him

"It is" he smiled " we need to go"

After he left with the rest of seventeen, Yumi stayed behind with the girls to enjoy the show.

They jumped and sang all the songs until Aju Nice, since it was the last song. The girls left the crowd to go backstage again and meet the boys the moment they left the stage.

Yumi couldn't help but smile when Joshua appeared and hugged her.

"Did you like the show?" He asked

"I loved it. You were amazing" she said with the biggest smile

"Give me ten minutes and I'll leave with you." He pressed a kiss on her forehead

"Are you sure?"

"Yup, tell the girls you'll be leaving with me"

After they sneak out, they arrive at the park of their first date. Yumi thought Joshua would be tired but he said he wanted to walk a bit before going home with her.

"So, what do you think the future holds for us?" Joshua asked, his tone hopeful as he looked at Yumi.

"Why the sudden question?" Yumi smiled, her heart swelling with love for the man beside her. "I don't know.... I love you, that's it" she said softly

"Just... today the guys were talking about the future and I all the moments I imagined were with you"

"And what type of scenarios?" She asked holding his hand

"My weeding date, my event date... who everyone would look and be jealous of me" Yumi chuckled " you in a white dress, you with a big belly.... You're always there"

"I hope so" she kissed his hand as they walked together that night