Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
SOFT SPOT
by adoreleclerc
— i'm wrapped around your finger and i can't stop
Tomorrow was a day Minji dreaded.
It would be her first English test since Joshua started tutoring her, and she had to improve her grade. She knew Joshua would never outright say he was disappointed—but she'd know. She always did.
After all, she'd known him for so long that she could read his quirks like the back of her hand. Usually, she used that knowledge to beat him in one of their many competitions. But now? Now she noticed everything—without even meaning to.
Like how he was currently reading her essay, tapping his pen rhythmically against the paper. At first, she'd found it slightly adorable. Emphasis on slightly. Now, she could feel a headache forming from the constant tapping.
"You know how you have to be quiet in a library? That means no pen-tapping." Minji muttered, casting a glance at him.
"And yet you're talking to me. How hypocritical." Joshua smirked, not looking up, the corners of his mouth tugging upward as he underlined something on the page.
Minji rolled her eyes, flopping back in her chair with a sigh.
A moment later, he slid the paper across the table toward her. "To be honest, as much as it pains me to admit it, you've improved. A lot. Spelling's better, sentence structure too. Keep this up and you'll be pulling straight Bs—maybe even As."
"Really?" Minji's eyes lit up as she saw the big red B scribbled at the top. Joshua smiled despite himself.
"Yeah," he said, softer this time.
As she scanned the page, her brow furrowed at a correction, and Joshua's gaze lingered. The way her hair fell around her face, the little scrunch of her nose when she was confused, the way her eyes sparkled just slightly at each ticked answer—
What the hell is wrong with you? he scolded himself, snapping his gaze away. Get it together.
"I'm scared." Minji's words immediately broke Joshua out of his trance. "What if I don't improve? What if I blank tomorrow?"
He could've made a joke. Normally, he would've. But the look in her eyes stopped him cold. She looked genuinely nervous—lashes fluttering, gaze uncertain.
"You've got this." He gently tapped her forehead with his pen. "Everything's up there. No need to worry."
Minji met his eyes, and for a moment, she believed him. "Thanks," she whispered.
A sudden cough made them both jump. They immediately shifted away from each other as Jeonghan approached, smirking like a man with a mission.
"How's the studying?" he asked, eyes narrowing on Joshua like he'd caught him red-handed.
Joshua glanced slightly at Minji before answering, "It was going fine—until you showed up."
"But what exactly was it that I was interrupting?"
"Jeonghan," Joshua warned his best friend.
Minji crossed her arms. "Why are you even here?"
"Can't a guy come study with his friends?"
"Not without a his bag, he can't," Minji smiled teasingly.
Jeonghan pursed his lips. "Fine," he sighed. "I was told to keep an eye on you by Hana."
"And why can't she do that herself?" Joshua questioned.
"Oh, she's here," Jeonghan said casually, pointing to a nearby bookshelf. "Hiding over there."
Minji turned her head just in time to catch Hana ducking out of sight.
"She told me—and I quote—'that boy Joshua is getting way too comfortable with my Minji.'"
Joshua groaned, dropping his head onto the table. "Does she really not trust me? We were literally just studying!"
"It sure didn't look like it," Jeonghan muttered under his breath.
"If you're both here, we might as well revise together," Minji offered. "We've all got the same test anyway."
Joshua tried not to look disappointed, but Jeonghan caught the subtle shift in his expression. He didn't say anything—yet—but he saw it.
Still, he waved Hana over, and the four of them soon settled into a mix of revision and casual chatter.
But every so often, Jeonghan noticed Joshua's eyes drifting back to Minji. Again and again.
It didn't surprise him.
He'd always known that Joshua had a soft spot for Minji.
@adoreleclerc speaks :
oh jeonghan i miss you and your antics :(
i really feel like all these are just fillers but like they are kinda cute ig. pls lmk
i hope you all enjoyed this chapter! Please remember to vote and comment!
