soft spot ⟡ hong joshua

⟡ 10 Not A (Total) Failure

"Hovering? No, no hovering! This is—proximity-based tutoring. Very efficient." Joshua panicked.

"Right."

Joshua knew he needed help.

✦✦✦

After a crash course in flirting—courtesy of his too-invested friends—Joshua felt, marginally, more prepared to woo Minji. He had memorised Soonyoung's "confidence is key" mantra, Harin's softly offered tips on how to read Minji's expressions, and Jeonghan's entirely unhelpful but enthusiastic affirmations like, "Just pretend you're in a drama."

Despite all this, it wasn't coming naturally. Which was strange.

Normally, flirting was effortless for him—he knew the right words, the subtle gestures, the moments to lean in just a little too close. It used to feel like a game. But this wasn't a game. This was Minji.

And maybe that's why his hands wouldn't stop sweating.

Because he couldn't shake the fear that all his effort would mean nothing if she didn't feel the same.

Or maybe it was because, at that very moment, he was under constant, suffocating surveillance.

Joshua didn't have to turn around to know he was being watched. Somewhere behind the wall of milling students, tucked into corners or peeking behind lockers, his friends were undoubtedly lurking. He could feel their eyes on him, their hope, their enthusiasm.

He walked beside Minji, pretending to be relaxed as they strolled down the main hallway after their free period. Students parted around them in bursts of chatter and laughter, but Joshua's entire focus was narrowed on one thing: Step One. Increase physical contact.

His fingers flexed at his side as he took a breath. Just be smooth, be natural. You've known her for years. It's not that deep.

As they approached a particularly congested stretch of the hallway, he saw his opening. Casually—well, as casually as his rattled nerves would allow—he placed a hand on the small of Minji's back to gently guide her forward through the crowd.

And immediately regretted it.

Minji stopped mid-step, turning to look at him with a raised brow and a suspicious glint in her eyes.

"Since when do you do that?" she asked, voice laced with genuine curiosity and just the faintest thread of amusement.

Joshua froze. "Do what?"

"The guiding thing," she said, her brow creasing. "You've never done that before."

He scrambled for an answer, trying to keep his face neutral. "Maybe I'm maturing," he said after a beat, flashing a sheepish smile. "I've got to become a gentleman at some point, right?"

Minji didn't look convinced. "Tell that to Mingyu," she quipped.

Joshua chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. Her laughter joined his a moment later—and just like that, the tension melted from his shoulders. Her smile disarmed him more than her glare ever could.

Maybe he'd been approaching this all wrong. This wasn't a stranger he was trying to impress. This was Minji—competitive, brilliant, sharp-tongued Minji. He didn't need a script for her. He knew her—knew what made her laugh, what made her roll her eyes, what kind of snacks she hoarded in her pencil case during their tutoring sessions.

He didn't need to act. He just needed to be... confident.

From across the corridor, crammed awkwardly behind a row of lockers, three faces peeked through the gaps with varying degrees of concern.

"She definitely knows something's up," Mingyu murmured, watching his twin's reaction with narrowed eyes.

"But they're laughing. That's a good sign," Harin whispered back, nudging his side. "She didn't run. She laughed. That means she's relaxed."

"Or confused," Jeonghan muttered, his eyes unblinking. "Joshua just needs to not get freaked out. If he spirals now, the whole thing collapses."

"You make it sound so simple," Mingyu said with a sigh, shifting uncomfortably.

"That's because it is," Jeonghan insisted. "We've laid the groundwork. It's one hand on the back. It's not rocket science."

"Yeah, well, you try flirting with my sister under surveillance while knowing she might crush your soul if you say the wrong thing," Mingyu muttered.

Harin bit back a laugh.

Jeonghan leaned closer to the slats, eyes narrowing like a hawk. "Step One... not a total failure."

"Barely," Mingyu added.

But as they watched Minji shove Joshua's shoulder playfully and Joshua grin like an idiot, all three of them dared to hope.

Maybe—just maybe—this ridiculous plan had a chance.

@adoreleclerc speaks :

baby steps people baby steps

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