FOR YOU ; ATEEZ 9th member

2021.08.24 🍓crippling depression?

17 hours.
aislinn had been in her room for 17 hours. after the group got back from their interview on idol radio, the girl went to her room, not forgetting to lock the door.

32 hours.
aislinn hadnt eaten anything for 32 hours. the last thing she ate was a singular piece of sushi (vegetarian - she doesnt eat seafood) after spending 19 hours locked up in the practise room.

the boys were worried about her to say the least. she seemed so devoid of emotion lately and, despite how hard she tried to hide it, everybody noticed. even people who only caught a single glimpse of her walking through the store could tell there was something awfully wrong. her members knew that there was no point in trying to ask her what was wrong since she never told anyone anything unless she really had to.
the only thing the boys could do at this point was wait for her to come out and talk to them. well, they could have called her therapist but they all know how much she hates the guy. there was one person they knew she would probably talk to, though that meant waking them up at almost 1 in the morning. it was the most they could do, though.

"okay, you guys can go back to bed, ill wait out here," seonghwa spoke quietly to the other seven boys who just nodded and left.
about 9 minutes after they went back to bed, seonghwas phone lit up with a message displayed on the screen.

hey, seonghwa-ssi. im outside the door. i didnt knock incase someone was asleep but could you come let me in please..?

the male placed his phone on the coffee table and headed to the door, opening it and dragging the other inside. "so glad you could make it, hyunsuk hyung," seonghwa sighed out, flashing a small smile.

"no problem," the older smiled. "where is she?"

"shes in her room; this way," seonghwa led hyunsuk to the girls room, knocking on the door lightly. "lina, sweetie, can you open the door please?" he asked softly but loud enough for the girl to hear.

"if i do, you wont make me eat anything, right?" aislinn inquired quietly, standing at the door with her hand placed gently on the handle.

"of course not, love1v  v,v. i would never make you do something you dont want to. i have someone who wants to see you," the sound of the lock clicking made seonghwa smile; aislinn was finally leaving the room after now almost 18 hours. the door cracked open and she peeked through before she reached her hand out, pulling both boys through into her room. though seonghwa was technically wrong in his thoughts, this felt like a win.

"eun, i heard from a little mouse that you havent been acting like yourself lately," hyunsuk started, trying to not startle his sister. "do you think you could tell us why? you dont need to straight awa-"

"i dont even know, to be honest.. im just not hungry and im really tired but i cant sleep and i dont want any human interaction," aislinn pouted, pulling seonghwas hand toward her so she could play with his rings.

"do you think its that time of month?" hyunsuk asked gently, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"n-no.." aislinn frowned and grabbed a pillow, pushing her face into it. truth is, she hadnt even had her first period yet and she was almost twenty-one.

"well, what do you think it is?" her brother asked yet again. this man and asking questions-

"crippling depression," she answered with the smallest smile in the world yet the biggest smile she had shown in the last four months.

"is that so?" hyunsuk raised a brow to which aislinn shrugged.

"i dont know. the last time i was like this, i saw my therapist and he said it could be depression but i doubt it. im the happiest person- okay, i wont go there because we all know that is the complete opposite of the truth. but, yeah, mr lee said im likely to have more depression-like episodes and they should last 6 months at most. it usually gets worse than this, too. this is just the beginning," aislinn spoke quickly, losing both of the boys as soon as she started. she definitely deserved raps in their songs, thats for sure.

"well, im glad you opened up to us. even if it wasnt much for you, it was a lot to us. at least we will have some idea of how to help you now," seonghwa smiled and placed a quick kiss on her forehead. "i think we should leave you to sleep," he smiled lightly at hyunsuk, receiving a small nod from the older.

"good night, byeollie," hyunsuk hugged the girl and told her he would come back when the group were free to check up on her.

"thanks for coming, hyung," seonghwa thanked hyunsuk for the nth time before the older left to get back to his own small family.

"alright, princess, try and get some sleep, okay? ill be in my room if you need me," seonghwa whispered as he tucked the girl into bed. as he turned around, aislinn spoke quietly.

"hwa, im sorry to be such a bother but... do you think you could stay with me?" aislinn asked, playing with a frog plushie her brother got her a few years ago.

"of course i can, angel," the male climbed under the sheets of lavender silk before wrapping his arms around the younger and placing a kiss to her forehead. "good night, petal."

"night night, hwa hyungie~" aislinn yawned out before curling into herself, turning into a tiny ball of human fluff, and pushing herself into seonghwas chest. the older smiled at this action before drifting off to sleep, aislinn not far behind.
aislinn got the sleep she hadnt had for the last four nights - having someone there with her made her feel so much better than before.