Life as a K-Artist <HIATUS>

Chapter 13

Hongjoong arrives to ATEEZ's dorms and gets out of his car with a heavy sigh. He walks up to the door and takes out his key before unlocking it a little hesitantly. He quietly walks in and locks the door behind him before he looks around the first floor to see if anyone's awake or still up. When the coast is clear, he walks upstairs and goes into each members' bedroom to check if their asleep. And they were.

When he closes WooSang and Jongho's bedroom door, he slowly makes his way to his and Seonghwa's bedroom. He sets his hand on the door knob and slowly turns it before he walks into the quiet bedroom. The only thing he hears in the room is light breathing and the air conditioner, causing him to let out a heavy exhale he didn't realize he was holding in.

He sighs when he thinks that Seonghwa's asleep but he jumps when the light in the bedroom turns on. He lets out a heavy sigh, now knowing that Seonghwa was awake and that he sees him. He slowly looks ahead of him and sees Seonghwa sitting on the bottom bunk bed, looking straight at him.

"So you decided to come back." Seonghwa says, while cocking his head to the side.

"Yeah.. I did.." Hongjoong replies, while shutting the door behind him slowly. He starts nibbling on his lip as both boys just look at each other in awkward silence for quite a while.

"Hongjoong, look-"

"Seonghwa, lemme talk first... Please." Seonghwa nods his head lightly and leans back against the bunk's ladder, ready to hear him.

"I'm sorry... I know I said some pretty harsh stuff and should've thought about what I said... You and the guys know that I work super late at the studio and it seems like I don't come home but... I'm trying to be better. Especially during comeback season, we're all really busy with different schedules and the only time we ever really talk and see each other and is when we get home..."

"I'm really sorry.. I should pay more attention to the guys, especially you. You do a lot for me and clean up my messes because I tend to get a little... messy and don't take care of myself well... But I swear I'm trying to get better! It just gets hard getting everything piled up on me with making songs and recording and stuff."

Hongjoong looks down and rubs the back of his neck, getting ready for Seonghwa to yell at him again. He hears the bunk bed creak a bit and he tenses up when he hears footsteps approach him. To his surprise, he feels someone wrap their arms around his stomach and he opens his eyes and turns around, only to see Seonghwa resting his head on his shoulder.

"Look... Hongjoong...!I should be the one apologizing. Not you. I took the whole argument to a whole different level and said some stuff I shouldn't have and I'm sorry. I know you work day and night at the studio because you want the best and only the best for us and I understand that. Yes it low-key hurts when you don't come home some days but that's okay. I know you're working your butt off and I'm really proud of you."

"And because your hard work, Ateez is where we are today. Yes I do miss the talks we had in the bunk but... they're memories. Good ones. But again... it's fine. I understand where you're coming from and I shouldn't have lashed out at you just because I missed seeing you at the dorms. You can do whatever you what. I won't hold you back. I'll support you no matter what okay?"

A little pout appears on Hongjoong's lips and he covers his face, causing Seonghwa to freak out a bit.

"Joong what's wrong?" Seonghwa asks, clearly worried. Hongjoong doesn't say anything and Seonghwa quickly releases him from his back hug so he could get in front of him.

"Hongjoong what is it? You're making me worried." Seonghwa asks, while raising Hongjoong's face with his finger so he could look at him properly.

"You're too nice to me. You're gonna make me cry." Hongjoong replies, while backing up and covering his face with his arm.