You Rock My World

Let's go to the stairs

"—you know he didn't mean it, Woo."

"I don't know that. You weren't there. He seemed pretty serious."

"Woo, he loves you. You're the strongest couple I've ever met. I envy you...I don't have the patience you have. I don't know how to talk about sensitive things without just...blowing up."

"Hyung..." Wooyoung wrapped an arm around Seonghwa's waist.

"You're so patient with us. Well...now. I know you used to get a little heated from time to time but we knew you were just worried. And now you work so hard not to get mad at us that...I think you bottle it up. You know you can still get mad. It's okay."

"It's not okay—I don't want to hurt you—any of you! It's not fair for me to make you all miserable just because I'm a little upset."

"That's kind of how anger works, hyung. And besides, I can almost guarantee that if you're mad, someone else is too. I just worry about you. I'm worried one day you're not going to be able to keep pushing it down. And I know how much it hurts you when you lash out."

Seonghwa looked away.

"And...I don't want Hongjoong to be the target."

Seonghwa turned back, his eyes flashing.

"What are you saying?" he said, his pulse racing.

"Nothing! It's just—he's the one who's here all the time and...it's easy to take it out on the people you love the most. And it hurts you the most."

Seonghwa pulled away.

"I would never—you think I would want to hurt Hongjoong!?"

"No! That's not what I said! Hyung—"

"So you do think I'm a monster! If you agree with me just say it! You don't have to make me feel better!"

"Hyung—"

"Woah—what's going on in here?"

They both spun as the door opened and Hongjoong stood, staring at them with wide eyes. Seonghwa looked down at his fists which were clenched at his sides.

"Nothing. Wooyoung, you should go talk to San. Trust me, he wants to talk to you."

"Wha—hyung, let me explain—"

"Go. I think you've explained yourself plenty."

"Let the boy speak, Hwa. You wanted to listen to him so bad, so let him speak," Hongjoong said, stepping into the room. Seonghwa shot him a look of confusion. Why was he so hostile?

"Of course I wanted to talk to him! What are you saying?" Seonghwa asked, his temper rising.

"You wanted to talk to him so bad that you completely ignored San! Just because he wasn't in your group before doesn't mean you can toss him aside when he's clearly hurting!"

"Hongjoong I swear I didn't—I was just worried about Wooyoung I didn't—"

"It's my fault! I was already at his door. I should've just told you to talk to San," Wooyoung butted in.

"Wooyoung, I think you should go. Seonghwa and I need to talk. Alone."

Wooyoung shook his head.

"Let me help."

"Woo, just go. We're fine," Seonghwa nodded, pulling him up to his feet.

He didn't want to know what might happen if their anger was unrestrained but they didn't give him a choice, so Wooyoung left.