You Rock My World

You're my person

Hongjoong was stunned. Seonghwa hadn't come?? Did he even talk to Wooyoung?! Where the hell was he!?

"Um...Seonghwa hyung told me to...tell you that...he forgot something in the practice room...um...hi."

Hongjoong quickly remembered the reason he was there and pushed away his annoyance. Wooyoung and San stared at each other, not saying anything from across the room. Hongjoong nudged san forward.

"Go."

Wooyoung gave him a slight smile and San looked down at his hands.

"You can sit down. I don't bite," Wooyoung smiled and San nodded, slowly shuffling over to the couch. They sat an awkward distance apart but it was closer than they'd been to each other in over a week.

"How have you been?" San asked and Wooyoung shrugged.

"Not great. Pretty shitty. You?"

"Lonely."

Silence.

"Sannie...I'm sorry."

Silence.

"I'm sorry, too."

"I shouldn't have cut you off like that."

"It's fine. I'm the one that kicked you out. I isolated myself."

"But I shouldn't have listened. I should've stayed."

"Why? So I could accuse you of more things you didn't do?"

Wooyoung hesitantly grabbed San's hand.

"I'd let you accuse me of anything if it meant I got to be in the same room. Hell, I'd even admit to it if it meant I could stay by your side."

"I'm really sorry, Woo. You didn't deserve that. I know you love me. I shouldn't have said those things—I didn't mean any of them."

"That's true. They were pretty harsh. But I forgive you. It wasn't like I didn't say some pretty awful things, too."

"But there's one thing...I need to know."

"Yeah. What is it?"

San turned to look him in the eye.

"Do...you still want to stay here? Even if it means dating in private?"

Wooyoung maintained eye contact and shook his head.

"No. I never really wanted to put you through that. If I'm being honest...I'm not sure if I really wanted to before. I just...I couldn't bring myself to suggest leaving the company. I was so worried that we would get our hopes up about leaving just to realize how much everyone else wanted to stay. And I thought it was better to just accept it and make the best of it. But I don't want to hide behind a dating ban if we don't have to. I really don't. I don't want to see you hurt like that again."

Wooyoung had started tearing up and San pulled him into his chest, holding him as his own eyes filled with tears.

"I love you, San. I love you so fucking much. I missed you so fucking much I'm so sorry I left."

"Shhh. It's okay. I'm just glad you came back. I'm sorry I pushed you away. I love you, Woo. I'll never love anyone the way I love you."

"Me either. You're my person."

"And you're mine."

Hongjoong even felt himself tearing up a bit. It was so nice to see them back together. But it reminded him of his own problems. And he remembered Seonghwa's absence.

It had been a pretty long time since he'd left.

Why would Seonghwa leave Wooyoung all alone just to run to the practice room? What could he leave behind that was that important? And why was it taking so long?

"Hyung, Seonghwa should be coming any minute. He said it was a quick errand," Wooyoung reassured him, sensing his hostility across the room.

Hongjoong tried to hide his irritation, giving Wooyoung a smile.

"I know. I just...don't see why it was so important he had to leave you here all alone."

That was the second time Seonghwa had just ignored his members.

San laid with his head in Wooyoung's lap, as Wooyoung ran his hand through his dark strands. Hongjoong almost felt like he should give them some space. Without Seonghwa here, he just felt like an awkward third wheel.

"You know what, I'm going to go help him look for whatever he lost. He must be struggling to find it."

Hongjoong started heading towards the stairwell but Wooyoung quickly spoke up.

"No! You don't have to hyung! He should be coming back any minute now!"

Hongjoong paused. Wooyoung seemed to be hiding something. Like he was covering for Seonghwa. It was definitely suspicious. He continued towards the door anyways.

"That's alright. If he's heading back it'll save me a walk. Anyways, I should give you two some space."

He grabbed the handle and Wooyoung tried one last time.

"Really hyung, he left just before you came out here. He hasn't been gone very long yet. I bet he'll walk through that door in a few minutes."

"Woo. If you know something, just tell me."

San looked at Wooyoung, sitting up. Wooyoung shook his head.

"I don't, he just went to the practice room. He didn't say what it was but I'm sure it was important. He'll be back any minute."

"If that's true, then I'll run into him on my way there."

Hongjoong didn't wait for Wooyoung to respond before stepping into the stairwell. As the door closed he sat on the landing, debating which way to go. If he'd truly gone to the practice rooms he would have gone down.

But maybe he'd said that so Hongjoong wouldn't follow him. So maybe he'd gone the other direction.

But there wasn't anything above them but one other band's dorms and the rooftop.

It was way more likely that he'd gone down the stairs and just hadn't actually gone to the practice rooms. And with the way Wooyoung was acting...it was probably somewhere Seonghwa didn't want Hongjoong to find him.

Like...the Stray Kids dorm.

After thinking it over, Hongjoong decided that was the most likely place and went down the stairwell, buzzing the doorbell.