Learning Again

Nineteen

The room was tense as we ate dinner, the left over anger from San's and Mingi's argument filling the air. I had planned to wait, but I might as well.

"I have a present for you guys!" I said and everyone looked at me in surprise.

"A present?" Yunho asked and I nodded, standing and setting my hand on Mingi's shoulder as I passed him. As I went to the bag I had brought, I lifted it and went back to the table.

"You need to close your eyes first." I said and everyone closed their eyes.

"Don't look until I tell you." I said and grabbed the headbands, sliding them all onto their heads. As I got to Mingi, I grabbed the one I got specifically for him, then I slid my arms around his neck and kissed his cheek.

"Okay, look on three!" I said and grinned as I counted, getting to three. As they opened their eyes, they all frowned at the ears sitting on their heads, but Mingi lit up.

"Are we going to Disneyland?!" He asked and I laughed, the guys cheering.

"My mom got us all tickets to go! Your manager got us plane tickets and vacation time!" I said and held Mingi's left cheek as I kissed his right one.

"See?! You are smart, Min Gi!" I said and he beamed behind his glasses.

"WE TOLD YOU!" The guys yelled at Mingi, but I smiled and laid my chin on my arm as the guys excitedly talked about their trip.

"When do we leave?!" Wooyoung asked and I smiled.

"We leave in three days-"

"We need to pack!" He cried, but Seonghwa shook his head.

"We need to clean the dorm first!" He said, which brought laughter to the table.

"Before any of that!" I called and everyone looked at me as I stood, grabbing the bag and pulling out my final gift.

"A gift, for all of Ateez! Aside from Disney." I said and they looked worried.

"What?!" Hongjoong asked, but I smiled at Mingi.

"Mingi knows this about me, but you guys don't. On occasion, I... like to paint. I've been working on this since I found out you guys are Ateez, but I never had a good chance to give it to you." I said and pulled the painting from behind my back, setting it against myself on the table. As I pulled the cover off, I saw their eyes widen as they stared at it.

"You painted that?!" Seonghwa asked and I nodded.

"Is it okay?!" I asked, but they crowded in to look it over.

"It's amazing!"

"Look at my face!"

"She even got our new hair colors!"

"It's got Eight Makes One Team in there!" They gushed, but I grinned and shooed them away.

"I take it you guys like it!" I laughed and they nodded.

"Hang it up!"

"On the mantle!"

"No, on the wall!" They argued over where to put it, but Mingi hung back and pulled the dark blue ears off his head, hugging my waist.

"It's amazing, Maddie!" He said and I craned my neck to look at him.

"Thank you, Mingi!" I whispered, smiling as he leaned down and kissed me. As he pulled me close, bending me back some, I heard whistles and grinned on his lips, pushing his shoulder.

"Slow down, you weirdo!" I giggled and he grinned.

"Disneyland, the painting, and now you. You've turned my bad day good!" He said and I grinned, hugging his neck and watching as his friends rushed around to clean the dorm and pack their things.

####

"You really don't mind?" I asked as I sat on the bed, but Mingi shook his head and wrapped his arm around me, pulling me down into the bed.

"Stay here! We leave early tomorrow, and it'll be easier if you are here!" He said and laid his chin on my head.

"You just want me to stay here tonight." I laughed and slid my arm around his waist.

"Yes." He said and moved his head back, looking down at me.

"I love you, Maddie." He whispered and leaned down, softly kissing me.

"I love-"

"AH!" I heard from somewhere else in the house then shot up, my eyes wide at the sound of a scream.

"Stay here!" Mingi breathed and stood, opening the door. As he did, Hongjoong, Seonghwa, and San ran past then Mingi ran into the hall, the hall silent and void of people. I slowly stood, my legs slightly shaky, then I went down the hall and saw the guys crowded in Yeosang's, Jongho's, and Wooyoung's room.

"What's wrong?" I asked and Yunho turned to me.

"He had a nightmare-"

"Go away!" Yeosang cried, but I shoved through the guys and sat on the bed in front of Yeosang, grabbing his arms.

"Yeosang, look at me!" I said in a soothing voice and he looked at me, tears in his eyes.

"Hi, it's okay-"

"I- Maddie, it was-"

"You want to know something? A secret not many know?" I asked and he sniffled as he nodded.

"I have nightmares almost every single night!" I said and he looked at me confused.

"You remember when you guys saved me from my dad?" He nodded then wiped his cheeks. I reached up and used my thumbs to wipe the tears away, smiling at him.

"That wasn't the first time my dad tried killing me, and I have a lot of nightmares about the first time he did it." I said and smiled as I tilted my head some, so Yeosang was looking at me.

"You want to know how I fight them off?" Yeosang nodded then I smiled.

"I have this song, one me and my mom would sing together all the time! It's such a good memory for me, that when I sing it after my nightmares, I'm not afraid anymore!" I said and Yeosang looked at me through wet eyes.

"Does... does that work?" I nodded and smiled.

"How about I sing it to you, and you can decide if it works?" He nodded then I smiled, sliding my hands to his neck and pulling him in for a hug.

"One minute I'm in Central Park!" I softly began singing, closing my eyes and rocking back and forth, ignoring the looks of the guys around me.