↱SACCHARINE↲ ⇾woojoong⇽

reconcile

[ ଘ(੭ˊᵕˋ)੭* ੈ✩‧₊˚ ]

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The car was already silent when Wooyoung climbed into the driver's seat.

The radio was cut dead but the air conditioner was turned to full blast, air vents churning and forcing Wooyoung's skin to bristle the moment he shut the door.

The compartment rattled, and Wooyoung jostled in his seat for a moment before turning towards Hongjoong with an apprehensive gaze.

Hongjoong had changed into more comfortable clothes, old gray raggs that fell off his body and made him appear just as small as he wished he was in that moment.

His hands stayed limp and unmoving in his lap where they clutched nervously at his sweatpants.

He didn't move to look at Wooyoung.

"Are you going to talk to me?"

Wooyoung didn't expect much more than a blank gaze.

He figured Hongjoong's approach would be something similar to a forceful shrug and tempered manner, but he never expected him to turn and stare at him with the intensity he held now.

His eyes were clear and intentional, holding a certain magnitude that Wooyoung wasn't used to.

It scared him.

Made him push back against the seat and shift his eyes away from the sudden dread that tightened around his throat.

"Do you talk to me?" Hongjoong threw back, and even Wooyoung could see the truth behind the blow.

Hongjoong's nose flared and his eyes twitched as though they were sensitive, rimmed in redness that went well with the fading tear stains on his cheeks.

It made Woo's heart tremble in his chest to think that the boy had been crying before he arrived.

He knew what Hongjoong was doing.

Knew that Hongjoong was reaching now, coming up with some half assed reason that would make sense, fit perfectly with the fire churning heat and rage inside his stomach.

"You're seriously still on that?" Wooyoung played along, because he was tired and miserable and felt like he had physically been weighed down walking away from San to the parking lot where he was already being confronted again.

He also couldn't help but think that this really mattered, that Hongjoong had been holding this back since the night at the park where he had comforted Wooyoung instead of asking what was wrong in the first place.

He thought that maybe a part of Hongjoong couldn't stand the obvious secrets between them.

"If San wanted to tell you he'd do it himself. I'm protecting both of you-"

"From what?" Hongjoong pulled his leg up and shifted so that he was sitting on it, perched in his seat and looking much more assertive than he did moments ago.