Endless chase [Woosan ff]

7 - One Week

- No, no, no! - San grunts over the phone. - For the last time, this is the stupidest idea you've ever had, Woo. -

There's silence from the other line, probably because San has never sounded so angry, not even when Wooyoung broke his favorite mug when they were kids.

- I'm not letting you move away from a life you love just because you miss me. - Wooyoung huffs from the other side of the line, and San gets even angrier. - Do you know how much of a pain in the ass all the university bureaucracy is when it comes to switching uni?! And all the documents you need when you move city?! What about the apartment? Do you have any idea on how difficult those are to find? And what about your family?! They will miss you so much! - The older shouts, then suddenly lowers his tone, almost murmuring. - I'm no reason for you to live through that, Woo. Please, rethink about this. -

Wooyoung sighs again, and when he speaks his voice is broken.

- You could have found any other way to tell me you don't want me around anymore, San. - Wooyoung hiccups, a clear sign that he's crying now. - I should have known the second you decided to move away. -

And the line goes silent.

San stares at the window in front of him, eyes empty and heart clenching in pain, his hand still raised to keep his phone close to his ear.

He wishes he could tell Wooyoung about his love, he wishes he could be his.

But he isn't, and it's his job as a best friend to keep Wooyoung safe and in a place where he knows he is happy.

And San knows that Wooyoung won't be happy where he is now, because San isn't happy here. How could Wooyoung live a good life in such a wormhole?

San sighs, lowering his gaze and letting his hand fall from his ear to his lap. His hand lets go of the phone, which falls on the floor with a thud.

He's sitting in front of his desk, an assignment open on his computer screen for a hour, which is how long Wooyoung has been trying to convince him that moving to where San is now is better for him.

Wooyoung is probably now crying because he feels betrayed, but he got it all wrong, because San is just trying to protect him, he's just trying to help him.

That's all San ever wanted: to see Wooyoung safe.

But now he has to experience the picture in his mind of Wooyoung sobbing in his pillow because he thinks his best friend has just stopped caring about him, and has dropped the news in the worst way possible.

San rubs his eyes, which are now wet too, with his fists, sighing deeply.

No, Wooyoung won't be happy there, that's final.

It's the following day, and San hasn't heard from Wooyoung ever since their fight the previous afternoon.

He feels like shit, because he knows how bad Wooyoung must be feeling.

Low and depressed.

Because they both know how much of a fundamental piece they are for each other. If either of them were to disappear from the other's life, they would surely die.

So that's why San picks up his phone, clicking on his beloved contact "Woo baby" and waiting.

It goes straight to voicemail, and San's heart clenches in pain. So he tries again, and then another time.

Both straight to voicemail.

San sighs, because he knows he fucked up, he knows he has overstepped boundaries. He knows how much Wooyoung hates to be told firmly and stubbornly what he can't do, yet that's what he did for a whole hour the previous day.

So San opens the messaging app and sends one single text:

"Come stay at my house for a week and see if you like it here."

San is too condescending with Wooyoung, he must admit that. But he loves him, what else can he do? Saying no to Wooyoung is already a stab in the heart, but disappointing him this much? That's a big no.

That night San goes to bed with a conflicted mind.

He's sure having Wooyoung around every day for a week will make him happy, but what about his aching heart? Will he be able to see him every second of the day without his heart breaking even further?

Wooyoung isn't his, and he has to remind that to himself once more.

- I love it already! - Wooyoung exclaims as he rests his small suitcase on the floor next to San's bed.

The younger is smiling in an ecstatic manner which has San feeling warm all over, his cheeks tinting a faint shade of pink.

- We can share the same bed or I can find you another mattress, your call. - San flops down on the soft comforter, Wooyoung doing the same next to him.

- I like sharing. - Wooyoung giggles, wrapping his arm around San's waist and snuggling closer.

San smiles warmly against the mop of Wooyoung's head, never getting enough of the scent of his shampoo. He too wraps his arm around the other, letting his body fully relax for the first time in a while.

- I had missed this, Sannie. - Wooyoung mutters lowly into San's broad chest.

There it is, the nickname which comes back whenever Wooyoung feels comfortable and safe around the older, or when he's trying to comfort him.

San smiles widely, because of course he has missed this too.

- I missed you too, Woo. -

There's a moment of silence, broken by the unsure voice of the older.

- I'm sorry. - He difficultly voices out, pressing Wooyoung closer to him. - I'm sorry for overstepping your boundaries. I know you hate it when you're being bossed around. -

Wooyoung chuckles, because San knows him too well. Even Wooyoung himself didn't know what had him so angered, yet San had managed to point it out in a second.

- It's okay, Sannie. - Wooyoung hugs him even tighter, shifting his leg too to rest on top of his friend's body. - I get it why you're like this. - He sighs. - But I want to tell you something. -

San's ears perk up at that, and his eyes open widely.

- What's wrong? - He asks, looking down at Wooyoung just in time to see the younger lifting his head.

Their eyes meet, and they both smile.

- Nothing's wrong, I just wanted to tell you something I have realized only recently. - He smiles reassuringly, resting his head back on San's chest.

The older's hand raises up to comb Wooyoung's hair, an unspoken way of calming him down and letting him know that he's listening.

- Go on. - San prompts in the softest voice he can muster.

- It's just that I didn't feel satisfied back home. - Wooyoung sighs, snuggling even closer to San, chasing more warmth. - I missed you too much. -

San smiles at that, landing a peck on Wooyoung's hair, then allowing the younger to continue his speech.

- I realized I'm too attached to you to stay too far from wherever you are. -

San wants to say the same, but that means confessing, and he's not too fond of that, so he just opts for a joke.

- This week will make you realize you're wrong. -

Wooyoung giggles against San's chest, the vibrations feeling like serotonin to San. Then there is a light, playful slap against the older's rib cage, and Wooyoung's sighing, still smiling.

A sweet beginning for an eventful week.