If You Wish Ateez MinJoong

06

Hongjoong's pov

The next morning, I awoke in Mingi's arms. My back was to his chest, and his arms were around my waist. Regardless of my lack of memories of the man behind me, I felt safe in his embrace.

I couldn't remember a prior feeling as safe as I was currently. It must have something to do with how much I loved him. I smiled softly as Mingi gently pulled me closer, softly inhaling against my head.

I closed my eyes again, and fell back asleep, still embraced by the mafia leader.

A while later, Mingi and I were sat on his bed talking together about everything we had missed in each other's lives.

"I'm sorry if this is still sensitive to bring up, but who was that girl from the club?" Mingi asked, looking down at the rings on my left hand.

"She's my ex girlfriend..." I mumbled, not liking the reminder of her.

Mingi didn't say anything else, just pulled me onto his lap and held me close. I appreciated the gesture, laying my head down against his shoulder.

"She wasn't good to me, and it took Seonghwa physically carrying me out of our trashed apartment to see it. She had fractured my ankle, and left so many bruises on me I felt I couldn't move.

After not getting any texts from me, Seonghwa came to our apartment with the spare key I gave him. I'd never seen Hwa cry over me before then and I.. I don't want to see it again.

Hwa has been letting me live with him since then, although I told him I could just get a new apartment on my own. I guess he believes it's safer for me to stay beside him than be on my own while I have no protection against June." I felt a couple tears slip down my cheeks, but didn't bother to wipe them away.

  "I'm so sorry I wasn't there for you," Mingi mumbled, somehow holding me closer and squeezing me lightly in a hug.

  "It's not your fault, Min. You were fighting your own battles," I said. Mingi kissed my forehead sweetly while gently caressing my hip.

  "Still, I could've come into your life sooner and stopped all of that from happening," Mingi spoke softly, his voice shaking a bit.

  "Hey, no, don't cry, it's okay, Min. I'm okay; I'm in therapy and it's been helping a lot," I said, smiling softly.

  "You're in therapy? How badly did she hurt you?" Mingi asked, his voice still soft.

"It wasn't just physical, it was also mental," I replied, staying close to Mingi as I felt safe in his embrace still.

When I heard no response, I looked up at him and saw tears dripping down his cheeks. I gently wiped them away.

"I'm gonna be okay, Mingi. I got through the worst of it, so now there's only the aftermath to get through," I said. Mingi kissed my forehead and hugged me closer.

"I know you'll be okay; you're strong, Joong. You always have been."

"Mingi, do you think we can go see Yeri soon?" I asked. Mingi smiled softly and finished wiping his cheeks and eyes dry.

  "Let's go ahead and go," Mingi said. I began to move off of his lap, but he picked me up bridal-style and carried me to the living room.

  He sat me down on the couch and slipped my shoes on me for me like it was a normal occurrence, making me confused but feel it was sweet.

  "Why did you put my shoes on me?" I asked. Mingi froze like he'd just noticed what he had done.

  "I'm sorry," he said. I smiled softly and shook my head.

  "It was sweet," I said, then stood on my tiptoes to peck his cheek.

  Mingi's cheeks flushed red as he led me out to his car again. I noticed the car seat still in the backseat and it made me smile.

  "Yeri really is our daughter?" I asked quietly.

  "Yeah, she is."

  "I was wondering why she called me "dada" but I thought she was just confusing me for Yeosang," I explained. Mingi had a small smile on his lips.

  "So you're "dada"?" He asked.

  "Yeah, what did she call you?" I asked. Mingi smiled softly.

"She hasn't called me anything yet; I haven't been able to be around her much since I chose to stay out of your life," Mingi sighed. My smile fell. I reached to hold his right hand where it rested against his thigh.

"I'm sorry; it must've been difficult on you to stay away from our daughter completely," I said. Mingi pursed his lips before shaking his head.

"It's probably safer that way as well that Yeosang keeps her out of the base."

"Yeah, you're probably right."

"Dada!" Yeri yelled as soon as I stepped through the door of Yeosang's house. She was playing with toys until she stood up and came rushing towards me.

"Hi, Yeri," I said, smiling widely as I lifted her up.

"Dada have snacks?" Yeri asked. I grinned as I looked at Mingi.

"Told you she'd ask for snacks," I said, then reached my hand out towards the bag of gummies and juice boxes.

"Yeah, you did," Mingi smiled and gave me the bag.

"Thank you for keeping her safe," I said, looking towards the three men who'd watched Yeri for the first two and a half years of her life.

"We always will, Joong," San said, smiling widely. Yeri sipped her juice box loudly from my arms before she offered me a drink.

"Drink?" She asked. I smiled and gently caressed her long black hair.

"You can drink it, Yer. Dada brought you so many," I said, emphasizing "so" with a small smile, making the toddler giggle.

"Thank you," she said. I sat down on the couch with her and offered her the packets of gummies.

"Yeo Yeo! Dada brought gummies!" Yeri said as best as she could, but it sounded a little off due to her age, making the group of men smile.

"He did? Don't eat too many, Yer, dinner is almost ready," Yeosang said, more towards me than Yeri. I nodded.

"She'll eat dinner too, Yeo," I said. Yeosang sighed and shook his head.