OURS ONLY [Wooyoung x Ateez]

6. Heartbreak

A/N: Thank you for being patient with me. I have been busy with college and two jobs. But even more than that, my mental health has been at an all time low. I found myself unable to do anything more than to just lay around all day and feel hopeless. I'm so sorry to keep you all waiting. And thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the comments and messages I receive about how much you all enjoy the story. Your comments were the only thing that motivated me to write again. 

A month before their upcoming comeback, everything appeared to be normal. During the filming of their reality show, Wooyoung was at ease, bonding with the members, sharing laughter at their jokes, and even cracking a few jokes of his own.

Wooyoung demonstrated remarkable cooperation during dance practices, song recordings, and music video filming. However, beyond his professional demeanor, there seemed to be a noticeable absence of his usual warmth and engagement with the group.

After their recording sessions, filmings and dance practices, he was back to being a stranger to the members. He did so in a very calm and collected way that the members couldn't even call him out on it.

He would often dismiss their dinner invitation by saying 'I'm full. I already ate' or 'I have dinner plans already.' The members were getting more and more stressed by this situation. They could never get a proper conversation out of the main dancer anymore.

"Wooyoung- ah, wanna have Harry Potter marathon after practice?" As soon as their dance instructor granted them a 10-minute break, Yeosang turned to the younger member. Aware of Wooyoung's fondness for the particular film series, Yeosang seized the opportunity, hoping to spend some quality time with his best friend indulging in their favorite movies.

"I have some plans tonight. Sorry, Yeosang." 

Wooyoung calling him 'Yeosang' instead of 'Sangie' or 'sang ah' or 'yeosangie' hurt the older in a way he couldn't express. 

"Oh uhm, what plans? Maybe I could join? I feel like I haven't spent time with you in forever."

"Oh, just y'know..." When Wooyoung offered no further explanation and simply returned to his phone, Yeosang inched closer, his irritation mounting at the younger man's newfound secrecy.

"Youngie, I asked what plans," Despite the older member's outwardly calm tone, every individual in the room froze, aware that beneath that composed demeanor lay simmering anger, a chilling indication of his displeasure.

"Junnie invited me for a sleepover at the tubato dorms. Beomgyu has been wanting to have a Harry Potter marathon for a couple of weeks now but I've been busy because of the comeback."

And that did it. 

"But I want to have a Harry Potter marathon with you too."

"Sorry, I already made plans."

"cancel them."

"Excuse me?"

"I said cancel. your. plans with people you don't belong with."

"What the fuck does that mean?" Wooyoung rose, consumed by anger. The rest of the group edged closer, their anticipation palpable, bracing themselves for the impending confrontation.

"You belong to us, Youngie. We fucked up. We really did. But you can't just go to other people to replace us. You left BigHit behind. FOR ME. You chose me. So why are you trying to go back to them? You're mine. Do you not understand? Why won't you let us apologize?"

Yeosang's bloodshot eyes betrayed his inner turmoil, hinting at a brewing madness within. Maybe he was on the brink of insanity. The thought of losing Wooyoung drove him to a state of frenzy. He was aware that his words were coming out wrong and with possessiveness but that's just how he felt.

Woyoung was speechless. In the 9 years he had been friends with the older, he has never seen Yeosang in a state like this. 

"Sangie..." Wooyoung started but was cut off by Yeosang pulling him by both arms. 

"Youngie, you belong with me. With us. You are ours."

"Sangie, calm down," Hongjoong attempted to intervene, but a single glance from Yeosang conveyed a clear message, compelling him to stay back and refrain from involvement.

"Yeo, you don't get to do this. You- you all messed up. You made it seem like I don't belong in Ateez. You are right. I chose you. I sacrificed my debut in Korea's biggest music company because you meant that much to me. But you all made it very clear Ateez should have been 7. I lost everything at the end. I lost my chance at being in a big company and i lost 7 guys I considered to be my soulmates. The least you could do is apologize like a normal human being instead of being an egotistical, possessive person."

"Woo-" Yeosang released his grip on Wooyoung's arms and offered an apology. Guilt weighed heavily upon him as he acknowledged Wooyoung's perspective; he recognized that his behavior had indeed been irrational and bordering on madness.

"No. Save it. I don't belong to you or Ateez. I don't feel at home here anymore. I feel like a burden. I know I am one. We have 3 weeks until comeback and 3 more weeks of promotions. Let's just get through it smoothly and then I can go on a hiatus claiming it's for health reasons. And then, I can leave the group and Ateez will be 7 just like you all wanted."

Wooyoung bolted out of the practice room, desperate to escape its confines. Each breath felt constricted within those walls; it suffocated him. He wanted to throw up but there was nothing in his gut.

He quickly called Yeonjun to ask if he could head to the TXT dorms sooner than planned. The mere thought of remaining anywhere near the practice rooms was unbearable to him at that moment.

"Woo?"

"Junnie, can I head to the dorm right now?"

"Yeah of course, Soobin, Kai and Taehyun are there right now. Me and Gyu are just grabbing some late night snacks. Is everything okay?"

"Yeah," Wooyoung's voice quivered as he spoke, scanning the busy main street for any sign of a taxi, "Just don't wanna be here with them right now."

"Okay baby. Your feelings are valid okay? Go to the dorm. We will be there soon."

They hung up the phone as Wooyoung signaled an incoming taxi.

"Woo," Despite his attempt to ignore it, Wooyoung couldn't resist the pull of Mingi's voice echoing not too far behind him. His soft spot for Mingi compelled him to turn around.

Tears streamed down Mingi's face, his eyes filled with anguish and sorrow.

"Please don't leave. You can't leave me... please. Tell me you didn't mean what you said in there," Mingi desperately clung to Wooyoung's waist, seeking comfort and solace in his embrace.

"Mangi..."

"Please. You belong in Ateez more than any of us. I'm sorry. You are right- we fucked up. Please don't leave us."

"I-"Unable to make promises he wasn't sure he could keep, Wooyoung couldn't reassure Mingi of his presence. Doubt clouded his mind, leaving him uncertain if he could stay at all, "I have to get going."

Wooyoung freed himself from Mingi's grip and got in the taxi, asking the driver to drive off quickly. As Mingi's figure slowly faded in the rearview mirror, a single tear traced its path down Wooyoung's cheek. He couldn't shake the feeling that it was a poignant metaphor for his own eventual disappearance from Ateez

A/N: Thank you for reading! I hope I can update soon.