A Dance to Remember ||| Yunwoo (Ateez)

4

After his visit with Yeosang and Seonghwa, they both surrendered and said they didn't feel right telling Yunho to stay away when they knew something about meeting him was... different.

They hated using the word 'change' or anything similar because they insisted that on the other days, Wooyoung was exactly the same as he'd been before Yunho had even met him the first time.

He hated hearing that... but he didn't want to argue.

Especially because he really was having a hard time staying away, despite how hard it was to tell himself that he was doing the right thing, or that there wasn't a future in whatever it was he was doing.

Some days he was perfectly fine and didn't let those thoughts bring him down.

Others... not so much.

Even when he was going back to the café and speaking with Wooyoung on occasion.

On one such day, Yunho was feeling particularly low, and he was having a hard time sparking up a conversation.

He just couldn't find the right words to start, find the will to even try...

With a groan, he leaned forward until his head was pressed against the table and just closed his eyes.

"Are you okay?" The most beautiful voice said from Yunho's right, and he tensed instantly.

But he forced himself to sit up and look over at where Wooyoung was staring at him with slight concern.

"Oh god..." Yunho groaned to himself, then rubbed the back of his neck. "Sorry, I, um... Rough morning." He managed to sputter out.

"I'm sorry to hear that." Wooyoung offered a sympathetic smile. "Would you like to talk about it?"

Yunho's heart ached. He knew how kind Wooyoung could be, but why did it seem to hurt that much more knowing Wooyoung was speaking to him out of concern?

"Y-Yeah, that would be great, if you don't mind?"

"Not at all!" Wooyoung said, then motioned for Yunho to move over and join him.

Which happened without hesitation. Yunho slid into the booth and had to remind himself that he was supposed to be upset, so he took a deep breath and tried to school his features.

Eunji came out right as he was getting settled. She paused and narrowed her eyes to give a warning glare to Yunho before setting his plates down a little harder than was really necessary.

"Thanks, Noona. Oh, nice haircut!" Wooyoung beamed up at her.

"Thanks, Honey." She cupped his cheek, then turned back to Yunho and her tone adopted a harshness to it that had Yunho shrinking back a little. "Enjoy your meal."

Yunho pressed his lips together and slid down in his seat, which made Wooyoung laugh a little. "Don't worry about her." He said as Eunji walked into the kitchen. "She's always been a little protective of me."

"Why's that?" Yunho asked, trying to ask something that would seem normal even though he knew the answer.

A sad smile crossed Wooyoung's face and his shoulders sagged a little. "She was really close with my mom. And when she passed away, Eunji-noona kind of took over as my second mom."

"I'm so sorry." Yunho said softly.

The way Wooyoung looked up at him with round, glistening eyes stole his breath... Just as it always did.

"Thanks. It was a long time ago, but I still miss her. Anyway! We aren't supposed to be talking about me, you're the one having a bad day." Wooyoung tilted his head adorably. "What's going on?"