Off limit President || Yungi

- twenty-three -

Yunho || Mingi 

As the night wore on, his sobs gradually subsided, replaced by an exhausted silence. He stayed close, finding solace in the embrace, despite the turmoil within.

Morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow over the room. I stirred awake, feeling the warmth of Hongjoong still nestled against me. His breathing was steady now, a stark contrast to the emotional storm of the previous night.

I hesitated for a moment before gently nudging him. "Hongjoong, are you awake?"

He shifted slightly, blinking as he slowly came to. "Yeah, I'm awake."

"How are you feeling?" I asked, concern evident in my voice.

He took a deep breath, contemplating his response. "A bit better, I guess. Thanks for...you know, being here."

I smiled at him ruffling his hair before getting up from the floor stretching. We then both made our way to the kitchen, the silence between us heavy and different from our usual easygoing banter. 

Hongjoong moved through the motions of cracking eggs and frying bacon, but there was a noticeable lack of his usual energy.

As I set the table, I couldn't help but steal glances at him, my concern growing. "Joong, are you okay?" I finally asked, my voice gentle.

He glanced up at me, forcing a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Yeah, just a bit tired," he replied, trying to brush it off.

I wasn't convinced, but I decided to let it go for now. "Alright," I said softly, "but you know I'm here if you need to talk, right?"

Hongjoong nodded, focusing intently on the pan in front of him. "I know. Thanks, Yunho."

We sat down to eat, the breakfast table filled with the delicious smell of freshly brewed coffee and sizzling bacon. Normally, we'd be chatting and joking around by now, but today, the silence felt almost oppressive.

"You know," I began, trying to lighten the mood, "I never would've guessed you were such a pro at making breakfast."

Hongjoong chuckled softly, though it sounded more forced than usual. "Years of practice," he replied with a small wink. "Plus, a good breakfast is the key to starting the day right."

I couldn't argue with that logic as I took a bite of my toast. Despite the lightness of our conversation, I couldn't shake the worry gnawing at me. 

Hongjoong's usually vibrant presence felt muted, and it hurt to see him this way.

As we continued eating in relative silence, I couldn't help but feel a surge of gratitude for the simple act of sharing a meal with him. 

Yet, I also felt a deepening concern for my friend, knowing something was weighing heavily on his heart.

"Joong," I said softly, breaking the silence once more, "if you ever need to talk, about anything... I'm here."

Hongjoong sighed deeply, setting down his fork. He stared at his plate for a long moment, his shoulders sagging. 

"Yunho," he began, his voice barely above a whisper, "it's just... seeing Seonghwa again... it's brought back so much."

I reached across the table, placing my hand over his. "You don't have to go through this alone."

He looked up at me, his eyes filled with a mixture of sadness and frustration. "You don't understand, Yunho. It's like... everything I've done to move on, to forget, feels pointless now. 

All those nights I spent convincing myself I was over him, that I was strong... it all just crumbled when I saw him."

I squeezed his hand gently, urging him to continue.

"He hurt me so much," Hongjoong continued, his voice cracking. "And now, after two years, he just shows up, acting like nothing happened. Like we're supposed to pick up where we left off. It's not fair."

Tears welled up in his eyes, and he wiped them away angrily. "I feel pathetic, Yunho. Pathetic for still caring, for still letting him affect me this way."

"You're not pathetic," I said firmly. "What you went through... it was traumatic. It's not something you can just forget."

He let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. "I thought I was strong, you know? I thought I had moved on. But seeing him... it brought back everything. The pain, the fear, the anger... all of it."

"You are strong," I insisted. "The fact that you're even talking about this, that you're facing it... it shows how strong you are."

Hongjoong sighed, looking down at our joined hands. "I don't know, Yunho. I just feel so... lost."

I stood up, moving around the table to sit beside him. I wrapped my arm around his shoulders, pulling him close. "It's okay to feel lost sometimes. What's important is that you're not alone. I'm here for you, Joong. We'll get through this together."

He leaned into me, his head resting on my shoulder. "Thank you," he whispered. "Thank you for being here."

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Short update I know, but I am a bit busy and I'd rather post this now then wait another day to continue it, i will make sure to work on it more tomorrow and in the following days as my time would be less full 

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