broken glass | woosan

~43~

WOOYOUNG'S POV

The week flew by, and now I was packing to leave my parents' house. I carefully folded my clothes and placed them in my suitcase, making sure I didn't forget anything important. My mom stood in the doorway, watching me with a bittersweet smile.

"Are you sure you have everything, Wooyoung?" she asked, her voice tinged with concern.

"Yes, Mom, I've got everything," I replied, zipping up the suitcase. "Don't worry."

I carried my suitcase out to the car and placed it in the trunk, shutting it with a firm click. My mom walked up to me and wrapped her arms around me in a tight hug.

"Take care of yourself, okay? And don't forget to eat properly," she said, her voice muffled against my shoulder.

"I will, Mom. I promise," I assured her, squeezing her back.

My little brother came running up to me with tears in his eyes. "Woo, you can't leave! Who will play with me and help me with my homework?" he whimpered, his bottom lip trembling.

I knelt down to his level and wiped away his tears. "Hey, don't worry. I'll come back to visit soon, okay? And we can video call each other all the time. You're my little buddy, remember?" I said, trying to comfort him.

He sniffled and nodded, giving me a tight hug. "Promise you'll come back soon, Wooyoung," he said, looking up at me with big, hopeful eyes.

"I promise, little bro. I'll be back before you know it," I said, giving him a reassuring smile before getting into the car. As I drove away, I couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness at leaving him behind, but I knew I had to go back to the ATEEZ dorms and start preparing for tour.

After an hour-long drive, I finally arrived at the dorms, my heart pounding in my chest. I took a deep breath, staring up at the familiar building. Memories of the last time I was here flooded my mind—memories of the argument with San and the painful breakup that followed. I hadn't seen or spoken to San since that day, and I had ignored all of his texts over the past week.

My hands trembled slightly as I reached for the door handle. I was nervous to face San again, unsure of what to expect. The thought of seeing his face, of confronting the emotions I had been avoiding, made my stomach churn. But I knew I couldn't avoid it forever. Taking another deep breath to steady myself, I pushed the door open and stepped inside, ready to face whatever lay ahead.

I entered the dorm and was immediately met with the group in the living room. Yunho, Mingi, and Hongjoong were sitting on the couch, chatting quietly. San stood by the doorway of our once shared room, his presence impossible to ignore. Yeosang and Jongho were sitting on the floor, engaged in some game, while Seonghwa stood near the front door, his eyes lighting up as he saw me.

Seonghwa was the first to greet me, wrapping me in a big, warm hug. "It's good to see you," he said with a smile. The rest of them followed, each offering their own hugs and words of welcome. Everyone except San. He kept his distance, his eyes meeting mine only briefly as he gave me a soft smile. "I'm glad you're home," he said quietly. His words were simple, but they carried a weight that made my heart ache.

After greeting everyone, I took my things into my and San's room. San stood in the doorway, watching me closely as I unpacked. The silence between us was heavy, filled with unspoken words and lingering tension.

San finally spoke up, breaking the silence. "You can have the bed. I'll sleep on the couch until we can figure out a new room layout," he said, his voice steady but with a hint of sadness.

I nodded, trying to keep my own emotions in check. "Thank you," I replied, but I couldn't help but notice the slightly pained expression on his face. It was subtle, but it was there, and it made my heart ache even more.