broken glass | woosan

~49~

SAN'S POV

As we returned to the dressing room, I glanced around, searching for Wooyoung. Our intense moment on stage lingered in my mind. It was raw, real, and it felt like a turning point.

But as I scanned the room, my excitement started to wane. Wooyoung was nowhere to be seen. I had expected him to come over, to talk to me, to maybe even share a quiet moment together. Instead, he had slipped back into the shadows, distancing himself once more.

I felt a pang of disappointment. Why was he doing this? After everything we had just shared, why was he retreating again? I couldn't help but feel a mix of confusion and frustration. I wanted to understand him, to bridge the gap that seemed to keep widening between us.

Taking a deep breath, I decided I wouldn't let this go. I needed to talk to him, to get to the bottom of whatever was holding him back. Our moment on stage had to mean something, and I wasn't ready to give up on us just yet.

I started to change out of my stage clothes, slipping into the comfortable hoodie and joggers I had worn when I first arrived at the venue. As I pulled on my hoodie, I heard Wooyoung's laughter echoing from somewhere nearby. My heart skipped a beat. Without thinking, I hurriedly pulled on my pants, almost tripping over myself in the process. I couldn't let this chance slip away.

I barged out of the small changing room, my eyes scanning the area. There he was, Wooyoung, laughing with Yeosang and Jongho. The sight of him smiling and carefree sent a rush of emotions through me. Part of me was relieved to see him happy, but another part of me felt a sting of jealousy and confusion. Why was he able to be so relaxed with them but distant with me?

Anger bubbled up inside me, but I knew confronting him now would only lead to an argument. I didn't want to push him away any further. Instead, I turned on my heel and walked back into the dressing room, feeling a mix of frustration and sadness. I spotted Mingi sitting quietly in the corner, his presence always a calming force.

I slumped down next to him, letting out a heavy sigh. Mingi glanced at me, his eyes filled with understanding. He didn't say anything, but his silent support was exactly what I needed in that moment. I leaned back, trying to collect my thoughts and figure out my next move.

I sat there for a while, the silence between Mingi and me feeling strangely comforting. Finally, I turned to him and asked, "What should I do, Mingi? I don't want to push Wooyoung away, but I also don't know how to handle this."

Mingi looked thoughtful for a moment before responding. "I think you should wait until Wooyoung comes to you," he said gently. "Sometimes people need time to sort through their own feelings. If you give him space, he might come to you when he's ready to talk. Just let him know you're there for him."

I nodded, taking in Mingi's words. It made sense, and it was a relief to have a clear course of action. For now, I would wait and hope that Wooyoung would come to me when he was ready.

As I sat there processing Mingi's advice, Seonghwa walked over to us, a gentle smile on his face. "Hey, are you two ready to go?" he asked, his tone light and encouraging.

Mingi and I exchanged a glance before nodding. "Yeah, we're ready," I replied, feeling a bit more at ease.

We stood up and followed Seonghwa out of the dressing room. The rest of the group was already gathering, and we all made our way to the cars. The ride back to the hotel was filled with a comfortable silence, each of us lost in our own thoughts. I couldn't help but hope that Mingi's advice would work and that Wooyoung and I could find a way to reconnect.

When we finally arrived at the hotel, I felt a wave of exhaustion wash over me. The day had been emotionally draining, and all I wanted was to crawl into bed. As we stepped out of the cars, I turned to the group and gave them a small smile. "Good night, everyone," I said softly.