falling into you || woosan

~52~

WOOYOUNG'S POV

When San left, the room became quiet again, except for the faint, distant screams of the crowd. I sighed, glancing down at my ankle. It was propped up with ice, already starting to throb less intensely, but the disappointment weighed heavily on me.

I couldn't help but feel like I had let everyone down. The fans, the members, San. The thought brought a lump to my throat. I blinked rapidly, trying to keep the tears at bay, but they welled up anyway.

Everything seemed to catch up to me at once. This past year had been a whirlwind of negativity. The breakup, the relationship scandal, my hiatus, the hospitalization. Each event had chipped away at me, leaving scars that still ached. I tried to stay strong, for myself and for the others, but sometimes it's too much.

I started to cry, the tears flowing freely now. It felt like a release, yet it brought with it the sting of all those memories. The pressure, the scrutiny, the feeling of constantly being watched and judged. I had always tried to put on a brave face, to be the Wooyoung everyone expected me to be, but in moments like this, it was hard to hold it all together.

I buried my face in my hands, letting the sobs wrack my body. The crowd's cheers were a distant reminder of the world I was momentarily separated from. I wanted to be out there, to share in the joy and energy, but instead, I was here, feeling broken and vulnerable.

"Why does it have to be so hard?" I whispered to myself, the question hanging in the empty room. The tears slowed, replaced by a dull ache. I took a deep breath, wiping my eyes. There was no going back now, only forward.

I had to believe that things would get better, that I would find my way back to the stage stronger than before. And as much as it hurt right now, I knew I wasn't alone. I had San, the members, and our fans.

They believed in me, and I had to find the strength to believe in myself again.

A couple of minutes later, a stage manager entered the room. "Wooyoung, you can finish the concert with the others, but you'll need to remain seated."

I nodded, feeling a mix of relief and determination. "Thank you."

With their help, I got up and quickly changed into my tour merch. Security assisted me as I made my way back to the stage. The closer I got, the louder the crowd's cheers became, and the familiar energy of the performance seeped into my bones.

As I stepped onto the stage, San's face lit up with a huge smile. He immediately came over to help me to my seat, leaning in close. "I'm so happy you're here," he whispered, his voice filled with warmth and relief.

I couldn't help but smile back, my heart swelling with gratitude and love. "Me too."

The final stretch of the concert was a blur of emotion and music. San stayed close by, always making sure I felt included, despite being seated. He would glance over, sharing a look or a smile, his presence a constant reassurance.

The rest of the members rallied around me too, and for a moment, all the negative thoughts and feelings dissipated. The fans' energy, my teammates' support, and San's unwavering love all blended into a powerful reminder that I wasn't alone.

As the last song ended and we took our final bows, I looked over at San. He was beaming, his happiness infectious. Despite everything, I felt a profound sense of gratitude. I had been through a lot, but moments like these made it all worthwhile.

Backstage, as the adrenaline started to fade, I turned to San. "Thank you," I said, my voice thick with emotion. "For everything."

He pulled me into a gentle hug, careful of my ankle. "Always," he replied softly.

We made our way to the dressing room, ready to head back to our hotels. San helped me change out of my stage clothes before quickly changing himself. Once I was dressed, he guided me to the couch to wait while he finished packing up with Mingi.

As I sat there, Yunho came over and took a seat beside me. "You and San seem to be on really good terms," he said, a hint of curiosity in his voice.

I nodded, a small smile tugging at my lips. "Yeah, we're back together."

Yunho's face lit up with genuine happiness. "I'm really happy for you guys. I love you two together."

"Thanks, Yunho," I replied, feeling a warm sense of gratitude for his support.

He hesitated for a moment before adding, "Hey, can you tell San to come to my room later? I need to talk to him about something."

I nodded, curiosity piqued. "Sure, I'll let him know."

Yunho smiled and gave my shoulder a gentle squeeze before standing up. "Thanks, Wooyoung. Take care of that ankle."

As he left the room, I couldn't help but wonder why Yunho wanted to talk to San. There was a hint of mystery in his request that left me intrigued. I watched San finish packing up, his movements efficient and focused.

When he finally came over, I relayed Yunho's message. "Yunho wants to talk to you later. He asked if you could go to his room."

San raised an eyebrow, clearly curious as well. "Did he say why?"

I shook my head. "No, just said he needed to talk to you."

San shrugged, a small smile playing on his lips. "Alright, I'll check in with him later. Ready to go?" I nodded. With San's help, I got up from the couch, and we started making our way to the van waiting outside.

The ride back to the hotel was a blur. Exhausted from the concert and the pain in my ankle, I ended up falling asleep against San's shoulder. The next thing I knew, San was gently shaking me awake.

"We're here," he said softly, his voice a comforting presence in the haze of sleep. I started to get out, but a sharp pain shot through my ankle, reminding me of my injury.

I winced, and San immediately put a hand on my shoulder. "Wait, you need to be careful," he insisted.

"I can walk," I protested, but he shook his head, his expression firm yet caring.

"No way. I'm carrying you," he said, not leaving any room for argument. Despite my protests, San scooped me up in his arms and carried me into the hotel. His strength and determination made it impossible to argue, and honestly, I was grateful for the help.

As we reached his room, he gently set me down on the bed. "Stay here. I'm going to get your luggage from your room," he said, his tone leaving no room for discussion.

I nodded, feeling a warmth spread through me at his insistence. "Okay. Thanks, babe."

He flashed me a quick smile before grabbing my keycard off the nightstand and heading out. As I waited on the bed, I felt a mix of gratitude and love for him. San always knew how to take care of me, even when I tried to be stubborn.

The room was quiet, a stark contrast to the concert's chaos. I stretched out on the bed, propping my ankle up comfortably. San wanted me to stay with him tonight, and I was perfectly fine with that. It was in these moments of calm and intimacy that I felt closest to him, and I couldn't imagine being anywhere else.

I let my thoughts drift, recalling the concert and Yunho's words. There was still a curiosity about what Yunho wanted to talk to San about, but for now, I was content to just be here, knowing that San would be back soon.