falling into you || woosan

~64~

*continuation of chapter 61*

3RD PERSON POV

As Yeosang and Jongho entered their shared room, they found Yunho standing in front of the mirror, adjusting his collar with a look of concentration. The room was filled with the scent of cologne, and it was clear that Yunho was getting ready for something special.

Yeosang, always one to notice the details, couldn't help but ask, "Yunho, what's all this for? You going somewhere?"

Yunho turned, a small, slightly nervous smile playing on his lips. "Yeah, I've got a date tonight. With Mingi."

Yeosang's eyes widened in pleasant surprise, and a smile spread across his face. He stepped further into the room, followed by Jongho, who looked equally intrigued. "You're finally asking him, huh?" Jongho said, a grin forming as he looked at Yunho.

"Yeah," Yunho nodded, a mix of excitement and nerves evident in his expression. "I'm taking him to one of our favorite restaurants, and then we're going to an ice cream shop we used to go to. After that, a walk in the park where we used to practice. That's where I'll ask him."

Yeosang's smile deepened, and he offered a sincere, "That sounds perfect, Yunho. I'm sure he'll say yes."

Jongho gave Yunho a supportive pat on the shoulder. "Good luck, man. You've got this."

With their encouragement lifting his spirits, Yunho nodded gratefully and returned to the mirror to finish getting dressed. Yeosang and Jongho quietly left the room, letting Yunho prepare for his big night.

Later, they found themselves in the kitchen. Jongho sat at the bar, watching as Yeosang made a protein shake. The atmosphere between them was noticeably heavier, filled with unspoken tension. After preparing his shake, Yeosang lounged in the kitchen drinking it.

As Yunho and Mingi left the dorm, the door clicking shut behind them, Jongho slid off the barstool, his expression unreadable. Without a word, he made his way back to their shared room, leaving Yeosang behind. Yeosang watched them leave, a faint pang of sadness tugging at his heart. He lingered for a moment, lost in thought, before turning back to the sink. He slowly washed the cup from his now-finished protein shake, the sound of running water mingling with the distant hum of the refrigerator.

Once he finished, he glanced over at the living room, more specifically where San and Wooyoung were lounging on the couch, lost in their own little world. Wooyoung, with his playful grin, was teasing San, urging him to do a girl group dance. San, completely whipped for Wooyoung, got up and began mimicking the dance moves, much to Wooyoung's delight.

Their laughter filled the room, light and carefree. Wooyoung, unable to resist, joined in, matching San's movements with exaggerated enthusiasm. The two of them were a picture of happiness, their joy radiating throughout the space. As the dance came to an end, San pulled Wooyoung in by his waist, their laughter subsiding into a warm, tender moment. San leaned in, pressing a sweet kiss to Wooyoung's lips, and they whispered something to each other, the words too quiet for anyone else to hear but filled with affection.

Yeosang stood off to the side, watching them with a mixture of fondness and envy. The ease with which they loved each other, the freedom they had to express their feelings without a second thought, struck a chord deep within him. A pang of longing settled in his chest, and he couldn't help but wish for the same with Jongho.

Feeling a surge of emotion, Yeosang turned away and headed back to their shared room, where Jongho was waiting. As soon as he closed the door behind him, the weight of what he had just witnessed pushed him to speak.

"San and Wooyoung don't have to hide," Yeosang began, his tone intense. "They can openly love each other, no matter who's watching. I envy them, Jongho. I want that so badly—for us."

Yeosang continued, his voice thick with emotion. "I want to be able to love you openly, not just when the cameras are off or when no one's looking."

Jongho looked up, startled by the intensity in Yeosang's voice. "Yeosang, we've talked about this..."

"I know we have," Yeosang interrupted, his frustration evident. "But watching them just now, seeing how happy they are... It made me realize how much I want that. I want to show you off, Jongho. I want to talk about you to others, to hold your hand, to kiss you when I feel like it, without having to worry about who might see."

Jongho's expression hardened, a mix of discomfort and concern crossing his face. "But we've kept this private for years, Yeosang. It's been our thing, just between us. What if the others are upset we kept it from them for so long? What if it changes how they see us?"

Yeosang's hands clenched into fists at his sides, his frustration boiling over. "Why do you always assume the worst? They're our friends, our family. They've grown so much over the years, and I know they'd understand, they are literally dating each other. But you keep holding us back, Jongho. It's like you don't even want to try."

Jongho stood up, his own frustration rising to the surface. "I'm not holding us back. I'm trying to protect what we have. We've been fine all these years, keeping it private. What if going public changes everything? What if it ruins what we've built together? Do you not remember what Wooyoung and San were like a month ago?"

Yeosang's eyes filled with hurt, his voice trembling as he spoke. "I don't want to hide anymore, Jongho. I want to love you openly, regardless of the risks. Don't you want that too?"

Jongho hesitated, his gaze dropping to the floor. "Of course I do, Yeosang. But I'm scared. We've had such a good dynamic, just the two of us knowing. A public relationship could change everything."

Yeosang's voice softened, though the pain was still evident. "It feels like you're more afraid of what could go wrong than you are willing to fight for what could go right. I want to take that step with you, but you keep holding us back."

Jongho looked up, meeting Yeosang's gaze, his own eyes filled with uncertainty. "I just... I need more time, Yeosang. I'm not ready to take that step yet. Can't we just keep things the way they are, at least for a little while longer?"

Yeosang shook his head, the sadness in his voice unmistakable. "I don't know if I can keep doing this, Jongho. I don't want to keep hiding our love. It's breaking my heart to think that you don't want to share what we have with the world."

Jongho took a deep breath, feeling the weight of Yeosang's words. He reached out, gently taking Yeosang's hand in his. "I'm not saying I don't want to share it. I just need to be sure it's the right time, that it's what's best for us."

Yeosang looked down at their joined hands, his heart heavy with conflicting emotions. "I understand that, Jongho. But I also need you to understand how much it hurts to keep this a secret, especially when I see others living so freely. I need us to be on the same page."

The words hit Jongho hard. He had been clinging to the hope that they could find a way to make their situation work while maintaining some level of privacy. But now, facing Yeosang's pain and longing, he felt the crushing reality of their dilemma. He didn't want to lose Yeosang, and he knew the secrecy was eating away at him.

"Okay," he finally said, his voice resolute. "We'll start with telling our parents. It's a beginning. We'll see how they react and go from there."

Yeosang's expression softened slightly, though he still looked uncertain. "Thank you," he said quietly. "I just want us to be honest and to be able to share our love openly."

Jongho pulled Yeosang into a gentle embrace, his own fears still present but overshadowed by his determination to preserve their relationship.
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AN:

♡ SURPRISE SHAWTY

♡ JONGSANG ARE THE ORIGINAL BFS OF ATEEZ

♡ bet ya didn't see that coming 🕺🏻