flutedrum | woosan ✓

24

Wooyoung and Jongho sat patiently outside the recording room, leaning against the wall, waiting for Seonghwa to finish. They knew exactly what was happening inside, and they didn't mind waiting. As long as Seonghwa and Hongjoong were happy, and not up to anything too crazy, they could handle a long wait. But then, the sound of loud and angry footsteps broke their comfortable silence. Two people walked in, voices raised, probably mid-argument.

Wooyoung and Jongho glanced at each other. They knew those voices. It didn't take much to recognize Yeosang and...San?

"I told you you should've been faster!"
"Okay fine, I'm so-"

Yeosang and San froze the moment they spotted Wooyoung and Jongho sitting outside the recording room. Yeosang, without a second thought, darted toward Jongho and practically crashed into his arms. Jongho, surprised but elated, immediately hugged him back. They stayed like that, faces buried in each other's shoulders, their joy palpable even in silence. You could almost hear the smiles on their faces—it was that heartwarming. It was as if the rest of the room melted away, leaving only the pure happiness they shared in that moment.

Wooyoung, watching them, couldn't help but grin. How cute. But he wasn't the only one grinning. And his grin wasn't the only one that disappeared upon locking eyes with a certain someone.

San.

There he was—San, standing across from Wooyoung, locking eyes with him as if nothing had happened between them. His calm expression made Wooyoung feel uneasy, a stark contrast to the knot of tension that tightened between them. It was almost unsettling how composed San seemed, as though the moments they'd shared hadn't left a lasting impact. The silence stretched, the air thick with awkwardness. It was strange, really. Out of everyone, they had spent the most time together, yet somehow, they were the ones who felt the most disconnected now. There was no banter, no playful energy, just the weight of what wasn't being said.

Wooyoung fidgeted with his fingers, trying to break the uncomfortable silence that seemed to envelop them. The laughter and warmth between Yeosang and Jongho only highlighted the void between him and San.

San's eyes drifted away, and he cleared his throat, trying to shake off the palpable awkwardness. "So, how's it been?"

Wooyoung forced a smile, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Oh, you know. Just waiting. How's everything with Yunho?"

San hesitated before responding, his gaze still avoiding Wooyoung's. "It's been...intense. But good. I guess."

Wooyoung nodded, feeling a pang of unease. They both knew this conversation wasn't really about their recordings or how intense things had been. It was a cover, a way to avoid addressing the real issue that hung between them.

The door to the recording room opened, and Seonghwa stepped out, his face lit with a satisfied smile. Hongjoong followed, his expression equally pleased. The atmosphere immediately brightened, but the awkward tension between Wooyoung and San remained.

Seonghwa greeted them warmly. "Hey, how's everyone holding up?"

Jongho and Yeosang eagerly responded, their faces glowing with excitement. Wooyoung and San exchanged glances, both feeling the weight of their unresolved feelings.

"Well," Seonghwa continued, glancing at Wooyoung and San, "now that we're all here, maybe we can talk a bit before the next session?"

"Sure," Wooyoung said, his voice slightly strained. He looked at San, who nodded in agreement, though his own discomfort was evident.

The group moved to a more relaxed seating area, trying to find comfort in each other's presence. Wooyoung found himself sitting next to San, their proximity feeling both reassuring and disconcerting.

"So," Seonghwa began, breaking the silence with his usual ease, "what's next?"

As the conversation shifted to work-related topics, Wooyoung found it hard to focus. His mind was preoccupied with the unresolved tension between him and San. He couldn't help but wonder if they would ever bridge the gap that had formed, or if the awkwardness would forever linger like a shadow.

San's occasional glances toward Wooyoung hinted at his own internal struggle. There was a silent understanding between them, a recognition of the unresolved issues they needed to confront. But for now, they were forced to maintain a façade of normalcy as they navigated through the remainder of the day.

The feeling of being on the brink of something—be it resolution or further disconnection—hung heavily in the air. And as the group continued their conversations, the question remained: would they ever truly address what had come between them, or would they continue to drift apart, caught in the tension that neither of them wanted to acknowledge?