A Place to Belong - Woosan

{6 - A Moment on the Edge}

The storm had lessened in intensity by the time Wooyoung placed his empty cup on the table, the sound of rain outside turning into a gentle, rhythmic patter. The tension in the air had shifted, mellowing into something softer, more delicate, as they sat there, bathed in the warm glow of the living room light.

San, however, wasn't entirely at ease.

He could feel Wooyoung's presence next to him—comforting, familiar, and yet charged with an energy that San wasn't sure how to navigate. Wooyoung's words from earlier still echoed in his mind: You don't have to trust me right away. But I'm here. There was something so simple and yet powerful in that promise, and San found himself both drawn to it and afraid of it.

The vulnerability he had shared moments ago hung between them like a fragile thread, and as San glanced sideways at Wooyoung, he could feel that same thread tightening, pulling them closer.

Wooyoung shifted on the couch, turning slightly toward San, his expression soft but thoughtful. "You look like you're a million miles away," he said gently, his voice quiet but laced with warmth. "What's going on in that head of yours?"

San blinked, snapping out of his thoughts. He opened his mouth to respond, but the words got stuck in his throat. What was he thinking? He wasn't even sure. All he knew was that he felt like he was standing on the edge of something—something important—and it terrified him.

"I don't know," San finally muttered, his fingers tightening around the edge of the towel still resting around his shoulders. "It's just... a lot."

Wooyoung nodded, his eyes never leaving San's. "Yeah, I get that."

San wasn't sure why, but that simple acknowledgment—those four words—made something shift inside him. Wooyoung always seemed to know exactly what to say, exactly how to make San feel seen without making him feel pressured. It was a rare gift, and San found himself wanting more of it, more of this.

His gaze drifted to Wooyoung's lips for a fleeting second before he quickly looked away, his heart hammering in his chest. The thought had come out of nowhere—sudden and unbidden—but it lingered, warm and electric. He tried to shake it off, but now that the thought had entered his mind, it was impossible to ignore.

Could he kiss Wooyoung? Would it be too soon? Too much?

San swallowed hard, his thoughts spinning as he stared down at his hands. He hadn't kissed anyone since his ex, and the idea of kissing someone new felt both exciting and terrifying in equal measure. But this was Wooyoung—someone who had shown him nothing but patience and understanding, someone who had been quietly and steadily working his way into San's heart without demanding anything in return.

Maybe, San thought, this was the moment to take that step.

The rain continued to fall outside, the steady rhythm of it filling the silence between them. Wooyoung hadn't said anything, hadn't pushed, but San could feel his presence like a steady, comforting weight beside him. It was grounding, but it was also pulling San toward something he wasn't sure he was ready for. Or maybe... maybe he was ready, and that was what scared him.

He took a deep breath, his fingers trembling slightly as he turned to face Wooyoung. "Can I ask you something?"

Wooyoung's eyebrows lifted slightly, his expression open and curious. "Of course."

San hesitated, his heart racing, he could feel his ears getting warm. He was on the verge of something, but the words were still caught somewhere between his heart and his throat. He licked his lips nervously, trying to find the courage to speak.

"I... I've been thinking," San started, his voice barely above a whisper. "About... us. About what this is. I'm not sure if I'm ready, but... I don't know. Maybe I am?"

Wooyoung's eyes softened, and for a moment, neither of them spoke. San could feel the weight of the moment pressing down on him, the air between them thick with unspoken possibilities.

"You don't have to be sure right now," Wooyoung said gently, his voice a soothing balm against the storm of emotions swirling inside San. "We can take things slow, remember? I told you, I'm not going anywhere."

San nodded, his heart pounding in his chest. But as much as he appreciated Wooyoung's patience, there was a part of him that wanted to take that step. To close the distance. To see what it would feel like to let go, even just a little.

Without thinking, San leaned forward slightly, his breath catching in his throat as he moved closer to Wooyoung. He could feel the heat radiating from Wooyoung's body, the warmth of his breath as they sat there, inches apart. San's pulse raced, his mind spinning with a thousand different thoughts, but one thought stood out above the rest: What if I just kissed him?

Wooyoung's eyes flickered with something—anticipation, maybe, or understanding—but he didn't move. He didn't push. He just waited, patient and steady, as if he knew exactly what San was thinking and was willing to let him decide.

San's gaze dropped to Wooyoung's lips again, the temptation pulling at him like a magnetic force. He could feel his heart in his throat, his nerves tingling with the possibility of what could happen next. All it would take was one small movement, one leap of faith.

But then, at the last second, San hesitated.

"I... I don't know if I'm ready," San whispered, his voice trembling with uncertainty.

Wooyoung's expression softened even more, and he reached out, his hand resting gently on San's arm. "It's okay," Wooyoung said quietly, his touch warm and reassuring. "We don't have to rush. I'm here, San. I'm not going anywhere."

San's breath hitched, the warmth of Wooyoung's hand grounding him, pulling him back from the edge. He wasn't ready—not yet. But the thought of the kiss lingered, simmering just beneath the surface, waiting for the right moment to rise again.

For now, though, this—being with Wooyoung, feeling safe in his presence—was enough.

San leaned back slightly, his heart still racing but his mind a little clearer. He wasn't sure when he'd be ready to take that step, but he knew that when he was, Wooyoung would be there, waiting. And San wanted him to be. 

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This chapter is dedicated to my angels @Sannislove & @TheRealHwa <3 <3 <3