Why me? >Woosan<

15

The rain had slowed to a drizzle by the time they pulled up outside the small house.

San stepped out of the car, his heart hammering, his legs growing heavier with every step toward the porch.

Behind him, the others followed. Mingi shoved his hands into his pockets, glancing up at the lit window. Hongjoong and Seonghwa stood close together beneath an umbrella, quiet as they watched him.

"Go on," Hongjoong said softly. "We'll wait right here."

San nodded, swallowing hard, and turned toward the door. The short walk felt longer than it was, puddles soaking through his shoes as he crossed the yard.

When he reached the porch, he hesitated. His reflection stared back at him from the glass, pale, exhausted, terrified.

"Just breathe," he muttered to himself, then knocked.

The door opened a moment later.

"Hi, San," the woman said gently. "It's nice to finally meet you. I'm Go-eun, Wooyoung's mom."

She looked so much like Wooyoung around the eyes that San's throat tightened instantly. He bowed deeply, unable to meet her gaze.

"I'm sorry," he said quietly. "I know you probably don't want me here, but I'd really like to talk to Wooyoung."

"Come in," she said, stepping aside.

San glanced back once. The others were still by the car, waiting, offering him small reassuring nods. Then he stepped inside.

The house was warm and lived-in, the faint scent of tea and laundry lingering in the air. A clock ticked softly somewhere down the hallway.

Go-eun led him into the kitchen, and they sat across from each other at the table. Silence settled heavily between them before she finally spoke.

"I didn't tell Wooyoung you were coming."

The words hit hard.

"Does he... hate me?" San asked quietly.

She shook her head. "No, San. He doesn't hate you." Her voice was calm, but there was sadness in it. "He wouldn't be this heartbroken if he did."

San stared down at his trembling hands. "I'm so sorry," he whispered.

"When the first article came out, he didn't handle it well," she continued. "But his biggest worry wasn't himself. It was you. He was terrified he'd ruined your career."

A tear slipped down before San could stop it.

"I should've been there," he said. "I tried. I really tried."

"I know." She paused. "But when that apology letter was published..."

San looked up immediately. "I didn't write that," he said, too quickly, too desperately. "I swear, I didn't even know they were releasing it."

Her expression softened.

"He thought you didn't love him anymore when you didn't reach out."

That broke him.

San covered his face, shoulders shaking as he cried silently at the kitchen table.

"For a while, he wasn't taking care of himself," Go-eun said softly. "He wouldn't eat much. Barely slept. But his friends helped him find his way back."

"I never meant to hurt him," San choked out.

"I know," she said gently. "I'm not telling you this to make you feel worse."