Why me? >Woosan<

17.

San POV

"Don't you understand what would happen, San?"
My manager's voice cracked like a whip across the office. "You could lose your place in the group. Worst case, the group disbands. Do you get that? You're jeopardizing Ateez's future, not just yours, but every member's."

I stood in the middle of the room, palms sweating. I'd come here begging, no, demanding, that they reconsider. My heart was pounding so loud I barely heard him.

"You think this will destroy my future," I shot back, my voice breaking. "What about my life now? I want to be with him now, not in five years when you decide Ateez's career is over. Are we just supposed to wait?"

The room went dead silent. Finally, he sighed. "We have to discuss this internally. You can leave now."

I bowed stiffly, my throat tight, and walked out without another word.

Three weeks passed.
Nothing.

I'd been patient, waiting for some sign from the head office. A message. A compromise. Anything.

Five weeks. Still nothing.

Wooyoung and I had taken another step together, I'd introduced him to my family. We'd spent an entire weekend at my parents' house, and, like everyone who met him, they adored him. My mom had simply hugged him when she found out we were together, whispering that she was happy I'd found someone like him.

Seven weeks. I'd had enough.

I stormed into the building with Hongjoong running after me, trying to calm me down.
"San, wait! Please don't do anything stupid!"

I marched into the office without knocking, only realizing too late there was a meeting in progress. "Oh... I'm sorry," I muttered, bowing, already turning to leave.

"San. Hongjoong. Good thing you're here. Come in."

The others filed out, and suddenly it was just us. I could hear my heart in my ears.

"We've been discussing," the executive started. "I've been young and in love too, but this, this is a big deal. It could destroy everything we've worked for. I tried talking to them"

My heart sank. Hongjoong's hand landed gently on my shoulder.

"For them, it's too much at stake," the executive continued. "If it were up to me, I'd change the contract right now, but I can't."

Something inside me cracked. I felt hurt, angry, empty all at once.
"Then I'm leaving the group."

"San!" Hongjoong shot up, eyes wide. "What are you doing?"

I bowed respectfully, turned, and walked out.

"I'll talk to him," Hongjoong said behind me. "San! Please!"

I turned just enough for him to see the tears in my eyes. "They'll never change. Is it all worth it if we're not allowed to be happy?"

"San, don't do this. Please..."

"What's left to talk about?" I muttered. "I'm going to Wooyoung's."

Hongjoong POV

"What the hell are we gonna do?" Junho muttered, head in his hands.

"They can't just make him leave."

"They didn't make him," I said quietly.

"What?"

"He chose to leave."

The air shifted. Mingi shot to his feet. "What the fuck?! How can he do this?"

"Mingi," Seonghwa warned, calm as ever.