A Place to Belong - A Woosan Novel

{13 - Ghosts of the Past }

San had been feeling lighter lately—more secure in the fragile but steady foundation he and Wooyoung were building together. It was slow, and there were still moments where the fear crept in, moments where the memories of his past relationships clawed at him, but with Wooyoung by his side, the shadows didn't seem as overwhelming.

Tonight, they were having dinner at a small bistro, the kind of cozy, intimate place that felt perfect for where they were—delicate, tentative steps toward something deeper. San was relaxed for the first time in a while, laughing softly at one of Wooyoung's jokes, letting himself enjoy the present moment without worrying about the weight of his past.

But, as fate would have it, the past had a way of catching up when you least expected it.

The door to the bistro chimed as a new customer entered, and San froze. He felt it before he even saw him—the familiar cold presence that sent a chill up his spine. Slowly, almost unwillingly, he turned his head toward the entrance, and his heart dropped.

His ex. The man who had broken him, manipulated him, and left him doubting his own worth, was standing there, scanning the room. His disrespect visible in his eyes that landed on San, and the smirk that curled onto his lips made San's stomach churn. He remembered that smirk, it make his stomach drop. 

"San," his ex called out, his voice dripping with fake charm, but San could hear the edge underneath. "I didn't expect to find you here."

Wooyoung looked at San, confusion and concern flashing across his face. "Is that...?"

San couldn't answer. His throat had tightened, his pulse quickening as old fears rushed back to the surface. His ex approached the table, his gaze flicking briefly to Wooyoung before settling back on San with a look that made his skin crawl.

"Well, well, well," his ex drawled, leaning casually against the table. "I've been thinking about you. Figured it was time we talked."

San wanted to stand, wanted to leave, but his body felt frozen. All the progress he had made, all the healing he had worked so hard for, seemed to disappear in an instant as the old wounds reopened, raw and painful.

Wooyoung's posture shifted, clearly picking up on San's discomfort. "You need to leave," Wooyoung said firmly, his voice steady but sharp. "San doesn't want to talk to you."

His ex's gaze snapped to Wooyoung, and the smirk fell, replaced by a sneer of disgust. "Who the hell are you?" he spat, his voice dripping with disdain. "His latest project? You think you can just swoop in and fix him? Good luck with that."

San's chest tightened, his breath coming in shallow, rapid bursts. The words cut deep, even though he knew they weren't true. The old, familiar feelings of worthlessness came flooding back, the feeling that he was broken beyond repair, that he would never be enough for anyone.

Wooyoung's expression hardened, but he didn't rise to the bait. Instead, he reached out, his hand finding San's under the table, a quiet but grounding gesture. "I'm someone who cares about San," Wooyoung said calmly. "And you need to leave him alone."

His ex's eyes narrowed, and he scoffed, turning back to San. "Oh, come on, San. You don't actually think this is going to last, do you? You and I... we had something real. You're going to throw all of that away for... this?"

San's heart pounded in his chest, a mix of anger, fear, and confusion swirling inside him. He could feel himself unraveling, the thin threads of his progress slipping through his fingers. His ex had always been good at this—at twisting the knife in just the right way, making San question everything.

"You'll never be able to trust him," his ex continued, his voice low and venomous. "You'll never be able to trust anyone. You think you've changed? You think you're better now? You're the same scared, broken mess you were when we were together."

San's breath hitched, and suddenly, it was too much. The walls he had carefully built to protect himself crumbled, and the flood of emotions hit him all at once—anger, shame, hurt. It was overwhelming, suffocating, and before he knew what he was doing, he stood up abruptly, knocking his chair back.

"I can't—" San's voice broke, the panic rising in his chest like a tidal wave. "I need to go."

"San—" Wooyoung's voice was gentle but urgent, reaching out toward him.

But San couldn't hear it. He couldn't stay. Not with his ex standing there, not with all of his old insecurities bubbling to the surface, threatening to drown him. He needed to get out, to run before everything fell apart.

Without another word, San turned and bolted from the restaurant, his heart racing, tears stinging his eyes. He could hear Wooyoung calling his name behind him, but the sound was distant, muffled by the rush of blood pounding in his ears.

He didn't stop running until he was several blocks away, his chest heaving as he collapsed onto a park bench. The night was cold, and the air burned in his lungs, but the ache in his chest was worse. His hands trembled as he buried his face in them, trying to hold back the sobs that threatened to break free.

How had this happened? How had everything come crashing down so quickly?

For a long time, San sat there in the dark, his mind racing with all the things his ex had said. The cruel words echoed in his head, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't shake them. He felt small again, powerless. All the progress he had made, all the trust he had been building with Wooyoung, now seemed so fragile, so fleeting.

And worst of all, he couldn't shake the fear that maybe, just maybe, his ex had been right. Maybe he was too broken to ever truly trust again.

San felt a tear slip down his cheek, and for the first time in a long time, he let it fall.

Because right now, he wasn't sure how to stop it.

~~

Sorry!! 

<hides>