Lines Crossed (SanSang)

32

As they arrived in Seoul, the usual bustling energy of the city felt almost foreign to Yeosang. Everything around him was a reminder that he was back to a reality where his brief moment with San was now just a painful memory. He and Wooyoung walked in silence toward their dorms, the weight of the trip still heavy between them.

Once inside if Yeosangs dorm, Wooyoung pulled Yeosang to sit on the couch. He didn't say anything at first, just let Yeosang settle back into his own space. After a few minutes, Wooyoung broke the silence with a gentle but determined voice.

"Yeosang, I know you want to forget everything, but burying it isn't going to make the hurt go away," he said, his gaze steady.

Yeosang sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I know, Woo. But what else am I supposed to do? He was so sure that he didn't feel the same way. And now, hearing he's with someone else—engaged even—it just feels like everything was one-sided. Like I imagined all of it."

Wooyoung's jaw clenched, his frustration with San bubbling beneath his sympathetic expression. "Yeosang, you didn't imagine it. I was there for all of it. I saw how he looked at you, how he acted around you." He hesitated, then said, "I don't care what he said to you in Namhae—I think he's just scared. Hes clearly lying."

Yeosang closed his eyes, shaking his head. "But he's with someone else now, Woo. Even if you're right, what's the point? I have to let this go."

Wooyoung looked at him, his expression torn between anger and compassion. "Then let's do that," he said quietly. "Let's focus on moving forward, on you. Whatever you need—someone to listen, a distraction, anything—I'm here."

Yeosang met Wooyoung's gaze, a faint smile breaking through his exhaustion. "Thank you, Woo. I... I don't know what I'd do without you."

Wooyoung's face softened. "That's what friends are for," he said, slinging an arm over Yeosang's shoulder. "And we're going to get through this. I'll make sure of it."

Yeosang was staring at his phone, his eyes fixed on the screen as the notification from San popped up but seeing San's name again sent a wave of confusion and hurt surging through him.

Yeosang's heart raced, and his fingers hovered over the screen, tempted to open the message. What could he possibly want now? He wanted to know, but he also knew the risk—it would reopen the wound that hadnt even started to heal.

Wooyoung, noticing Yeosang's conflicted expression, sighed and leaned closer, his voice soft but firm. "Yeosang... don't look at it," he urged, watching him closely.

"I just... I need to know what he has to say," Yeosang murmured, his voice breaking a little. He couldn't tear his eyes away from the notification. A part of him hoped there was an explanation, a reason for the pain he'd felt. "Maybe he... maybe he's realized something."

Wooyoung shook his head, his face set with determination. He reached over and gently took Yeosang's phone from his hands. "No. He had his chance, Yeosang. He saw how much he hurt you, and he still let you walk away. Now he's trying to slip back in, acting like it's that easy? He doesn't get to mess with you like this."

Yeosang's gaze faltered, but he didn't stop Wooyoung. Somewhere deep down, he knew his friend was right. But a painful ache twisted in his chest, as if this final step was also the hardest one. "What if he... what if he really wants to explain?" he whispered.

"Explain?" Wooyoung shook his head in frustration, scrolling through Yeosang's contacts with determined fingers. "He had you drive across the country to talk to him. He could've said whatever he wanted then, but he didn't. He just let you leave. Do you really think a message is going to make that better?"