sin - woosan

f o r t y - t w o

three months later.

Wooyoung clocked into work not more than 7 minutes ago when he heard the familiar jingle of the door, and in walks San sitting by his usual booth. San has been coming to his work everyday, trying to talk to Wooyoung, never really catching him on time, but today the gods seem to be on his side. He spotted Wooyoung and made a beeline to him.

"You can't keep ignoring me, Wooyoung. I meant what I said that night, and you're being a real di—"

"Hey! What are you doing getting so close to him?" Yeonjun stood between them, his height being slightly taller than San made him look like he was towering over him.

"Can you not interfere in something that has nothing to do with you?" San said, getting bothered at the now red-haired man.

"Well, it's obvious that Wooyoung, my friend, doesn't want anything to do with this conversation. So, back off why don't you?" He tried again.

San just looked back to stare at Wooyoung, "is that really the case, Woo?"

Wooyoung stayed silent, almost like his voice went missing. He opened his mouth to talk, but Yeonjun cut him to it. "His silence is an answer enough, now why don't you go find yourself someone else to mess around with, hm?"

San stayed focused on the frozen boy behind Yeonjun, urging him to speak, but when he said nothing, he backed off. Hands up in surrender, he took a step back, and Yeonjun's stance loosened up a little. "Fine, I'll leave now, but this isn't over, Wooyoung."

Yeonjun scoffed as he watched the other walk out the door, cussing him out as he left, but Wooyoung wasn't paying attention. He just went back to the changing room, where he zoomed past Seyoung. Before she could ask what was up, she spotted San's figure walking out of the diner, she made a dash for it. "Hey! Wait up," San turned around at the voice calling, only to spot the smaller girl approaching him swiftly.

"What? If I'm going to hear another person nagging about leaving him alone, I'll have you know that I w—"

"What do you want with my brother?" She asked calmly.

"Br-Brother?" He stutters out.

"Yes, Wooyoung is my brother. Now what do you want with him? Why do you keep chasing after him?" She asked firmly, voice steady and harsh.

"I love him, okay? That night... I told him I loved him, and he- he walked out. I don't know what to do with my feelings, I've never felt this way for anyone and I'm scared. I hate that I can't do anything on my own, and I hate the situation we got ourselves in, but I can't hate the fact that I love him. Or at least I think this is what love is. I want to be with him. I want to at least hear what he has to say. Because all this silence? It's making me go insane. I've never chased after someone like I am for him. I just want to know how he feels about me. If he doesn't feel the same, I'll walk away... I just... I just need closure." He was near tears by this point, his shoulder sagged, and so so tired. He had no more fight in him. He just wanted an out, and Seyoing could see how much this was affecting him.

"Look, I may not like you very much for hurting my brother, but I'll help you under one condition."

"Anything," San pleaded.

"If Wooyoung wants to walk away from you, you'll let him. At any point. And if you don't, I'll hunt you down."

San nods, "okay! That's all I've wanted anyway. I just want a chance."

Seyoung looked at him carefully, the stress lines on his forehead, the deep dark circles seeping under his eyes, the drawn out think lips. He was not in great condition, and she would help him, as long as it made Wooyoung feel better, otherwise, she'd help end him.

+++

Later, it was nearing the end of his shift, as he approached the back room to remove his apron and collect his stuff, Seyoung appeared in front of him. "Hey," she spoke softly.

He glanced up, smile drawn gently on his lips, "hi."

"You look exhausted," she mused.

Wooyoung slumps down on the bench at that. "He won't leave me alone. He's been coming here everyday, sometimes he's drunk, sometimes he's not, but both times he wants to speak to me. He waits for me to come to work, arriving before me or just a bit after me, I'm tired Seyoung."

She could see the effects of this ongoing crisis on his face. His eyes were closed as he sighed out, and her eyes softened as he gripped his shoulder, a warm smile across her face. "I think you should stop running away, Wooyoung."

His face shot up, confusion sprawled against his features, "what do you—"

"I think you should talk to him, Wooyoung." His eyes widened, but she continued anyways. "If you keep running, he'll keep chasing you. You won't know peace unless you speak to him, Woo. Hear him out, give yourself closure. Walk away when it's done, but you can't leave the job half done."

He looked at her for a few more seconds before his head fell, now staring at the space between his legs. "I hate when you're right."

She smiled triumphantly, "well that's always!"

He rolled his eyes, but fear swam back into his eyes for a moment. "I'll talk to him, but... not now. I don't think I'm ready to relive that."

"Take all the time you need, Woo. Make good decisions, I'll be here either way." He smiled at his sister's words, her returning it before her voice came out again. "Let's go home?"

"Yeah," his voice was low and sounded so hoarse and distraught, but he cheered up when he linked arms with Seyoung, the younger girl skipping as they make it back to his apartment.