Perfume • Woosan | Ateez

s e v e n

I recognize and I a p o l o g i z e
That I got the good s i d e
The good side of t h i n g s

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TRYING to completely ignore Wooyoung was way harder than trying to get through the last weeks before Christmas break. San was almost happy to go to school, because that meant not having to worry about stepping in a room in which only he was in or walking down the stairs when he was also leaving his room at the same time. In school he could at least pretend to be busy and already knew exactly, where the boy was. The only thing which was as worse as seeing him unexpected at home, was the school bell. His heart felt like it was shattering again and again and again, because he got reminded every time, that he would not spend his break with this particular boy behind this particular building anymore.

Soon he got used to clinging on to Mingi and Yunho though, who both were more than happy that they got someone to tease again. But he wasn't the only one appreciating the company of his two foster brothers, since Wooyoung seemed to find liking in sticking with the two tall boys as well. Not in school, since San was with them then, but at home he had heard the three of them in the living room and sometimes the gray haired boy had even followed them down to their room after school. San noticed how much he was missing out on when he also started to text in the group chat San had with all of his foster brothers. Is was not much, but he did respond to questions like Who wants to watch the new episode from Sky Castle tonight? or Did anyone see the remote control?

Even though San was still hurt because of his behavior he was happy for Wooyoung and also relieved that he at least got a little used to his new living situation and didn't try to be just in his room everyday anymore. He did have a weird feeling in his stomach every time he saw the gray haired boy with his foster brothers though. Why did they get to spend time with him, but not him? And why couldn't he be so funny and easy going like Mingi and Yunho? Some people might think that it was naive still wanting a person, who made it clear that they didn't like you the way you wanted, to like you the way you desire. Or wanting them to like you at all. San really tried accepting the fact that what happened in the bathroom was just in the moment and didn't mean anything to Wooyoung, but even after more than a week past since then, he couldn't stop thinking about his lips. And his smell. And his fingers, who had gently touched his skin.

It was Saturday evening and their usually full house was so dark and quiet that San finally left his hiding spot, which was obviously his room, for more then five minutes for the first time in over a week. His Halmoni went out to play cards, Hongjoong was at Seongwha's place as always, Jongho and Yeosang were spending their time in a indoor skatepark since it got to cold to skate outside and Mingi, Yunho and, yes, Wooyoung, went to a house party from a guy one grade above them. Obviously his grandmother didn't know about the party, but that didn't stop them from going. San took the opportunity of having the house for himself for once to first take a long bath, while listening to a random podcast and then take up the whole couch in the living room by himself. He brought out some snacks from the kitchen, played Super Mario for a whole hour without having to switch with his brothers for once and then turned on Naruto for the highlight of the night.

He was half through the first episode when Yunho and Mingi suddenly stormed in the house. They had Wooyoung in the middle and got one of his arms each wrapped around their neck. He was just hanging in the air between them, had his eyes closed and didn't seem to respond to what was happening at all. »Saniii«, Yunho was screaming, after he spotted him in the living room. San immediately smelled the alcohol. »Yo! This party is lit as hell«, Mingi laughed, who at least sounded more stable then Yunho, but definitely not sober. Before he could think of what to say to this situation or how to deal with them they made their way up the stairs, so for a second San thought he could just stay on this couch and let them handle themselves, but then his brothers came running back down, Yunho was yodeling and Mingi hit the Woah and it didn't look like they were done for the night. »Wooyoung said he needs to throw up so we put him next to the toilet«, Yunho informed him, before they were back out the door.