aurora: in full bloom | hongjoong - ateez [hiatus]

⇢ ch. 9

After getting home from your business trip, you and Seonghwa decide to go on a date to make up for the week when you were gone.

You and Seonghwa haven't been on many conventional dates simply because of time and the fact that he's an idol. It proves to be more difficult.

You would have to remember that dates don't need to be extravagant.

A lot of times you've had to be creative, and sometimes getting creative meant just sharing meals together. You and Seonghwa have been afraid to go out because of the fact that he's an idol and you just simply ready to make your relationship public yet.

Both of your personalities include being reserved, hesitant, afraid of hatred because of risk.

Your date with Seonghwa this time is different this time, where decide to be more risky. You decide to head out into the nightlife of the city. You haven't done something like this in the longest time. You've been so consumed by work, so it's such a nice break.

You walk hand in hand with him, happy to be doing something other than work.

Life has been extremely stressful and hectic, so you find it nice to be doing something other than the norm.

You're somewhat able to forget about the world. It's as if you're on cloud nine.

You're also reminded that recently you were on a business trip where it somewhat felt like a small break as well. You're happy that life feels like it's slowing down.

Unknowingly, pictures of you and Seonghwa are taken when you are on your date, where a news article is then written up about the two of you.

↞-↠

When you wake up in the morning, you see news articles circulating about your date with Seonghwa.

Astrid's Seonghwa seen holding hands with someone. Is he dating?

Astrid's Seonghwa in a relationship?

You then proceed to read the comments that people have to say. You go down a hole of reading comments and seeing what people have to say online.

You go on to chastise yourself for letting petty comments get to you. For even looking into these comments in the first place.

You're unsure if Seonghwa saw the articles. He doesn't message you about it, and you don't message him about it either at first.

But their words are imprinted in your brain.

And it destroys you, tears you apart. It's your breaking point.

You end up deciding to message Seonghwa so you can speak with him in person.

You hear a knock at your door 20 minutes later. You drag yourself to open the door, where you face Seonghwa.

You invite him in, where you both are silent. You both sit on the couch, where he then proceeds to ask if you're okay.