THE LEGENDARY HOT GIRL | ATEEZ 18+

24 | PURE DISAPPOINTMENT

Upon arriving at the suite, Seonghwa and Yunho both scatter off as usual. I suppose there was another matter more pressing than the fact that I arose from the brink of death— not that they even believed me to begin with. I proceed into the living room alone and am greeted by the heavy aroma of American breakfast— Wooyoung was definitely here.

"Noona, where have you been?" San literally chases after me as he sees me enter the suite. The scent of his espresso still lingers.

Wooyoung rises from his chair, throwing his breakfast croissant across the table before lunging toward me with open arms and chocolate-covered hands. "I've missed you! I thought something bad happened to you, Noona," he whines.

San pats my back with a welcoming smile. "It's good you're safe."

The two look visibly drained— as if they both have been restless all the while I've been gone. Could it be that they were worried about me? It wasn't much of a revelation since I came to learn how sweet the boys actually were but I was surprised nonetheless. I don't think I could ever get used to someone caring so much about me like this.

I raise a brow. "You mean you don't think I ran off with a lover?"

Seonghwa was so convinced that that's what happened. He was so quick to believe Nina without a doubt— understandably so. He's loved her for half of his life so there's no surprise there. If Jaehyun or Jongho came and told me something about Seonghwa I'd probably believe them too.

The twins shake their heads.

"Are you crazy?" Wooyoung laughs in my face. "What man is worthy of someone like the legendary hot girl? No one could even remotely add up to hyung and we know you only go for the best."

"Tch," I playfully punch him on the chest. "This isn't a laughing matter, I seriously almost died."

"What happened out there?" asks San.

"I got pushed and ended up eating sand for miles, I was knocked unconscious for god knows how long," I explain.

"I can relate," Wooyoung nods as he proceeds to listen to the rest of my story.

"Sit, have some breakfast," San ushers me to the table and brings all the food toward me. He fills my plate with bacon, chocolate toast, and a strawberry and cream muffin. All carbs and calories staring right at me.

Though I don't doubt that anything I eat would sit uneasy since I haven't eaten for days.

Wooyoung looks at my plate in distaste. "If you weren't an athlete you'd definitely be a fat ass," he says to San.

"Yes, I think I'll opt for something a little lighter," I tug on the bowl of soup and take a couple spoon fulls. I knew that after starving myself before important events, I needed to slowly ween myself back on solids. It was a different kind of suffering for me— starvation. It was a substantial addition to the list of things I lacked in life: not being able to indulge in the things I wanted.

"Seonghwa's crazy not to believe you," Wooyoung brushes my hair back. "Look at you, you're so sullen. You look sickly."

San leans closer. "Doesn't she always look like that without makeup?"

"Well, sickly-er than usual," Wooyoung corrects himself without realizing how offensive he might've been.

I contemplate chucking my croissant or pouring the hot bowl of soup in their faces. But after giving it some thought— they weren't exactly wrong. I wasn't exactly delegating enough time for self care these past few months, or year.

Being on trial for murder really sucks the life out of you.

"Noona, are you really okay?" asks Wooyoung. "Do you wanna talk about it?"