Ice Hearts || ATEEZ ✔️

twenty-three.

Ae Ri's POV

"Let's start with fighting again, shall we? The others can go practice." Hongjoong instructed as Wooyoung, Jongho and I nodded, making our way to the familiar boxing ring in the corner. "Welcome back to part two of our lesson, Ae Ri. Do you still remember the basics we taught you?" Wooyoung said as he gave a small bow. "Also, the advice Y/n noona gave you? Especially the one where you have to remain steady." Jongho added, a mischievous smile on his cute face.

"Yes, yes I remember." I answered with a laugh. "Great! We shall begin." We got into position as the two usually playful boys got serious, "To start off, keep your balance and aim well when you kick..." I was sweating buckets just an hour into the session, "That's it! Take a short break Ae Ri, drink up." Jongho pushed me towards the end of the ring and I went to grab my bottle.

Jongho's POV

"Jongho, can we talk?" Wooyoung hyung asked as he placed his hand on my shoulder. "Sure," I agreed as we sat and leant against the ropes of the ring, "What about?" "Jongho, I know how you feel about Y/n but you looked so calm, happy even when they were talking about Y/n and I. Are you...are you really okay? You know you can always be honest with me." Hyung looked at me with a curious stare.

"Hyung, of course I'm okay. I've already prepared myself for it actually, and I just want noona to be happy. It doesn't have to be me; I know you're the one she truly loves. She only treats me as a younger brother and I'm contented with that." I gave him a sad smile but I meant every single word I had said. "But hyung, promise me that you will always be by her side. Make her cry and I won't hesitate to beat the shit out of you." I half-jokingly warned as I punched his shoulder, making him laugh and salute at me, "Yes, Sir Jongho." I trust you, Wooyoungie hyung.

"Okay, enough of this talk. Let's resume the training."

Hongjoong's POV

"So hyung, how's it going?" Yeosang asked as the other boys, minus the two who were with Ae Ri, and Y/n gathered around me. "How's what going?" I faked as I cleaned my small knife with a cloth. "Hyung, you're a smart one, don't act dumb now. You and Ae Ri obviously." Yeosang with his savage remarks as always. "We're friends. Close friends, that's all. Thanks for your unnecessary concern. Now go back to what all of you were doing." I tried shooing them away but their smirks grew.

"Hongjoong oppa, you know yourself the best. Stop lying to us and most importantly stop lying to yourself." Y/n retorted back at me, her words hitting me hard. She's right, I've been telling myself to listen to my mind and not my heart. "Fine, I do like her, but I don't know if she feels the same." I finally gave in to them, feeling as if a boulder was lifted from my shoulders.

"Don't be silly, Kim Hongjoong. You're small not blind, don't you notice how she's always next to you? How she's always taking glances at you? It's obvious she likes you like how you like her." Shock was an understatement of what I felt when Seonghwa said that, how could I not notice? "I guess I am kinda blind. Thanks you guys, I know what to do. Wait for the good news." I said as I gave them a sincere smile and a thumbs up.

When Wooyoung and Jongho finally decided it was enough, Ae Ri trudged her way to me, knocking her forehead against my shoulder. I chuckled at her actions, finding every single thing she does adorable. "Are you okay? Did they bully you? I can go scold them if you want me to." I joked as I pretended to walk to the two who were hitting each other jokingly. "Oppa! It's fine, it was fun actually. I'm just not fit enough to catch up with them." She giggled as she tugged on my wrist, wrapping her small hands around it.

"Take a warm shower, it will make you feel better." Nodding, she turned away to head upstairs, but this time, it was me who grabbed her wrist. "Erm, Ae Ri? Can you meet me at the balcony later? I have uh something I want to tell you." I told her while rubbing the back of my neck, I couldn't look at her. "Sure! I'll see you later then."

oh ho *wink wink*

~thedouble_a (18/4/20)