Ice Hearts || ATEEZ ✔️

thirty-nine.

Y/n's POV

I had made up my mind. I've been through them and I had survived, so I would be fine. Yeah, I will... I can't let Ae Ri go back to that hell hole and go through what I did; I'd rather be the one going through it if anything. Finally mustering my courage, I spoke up to them for the first time, "Take me instead.". Everyone had turned their heads towards me, eyes wide and speechless.

"Y/n? Y/n, no. Please no. Do you even know what you're saying? You can't leave me again, please don't." Wooyoung pleaded me, hands wrapped tightly around my wrists. His expression made my heart break, but I can't back down now. "I'm sorry but I have to. I love you, Woo." I whispered to him while holding back my tears as his had started flowing down. I pushed his hands away and stood up, looking at them one last time.

Sorry guys, I'll see you soon...I hope.

"I'll come with you guys instead, let Ae Ri go." I said, trying to make my voice firm even though I was shaking. Ae Ri was shaking her head at me, begging me with her eyes to which I replied by shaking mine too. "Well, well. Are you sacrificing yourself now, love? Or do you miss us? How sweet of you." Chan's smirk painted his face, now stepping closer towards me.

"None of those, I just don't want Ae Ri to get hurt. Now let her go, I'll come with you." I took a glance up at him, turning away immediately after meeting his eyes. "Why should I? 'Mom' is not looking for you though." He chuckled at his 'joke', bending down to my eye level.

Chan laughed as he saw my unfocused eyes that were now looking at his. "We do miss you though, the good old times we had together. Right, love?" The pet name again, it makes me nauseous every time and I'm sure Wooyoung hates it even more than me based on his loud growl coming from behind, "Don't call her that!"

"Aw, are you jealous? Too bad, she belongs to me now, again. Dear sister, you're free to go then. Go back to the losers." Chan's smirk had grown to a teasing smile, his arm around my shoulders again; an action that used to make me feel safe but now the opposite. Felix pushed Ae Ri towards the boys roughly, causing her to land on her knees.

"Ae Ri-ah!" Hongjoong oppa rushed towards her immediately, both of them casting a thankful and sorry glance towards me. "Changbin, send them back home." Chan ordered as Changbin gave him a nod but his eyes were on me, worried. "Please send them back safely." I mouthed to him carefully with a light nod.

I watched as the boys and Ae Ri leave reluctantly; they had to pull a very unwilling Wooyoung away. I'm sorry, I love all of you. Unable to meet their eyes, I casted mine down to the dirty floor instead, my tears wetting it. I was left alone with them as I heard the car outside leave. "Now, are you looking forward to reminisce our memories together my love? Cause I sure am." An ugly grin was painted on their faces, a look that was familiar to me. "Let's go home now, shall we?"

Ae Ri's POV

Everyone was quiet in the car except for Wooyoung oppa's heavy breathing. Y/n unnie, please be okay. I was praying silently to myself, worried about unnie. "Changbin? What is Bang Chan's plan? Where is he going to bring Y/n to and what is he going to do to her?" It was Yunho. Yunho was staring at Changbin oppa through the rear mirror, eyes wet and desperate. "I don't know." Changbin oppa answered with his eyes still focused on the road, his answer made us look at him in doubt.

"Look guys, I really don't know anything. I have no idea why he wants Y/n, but I will try to help her as much as I can without being caught, okay? I'm as worried about her as you all are but I can't guarantee anything, except that she will be alive and breathing. I can only promise you that." Changbin oppa replied apologetically. With that, the rest of the ride was silent again.