Horizon | ATEEZ - Omegaverse

Chapter Thirty One

"Are Yeosang and Dongwoo okay?"

Kyelin looks up when she hears the question, as she's been wondering the same thing. She's been meaning to talk to Dongwoo about it after they didn't spend any time together at the festival and how he's been acting a bit differently. Kyelin also saw how his mating mark has faded, and it's made her think the worst has gone down between the two mates.

"I'm... not sure, but I think I'm going to go talk to him. He's still in the building, yeah?" Kyelin asks, looking towards the boys' building when Yunho nods at her.

Kyelin walks into the boys' building and sees Dongwoo sitting in the living area on the couch, all alone. She walks up behind him quietly and puts her hands over his eyes," Guess who?"

Dongwoo chuckles and removes Kyelin's hands, "Hm... I wonder who it could be? It's not like your voice gave you away," he turns his head around to see Kyelin, "What are you doing in here, Lin?"

"I just wanted to check up on you, silly. What's wrong with that?" Kyelin smiles, sitting down with him, "Are you feeling okay? I've been- Everyone's been a little worried about you lately..." She says softly, being careful of her wording. Her voice is full of concern for her friend, it hurts her heart to see Dongwoo being so distant physically and emotionally these days.

Dongwoo sighs, leaning his head back on the top of the couch to stare up at the ceiling, "I don't know, Lin... It's been really hard on me the past few days, and my wolf is feeling it too. I just want him to be happy, yeah? But it still hurts... I knew about Wooyoung for a while and Yeosang's feelings towards him, yet... I was still shocked. My mind is just very mixed up right now, I'm afraid," Dongwoo tries to sort through his feelings aloud, but he can't seem to get them straightened out. He's glad for their detachment not being excruciating as it was for Wooyoung, but he can only thank their mutuality for that. The mark dissipation causes him some discomfort and a spurt of pain as more parts of it vanish, but he could never begin to imagine how Wooyoung must've felt after Sunghee.

Dongwoo doesn't hold a grudge or harsh feelings towards Wooyoung, more so he feels a yearning. Not for Wooyoung himself, no of course not, but wanting what Wooyoung has — Yeosang's heart. It's going to be difficult for Dongwoo to get over Yeosang completely. After all, he had a crush on him since they were young and he had fallen in love with him quite quickly. That love he's had burning inside of him won't extinguish itself as easily as it was to light in the first place. The embers will stay hot for a long time after the flames die down, and afterwards, the ashes will still be there. He can only hope that there will be some sort of wind in his life to wisp them away eventually. Maybe then, he will be able to start anew.

"You can always talk to me about these kinds of things, Dongwoo. I'll be here for you, whether you want me to give you advice or even to just listen. That's what friends are for, right?" Kyelin says with a supporting smile and pat on his shoulder, "You're a strong person, so I know that you're going to get through this. I'll be there every step of the way if you'll let me."

Dongwoo takes Kyelin in for a hug that he very much needs at this moment, "Thank you, Kyelin. You're such a great friend... I'm so glad that we met here."

Kyelin's eyes widen as she's brought into Dongwoo's chest, but she carefully wraps her arms around him, letting herself fall into the warm hug. She can only ever really remember hugging Yunho and his father Kangmin like this, so it feels nice for her. Her family was always caught up in the pack, being travelling gatherers for Essence. She never thought ill of them for not being around much, she knew their work was important, but she can't help but wish she got to see them just a little more.