Chapter Text
San doesn't really remember what happened because everything went by so quickly. But what he can remember is that he was trying this one trick with Yeosang. They discovered it through TikTok, and it seemed cool, so they tried it.
The trick started off with them standing on a chair before flipping backward, which they were supposed to land on their feet, but instead, they fell back as the chair moved due to the slippery floor.
And that's how both of them ended up on the floor, holding their ankles as they winced in pain.
The door of the room opened with the others coming back from buying drinks to find the two on the floor, looking painful. But they hurried to Yeosang, checking up on him with San at the side, looking at them with his painful, sad eyes.
"Sang-ah, what happened? Are you okay?" Wooyoung asks worriedly as he looks at the male's ankle.
Before Yeosang could speak up, Wooyoung turned back to look at San before scolding him for doing the trick that got Yeosang hurt.
San presses his lips together tightly as he's speechless. Can't they see that I'm hurt too? He thought to himself as he's trying his best to not bawl in the room right now.
As Yeosang was about to say something, the door of the room opened, and one of their managers came in.
The manager was shocked to see both Yeosang and San on the floor, looking painful, but was a bit weirded out as to why the others crowded only around Yeosang.
Before he could ask anything, Yeosang was helped to get up by both Wooyoung and Jongho. Mingi at the side glances at San before Wooyoung says something that hurts San even more.
"San doesn't get hurt. He's stronger than Sangie, so we don't have to worry about him."
The words pierced through his heart so that he could physically feel his chest hurting, which suffocated him. San bites his lower lip as tears well up in his eyes before they roll down on his cheeks as he looks down at the floor.
One by one, the members walk out of the room, not looking back at San, who's silently crying. The manager approaches San, who breaks down in his arms, crying out, which shocks him, but he calms the male down while stroking the male's back soothingly.
The manager doesn't know what exactly happened, but he'll talk to them later. San cries uncontrollably in the manager's arms, holding onto the fabric tightly as if his life depends on it.
A few minutes passed by; San had calmed down as he just sat on the floor with the manager patting his back, feeling truly sorry to see this side of San.
To him, he has seen the members cry, of course. But usually because of them feeling frustrated about not being able to get the dance right or just them being exhausted. This time, with San, it seems different. The cry earlier on seemed and sounded so painful that it hurt him too.
"Hyung," San calls out to the manager, to which the older hums in response. San wipes his nose with the back of his hand as he looks at the manager. "Don't tell the others about this. I… I'd appreciate it if you pretended this never happened."
San's words surprised the manager, with the older wondering why the younger requested that. It only feeds his suspicions that something is wrong among them.
The manager nods his head in response. For now, let's just go ahead with San's words. San thanks him before both of them leave the room, as the manager has to send San back home.
With how quiet and upset-looking San is, the manager made up his mind to ask the others soon regarding this even though San doesn't want him to mention anything. Asking and making sure are better than keeping quiet.
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───
The moment San arrived at the dorm, he felt a bit odd that the place was quiet, so he took his shoes off and changed into house slippers before making his way inside, only to find the living room empty and the rooms dark – Seonghwa and Mingi aren't home.
Seeing that both his housemates aren't at home makes him feel even worse than before. He heaves out a deep sigh as he makes his way to his room.
Did they go out without me? San thought as he plopped down on his bed, staring down at the dark floor, not knowing what to feel as of right now.
San bites his lower lip as he could feel tears welling up in his eyes again. Is it because they're still mad at him for what happened to Yeosang?
At the thought of that, San breathes out loudly all of a sudden as the tears come crashing down on his cheeks. He rubs his chest with his right hand while trying to breathe in between his shaky cries.
He's hurting too. His right ankle hurts, his right knee hurts, but why don't they care about him? Why aren't they worried about him? Why… why is he hurting all alone with no one looking for him?
The thoughts came rushing in his mind, which worsened his cries. He covers his face with his hands as he cries out loudly in his room. With just him in the dorm, he let his feelings out – painful. So, so painful.
His phone vibrated as a text message appeared on the screen. He saw the name, and it was from Hongjoong – Apologise to Yeosang as soon as you can. He sprained his ankle, but thank goodness it's not bad. You should've known better, San.
And that was enough for the bad thoughts to drop on him and consume him whole. He drops to the floor as he cries out even more, blaming everything on him.
"Stupid. Such a nuisance. You got Sangie hurt. You should've gotten hurt the worst."
San blames himself as he messes his hair up before screaming into his hands. If anyone were to see him this way, they probably would say they don't know him. He's just so messed up right now that he really can't think straight.
The sight of Yeosang getting hurt a while ago and the members' worried and angry looks at him flashed back into his brain, which makes him feel so miserable right now.
He admits that he was careless in doing the tricks, especially with how slippery the dance room is. Hongjoong was right; he should've known better.
But what he did was utterly dangerous, and it's understandable for him if the members decided to not tolerate his antics anymore.
Yeosang could get hurt way worse than that and San hates it so much. He's always protective of Yeosang, wanting to take good care of him but what's this now? He's the one who hurt him, and on top of that, physically, which is just bad.
San pants heavily as he wipes his tears away with his palms and stands up before he winces when he feels a sharp pain in his left knee and left inner thigh. Yeosang is hurt way more than you. Don't overreact. He told himself after mentally slapping himself.
His heart hurts whenever he thinks of Yeosang in pain because of him. San is thankful that they're clear from schedules tomorrow, as he can't be here for now. He has to get away and maybe just… stay away.
San instantly packs his stuff while gritting his teeth, holding onto the pain as he tells himself to pack just a bit more. He got reminded of Hongjoong's words and he decided to text Yeosang after packing his stuffs.
"Sang-ah. I don't know where to start but I'm so sorry for what happened today. I was immature for doing such things and that got you hurt. I never meant any harm to you, and it was never my intention for it to end up like this. I'm just really sorry. I'm sending regards to everyone, and I hope you'll be alright. I always mess things up, right? And the way to stop a problem is to get rid of the problem, isn't it? I'll take responsibility for your injury. Take good care of yourself and be well always. I love you 3000, my Sangie."
San presses the 'send' button then wipes his tears away again as he cries out while typing out the messages a while ago. This is the best decision, right? He looks around his room before leaving the room, the dorm, with his wallet on his gaming table and his phone on do not disturb mode.
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───
On the other hand, Yeosang was at his dorm with the other members who were pacing back and forth at the living room; worried about Yeosang but also a bit angry at San.
Yeosang has been wanting to tell them that San was hurt too but no one was listening. At this point, he's not even worried about his injury; he's absolutely worried about San.
The male hasn't texted him at all ever since they left the dance room, leaving him behind with another manager. Is San okay? Is he badly injured? Did manager hyung attend to his wound or pain?
"Sangie, you're thinking so loudly. What's wrong? Are you hurting anywhere?"
Yunho asks as he looks at Yeosang worriedly. The question caught the other members' attention as they're now looking at him too. Gosh, he feels so pressured right now.
"I'm… worried about Sannie. He hasn't texted us at all," Yeosang said, and Mingi shrugged his shoulders. Wooyoung hums while rubbing his own chin before speaking up.
"San is fine. You're the one who's hurting right now, so let's focus on you, okay?"
Yeosang shakes his head at Wooyoung's words, slowly getting frustrated that they won't listen to him. They look at Yeosang as they want to know what is making the male look concerned and restless.
"Sang-ah, what's wrong?" Seonghwa asked softly, as he doesn't want to pressure the younger. The others stayed still in their positions, calming down so as not to make Yeosang blow up in frustration.
"It's about Sannie. It's not his fault I'm like this. We discovered the trick together on TikTok, and I'm the one who suggested doing it 'cause it looks fun. San just went ahead with my plan since well… you know how he is with me."
The others nod their heads twice in response upon the male's words. They all know exactly how San is with Yeosang. Everyone is whipped and soft for each other, yes, but San is even more whipped for Yeosang.
Whatever that Yeosang says and suggests, San will always agree and go ahead with it. To San, Yeosang is the most precious, and everyone should always listen to him.
Now that Yeosang has spilled the beans, the others were quiet, feeling so bad and guilty about treating San as they did a while ago. Yeosang bites his lower lip; his heart is beating fast as he feels something's not right.
"So… we… we misunderstood everything; we scolded Sannie hyung, and... we left him." Jongho says as he looks sad, trying to imagine how San is right now.
The others just sigh; they can't believe they overlooked this issue. How did they react so rashly? Especially towards San, who's always kind, understanding, attentive, and careless.
Yunho covers his face as he heaves out a deep sigh, and Wooyoung mirrors the male's actions. Seonghwa looks at Hongjoong worriedly, and the captain has a guilty look on his face.
"Why, Joongie?"
Seonghwa asks, and Hongjoong looks down as he can feel the guilt eating him alive bit by bit. The others asked whether something was wrong or if he had thought of anything. Hongjoong showed them the message he sent to San earlier.
They breathed out "oh my gosh" softly as they started to feel even more worried, especially since San hadn't texted them yet. Yeosang pulls out his phone to call the male before a notification appears on the screen.
Yeosang can feel his heart racing as tears well up in his eyes before he calls out the others and shows them the message. Jongho immediately hugs Yeosang, stroking the male's back as he cries. Mingi pulls out his phone to call the manager but is beaten to it when he receives an incoming call from the manager before putting it on loudspeaker.
"Is San there? I dropped him off at the dorm, but he's missing now! I got this weird text from him, and now I can't find him. He turned off his location, and he's not responding to my texts and calls."
Wooyoung covers his mouth with his left hand as he's absolutely shocked by the manager's words. San is missing? Where did he go? He texted manager hyung and Yeosangie, but... that can't be it, right? Hongjoong is panicking internally while he tells the others to wait for the manager so they can look for him together.