you chose:
a) tell wooyoung jongho's around

* * *

It was like Jongho's name was all Wooyoung needed to snap out of whatever high he'd been on. Like a veil had been lifted off, he suddenly became more aware of where he was. He took in the poorly lit bathroom, the cacophony of shimmering bubbles swallowing his limbs, the edge of the bathtub digging into his back.

And Seonghwa's eyes were on his face, gauging every miniscule movement he made. It was then Wooyoung suddenly realized just how uneasy and disturbed the older man made him feel.

"I should tell him to go, right?" Seonghwa's question sounded like a definitive statement more than anything else. Like he would tell Jongho to go whether Wooyoung had a say in it or not, and that irked him even further. "You're having a bath. It's rude to be interrupted just like that."

"No!" Wooyoung answered, louder than necessary. At Seonghwa's raised eyebrows, he promptly added, "I mean -- I'm going to see him. I'll get myself cleaned and stuff."

"You don't need to see him," the older argued, and if this were any other situation, Wooyoung would've rolled his eyes at the nagging lilt to his voice. "I can just deliver whatever message you have."

"No."

Seonghwa knelt before him, making Wooyoung blink in surprise. The man leaned in until their faces were centimeters apart, so close Wooyoung could see the curve of his lashes in fine detail.

His heart stuttered at Seonghwa's proximity. "Wh...What are you doing?"

The older reached out, pads of his fingers tender against Wooyoung's cheek and jaw. The younger forced himself not to give in to Seonghwa's warm touch, but it wasn't like he could pull himself away either.

Seonghwa's brown eyes were blacker than usual, reflecting a bottomless sky void of stars. But he was smiling, lips curled in that sort of way that looked cunning, yet welcoming and sincere at the same time. It drove Wooyoung mad.

"I'll talk to Jongho myself. And you," Shudders ran down Wooyoung's spine as Seonghwa's slender fingers played with his damp locks, "should just focus on getting your pretty self all cleaned up, okay?"

"I..." Wooyoung swallowed, felt his face burn. An embarrassing little groan escaped his lips just as Seonghwa's fingers travelled to the lower half of his hair, stroking it.

The sound seemed to motivate Seonghwa, because the next thing Wooyoung knew, the older's lips were right beside his ear, rubbing lightly against the flushed cartilage. "Did you like that, dear?"

Images of Seonghwa's velvety lips on his, teeth nipping at his skin clung to Wooyoung's mind that very second, reminding him all too well about the grave mistake he'd made. He just fucking did what he'd sworn to himself never to do again, and the all-too-familiar shame and self-hatred had wormed their way into his system, eating him alive.

He needed to get out of here right now -- needed to leave before he did something he'd regret even more later.

He swung his head the other direction before Seonghwa could kiss him again, feeling like he'd cry.

"Wooyoung." The disappointment in Seonghwa's tone lingered in the atmosphere, spoiling whatever pleasantness remained.

"Tell Jongho to wait outside for me. I'll see him after I get myself dressed."

Seonghwa's dark eyebrows were furrowed, eyes boiling over with distaste. It didn't take long for Wooyoung to figure who it'd been intended for. "...Alright."

"Don't do anything to him." Wooyoung had no idea why he'd felt the need to add that in, but with the way the older's shoulders sagged, relief slipped into him that he'd mentioned it.

Seonghwa turned from where he stood by the door. "Why would you think that?"

Wooyoung avoided the man's stare. "It was a joke."

Seonghwa didn't reply, he just left. As soon as he did, Wooyoung's chest suddenly felt a million times lighter.

He didn't waste time getting himself cleaned up, trying his absolute best to kick everything that'd happened in that bathroom to the deepest crevice of his mind. But no matter how hard he tried, he could still feel the ghost of Seonghwa's hands on his skin, feel his lips on his body -- everywhere.

It was like his mind had infused its personal timer, which was now ticking down to his internal destruction. As he shoved his sweater down his neck, pushed himself into his pants and rushed out of his bedroom, it continued to tick, growing louder and faster until it suffocated him. He began to panic.

And then he saw Jongho's face.

The younger male stood just outside the doorway, phone in hand as he scrolled through whatever, but even with that it was deathly obvious how uncomfortable he was. He looked so out of place at the porch, acting as if Mingi's repeated stares weren't affecting him, that Wooyoung felt bad the boy had to wait for him.

He cleared his throat, earning Jongho's attention in a heartbeat. Almost immediately, Mingi went inside, shoulders lightly rubbing his. Wooyoung shivered.

"Wooyoung?" Jongho's face broke into one of sheer relief. "Oh my god. Are you okay?"

Guilt weighed down on Wooyoung's chest. "I am. I'm so sorry I was so terrible at answering your calls and texts. You really didn't need to come see me."

Like always, Jongho just waved everything off with a laugh. He jutted a thumb at the car a couple feet away, which Wooyoung quickly realized had people in it. "Jinah and her friends drove me here, and although they're probably currently dozing off right now, I can assure you that they don't mind at all. Really."

Wooyoung couldn't stop himself from laughing. "Yeah. They look like they're having fun."

"So much fun," Jongho mirrored, but didn't say much else.

Wooyoung chewed his lip, disliking the odd silence that soon fell on them. Rubbing his arms to generate some warmth, he opened his mouth to add something when he noticed Jongho's eyes on his neck.

Absently, he touched the area. Blood rushed to his face when he remembered Seonghwa particularly paying close attention to it earlier. Fuck.

"Uhm," Wooyoung spoke up, drawing the younger's eyes to his face. It was incredibly hard to figure out what Jongho was thinking of him at that moment. Was he disgusted, mad, or unfazed by the sight of them? The marks scorched his skin like a branding iron. "Are your classes going well?"

"Yep. Dandy," Jongho replied a little too quickly.

Wooyoung pulled at a lock of his hair, wishing the ground would just rip open and have him for dinner. Why the hell did this have to happen?

If things weren't already weird enough, Jongho's gaze then lingered somewhere behind him, an unfamiliar seriousness taking over his features.

Wooyoung's suspicions were unfortunately confirmed when he heard the husky voice of the man who was beginning to turn into his living nightmare.

"Everything okay there?"

Wooyoung now wanted Jongho gone, wanted himself gone. Seonghwa and Jongho were both watching him now, and fuck, he wanted to vanish into thin air. The previously soothing breeze felt like poison to his lungs, his heart beating a mile per minute under his ribs.

"Everything's fine." It was a miracle Wooyoung's voice didn't break the second he met Seonghwa's intense set of eyes. Before he thought twice about it, he took Jongho by the elbow and dragged him towards the car sitting on the road.

"Wooyoung -- " the younger was startled, understandably so. He kept looking between him and Seonghwa -- who remained where he stood, unmoving -- and it made Wooyoung a lot more furious than he needed to be. He hated that Jongho stared at the oldest like he could kill him, because what could he do?

"There. We're a little safer now," he said. "Don't mind Seonghwa. He's nosy, just like the others."

"Oh... Okay." Jongho still looked unsure. He cleared his throat. "Well, uh, are you doing something this weekend?"

Wooyoung thought of Yeosang and the job he'd offered him. But with the man's sudden and abrupt disappearance, he didn't want to get his hopes up too high in case he'd already ditched him, which, with every hour that passed without a word from the man, seemed more and more likely.

He pulled at the hemline of his sweater, hoping his discouragement wasn't too obvious. "No, why?"

"Let's go somewhere. Together." Jongho had his lower lip between his teeth, nervousness speckling his autumnal brown eyes. "Only if you want."

"I dunno..." Wooyoung crossed his arms, deciding to tease the taller. He tilted his head and smirked. "Depends on where you're planning to go..."

Was that red on Jongho's cheeks? Wooyoung finalized it was too dark around here to make assumptions.

"Just for that, I'm keeping it a secret for the next day," Jongho answered, still appearing a little shaken up from the older's teasing. "I hope I see your ass at school tomorrow."

Wooyoung chuckled. "You will."

Jongho paused, mulling over something. The harsh shadows did nothing to lessen his gentle, boyish looks.

He's just like a cuddly bear. Wooyoung smiled at the thought. "What?"

Jongho lifted his pinky finger. "Pinky promise me you'll be there tomorrow?"

In other circumstances, Wooyoung would've laughed at how childish this all was. But the younger sounded so serious, so honest it made him feel like a jerk for ever finding the humour in it.

So, he linked their pinkies, biting the inside of his cheek. "...I promise. Of course I will."

"Thanks." Once again, Wooyoung thought he'd totally imagined Jongho holding his hand longer than necessary. He blinked when the younger stepped closer, eyes squinted like he was trying to discover something.

"Wow you smell nice. You smell so nice. Like flowers. Did you take a shower or something?"

Wooyoung couldn't help it. He laughed, bright and airy, into his palm. He definitely hadn't expected Jongho to say something like that. And of course, the younger's smug grin sent him into another fit of giggles.

"Why are you laughing?" Jongho questioned, but it was clear he was highly enjoying this.

"No idea. Just -- " Wooyoung inhaled a shallow breath, trying to dial it down with the laughing, "you're so funny. Why?"

"I guess I was born this way, though I'm no Lady Gaga but," Jongho casually shrugged, causing the older's grin to broaden.

Wooyoung was going to say something else -- maybe something along the lines of how Jongho's strawberry red hair and forest green hoodie made him look like a cute watermelon -- but he stopped as soon as he witnessed the taller boy casting a wary glance over his shoulder at the apartment.

Wooyoung followed his gaze to the man still standing there by the doorway, watching them. Pale light spilled out of the opening on Seonghwa's stagnant silhouette, making him look like a ghoul. And just like that, all laughter died in Wooyoung's throat.

He pretended the man's unrelenting stares didn't bother him even though they really freaking did. "Hey, Jongho?"

Jongho snapped out of his fear-induced daze. "Hm?"

"I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Yeah. See you." Jongho flashed his familiar gummy smile, momentarily distracted from Seonghwa's watchful surveillance. Wooyoung wished he could also forget about the oldest that easily.

Wooyoung watched as Jongho entered the car, a drowsy Jinah excitedly waving when she spotted him. Wooyoung waved back, fiddling anxiously with his sweater sleeves as Jinah soon pulled the car away.

Once they were gone, Wooyoung sighed. He turned around, ready to head back inside when he nearly bumped into Seonghwa's chest. The man steadied him as quick as lightning.

"You okay?" Seonghwa asked, his hands still framing Wooyoung's shoulders.

"Mhm." Please let me go. "I just...missed a step, is all."

The moon was full tonight, encasing half of Seonghwa's face in white while the other half was creeping in darkness. It freaked Wooyoung out more than it should've.

"Dinner?" Seonghwa sounded hopeful.

"I actually..." Wooyoung's eyes almost popped out of their sockets when his stomach dramatically rumbled right then, disintegrating whatever excuse he could've cooked up into dust. "Uh."

Seonghwa grinned, looking satisfied. "Looks like you're really hungry. Hongjoong and I made chicken."

Wooyoung parted his lips to protest, but nothing came out. Crap.

He allowed Seonghwa to lead him inside, pretending he didn't see how eager the older was to bring him in and shut them off from the rest of the world.

Dinner commenced with San and Hongjoong conversing vibrantly as if Yunho and Yeosang hadn't just left. Seonghwa joined them now and then but mostly kept quiet, while Mingi barely ate anything, shut off from everyone else.

Wooyoung couldn't stomach down any of the food he'd been served. The chicken didn't even taste like chicken, and he felt like he was going to go berserk if he saw another red food less than twenty-four hours from now. And if things weren't already bad enough, he kept having the sneaking suspicion that he forgot something again.

He didn't have time to ponder more on it because next thing he knew, he was sprinting towards the nearest bathroom, head pounding and stomach twisting.

Cold sweat drizzled down his matted hairline as he hurled into the toilet bowl. His body trembled, and he clenched his eyes shut as the bitter taste of bile invaded his mouth. He wanted to throw up again.

The fluorescent lights grew hazy, and all Wooyoung could focus on was his rapidly heaving chest and how desperately he wished he died. Maybe he even had.

Someone knocked on the door, but it failed to register in Wooyoung's frantic mind. He was still shaken up after puking his guts out, staring blankly at the ugly green vomit in the toilet. He didn't know what to do anymore.

Hands carded through his damp hair, unmindful of the mess he'd made as they flushed it down and away from his sight. Wooyoung then felt long arms wrapping around his shaking form, sweet lemon quickly drenching his senses.

"I'm so sorry Youngie." Seonghwa guided him to the sink, still massaging his scalp with his fingers. "Your tummy hurt really bad, right?"

Wooyoung flicked open the faucet and cupped his twitching palms to guzzle the water that'd gathered there. Then, he rinsed his mouth with it to get rid of the horrid residual taste. Drink, rinse, repeat. He kept his gaze down the entire time, too ashamed to look Seonghwa in the eye.

Seonghwa smoothed his unruly brown curls with cautious fingers when he was done, and to be honest, Wooyoung needed it right now. He was confused, tired, and so fed up. He needed something to hold on to, something to keep him afloat.

"I don't know what's happening to me," he suddenly sputtered, unable to hide how insecure he truly felt at that moment. "It's like -- it's like one second, I feel fine. Okay. B-But then, I suddenly feel different. Like I said or did something super fucked up that I don't remember. I-I don't feel like myself, and I hate that. I hate that so, so much."

Seonghwa gently pressed his head to his chest, and Wooyoung held on to the man's back, relaxing into his hug. "You can't hate yourself, bubby. There's nothing about you that's worth hating. You're perfect just the way you are."

"I don't even know myself, Seonghwa." Wooyoung didn't know he'd been crying until the older man had wiped off his tears with his thumb. He should've been embarrassed, but he was too exhausted to feel anything. All he wanted was to be held. "I don't know myself anymore..."

"And who says you have to?" Seonghwa said, lips brushing the shorter's forehead. "You should just do what you like, give in to whatever you feel. Let your desires consume you..."

Wooyoung stared the mirror, catching Seonghwa's sultry gaze. He gulped, ultra aware of the man's arms surrounding him, of his hushed kissed to his temple.

"Be passionate," the older kissed his reddening cheek. "Love," another kiss, "with no worries of tomorrow..."

Wooyoung bit his lip so hard it hard as he felt Seonghwa's big hands inching down his waist, sizzling up the already heated atmosphere. He felt the man's lips on his neck -- at the same place Jongho had seen it, and it made him feel wanted in the most absurd of ways.

"Fall..." Seonghwa whispered into Wooyoung's ear, chilling him to the core. Butterflies fought in his stomach at the implications of the older's words, and god, every inch of him pleaded to be satiated.

But then Seonghwa exited the bathroom. The disgrace Wooyoung felt right then shredded him to pieces, and he screamed into his hands.

For the first time in a long time, Wooyoung had no dreams that night.

* * *

Wooyoung awoke to his Corgi plushie (which he named Pluto) mushed against his cheek, head empty and serene for a few glorious moments before last night's train wreck hit him full force.

He succeeded at ignoring what Seonghwa had told him in that bathroom as he showered, got dressed and strolled to the kitchen. But everything came rushing back when he saw just Hongjoong and San at the island, no one else in sight.

"Hey," Hongjoong greeted, and then he was out of the kitchen.

The silence was eerie, taking its toll on Wooyoung who began to feel that everything was somewhat his fault.

"Is something wrong?" Wooyoung asked San, unable to take it anymore.

"What is?" The older man looked up from his toast. He obviously hadn't noticed the weird silence, or maybe he had and just didn't care. Wooyoung wanted to be as nonchalant about everything as he was.

"Where are the others?" Wooyoung couldn't prevent himself from thinking about Yeosang and Yunho, whose disappearances still baffled him.

"Oh," San chuckled, "Mingi and Seonghwa?"

Wooyoung's ears warmed at the mention of the oldest. He hoped it didn't show too much. "Yes."

"Mingi has classes to go to, and he's an early bird, so." San took a big bite of his toast. "And Seonghwa left an hour ago."

"An hour ago?" Wooyoung repeated, making it known just how astounded he was. It wasn't even half past five yet. What could Seonghwa be doing do early in the morning?

It's none of your business, his mind spat.

"You don't need to be worried." San's smirk made Wooyoung all the more embarrassed. "Seonghwa can take care of himself. But...I think he'll really appreciate you getting all worked up over him."

"I'm not worried about him," Wooyoung denied, hating how the older didn't seem to believe him. "Seriously. I'm not."

San shrugged. "Okay, if you say so." He got up, gesturing at his empty plate. "Feeling for some toast?"

"Uh, sure, I guess." But Wooyoung wouldn't stop thinking about why Seonghwa had left so early.

* * *

Wooyoung's dance classes flew by in a distracted, frenzied blur, leaving him a sweaty, panting mess by the end of it. He'd managed to get the most of the new choreography down despite him missing a couple classes, and surprisingly make a few new friends without fucking things up even with how batshit crazy his thoughts were beginning to get.

He only felt like an actual normal, living person once he met up with Jongho's grinning self in front of the campus library. The younger pulled him into a swift hug as soon as he was spotted, which, honestly, Wooyoung needed right now.

"Dang. Missed me that much?" Wooyoung joked, to which Jongho just heartily laughed at.

"I do. Come," he held the older's bicep, gentle enough to not inflict any sort of discomfort. Wooyoung appreciated it as it hadn't been long since he'd finished utilizing his joints and muscles. "I wanna show you something."

"What's with all the surprises lately?"

"Shh," came the younger's reply, which got Wooyoung even more curious.

Jongho didn't take them to the cafeteria like he'd expected. Instead, he brought them over to this café place with strung fairy lights, muted, minimalistic decor and comfy beanbag chairs that Wooyoung immediately took a liking to.

"What is this place?" He asked, awestruck.

"Twilight. I mean, the name, not the whole movie franchise," Jongho replied, chuckling at himself. Wooyoung smiled as well. "Nice, isn't it?"

"Yep. And aesthetic too," Wooyoung replied, looking around the cafe. It was so open, so cozy and freeing that he quickly felt like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. His body relaxed. "I really love it."

Jongho's eyes stayed on his face for a few prolonged seconds, and then he cleared his throat. "Cool. I mean, it's cool that you like it." He rubbed his hands together. "Hey, how's that plushie I got you? Gave you sweet dreams?"

"You mean Pluto?"

Jongho laughed, pulling out his laptop. "Pluto?"

"Mhm. What's wrong with it?"

"Nothing." Jongho made eye contact with him again. "It's cute. Really cute."

Wooyoung got himself a simple cheesecake and a smoothie because he wasn't a big fan of coffee, while Jongho bought a latte for himself since he wasn't in the mood to eat anything.

"So," Wooyoung started after minutes of comfortable silence. "Where are you taking me this weekend? You said you'd tell me, remember?"

He hoped the younger did. After everything that'd taken place thus far, he itched to spend as much time outside that apartment as he could. He wasn't stupid, he knew something sinister was going on with his housemates, and he wanted no part of it.

"Well, uh, before I tell you anything, I've got something to show you on the laptop. Promise you won't get creeped out or anything. Got the WiFi password from Jinsoul over there," Jongho explained, briefly gesturing at the blond haired girl that'd served them their order. He typed something out on his laptop, urging Wooyoung to scoot closer.

Wooyoung sipped from his straw, halting as he saw some news article plastered across the screen. He mindlessly read through the words until he reached that specific picture at the end. "What..."

Jongho looked at him, concern prevalent in his eyes. "I came across the news article a few days ago, felt the need to show it to you."

Wooyoung felt his insides churn at the photo on the screen of the two kids that looked like Seonghwa. He went back to all their conversations, realizing the older had never mentioned having a twin brother who'd passed away. The fact that he only found out about it from Jongho made him uneasy.

He quickly averted his stare, blinking to erase the blank, unsettling expressions of Seonghwa and his twin off his mind. It didn't work.

"Why," he inhaled, "why did you show this to me?"

Jongho's continuous worried glances were starting to agitate him. "Because I want you to be careful, Wooyoung."

"I am," Wooyoung bit back, harsher than necessary. He fiddled with his straw to calm himself, head spinning. "Is that why you took me here? To talk about Seonghwa?"

"No," Jongho's eyes were wide. "I -- I brought us here to spend time together."

"Then why did you have to show me that article? Why did you have to bring him up?"

Jongho's jaw clenched, hands forming fists on the table. He looked mad, not at Wooyoung, but at himself. "I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have said anything."

Wooyoung, in an attempt to distract himself, observed each and every inch of the café. He took in the blinds, homey decor and the smiling barista scribbling down one customer's order. There was someone there too, off to the side in dark clothing and a bucket hat that Wooyoung hadn't seen when he'd first entered.

As soon as they noticed Wooyoung's stare, they stood up and rushed out of the café, their gait, curved nose and strikingly distinctive lips looking like...like Seonghwa.

An insane, unprecedented kind of rage swarmed his body, lighting it ablaze. He pushed his chair to the back, ignoring Jongho's alarmed stare.

"W-Where are you going?"

"I'll be back in a sec." Leaving his bag and phone at their table, Wooyoung impatiently jogged out of the cafe, eyes darting everywhere to find where Seonghwa had gone to.

There, by some jewelry store, was the man, head lowered and bucket hat displaying a bit of his newly dyed black hair. As if he'd felt Wooyoung's presence, he quickened his space, disappearing amongst the congregation of busy pedestrians.

Wooyoung raced into the crowd, determined to catch him. And even when he didn't see the older, he kept looking around, not allowing any room for discouragement.

Where did you go? People briskly walked by, buildings meshing into blurs as he continued to run, searching for Seonghwa. But the more he looked, the angrier he became, because the man seemed to have completely vanished.

Lungs aching for air, he leant against the wall of some trinket shop, letting the frustration of today's events consume him.

He'd just seen Seonghwa, so how did the man vanish so quickly? It was like he'd never been there at all, causing Wooyoung to wonder if he'd been seeing things again. Maybe he'd hallucinated everything.

He re-entered Twilight cafe and saw Jongho sitting where he'd left him.

Wooyoung was sure his irritation was so fucking obvious on his face, but fortunately Jongho didn't question it. He passed the shorter boy his phone instead.

"You, uh, you got a message."

Wooyoung collapsed on his chair as he unlocked his phone, pressing on the iMessage app. As soon as he did, he regretted it.

- unknown number
Come home Wooyoung.
Your mother and I miss you

There were other messages from that exact number, but Wooyoung didn't open them because he didn't want them to know he'd read their message.

Fuck, this cannot be happening.

"Woo, are you okay?" Jongho asked, definitely taking notice of how upset Wooyoung had gotten.

No I'm not. "I'm okay." Wooyoung pocketed his phone, unable to hide the way his hands trembled. He forced a smile for good measure. "Anyway, where are you planning on taking me this weekend? We never got around to taking about it."

* * *

It took half an hour for Wooyoung to get to the apartment that afternoon after San had dropped him and drove off, fifteen minutes to realize he was alone, three minutes to gather up the courage to stand in front of the stairwell leading upstairs, and a second of thinking before he went up, intending to explore the area.

At this point, he was sick of everyone lying to his face and hiding things from him. He was tired of being left in the dark and forced to comply while other people dictated what he should and shouldn't do. This time around, he was doing things his own way regardless of the consequences.

Wooyoung wasn't surprised when he was met with a partially dark hallway. The temperature was on the lower side, bringing about a number of unwanted goosebumps on his arms.

He walked further until he passed by Hongjoong's room. The door was shut, and when he twisted the knob, he winced at how cold it felt. Like no one had used it in a while.

Realizing the door was locked after one or two unsuccessful attempts at opening it, Wooyoung continued on his venture, trying not to let the overbearing silence and still shadows get to him.

He tried to open every door he saw, only a little disappointed when they didn't budge. It was when he stopped at the end of the hallway that he saw the door to the last room ajar, and immediately he walked to it, needing to see what was inside.

It was even darker inside there than out, and so, so freezing that Wooyoung was afraid he'd get hypothermia the more time he spent loitering around. In the corner, submerged in the disturbing mist that stifled the room, laid what looked like a freezer.

Something slammed shut at that very moment, frightening Wooyoung. He turned to get the hell out of that room before something happened to him, but halted in his tracks at the new person now standing in the doorway.

Shadows danced over their pallid features, frazzled red hair appearing a dead grey under the dim lighting of the room. Hongjoong.

Before Wooyoung had the chance to blink, he was flung against the closest wall, sharp pain tearing into his skull.

Up close, Hongjoong's eyes looked crazed, pupils blown wide and a demented smile splitting his face in half. He looked nothing like the person Wooyoung had seen this morning, and that thought alone terrified him to bits.

Hongjoong grabbed his hair, yanking it roughly. "Well, well, well. What are you doing here, hm?"

Wooyoung swallowed thickly, feeling like he was going to die.

what does wooyoung do next?

a) fight back

b) try to reason with hongjoong

***

a/n: took two days to write this chapter alone and its still boring :'((
thoughts?