Mingi
👇🏻

"Why would Mingi perform at Coachella? He is being careless about his son."
"He was careless when he decided to be intimate without having a protection. It is a real shame. Ateez was one of my Ults."

Mingi expected fans, or everyone, to be vocal about his choice to perform at Coachella. He wanted to believe that people would not be so vocal about it while out doing their errands. Of course he could not be upset with them, it was just a conversation that he happen to overhear.

"Remove card."
Mingi shook his head "Huh? Oh right, thanks." He removed his card, and accepted the bag "See you tomorrow night."
Mingi tightly smiled but nodded "Bye."

He walked next to the river. It felt chilly, but not yet cold where his breath could be seen. He stopped by a bench to zip up his jacket. The problem started once he attempted to zip the jacket past his bellybutton, where he was the roundest. It's not like he can suck in, his belly had his son, not extra fat.

"Maybe if I talk to you I will forget about the coldness." Mingi says.
Slipping his hands into his pockets Mingi continues down the street.

"Your father's name is Seo Jae-in." Mingi started "He was a photographer for Ateez, hired to strictly work with us for our upcoming performance at Coachella. He was..shy. It felt like he would not stop looking at me. And I liked the attention. He kept special interest in me, Seonghwa Hyung told me to be careful. I acted as if I knew what I was doing. We were doing individual photos for promotions. Jae-in praised me with compliments. That I was the most photogenic, the member with the best smile." Mingi stops walking. Turning to look at the river, he rests his elbows on the railing using his hands to cup his face "I do not want to label myself as gay, or bi, or straight, I wanted to find my person. He was not him." Mingi closed his eyes, wishing away the experience he shared with him.
"Once he saw my rounding belly, he pulled me into an empty hallway. Demanding that he was the father. How can I lie? Yes he is. That was 4 months ago. He retired from all of kpop. He explained that we will get his child support money. So that will be helpful. I guess." Mingi lowered one of his hands to rest on his bump "I will tell you more about your father when you can understand. Okay? For now, it is dark. Your uncles are probably worried about us."

"Hello? I am home. Anyone here?" Mingi locked the door, then slipped out of his shoes "Anyone home?"

Mingi walked further into the house, stopping when he sees his members "Why did nobody answer?" He questioned. He unzipped his jacket, setting it on the back of his chair "Was this a group meeting? HongJoong..about me?" Mingi sits down. He is faced across the table from the leader.
Seonghwa puts his hand on top of Mingi's "Yes, we did have a meeting without you." He confessed "We knew that you would not like the topic of our conversation-"
"Tell me right now." Mingi demanded, looking around the table at all of his members "I am listening."
Hongjoong cleared his throat "It is about Coachella."

Of course it is.

"We do not feel comfortable with subjecting you to the event. You will be entering your seventh month. Seeing as your are almost five months, we have noticed, and observed the changes and challenges your pregnancy has given you."
"So it has just been decided? For me. Did you all think I would be..what, grateful? I have worked just as hard as everyone here, you, you, and them, to be in a position of Ateez! I can understand having a meeting without me knowing, what I cannot understand is how willing you all are to toss me aside. Do I mean that little to all of you? Does my son and I not have the support that you all promised? This resolution is not fair."

Mingi crossed his arms above his bump as he looked to the right.

"I am sorry." Hongjoong whispers "Our decision is final."
"Mingi, you deserve to relax. You can catch up on sleep. Something that is important to the baby." San tried.
Mingi stands from the table. He looks from San, who sat at the far left, to his right who was Seonghwa "Fans will not see me for 18 months. Maybe longer. Hongjoong Hyung, you have removed the happiness from my life. I will never forgive you. Not one of you." He looks from left to right once more.

"Hi."
Mingi covered his face with his blanket "What, are you all kicking me out of Ateez now?"
"We would not allow that Mingi. You know we would not allow that to happen."
"Could have fooled me Yunho. What business do you have in my room?"
"You have been asleep for 18 hours." Yunho explained "We have been taking turns to check in on you. Wooyoung was in before me. He likes talking to your belly."
Mingi nods "I am doing fine, thank you. All of you can stop pretending you are oh so worried about me. We are fine."
"Mingi." Yunho rubbed his face "Why are you acting out? You had to have known that this was a reality for you. You really thought we would have our rapper on stage trying our complicated choreography with an eight month belly? No!"
"I did not see that I would not get the choice. I am being told that I am not good enough anymore. It was decided for me Yunho. With no discussion from me."
"Our answer still would have remained the same. Our intentions were not to hurt you."
"I thought we were meant to do everything as Ateez..not Ateez minus Mingi."

Mingi felt betrayed. Sure, he could act as though he understood his members reasonings, yes he actually does, but his feelings were not talked about. It was just decided, no justification.

"Mingi? Will you yell at me too?" San peeks inside through the door. Mingi laughed out loud "Come inside."
San entered.
"Cute apron." Mingi noticed.
"Thank you." San gleamed "But please do not actually kiss the chef. You did not finish your food from earlier. I reheated all of it, cracking open a fresh egg."
"Thank you. It does smell good. He is hungry San."
Mingi picked up his chopsticks, bringing the food to his mouth.

"I know there is more to your company than watching me eat. What pep talk have you rehearsed to make me not mad at all of you. If anymore of you make another rehearsed talk I will be ranking them."

"I voted against everyone. I know we need you. Once it was announced we were headlining, yes, I did worry about your health. And his. However, seeing how you have handled the choreography, I changed my opinion. I know you could do this."
"Why did you not fight harder?"
San stands up "I was the only one. It was me against the six of them. Mingi. It was a statement not a discussion. We sat across from Hongjoong Hyung who made the announcement. I still was fighting for you."
"I thank you for fighting for me for my position." Mingi began. "In my heart I know that I treated everyone unfairly. Am I unkind for thinking my actions were justified?"
San sits down next to Mingi "I was betting you would leave Ateez. Please do not leave us Mingi. I know Seonghwa Hyung was worried about your departure too."
"Feels as I am departing from Ateez. Atiny will not see me for 18 months. That is the equivalent of us enlisting." 
"Atiny will miss you."
"I will be forgotten."
"Nope. I will get a cutout of you and place him on the side of the stage. In honor of you Mingi."
Mingi shoulder bumped San "Aha, there is a smile." San teased.

Ateez was one week shy of headlining.
Hongjoong expected only the very best of everyinw.

Mingi shook his head as he saw the depleted members. Wooyoung, the usual hyper, was laid on the floor, positioned as he was one of the murdered persons chalk outlines.
Yeosang sat at his feet, his face buried in Mingi's knee.

"Can we please be done? This is hour what...nine. Hyung. We will not be at peak performance if you continue to push us."
"Raise of hands if you think our performance is perfected?"

All hands raised.

"We will be back tomorrow morning at 7 am. Sharp." Hongjoong announced.
"Mingi too?" Jongho asked.
"Of course Mingi too." Hongjoong nodded his head "I have asked him to oversee our performance. He can see what I cannot see. He is my other sight of eyes."
Mingi nodded once "Anyone who attend who did not know us, or like us, will be stanning us after that performance. Good jobs boys!"

"Mingi?"
"Mmh? What is wrong Yeosang?" He switches on his bed night stand light "Come in. Come in. Why are you crying?" Mingi worried.
"I'm sorry for waking you. I know you are having difficulties sleeping."
"Stop with your nonsense. What brings you to my room?"
Yeosang closes the door. He sits in the bed next to Mingi "I need to ask you a question. Please be honest with me and your answer Mingi."
"I will. You are worrying me." 
Yeosang casted his eyes down to Mingi's bump "Jae-Ho, that is his name." Mingi says "I decided earlier today."
"Hi Jae-Ho." Yeosang brushes his fingers across Mingi's bump.
"You are avoiding your question. Ask the question. I cannot promise not to be upset, but I do promise I will regulate-
"Are you planning on leaving Ateez?"
"My emotions." Mingi finished.
Yeosang looked back down "I can see your facial expressions." He whispered.
"Yeosang. Look at me."
Yeosang looks up "I cannot lie. I should have known I cannot hide this from you."
"So it is true?"
"It is. I have talked to our company. They offered me a position again if I ever want to rejoin."
"Do you think that you will? Rejoin Ateez?"
"Yeosang I have not officially left. Not yet." Mingi reminded "I think I knew my career was halting once I made the announcement. I wanted to be in denial. Try to act as if my actions are not of my own fault."
"I understand you love Jae-Ho. Do you regret carrying him?"
"I love him so much. But yes, I do Yeosang."
"Why not give him up for adoption?"
"I have given him a name. I am too attached."

Yeosang rests his head on Mingi's shoulder "When are you making the departure announcement?"

Mingi smiled "Soon Yeosang. Very soon."

Mingi straightened his back "I need to get Velcro shoes. It is impossible to tie my shoes anymore." 
He glances at the suitcase down next to his feet. The thought of their company not telling Ateez about his departure was not going to happen;

"Song Mingi!"

"In here." Mingi stands.
"Tell me right now this is not true. Mingi. You cannot just leave because I hurt your feelings." Hongjoong raises his voice.
"You made your decision. Now this is mine. Both of us made choices without consulting one another. How does that make you feel?"
Hongjoon pinches his nose "We planned on you still attending Coachella." He explained.
"I was not once included in that conversation. Another conversation about me but not including me. Guess you were busy."

"What about us Mingi!" Wooyoung argued "We still need you."
"Do you? Did not feel as I was important while Ateez was conducting group meetings about said person who was absent."
Wooyoung rushes at Mingi "Stop with that behavior Wooyoung!" Seonghwa stepped in front of Mingi.
"Honestly. How did everyone expect this to go? Mingi just accept that we made choices that we felt were better for him. Without his consent or hearing his feelings. I know I have seen and felt that Mingi would be leaving us. I think all of us have felt that. We pushed it away. None of us talked to Mingi. And I failed you. I am so sorry."
Mingi patted Seonghwa on the back "I have forgiven this entire situation. I can live my life normally now. I will always be cheering for Ateez."

Hi guys.
First update of 2024, only after, what five months of being absent 😅
Thank you for reading!
Vote please.
Comment. Request.

Bye ✌️
~SheIsTheWriter💕