15 months ago

(for context this scene picks off from the end of the first book!)

Wooyoung looks up from the faucet, looking at the mirror and at the person standing behind him. He immediately stumbles back once he saw who it was. His mouth turns dry, eyes widen, his wet hands shakes by his side.

Because looking at him with a pair of deep brown eyes, was Matthew. His lips lifted up ever so slightly in amusement and wide eyes daring Wooyoung to say something first.

Wooyoung was frozen. He was up against the long counter with 3 sinks spaced between each other. His butt pressed against the cold marble. His heart rate slowly picks up speed and his breathing becomes laboured.

There's no way he's really here right now.. I'm seeing things. I have to be. I didn't even drink that much... "Matthew?" His voice came out small and panicky. Eyes turning glossy with apprehensive tears.

"Wooyoung-ah" His name rolls off his tongue in the way he remembered. "It's been a while" He says with a wider smile. But the smile wasn't genuine. It wasn't the kind of a smile you give an old friend you run into after years. No, his smile was calculating. Mischievous.

Wooyoung stumbles backwards again but had nowhere to go because he was trapped between the sinks and the exit. "W-why... why are you here?" He struggles to spit out. Tears beading at his eyes as memories of all the monsters in his past resurfaces all at once. Those haunting eyes across the bathroom just watches him.

"I saw someone walk into the bathroom and thought 'Is that Jung Wooyoung?' So I had to come find out and lo and behold, it really is you. I've missed you, y'know" He steps closer to him and Wooyoung flinches back against the wall.

His tears fall when Matthew inches closer to him and pins him up and against the wall. Their bodies were pressed in a way that made Wooyoung's skin crawl. "You've lost a bit of weight... And gotten sexier too" He whispers hoarsely in his ear before nibbling his ear lobe and sliding his hands down Wooyoung's sides and behind him to grope his ass.

"Get off me!" Wooyoung suddenly snaps out of it, refusing to let himself fold to his fear of his abuser and ex boyfriend. He tries pushing the older male away but Matthew is an athlete. Wooyoung knew that. He's been playing basketball since middle school and probably still played if his muscled/toned build was any indicator of that. Add that with the fact that he stood a couple inches taller than Wooyoung.

Wooyoung knew he didn't stand a chance against him if it ever came down to physical strength but he needed to show that Matthew no longer had that same effect in him as he did years ago.

Matthew was amused at his weak attempt at pushing him backwards. He does stumble a bit but was quick to tightly grab Wooyoung by both of his wrists stopping him from pushing him back again. "I just wanted to say hi. Why are you getting so aggressive" He says with a laugh as if the whole thing was amusing.

Wooyoung grits his teeth and continues fighting back against his hold on his wrists. If anything Matthew tightens his grip to the point of pain and discomfort and he pinned the shorter male between his broad build and the cold wall.

The restroom was empty so all that could be heard were Wooyoung's soft frustrated sobs and a thumping of background music from the club bleeding through the washroom doors.

"Yah- stop crying will you" Mathew starts speaking again before the washroom door swings open and the music suddenly becomes much more louder. Some laughter and layers of male voices echoes in the washroom as a small group of friends walk in.

One of them was a taller male with dusty dark brown dyed hair. He notices both Wooyoung and Matthew against the wall by the sink. At first he looks away under assumption that they were just making out as plenty of guys normally escape to the club washroom to hook up, but then he glances back again and saw that the taller of the two men looked to be forcefully restraining the other. "What's going on over there? You guys ok?" He speaks up, his voice deep and smoky.

"Don't worry about it. We're good" Matthew speaks as he shoots Wooyoung a warning glare then mouths 'don't talk'.

The stranger would've taken the hint, left them alone and minded his business. But he just couldn't bring himself to do so knowing that something felt off. "What about the other guy? You good?"

"He's good man. I said don't worry about it" Matthew presses in a lighthearted manner.

"Mingi let's go. Leave em alone" One of his friends urges the tall brunette but Mingi brushes him off and steps up to the scene between the two guys which he was beginning to feel like was an attempted assault. Or worse, rape. And in that case he definitely wasn't leaving till he knew for sure the other guy was safe.

"No, I asked him if he's ok" Mingi's voice was skeptical. Forceful. Matthew stays quiet and Mingi just watches the back of his head with narrowed eyes. "Get off him. Or I'm calling the cops" He threatens.

Eventually Matthew just scoffs loudly and steps back and away from Wooyoung. He turns around to meet Mingi's gaze. And though his lips held a small smile Mingi could see the dangerous look in his eyes. "We were just talking" Matthew clarifies with a shrug while raising his hands in mock surrender.

Mingi looks over at Wooyoung who had his head dipped forward, hands held up against his neck as if to protect himself. His legs looked like they wound give out at any second. Mingi could hardly get a good look at his face because his long jet black bangs fell in front of his face like silk window curtains.

"It definitely didn't look like you were 'just talking'" Mingi's tone was snappy. This forces the tiniest of scowls on Matthew's face.

"I really don't see how any of this is your business" Matthew challenges. "Tell this asshole you're ok before I kick his ass" He says to Wooyoung.

"What the fuck did you just say?" An angry frown forms on his expression as he steps up to Matthew's face. One of Mingi's friends was quick to jump in and pull him back.

"Yah- settle down, both you" The friend says. "Hey man, we're just tryna make sure nobody's getting hurt here" He then says to Matthew who was busy glaring at Mingi. The younger of two stands his ground and glares back. What is up with this guy? Mingi asks himself.

Eventually Matthew stands down. "Fuck this" He says with a scowl and shoves past Mingi and his spectating group of friends to leave.

The washroom door swings open then close indicating that Matthew was gone. Upon that realization Wooyoung felt like he could breathe again. He releases a shaky sigh and his legs finally gave out so he allows himself to slide down the wall.

Mingi was quick to squat in front of him, a genuine look of concern on his face. "Did he hurt you? Are you alright?"

"I'm fine" Wooyoung's voice was raspy as he welcomed shallow breaths of air into his lungs. He rubs his eyes with the heel of his palm as more tears beaded at them. "I'm o-okay" His voice cracks as a sob tore through just facade.

Mingi's face softens as he watches the stranger in front of him begin crying and he glanced back at his friends who looked just as confused. One of them shrugging and pointing towards the door as if to say, 'let's just get outta here'. Mingi ignores him.

Instead he looks back at Wooyoung and notices the redness around his wrists. It looked fresh and would likely turn into minor bruises. "Do you have a ride home? Let me call you an Uber" He digs through his jacket pocket for his phone.

Wooyoung doesn't say anything and just continuously rubbed at his eyes and cheeks as tear after tear fell. What Wooyoung's relationship with that man was, Mingi had no idea. All he knew was that he was able to successfully get him out of that potentially dangerous situation. And so he was at least happy about that.

He stood up straight to make the call for an Uber. His friends shot him unsure looks, even whispering to just leave him. But Mingi was on a mission and he wasn't finished yet.

"Alright, I made the call. Driver will be here in 5. I'll just wait with you till the Uber arrives... Just in case he comes back" Mingi says as he pays for the ride in advance, swiping at his phone absentmindedly.

"Thanks" Wooyoung says with a sniff after having calmed down a little. "You didn't have to step in"

"It looked like he was hurting you. Of course someone had to step in. He your boyfriend or something?" Mingi leans on the sink counter.

"No. Ex" Wooyoung's voice was small but he wipes off the last of his tears and glances up at his saviour. A tall dark brown haired male with a gentle look in his eyes as he looked down at Wooyoung who was still seated on the floor with his knees up to his chest.

"Ah- It's always the exes" He says with a sad chuckle. "I'm Mingi, by the way"

"I'm Wooyoung"

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Idk if you guys remember but this isn't Mingi's first appearance in the story 😹🤭
Let's just things will probably get a tad awkward in later chapter(s)

On a side note though I'm claiming Wake Up off the new album. my favourite genre of ateenagerz music is when they stack their vocals like that 😩