Celestial Echoes~

WONWOO'S POV:

I was equally taken aback, though I hid it behind a calm façade. It was both surreal and oddly fascinating—someone, somewhere, had developed feelings for me without even knowing who I was, as if my presence alone had stirred something within them. Mingyu was quick to poke fun at the situation, his laughter echoing softly, his indifference a stark contrast to the weight of the moment. Maybe he, and everyone else for that matter, had expected more—perhaps we all had.

"Yah! Don’t stare at me like that," I said, my voice steady, though beneath the surface, thoughts raced wildly. I averted my gaze, trying to retain control over my emotions.

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Across the place, Ren and Era were seated together, their conversation interrupted by the sudden arrival of a stranger who took a seat without hesitation. The audacity of it! Era’s frustration was palpable even from this distance—who had the nerve to just sit down without so much as a glance for permission? For a moment, she played it cool, ignoring the presence beside her, but then the stranger’s voice cut through the air like a spell: “Annyeonghaseo.”

Both Ren and Era stiffened, their bodies reacting in unison, eyes widening in stunned disbelief. What had just been a mundane moment transformed into one dripping with tension and surprise. Their heads turned slowly, as if afraid of confirming the impossible. When their gazes met the figure, there was no mistaking it.

The voice. The eyes. There was something unmistakably familiar to Era.

"If I’m not mistaken, aren’t you..." Era began, her voice barely a whisper, as if her mind couldn’t process the sheer improbability of it. But before she could finish, the stranger interrupted, his tone carrying a smirk of recognition.

"Yeah, you’re absolutely right."

Era whipped her head fully towards the man, and when realization finally hit her, her excitement surged like a tidal wave, threatening to overflow. She nearly leapt out of her seat, her entire body buzzing with an energy that was almost too much to contain.

"Please, keep it down. We’re in public," Joshua murmured, his voice low and gentle, as if to calm the storm before it erupted. Era’s enthusiasm simmered down slightly, but the spark in her eyes was impossible to hide.

"How... how is this even possible? You went back to Korea, didn’t you? I mean, are all of you here?" she asked, her words stumbling over themselves, her voice trembling with disbelief. Her eyes were wide, her gaze darting between Joshua and the crowd behind him, her expression a beautiful mix of astonishment and wonder. The sight of her so utterly mesmerized made Joshua chuckle softly.

"Who are they, Era? Are you seeing this guy? You didn’t mention you had a boyfriend or that you were even dating someone!" Ren’s voice broke through the haze of confusion, her tone laced with genuine bewilderment.

"Shut up, Ren! It’s them!" Era’s voice dropped into a whisper, but the urgency in her words made it clear just how serious she was.

"Who?" Ren blinked, her brows furrowing as she struggled to make sense of what was happening. "Wait… no way. Don’t tell me... are they...?"

"Yes, baee, it’s Seventeen," Era whispered back, her tone a mixture of awe and excitement, her lips curling into an incredulous smile.

As if on cue, Joshua glanced over his shoulder, and the rest of the group stepped forward, their presence casting a shadow over the table.

"Uh, pardon us, ladies," Joshua said, flashing a polite, almost apologetic smile.

Ren and Era’s eyes widened in unison, their gazes now taking in the full scene before them. A crowd of guys stood there, larger than life, their faces familiar yet surreal in this unexpected setting. The air buzzed with an electric energy as reality collided with what could have easily been mistaken for a dream.

Era looked like she had been transported to another realm entirely, her mind struggling to process the sheer gravity of the moment. Ren, on the other hand, felt her heart race, her thoughts running wild as she began to wonder whether their private conversation had been overheard.

Era was the first to regain her senses, though her voice was soft and shaky, as if speaking too loudly would shatter the fragile moment. "Hi, everyone! I... I can’t believe it’s you. I’m so happy to see you all again!" Her hand waved delicately, as though she were a princess greeting royalty. Her eyes sparkled with the kind of joy that only comes from seeing someone you thought you’d lost.

"I’m Era," she continued breathlessly. "We’ve actually met before, although I doubt you’d remember us. This—" she gestured toward Ren— "this is my friend, Ren."

"Say something, Ren! Don’t just stand there. If you don’t, I’ll nudge you," Era whispered, her radiant smile never wavering as she nudged Ren with her elbow, her eyes never leaving the guys.

"H-hi!" Ren finally stammered, her voice cracking with awkwardness as she lifted a stiff hand in a wave, a faint smile twitching at her lips.

The guys responded warmly, their smiles genuine, creating a moment that seemed to stretch infinitely. The world around them faded, leaving only the surreal meeting that had every ounce of their attention.

And just when they thought the shock was over, Hoshi, with his characteristic mischief, leaned in and said something that made both and Era freeze in their tracks—utterly dumbfounded.

The tale whispers on~~!