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Chapter 10

Jungwon glanced up at the sky, as if the answer to Jay's frustration could be found in the shifting clouds. "I am safe, nothing happened to me" he answered simply.

"Unbelievable." Jay let out a humorless laugh before turning away from the speaker, his voice muffled as he muttered something to someone else. "We're coming. Stay where you are. Don't move an inch."

And with that, the call ended.

Jungwon sighed, slipping his phone back into his pocket. He didn't regret earlier meeting a fan by chance who didn't even recognize him, but he also wasn't looking forward to what came next.

The black van pulled up at the curb within thirty minutes, its tires screeching slightly against the pavement. The second the door swung open, Jungwon found himself face-to-face with an absolutely livid Jay, sitting inside, arms crossed so tightly it was a wonder his muscles didn't snap.

"Get in," Jay ordered, his voice clipped.

Jungwon stepped inside without protest, sliding into the seat next to Jake, who was leaning against the doorframe with an unreadable expression. Jay didn't even wait for the door to fully close before launching into another scolding.

"Do you have ANY idea how worried we were?" Jay snapped, twisting in his seat to glare at Jungwon. "You don't know the city! We don't know the city! And you thought it was a good idea to just—what? Wander off alone?!"

Heeseung, who was beside the driver, let out a deep sigh, glancing at the driver once, assured that he definitely won't understand their language. "What were you thinking, Jungwon?" he muttered, his disappointment heavier than Jay's outright anger.

Jungwon kept his gaze down, his hands resting in his lap. He didn't answer immediately, which only seemed to infuriate Jay more.

"We were about to call the staff, you know that?" Sunghoon, who had been silently simmering in the back, finally spoke up. His tone wasn't as loud as Jay's, but it was just as sharp. "And if we did, do you have any idea how much trouble we'd all be in?"

Jungwon finally spoke. "I am okay. Nothing happened to me.."

Jay scoffed. "That's not the point, Jungwon!"

Jungwon clenched his jaw slightly. He knew they had a right to be mad, but he also knew that nothing he said would make them understand. He had followed the directions of a local - an angel, he hadn't been lost, he wasn't in danger—but explaining that wouldn't make the situation any better. She kept him safe and made sure, he could get his camera fixed in the end.

So he stayed quiet.

The car ride back to the hotel was silent, except for the occasional sound of Jay clicking his tongue or Heeseung letting out an annoyed sigh. Sunghoon sat with his arms crossed, eyes fixed on the passing streets, still visibly fuming. Jake kept a close watch on everyone, making sure they stayed put and didn't do anything reckless in front of the driver. Jungwon, meanwhile, remained quiet, looking out the window as if nothing had happened.

And, his mind was clouded with her thought. Her eyes.

Even he wasn't meeting with her again but atleast that camera had her smile and her beauty captured. He smiled to himself but quickly swiped it off when he caught Sunghoon staring at him. But he had his mask on, he couldn't see.

When they finally arrived at the hotel, the tension in the air was thick. As soon as they stepped into their suite, Heeseung shut the door behind them and turned to Jungwon.

"What were you thinking?!"

Jungwon, who had barely taken a step into the room, stopped in his tracks as he took off his cap and mask. Heeseung's voice was sharp—not just angry, but laced with genuine worry.