Matter of Harmony || Oneus Seoho

Cold sweat (20)

Seoho's PoV

I pour the remainder of the water over my head and crush the plastic bottle. Adrenaline courses through my veins. Hyunwoo pats me on the back. We're walking offstage as the crowd roars and cheers. This performance was something else. It was more people than we have ever performed for. More fans. We didn't even debut yet and so many are here to listen to the music we worked so hard to make. I want to laugh and cry at the same time.

"You were legendary tonight." Our manager greets us backstage. We come together for a group hug. I walk over to the table to take a slice of the pizza we ordered and pick up my phone that sits beside the box. Two messages, and a missed call from Yuri. I almost drop the pizza. I try to act natural.

"You were right about Xion." "Can we meet?" Deep breaths... She wants to meet with me—I'll finally get to see her again. Hyunwoo and Junghoon turn to me with questioning looks. I guess I'm failing in the acting natural plan. I take a bite of the pizza as I start listening to the voice message.

"Save me, he's taking me to his house, he won't let me leave, save me."

This time the pizza slice does fall down. I blink a few times. The automatic caller asks if I want to listen again.

I do listen another time. It's very quick. She is whispering. My mind starts running a mile a second. My bandmates are still looking at me and the manager has joined them. I check the time she called me. An hour ago. I already lost an hour. "I need to go, it's an emergency." is all I say before grabbing my car keys and dashing out.

Yuri's phone is not reachable. I make a bunch of calls to the drama staff, but I still can't find Xion's address. I curse myself for not knowing beforehand. I curse myself for not taking my phone with me to the stage. I lost an entire hour. As a last resort, I call Keonhee. "Ravn went to a fundraiser party this afternoon with Xion." "Do you know his address?" I ask insistently. He doesn't. Eventually, he gives me Ravn's address when I tell him it's an emergency concerning Yuri's safety. Ravn must know where that rascal lives. I'll make him tell me no matter what.

Xion's PoV

It's not fair. I was honest to her. "Do you want a chance to explain yourself?" "He revealed a secret of mine to someone I care about and so I did the same to him. Ruining your friendship with him was not the intention." I didn't do anything unjust, Seoho was the one betraying her and I didn't even reveal it to her myself. I tried mending their relationship despite my instincts.

Deep down I know that is not the whole truth, deep down I know I only helped Seoho because it would make me look good to her. As she leaves the party I am angry at her as well. This is not the first time. She didn't even remember who I was until Seoho told her. I am no one to her. Just a pretty face and a good time. And tonight I played the wrong hand. I can't imagine that taking Kang Yoonah's deal doesn't have an effect in her leaving me like this. I run my fingers over the curves of the rose necklace I had gifted her.

"...I would have kept it to myself until I knew you would trust me over him. Until you would choose me over him." "Thank you for your honesty. I enjoyed the time we had. But I'm not going to be whatever you need me to be anymore. I won't take part in any of this."

I stand in a corner fiddling with the necklace for a long time. Ravn shows up with a twisted smile, "You're still sulking here? I didn't know you cared about her so much." I don't care about her, I want to say, but my mouth is dry despite all the drinks I've been having. It was all just a game— a scheme to win her over to convince my grandfather that I found someone... She doesn't matter.

"Let's leave," he pushes me and I comply. I am grateful that there's at least someone that cares.

...

I move the arm I had draped over my eyes laying down on Ravn's couch. The door rattles with insistent knocks. It doesn't make sense, the doorman should have stopped anyone from coming up before letting us know.

My shirt buttons are undone and my hair is messy but I don't get to clean up as the knocking shows no sign of slowing down. I'm surprised to see Seoho on the intercom, he looks out of breath as if he has been running. When I open the door he barges in. "You need to tell me where that asshole..." he stops "..lives."

Then I find myself pressed to the wall struggling to breathe. "Where is she Son Dongju?" he asks frantically, "Where did you take her you, sick bastard? What did you do to her?"

I can't speak with the air going to my lungs restrained. What the heck is he talking about? What is this? I am freed the next instance thankfully. Ravn places his body between the two of us and I slide down to my knees gasping for air. "Where did you take Yuri?" He shouts as he keeps struggling against Ravn "What are you talking about?" Ravn asks, his voice has a dangerous edge as well. I am grateful that he's protective of me but I don't want him to hurt Seoho.

"She was with you and she said you were taking her to your house against her will." I finally manage to speak "She left by herself more than an hour ago. We just came here." "Xion has been with me this whole time." Ravn adds.

"What do you mean she said I was taking her to my house? Did she call you?" Seoho stops struggling against Ravn and I see the wheels turning in his head. "I was on stage, performing—so she left a voice message,"

He paces back and forth, I find myself a glass and pour some water. "You two were together..." "What did she say in the recording?" he pulls his phone out and we listen to the recording, there is panic in her voice, like someone is about to find out what she's doing and stop her.

It's my turn to walk Seoho against a corner "Did she say anything else? A message, an address, anything?" He shakes his head in defeat. "F*ck!"

I should have never let her walk away that way. I should have sent the bodyguard after her. They weren't expecting her to be alone today. I was supposed to be with her...

"Damn it! I know who took her." I say. "We need to be quick."