Chasing After You |Seongjoong|

*3*

After the race, Rising Suns went to their garage to celebrate the win. Their friends also went with them. So, they returned with victory, only stopping to grab some takeout on their way back. There, everyone gathered over the table, eating and drinking. The garage was full of cheers and laughter. Everyone was happy except Hongjoong. The leader of Rising Suns was lost in his dark thoughts, unable to celebrate their victory. Even if they defended their home turf, Hongjoong couldn't be happy. Because Seonghwa was the first person Hongjoong liked. Seonghwa was the first to accept his passion for cars and racing. However, Hongjoong's hopes shattered once Seonghwa introduced himself as the leader of Speed Dragons.

Everyone around Hongjoong had noticed his grim mood. Bang Chan felt guilty towards his friend. Chan was the one to suggest that blind date. Now, it was Bang Chan's mission to cheer him up. So, the Aussie placed his arm around Hongjoong's shoulders and gave him a beer. Then, Chan told him to drink and forget about Seonghwa. It was only a single blind date. There were many more guys Hongjoong could date in the future. Hyunsuk joined their conversation, adding more. Both tried to cheer Hongjoong and encouraged him to drink more and forget. Even Chanhee, Jongho's best friend, joined them, suggesting some of his teammates as dating material. Joong denied it. He didn't want to hear more about dating. His dating life was dead. From that moment onward, Hongjoong's only love was racing and cars. Joong decided on no more blind dates.

Meanwhile, at Speed Dragon's place, the mood was completely different. The atmosphere there was heavy and dark. They failed to win their first battle in their new home. Not only did they fail, but Seonghwa's heart was broken into pieces. So, everyone's spirits were down in the dumps. And no matter how much their friends were trying to cheer them up, it wasn't working. How could they? Especially, Lee Minho, the reason behind Seonghwa's broken heart. If it wasn't for him to set their blind date, that wouldn't have happened.

"Seonghwa-ya, I'm sorry. Please, forgive me," Minho begged.

"Forgive you for what?" Seonghwa asked him in confusion.

"I set your date with Kim Hongjoong and didn't tell you who he was," Minho explained.

"It's alright, Minho. It's my fault. When Hongjoong told me he raced, I didn't ask him more about it. It was my ignorance."

"Don't cry for a man, Hwa. There are more and better men out there," Yeonjoon joined the conversation.

"We can find you someone better," Changbin chirped.

Seonghwa was thankful for their friends and their attempt to lift his spirit. He tried to convince himself that separating from Hongjoong wasn't a bad thing. More important to him was racing. He had to stay strong for the sake of his team even after losing. Because that wasn't the end of the world, it was a learning opportunity.

Seonghwa decided to stop sulking. He then brought everyone to a restaurant. Seonghwa and their friends from other teams tried to lighten up the mood. Everyone was saying how their defeat was a learning chance. Minho and Changbin, the two who knew team Rising Suns and had raced against them, told everyone how challenging them on their home turf was a suicide action. Rising Suns were undefeated on their territory and a difficult opponent on a different course. It wasn't that Speed Dragons were lacking. It was the opponent's experience on this track. So, if they wanted a rematch, they had to study every centimetre of this mountain and know it by heart. They had to put in extra effort in case to win.

"Wooyoung-ah, my dear, don't sulk. I barely won last time I raced against Yunho and Mingi, even with my Evo 3," Changbin said, hugging his friend.

"Bin-ah, honey, why didn't you tell me?!" Wooyoung raised his voice.

"Are you stupid? He didn't want you to give up before we race," Yeosang rolled his eyes. He was Wooyoung's shotgun and clearly the brain in their duo. Changbin warned Yeosang before the battle. But knowing Wooyoung, it was better to keep quiet. So, Yeosang took the risk and didn't warn Wooyoung about their rival.