falling into you || woosan

~72~

SEONGHWA'S POV

I was lounging on the couch at the studio, my eyes half-closed as I listened to Jongho's voice come through the speakers. He was in the booth, working through the guide vocals for one of our new songs. It was the kind of day where the hours seemed to blur together, and I could feel the familiar weight of exhaustion pressing down on me. Still, I couldn't help but admire how hard Jongho worked, even when he thought nobody was paying attention.

Hongjoong was hunched over the equipment, focused on getting the right balance in the mix. He's always so meticulous, so driven. But then his phone rang, and I watched as his concentration wavered for the first time all day. He glanced at the screen, his face tightening as he recognized the caller. It was Wooyoung. Without a word, he stood and left the room to take the call.

I stretched out on the couch, my mind wandering as I waited for Hongjoong to return. I looked over to the other side of the couch where Yeosang had been sleeping for the last 30 minutes. I was glad he was getting some rest since he looked off when he came earlier. My thoughts were interrupted when the door opened, and he walked back in, his expression grim.

"What's going on?" I asked, sitting up.

"Wooyoung hasn't heard from San since he left practice," Hongjoong said, his voice low.

I glanced at the clock on the wall. It was near 2 AM. That meant San had been missing for hours. A cold knot of worry twisted in my gut as I pulled out my phone. I called San immediately, but there was no answer. I tried texting him, but the message just hung there, unread. Something wasn't right.

"I'm going to go look for him," I said, standing up.

Hongjoong nodded and called Jongho out of the booth, quickly explaining the situation. But I didn't stick around to hear their conversation. My mind was already racing with possibilities, trying to figure out where San could be. All I knew was that I couldn't just sit there and wait. Not when one of us was out there, alone.

As I left the company and stepped into the cool night air, I silently prayed that I'd find San safe and sound. We couldn't afford to lose anyone, not now, not ever.

I jumped into my car, the engine roaring to life as I pulled out of the parking lot. The streets were nearly empty at this hour, but that only made everything feel more unsettling. I didn't have a clear plan—I was just driving, turning down unfamiliar streets, my eyes scanning every corner, every shadow. The city felt different at night, the usual vibrancy replaced by an eerie stillness that made every dark alley and empty sidewalk seem threatening.

I glanced at the clock on the dashboard—20 minutes had passed, and I still hadn't found any sign of San. My grip on the steering wheel tightened as I turned down yet another street, one that I didn't recognize at all. It was lined with old buildings and dim streetlights that flickered sporadically, casting long shadows across the pavement. My heart was pounding, anxiety gnawing at me with every second that ticked by.

Then, just as I was about to lose hope, I saw a figure sitting alone on a bench up ahead. The sight made my breath catch in my throat. As I got closer, the silhouette became clearer, and I realized it was San. Relief washed over me, almost making me dizzy, but it was quickly replaced by concern. What was he doing out here, all alone?

I pulled over and parked the car, the headlights casting a soft glow on the bench where San sat. He hadn't noticed me yet, lost in his own world, his shoulders slumped and his head bowed. He looked so small, so different from the San I knew—the one who always radiated energy and confidence. Seeing him like this made my chest tighten.

I stepped out of the car, closing the door quietly behind me as I approached him. The closer I got, the more I could see how drained he looked. His eyes were fixed on the ground, his expression distant. I didn't know what to say, but I knew I had to reach him somehow.