Celestial Echoes~

Chapter 3

  A few days had slipped by, and Seventeen still lingered in Canada, savoring the quiet in between their busy schedules. It was a rare day off, and they decided to explore some of the city’s well-known spots, basking in the freedom that came with having no strict agenda...

The crisp, fresh morning began with a visit to a local museum, where they marveled at the exhibits in peaceful contemplation. Once they’d had their fill of history and art, they ventured to a picturesque lookout point, a place where the rolling hills gently met the skyline, offering a breathtaking view of the town below. It was a tranquil spot, free from the usual crowds, a hidden gem that Mingyu had thoughtfully planned for them. Some of the members found themselves resting on a weathered wooden bench, while others strolled casually along the stone railing, gazing up at the serene, star-filled sky that was slowly revealing itself as day turned into night.

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Meanwhile, Ren and Era had their own plans for this leisurely day off. Deciding to embrace spontaneity, they picked a random destination, with the intention of wandering and returning home after dinner. Ren dressed in her usual understated, casual style—a soft lavender hoodie layered over a white t-shirt, paired with white denim jeans and a warm coat. She wore no makeup, letting her natural beauty shine through, her hair tied up into a simple bun, a scarf draped gracefully over her head as a nod to their cultural traditions. Era opted for a gray hoodie, black denim jeans, and a coat to ward off the evening chill. After applying a touch of light makeup, she too donned a scarf. Once satisfied with their appearance, they stepped out into the crisp air, ready to lose themselves in the city for a while.

Arriving at their destination, they were pleasantly surprised to find the spot sparsely populated—just a few couples and small groups of boys enjoying the evening calm. Without knowing it, they settled on a bench directly behind where the Seventeen members were seated, unaware of the boys' presence. Given that the Carats had assumed the group had already returned to Korea post-concert, no one had any idea the idols were still lingering in the city.

Era’s POV ~

I was aimlessly scrolling through my social media feed, the familiar melodies of Seventeen’s songs playing in my ears, when my attention was pulled to Ren, who sat beside me, lost in thought. There was something different about her lately. The lively spark in her eyes had dimmed, and her usual chatter had grown quieter. It wasn’t that she appeared unwell, but there was an unmistakable shift in her mood, something she clearly wasn’t willing to share. My concern deepened as I observed her staring vacantly at the sky, her thoughts seemingly miles away.

“What’s wrong, Ren?” I asked, turning to her with a soft but serious expression. She blinked, startled by my voice breaking through her thoughts.

“Huh? What do you mean?” she replied, her confusion evident. I wasn’t convinced.

“I mean, something’s off with you lately. And I was the one who asked first,” I pressed gently, not wanting to make her feel cornered but needing to know what was troubling her. I could sense her reluctance, her walls going up.

“I’m fine, Era,” she said, trying to sound casual, but the wavering in her voice betrayed her.

“Ow!! Come on, Ren, I can tell when something’s bothering you. You’ve been different lately,” I urged, trying to be patient, though my worry was starting to bubble over. “If you don’t tell me what’s wrong, how am I supposed to understand?”

She hesitated, her gaze drifting back to the sky. After a long pause, she finally spoke, her voice quieter now. “I’ve been distracted, Era. I can’t concentrate on my studies anymore. Everything was fine before the concert, but since then, it’s like I’ve lost my focus.”

I furrowed my brow, trying to piece it together. “Wait… you mean, Seventeen,,,, is distracting you? How could it be though,,? What exactly are you talking about, Ren?”

She sighed deeply, her hands tightening around her coat. “Yeah… I’m talking about them. Ever since we met them, I haven’t been able to focus. One of them in particular… he’s been on my mind, and it’s driving me crazy.” Ren said a bit frustrated.

My eyes widened as her words sunk in. “What? Wait… are you saying you’ve fallen for one of them?” I gasped, feeling both shocked and oddly excited. “Which one? Who is it?”

Ren closed her eyes for a moment before finally admitting, “The guy with the glasses.”

I blinked in surprise before realizing who she meant. “What! You’ve fallen for our....... ?!” I squealed, my voice a little too loud for the quiet surroundings, causing Ren to frantically shush me.

“Shh! Don’t say his name!” Ren whispered, panicked. “I don’t want to be more distracted than I already am. Honestly, if you hadn’t dragged me to that concert, none of this would’ve happened,” she muttered, frustration edging into her voice.

I giggled, unable to suppress my excitement. “Wait, how is he distracting you, though? You’ve always been such a dedicated student. Your grades aren’t average—they’re practically perfect.”

Ren sighed, exasperated. “It’s 95%, Era… 95%. That’s not good enough for me.”

I stared at her, bewildered. “That’s an amazing grade! What are you even talking about? You can’t blame Wonwoo for that!” I gave her a teasing side glance.

“And yet, I do,” she replied, her own glance just as sharp.

“I just can’t believe it… my bae,,, falling for Wonwoo of all people! You’re in love with him!” I couldn’t help but bounce in excitement, but she quickly clamped her hand over my mouth to shut me up again.

"Ugh!! Stop, melodramatic! Did I ever uttered that I'm in love with him?" Ren rolled her eyes harshly. “And didn’t you ignore everything about Joshua when you were prepping for your admission test? So don’t judge me.”

She huffed, crossing her arms, clearly done with the conversation. “Alright, alright… now let's shutter down,” I said, calming down, though I couldn’t help but smile. We both fell into a comfortable silence after that, our eyes drifting up to the stars once again.

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But they were completely unaware that, lurking just behind them, a few curious onlookers had been quietly eavesdropping on their every word....

The tale whispers on~~!