Celestial Echoes~

Chapter 12

Wonwoo's POV:

Sitting in the van, I let my thoughts drift as the scenery outside blurred by. My mind, however, was stuck on something much closer. Ren. Seeing her today, dressed in something so different from what I was used to, had thrown me off balance. The salwar kameez she wore wasn’t just any outfit—it was striking, elegant, and completely unexpected. She looked like she belonged to a different era, a world away from the bustling streets of Canada. I couldn’t help but stare, the way the soft colors of her dress contrasted with the sharpness in her eyes was almost... captivating.

What made it worse was Joshua’s reaction. He was being way too friendly, showering her with compliments like he always does. I noticed S.Coups and Hoshi were impressed too, their eyes following her like she was some rare sight. It bothered me, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on why. She wasn’t like the others—she wasn’t a fan. She didn’t even know us like that, and yet, there she was, easily becoming the center of attention.

Whatever. It’s not like it matters. At least we weren’t in the same van, which gave me some much-needed space. But still, I couldn’t shake off this nagging feeling, like a splinter lodged in the back of my mind. Why was I thinking about her so much? It was frustrating, almost like my brain was working against me.

Get a grip, Wonwoo.

---

Wonwoo leaned back, trying to focus on anything else.

"Hey, hyung, what’s on your mind? You’ve been zoning out a lot lately. Something you wanna share?" Mingyu’s voice cut through his thoughts, making him frown slightly.

"Nothing, I’m fine," Wonwoo replied, forcing a soft smile. "I was just thinking about the new game that came out. Don’t worry about it."

Mingyu grinned, easily dropping the subject. "Ah, I see. Speaking of games, btw don’t you think our Carats are seriously pretty?"

Jeonghan, barely glancing up from his phone, gave a noncommittal shrug. "Of course they are."

"But those girls with us today, they're... different," Mingyu continued, clearly fishing for more enthusiasm. Jeonghan shot him a sideways glance, but said nothing.

"You’re right," Dino piped up, pouting slightly. "They’re not like the others. Their culture, the way they act—it’s fascinating. But only Era’s really our fan. Ren doesn’t care about us at all."

Mingyu chuckled. "Yeah, and that’s what makes it interesting. I like a challenge."

Jeonghan suddenly looked up, narrowing his eyes. "Yah, Kim Mingyu, you better not be flirting with them."

Mingyu raised his hands in mock surrender, his eyes wide with faux innocence. "Hyung, me? Flirt? I’d never!"

Jeonghan rolled his eyes. "Sure, sure. We all know how ‘innocent’ you are."

Another member chimed in with a snicker. "Yeah, right. Like you could resist."

Mingyu put on an exaggeratedly wounded expression. "Hyung! How could you accuse me of such a thing?"

"Cut the drama, Mingyu," Wonwoo muttered, unable to hide the smirk that tugged at the corners of his mouth.

Dino, ever the peacekeeper, interrupted, "Guys, we’re here. Stop bickering."

----

As they stepped out of the van, the scenery that greeted them was breathtaking. Wide-open spaces, lush greenery, and the soft, calming sound of nature surrounded them. It was like stepping into a postcard, and they had to admit the place was stunning.

Ren and Era led the way, though it was clear Ren felt a bit out of place. She was quieter than usual, her eyes scanning the area with a mix of curiosity and uncertainty. Mingyu, ever the flirt, kept throwing playful remarks her way, much to her annoyance.

"Era, what’s wrong with this guy?" Ren muttered, her face scrunched up in disgust.

"Who?" Era asked, glancing around, confused.

Ren pointed discreetly. "That guy—Mingyu. Didn’t you see him? He’s been flirting with us all day!"

Era looked at her in disbelief. "Mingyu? Seriously? I thought it was kind of cute, don’t you?"

Ren’s eyes widened, her expression one of utter betrayal. "Cute? You like it?"

Era just shrugged, clearly amused by her reaction. "What’s the big deal? He’s just being friendly."

"Whatever," Ren huffed, sounding hopeless, but a hint of amusement crept into her tone.

A little later, Era nudged Ren lightly. "Aren’t you enjoying the place, though? It’s beautiful, right?"

Ren sighed, her gaze softening as she looked around. "Yeah, it’s not bad. They’re not as obnoxious as I thought they’d be. They’re actually pretty decent... Well, except for this outfit." She glanced down at her dress with a small chuckle.

Era smiled warmly. "Trust me, you look stunning. And by the way, I think Wonwoo noticed."

Ren’s cheeks flushed instantly, and she shot Era a sharp look. "Stop it."

"Ooh, look who’s blushing!" Era teased, winking at her mischievously.

Ren playfully punched her arm, trying to hide the growing smile on her lips.

From a distance, Wonwoo watched them, half-listening to the banter between the other members. There was something oddly fascinating about how natural Ren looked in this setting, even though she clearly felt out of place. She moved with a quiet grace, despite the slight tension in her body language. It was as if she was trying to blend in but couldn’t help standing out.

Wonwoo couldn’t tear his gaze away from her, no matter how hard he tried.

----
Wonwoo's POV;

As the boys explored the area, I found myself keeping a quiet distance, my eyes wandering back to Ren more than I wanted to admit. There was something about her that made her presence impossible to ignore. She didn’t have the same starry-eyed admiration most fans had around us, nor did she seek attention. In fact, she seemed to prefer staying in the background, a spectator in this little adventure we were all part of.

But I couldn’t shake the feeling that she was more than just another passerby in our lives. There was something intriguing, almost magnetic, about her reserved nature. The way she interacted with Era, the subtle vulnerability she tried so hard to mask—it drew me in.

I shook my head, forcing myself to focus on something else, anything else. But no matter how much I tried, my thoughts kept drifting back to her, like an unsolved puzzle that refused to leave my mind.

Why am I thinking about her so much?

The tale whispers on~~!