Celestial Echoes~

Chapter 13

As they wandered through the city's most famous spots, the energy between the group was palpable, with laughter echoing through the streets and playful banter filling the air. Yet, despite the fun, Ren found her mind drifting. She couldn’t shake off the strange feelings that crept in whenever her eyes landed on a certain figure. By the time the sun began its descent, casting the city in hues of gold and red, they all found themselves back at the place where they had first met. It felt strangely nostalgic, though it had only been a day.

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Ren stood alone, staring at the horizon, the vibrant crimson sky reflecting off her eyes. Her thoughts were swirling, lost between memories of the day and the odd sensations brewing inside her. The beauty of the sunset pulled her in, but her mind was elsewhere—on fleeting glances, awkward silences, and… him.

Wonwoo's POV:

From a distance, I saw Ren standing there, completely absorbed in the sunset. The way the light kissed her skin, turning her eyes into shimmering pools of amber, was mesmerizing. It caught me off guard, and for a moment, I just watched her. Something tugged at me—something unfamiliar. I didn't know why, but my feet seemed to move on their own as I approached her.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, the words tumbling out before I could stop them. I cringed inwardly. Of course, she’s watching the sunset, idiot. The moment those words left my lips, I wanted to take them back, but it was too late.

She turned to face me, her expression unreadable, though I sensed a slight discomfort. Why is she always like this around me? I wondered. She could laugh and talk so easily with the others, but when it came to me, she seemed… off-balance. It frustrated me.

"Is something wrong?" I asked, this time trying to be gentler, hoping to ease whatever tension lingered between us.

She paused for a moment, as if deciding whether to respond. "No," she finally whispered, her voice almost swallowed by the breeze.

Ren's POV:

I hadn’t expected him to approach me. The moment I heard his voice, my heart jumped in my chest. It was him—the quiet, intense guy with the glasses, the one who always seemed so distant. In my head, I had secretly nicknamed him "glasses guy," and the thought amused me, though I didn’t dare show it.

When he asked if something was wrong, my brain short-circuited for a moment. Is he talking to me? I glanced around, hoping someone else was nearby, but there was no one. It was just the two of us, standing there in the fading light. His gaze was piercing, and it made me feel strangely vulnerable. I managed to mumble, "Nothing," though I could feel my pulse racing.

He tilted his head slightly, his brow furrowing. "What?" he asked, sounding genuinely confused.

"What?" I echoed, unsure what he meant.

"I asked you first," he said, his voice calm but firm, like he was trying to figure something out.

I couldn’t find any words to respond. Instead, I turned back to the sunset, hoping the silence would speak for itself. It was strange—out of all the members, he was the hardest to understand. He was always so quiet, keeping his thoughts hidden behind his calm exterior. Yet here he was, standing next to me, trying to start a conversation. I wasn’t sure what to make of it.

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Meanwhile, on the other side of the scene, Era sat casually on a bench, chatting with Al on her phone. As their conversation wrapped up, she decided to take a few selfies, capturing the beauty of the place. It was then that she spotted Ren and Wonwoo standing side by side in the distance. She couldn’t help but smile mischievously. This is too good to pass up, she thought, snapping a few pictures of the pair, perfectly framed by the sunset.

Just as she was reviewing her shots, she felt a presence next to her. Looking up, she found Joshua standing there, his face soft and warm. He gave her a gentle smile, one that made her stomach flutter in that way it always did when he was near.

"What are you doing here alone?" he asked, his voice smooth as always, though there was a hint of curiosity.

"Just taking pictures," she replied without missing a beat. Era had always been the straightforward type, but she found herself holding back more than usual around Joshua, not wanting to reveal too much.

Joshua’s eyes twinkled with amusement. "Pictures? Then how about we take some together?" he suggested.

Era blinked, surprised by the offer, but quickly nodded, a shy smile forming on her lips.

The two of them began snapping photos together, their shoulders occasionally brushing as they adjusted their positions. With each click of the camera, Era could feel her heart beating faster, and she wondered if Joshua could hear it. She tried to play it cool, but there was something about his presence—something comforting, yet exciting—that made her feel different.

Joshua's POV:

I had noticed Era sitting by herself, her phone in hand, capturing the moment. She looked peaceful, yet something told me she had her own thoughts swirling in her mind. I approached her casually, hoping to lift her spirits, and as we chatted, I realized how easy it was to be around her. It wasn’t just because she was one of our Carats—no, it felt deeper than that. Something about Era made me forget the craziness of the day. For a while, it was just us, laughing and posing for pictures as if we had known each other for years.

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The day had been long, filled with exploration, laughter, and more surprises than anyone had expected. As the evening came to an end, the members gathered, expressing their gratitude to Ren and Era for their hospitality. Ren, who had started the day feeling out of place, now found herself smiling more easily. The boys were not what she had imagined—there was a warmth to them that had taken her by surprise.

"I guess they’re not so bad after all," she thought to herself, as she exchanged goodbyes with the group. Though Mingyu's playful flirting still irritated her, she found herself appreciating the camaraderie they had shared. Even Wonwoo, despite the awkward moments, seemed more approachable now.

As they all departed for the night, Ren took one last look at the sunset. For the first time in a long while, she felt a sense of calm, as if something in her world had shifted—something she couldn’t quite name, but it was there, lingering like the last rays of the sun disappearing behind the horizon.

The tale whispers on~~!