As Pon was about to step out of Sailub's condo, his phone buzzed relentlessly in his pocket. His first instinct was to turn it off, assuming it was the unknown person tormenting him again. But then he saw the name flash across the screen—Benz. Pon hesitated for a moment, trying to muster the energy to sound normal, even though he was teetering on the edge of a breakdown. Taking a shaky breath, he answered the call, forcing a smile into his voice.
"Hey, Benz," Pon greeted, trying to sound cheerful despite the tears that threatened to spill over.
"Where are you? Are you with Sailub?" Benz's voice was direct, cutting through the tension that had been building in Pon's chest. Pon swallowed hard, his voice trembling as he answered.
"I'm on my way out—" he began, but Benz interrupted, his tone firmer now.
"Stay there. I'm nearby, I'll come pick you up." There was no room for argument in his voice, and Pon couldn't find the strength to protest.
Benz could hear it—the stutter, the uneven breaths, the way Pon's voice wavered. Something was wrong, and the alpha's hunch was confirmed. Ever since the gossip and cruel speculations about Sailub and Nut spread online, Benz had been trying to reach Pon. After no response from Pon's end, and Sailub failing to answer his calls, Benz knew something wasn't right. The urgency to find Pon had been growing with every passing second, and when he finally managed to get a hold of Pon's manager, the beta had been frantic, just as worried as he was.
As Benz drove toward Sailub's place, he quickly called Pon's manager again, reassuring her that he had found Pon and would take care of him. The relief in her voice mirrored the tension that had been gnawing at Benz's gut.
"Thank you, Benz," she said, her voice shaky. "I've been trying to get through to him, but Pon hasn't been himself. Just... take care of him, okay?"
"I will," Benz promised, gripping the steering wheel tightly. "He's in good hands."
When he pulled up outside Sailub's building, Benz spotted Pon almost immediately. The omega stood there, looking small and fragile, as if the weight of the world had collapsed on his shoulders. His eyes were red-rimmed, his face pale, and even from a distance, Benz could see the way Pon's hands shook as he held onto his phone. It broke Benz's heart to see him like this.
"Pon!" Benz called out as he stepped out of the car, rushing over to him. Pon's eyes met Benz's, and for a split second, it looked like he might break right there. But instead, Pon forced a weak smile, trying to act like everything was fine, though it was obvious to anyone who knew him that he was far from okay.
"Hey," Pon said softly, his voice cracking despite the attempt to sound normal.
Benz didn't say anything at first, just pulled him into a tight hug, holding him close. The tension in Pon's body slowly began to ease, and before he could stop himself, the tears he'd been holding back spilled over.
"I've got you, Pon," Benz murmured, rubbing comforting circles on his back. "Let's get out of here, okay?"
Pon nodded against Benz's chest, unable to speak. As they pulled away, Benz led him to the car, opening the door for him.
"I'm taking you to my place," Benz said gently, watching Pon's expression. "You need a break from all of this."
Pon hesitated for a moment but then nodded again, too exhausted to argue. He didn't have the strength to face anyone else right now, not even himself.
As Benz started driving, the silence between them was heavy but comforting in a way. Benz kept glancing at Pon through the rearview mirror, his heart aching for his friend. He knew this wasn't just about the rumors or the media—this was about Sailub. Something had happened, and Pon was breaking under the weight of it.
