MULTIVERSE | ATEEZ & XIKERS

Growing up | Chapter 15

The moment Wooyoung had stepped into view, Minjae's sharp eyes had darted toward Junghoon, piercing him with an accusing glare. Wooyoung's demeanor had been casual, but there was something fractured behind his usual confidence.

Without warning, Minjae grabbed Junghoon's arm, his grip firm. "Come with me. Now." His voice was low and steady, but it carried the force of an unspoken command.

Junghoon blinked, startled. "What? Minjae, what are you—"

"Outside," Minjae snapped, dragging Junghoon through the doors. The rest of the group exchanged uneasy glances, but no one dared to intervene—not yet.

The moment they were outside, away from the others, Minjae let go of Junghoon's arm and whirled around, his eyes blazing. "How long were you planning to keep it from us, huh?" he demanded.

Junghoon stepped back, confusion clouding his face. "What are you talking about?"

"Don't play dumb!" Minjae's voice rose, and a faint flicker of blue fire ignited around him. "I knew the moment I saw Wooyoung. Ateez split up, didn't they? And you knew all along!"

Junghoon's lips parted, but no words came out. He looked down, guilt written across his face. "I... I didn't think it was the right time to tell everyone. We've been busy—"

"Busy?" Minjae interrupted, his tone incredulous. "Busy doing what, Junghoon? Running around this wasteland, risking our necks, all because we thought we were helping them? Helping a group that doesn't even exist anymore!"

Junghoon winced. "It's not like that. They didn't want it to end—things just... changed."

"Don't give me excuses!" Minjae's voice was a roar now, and his entire form burst into flames, his fiery aura casting eerie blue shadows against the walls. "We wasted so much time,! Do you even understand what that means? All the sacrifices we made!"

The tension between Minjae and Junghoon was palpable as they stood outside the mansion, the soft evening breeze brushing against their faces. Minjae had just lashed out at Junghoon, his anger evident in every word. Junghoon's eyes flickered with guilt and frustration,

"I can't believe you kept this from us." Minjae shouted, the words scorching like the flames surrounding him. But before Junghoon could get a word in edgewise, Minjae turned and stormed back toward the mansion.

Junghoon watched him go, his heart heavy, his mind in a storm of confusion. He felt the heat of the argument, the sting of betrayal—but there was something else gnawing at him. Was Minjae really angry at him, or was he angry at himself for not telling the truth earlier?

In that moment of frustration, Junghoon did what he always did when his emotions felt too overwhelming to process. He stepped back, closed his eyes, and released a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.

Without a second thought, he shifted, his form suddenly engulfed by blue fire as he transformed into a fireball. He shot up into the air, the blue flames surrounding him flickering as he ascended. The winds rushed around him, the world below becoming a blur. He just needed to get away.

Meanwhile, inside the mansion, Minjae had stormed off alone. The rest of the group looked between each other, unsure of what to do. It was only a moment later that Wooyoung noticed Junghoon was missing, his absence filling the air with an unsettling quiet.

"Where's Junghoon?" Wooyoung asked, looking at the others, but none of them knew. A growing feeling of dread washed over him.

"I'll go find him," Wooyoung said, his voice low but determined. He stepped outside into the cool air, scanning the horizon for any sign of Junghoon. His eyes soon caught the faint trail of blue flames in the distance.