Shadows of the Spotlight

Chapter 20

I wake up with a start, blinking against the dim interior of the van. The unfamiliar surroundings throw me for a moment until I remember where I am—the van on its way to the studio for Arc's show recording. I glance at my phone and rub my eyes, still heavy from only managing about an hour of sleep.

"Dae-jung," I call out quietly, leaning forward. "How far are we?"

He checks the time on the dashboard. "We should be there in about fifteen minutes," he replies.

Realizing there's no point in trying to go back to sleep, I stretch in my seat, trying to shake off the lingering drowsiness. First, I grab my water bottle and take a long sip to freshen my mouth. Then I reach for the thermos, unscrewing the cap and letting the comforting aroma of coffee fill the van.

As I take a sip, my gaze drifts to the back of the van where Arc is stretched out, his head leaned against the seat, breathing evenly. His face, free of any tension, looks so calm—almost peaceful. I can't help but marvel at how quickly he falls asleep. It took him all of five minutes to doze off last night, while I was left shifting and thinking before I could find sleep. Watching him, I realize that it's probably not just luck; it's a skill he's had to hone over years of touring, late-night practices, and irregular schedules, grabbing rest whenever and wherever he could.I wonder how many times Arc has relied on these small naps to keep himself going, pushing through exhaustion in a relentless cycle of work, travel, and performance.

He looked so peaceful sleeping that I hesitated, but with only a few minutes left before we arrived, it was time to wake him up. Leaning over, I called his name softly. "Arc... hey, wake up." There was no response; he didn't even stir. I tried again, this time gently tapping his hand.

"Just a little louder, and maybe give him a stronger shake," Dae-jung advised from the front, noticing my struggle.

Taking his advice, I steeled myself and placed a firmer hand on Arc's shoulder. "Arc!" I called, giving him a light but insistent shake.

He finally stirred, mumbling something incoherent. I leaned closer, trying to get his attention. "아크, 녹음실에 거의 다 왔어요. 당신은 깨어나야합니다.(Arc, we're almost at the recording studio. You need to wake up.)"

He mumbled again, "5분만 더... (Five more minutes...)" and drifted off, his head sinking back. Knowing we didn't have time for this, I got up from my seat, moving between the narrow space of the middle row and leaned over to give him a firmer shake.

Just then, the van hit a speed bump, and I stumbled forward, landing right on top of him. Startled, I tried to pull back, but Arc slowly lifted his eye mask from one eye, giving me a half-awake, amused look.

"글쎄, 이건 깨어나는 새로운 방법이야(Well, this is a new way to wake up)," he murmured in a husky voice, a smirk tugging at his lips as he took in the scene, clearly amused despite his groggy state.

Heat rushed to my cheeks as I scrambled to regain my balance, trying to retreat gracefully in the cramped space of the van, but I lost my footing once more, slipping awkwardly. Arc removed his eye mask completely, tucking it into the pocket on the seat in front of him, his eyes clearer now, watching me with a mix of amusement and concern.

"Here, let me help you," he said, reaching out and gripping my upper arm with steady hands. His touch was firm but gentle, guiding me upright. I finally found my footing, mumbling a quick "thanks" as I turned to head back to my seat. As he shifted up, readying himself for the day ahead, the van jolted over another speed bump. This time, I lost my balance completely, stumbling back—straight onto Arc's lap.

For a moment, everything stilled. I looked up, finding him closer than ever, his eyes surprised but holding that same entertained gleam. His hands instinctively held my arms to steady me, and I could feel his warmth radiating through the slight barrier of my clothes.