Shadows of the Spotlight

Chapter 26

As the plane touched down in Chicago, the usual rush of anticipation buzzed through the cabin. But as we disembarked, things quickly took a more tense turn. The security team was waiting for us at the gate, and the moment they saw us, one of the officers approached with a look of concern."The crowd is huge today," he warned, his tone serious. "We'll need to be extra cautious."Arc nodded at the security officer, then glanced at Jihoon. "제시카한테 먼저 가(You go first with Jessica)," he ordered. "최대한 안전하게 통과하세요.(Get them through as safely as possible.)"Jessica, sensing my confusion leaned in and whispered, "One time, the crowd got really rowdy. There was a stampede, and several of our crew members got hurt. We have to be careful."Arc's face tightened as he looked at Jihoon and Jessica. "만일의 경우에는 우리가 먼저 너를 지켜줄게 제시카(We'll protect you first, Jessica, just in case)," he said firmly.I nodded in agreement, feeling the weight of the situation. It wasn't just about the fans anymore—it was about keeping everyone safe. Jihoon raised an eyebrow but understood, so he gave a brief nod in acknowledgment."릴라는 어떻습니까?(What about Lila?)" Jihoon asked, glancing between us.Arc's gaze flickered to me, and his voice was calm but firm. "릴라가 나와 함께 있을 거예요.(Lila will be with me.)"Jihoon and Jessica headed toward the exit, and we stood by, waiting for the additional security personnel to arrive. The tension in the air was palpable as we readied ourselves for the chaos that we knew was coming. It wasn't long before a new team of guards arrived to reinforce the perimeter around us.Ten minutes later, we finally made our move. Arc gave a subtle gesture to the security team, and we stepped out of the airport, immediately engulfed by the deafening roar of the fans. It was as if the air itself vibrated with their excitement. Cameras flashed from every direction, and shouts filled the air, all centered on Arc. The noise was overwhelming, and the security team quickly formed a tight ring around us, pushing back against the sheer force of the crowd.I could feel the press of bodies around us, and despite the security's best efforts, the press of people made the space feel impossibly small. Arc's hand suddenly landed on my shoulder, pulling me closer to him. I glanced up at him, surprised by the protective gesture, but his grip remained firm as he shielded me from the surging crowd. I couldn't help but notice the protective glint in his eyes, a silent promise to keep me safe in the chaos.The crowd's energy only grew more intense as we moved through the airport, the noise and jostling of the fans becoming nearly unbearable. Arc kept me close, guiding me through the throngs of people with a steady hand on my shoulder, making sure I didn't lose my footing or get pushed away in the madness.It was an exhausting struggle, but after what felt like forever, we finally reached the van. Arc didn't hesitate—he immediately directed me inside, his hand still firmly on my back as he ushered me into the vehicle. Before I could sit down, Arc turned around to face the crowd. He raised his hand, offering them a quick, polite wave as the cheers surged once again. His calm demeanor amidst the chaos only seemed to intensify the fans' excitement. When he finished acknowledging them, he finally entered the van, his hand briefly brushing mine as he sat beside me, both of us breathing a little easier now that we were safely inside.The doors closed behind us, and the van began to pull away from the scene, the noise of the crowd fading into the distance. Despite the brief moment of safety, I could still feel the rush of adrenaline in my veins as I tried to steady my breathing.After the chaos at the airport, we finally made our way to the hotel, the tension still lingering in the air. The van pulled up in front of the sleek, modern building, and we were greeted by the familiar faces of the hotel staff. Jihoon was already waiting for us at the reception, his expression a mix of relief and quiet authority as he waved us over."모든 것이 처리되었습니다.(Everything's been taken care of)," Jihoon said as he handed us the room keys, his voice calm despite the events of the day. "우리는 층 전체를 예약했는데 플라자 호텔과 달리 이곳은 분리되어 있지 않습니다. 보안 요원이 있지만 경계심을 유지해야 합니다. 진입점 근처에 추가 경비원이 배치되어 있지만 특히 방을 나갈 때 조심해야 합니다.(We've booked the whole floor, but unlike the Plaza Hotel, this one isn't isolated. There's a security presence, but we need to stay vigilant. Extra guards have been stationed near the entry points, but you should be careful, especially when leaving your rooms.)"We nodded, grateful for the extra precautions. Arc glanced at me briefly before following Jihoon toward the elevator. The soft hum of the elevator as it ascended was almost soothing, a brief moment of calm before we were dropped back into the whirlwind that was our lives on tour.When we reached the floor, I noticed that Arc's room was directly adjacent to mine. Just like in New York our accommodations were close for some reason."두 분 모두 적응하시도록 남겨두겠습니다. 필요한 것이 있으면 알려주세요.(I'll leave you both to settle in. Let me know if you need anything.)" Jihoon nodded before stepping away, his shoes clicking softly against the floor as he disappeared down the hall.I stood in front of my door, keycard in hand, about to unlock it when I suddenly remembered that I was still wearing Arc's jacket. It was too big on me, the sleeves draping over my hands, but the warmth it provided felt oddly comforting in the midst of everything. I sighed and turned to remove it, intending to return it to him.Just as I was about to tug the jacket off, I felt a gentle pressure on my shoulder. Arc's hand rested there, his touch light yet firm enough to stop me in my tracks. I looked up to see him standing a few feet away, his eyes focused on me with that unreadable calm."Keep it," he said, his voice low. His gaze flickered briefly to the jacket before meeting my eyes again. "It suits you."The words took me by surprise, and for a moment, I simply stared at him, not sure what to say. I wasn't sure if he meant it in a casual, offhand way or something more. Either way, it felt... personal. A soft warmth spread through me at his words, but before I could react, Arc turned, his hand still on my shoulder for a beat longer than necessary, and opened his room door.With a quiet nod, he stepped inside, leaving me standing there in front of my room, the faint scent of his cologne lingering in the air. The moment felt like a strange pause, a breath before everything shifted again, but I took one last look at the closed door before entering my own room.After settling into the hotel, we soon left for the concert venue. Arc was scheduled for a two-day performance in Chicago starting the next day, and the team was already buzzing with excitement and last-minute preparations. The rehearsal went smoothly, with only a small sound check scheduled for the evening, giving us a chance to catch our breath before the real whirlwind began.By the time everyone returned to the hotel that evening, exhaustion had settled in, each of us keenly aware that we were just at the beginning of an intense schedule. I could see the toll it took on Arc, even if he tried to hide it with his usual calm demeanor. The next two days passed in a blur of rehearsals under the bright stage lights and electrifying concerts that brought the packed venue to life each night. I watched Arc give everything on stage, pouring himself into his performances as though each note and move was meant to reach every corner of the arena. By the end of the second night, it was as though time had compressed; we had barely caught our breath before it was already time to leave.Determined not to make the same mistake I had last time, I packed an extra set of clothes in my handbag for the airport and threw on Arc's jacket once again. The oversized fit was comfortable and familiar now, and somehow, wearing it made me feel a little more prepared for the inevitable crowd awaiting us.Our next stop on the tour was Seattle. At the airport, we were greeted by another crowd of eager fans, though thankfully, this time they were better managed, and the security team handled the flow smoothly. By the time we arrived, it was already past 5 p.m., and with no rehearsals scheduled, we headed straight to the hotel for a bit of rest.I hadn't had the chance to explore Chicago, but since I'd been there before, I didn't mind missing out. Seattle, however, was a different story—I'd been looking forward to exploring it. Despite feeling the fatigue of travel, I was too excited to sit still. I quickly freshened up, changed into something comfortable, and decided to head out on my own.As I waited for the elevator, a realization hit me—I'd once again thrown on Arc's jacket without even thinking about it. Just as I was waiting for the elevator, I heard footsteps behind me and turned to see Arc strolling down the hall. His gaze landed on the jacket I was wearing, and a slight smirk appeared."재킷에 대한 내 칭찬을 진지하게 받아들이는 거죠?(Taking my compliment about the jacket seriously, huh?)" he teased.I rolled my eyes, tugging at the hem. "나는 내 재킷을 찾기 위해 짐을 뒤지고 싶지 않았습니다.(I just didn't want to dig through my luggage for my own jacket.)"He chuckled, a sound that was beginning to feel familiar and oddly comfortable. "충분히 공정합니다. 어디로 향하시나요?(Fair enough. Where are you headed off to?)""Sightseeing," I replied. "저는 시애틀에 가본 적이 없어서 최대한 활용해야겠다고 생각했어요. (I haven't been to Seattle before, so I thought I'd make the most of it.)"Arc's eyes lit up, and he leaned against the wall, looking genuinely intrigued. "저도 시애틀을 제대로 탐험해 본 적이 없습니다.(I haven't really explored Seattle either.)"For a moment, I thought he might just be making conversation. But when he didn't follow up, it struck me that he was actually hinting he wanted to come along.I hesitated, glancing down the hallway, but then an idea struck. "알았어, 알았어. 한 가지 조건으로 나와 함께 갈 수 있습니다.(Okay, fine. You can come with me on one condition.)"His eyebrows rose. "이름을 지어라(Name it.)""You have to speak only in English the whole time," I said with a grin. "No Korean."A playful challenge gleamed in his eyes. "Deal."Sneaking out of the hotel with Arc felt like we were two teenagers dodging curfew. He had planned every detail, even finding a side exit that let us slip away unnoticed by his bodyguards. We made it to the first tourist spot, and I was about to breathe a sigh of relief when I noticed Arc constantly adjusting his mask and pulling his hood lower, glancing around as if any passerby might recognize him."Arc, you're only drawing more attention to yourself like that," I chuckled. "It's like a flashing neon sign."He sighed, clearly torn between enjoying his freedom and staying cautious. TWe stopped at a nearby souvenir shop, packed with Seattle-themed memorabilia, and I spotted a rack of sunglasses and a few pairs of reading glasses. Picking up a pair of simple black-rimmed glasses, I held them up to him with a mischievous smile."Let's try Clark Kent's secret," I said, grinning. "Here, put these on."He laughed, lowering his hood and taking off his mask before slipping the glasses on. As soon as he did, I felt my breath hitch a little. He looked... really good. The frames brought out a sharpness in his eyes, adding an unexpected sophistication to his face. For a second, I just stared, caught off guard by the effect."Well?" he asked, turning his head slightly. "What do you think?"I swallowed, quickly nodding to cover up the sudden flutter I felt. "Yep, you're definitely blending in now," I managed, trying to keep my voice casual. "Though, those glasses might be too effective.""Too effective?" he asked, adjusting them with a puzzled smile."They, uh... make you look," I paused, grasping for a word that wasn't "incredibly attractive," "...distinguished. Kind of like a professor."He chuckled, looking pleased. "A professor, huh? Alright, let's make a bet," he said, his tone light. "I say that by the end of the night, someone's going to recognize me."I could tell there was a high probability of that happening, but I wanted him to relax and enjoy himself. Smiling up at him, I replied, "Challenge accepted."Arc raised his eyebrows, surprised by my confidence, and added, "But if we're going to roam around as regular people, there's one more condition." He leaned a bit closer, voice low. "You have to call me Taesung . Not Arc."I laughed. "Alright, Taesung it is. Until you get recognized."