Chapter 13
Jaeyel finished the day lost in his thoughts.
He noticed a missed call from Yang, but by the time he saw it, they had already gone back to practice.
He knew Yang would check up on him again later, so as they walked down the hallway toward the parking lot, he quickly sent a message:
“About to head home.“
The members and their managers walked alongside him, the usual post-practice exhaustion settling over them. Jaeyel acted as he always did… calm, composed, but his mind was elsewhere.
The text.
And… something else.
His fingers twitched slightly at his side.
He shook his head.
And of course, Minseo noticed.
Jaeyel could feel his friend’s eyes on him, like an itch he couldn’t scratch.
He tried to ignore it, but the more he avoided looking, the more persistent Minseo became, leaning in slightly, brow furrowed in curiosity.
He glanced at Jaeyel again, suspicious. “Are you worried abou-“
“I’m not gonna tell you,” Jaeyel cut him off before he could even finish.
Minseo blinked, then scowled. “I didn’t even finish my sentence.”
“You didn’t have to,” Jaeyel muttered, looking away.
Minseo gasped dramatically, clutching his chest. “You wound me.”
Jaeyel just rolled his eyes. “You’ll live.”
Their banter continued as they made their way to the van, Minseo sulking dramatically while Jaeyel smirked.
It was enough to distract him – at least for a moment.
Inside the van, the mood had completely shifted.
The teasing was gone. Silence took over.
The others were asleep, heads resting against the seats, exhaustion finally winning over.
The steady hum of the engine filled the space, mixed with the occasional rustling of jackets and slow, even breathing.
Jaeyel, however, was too lost in thought to sleep, exhaustion pushed aside by the weight of everything on his mind.
He sat by the window, chin resting on his hand, eyes staring out at the passing streets.
As the van passed by, his eyes landed on the park in front of him.
That same park.
Jaeyel remembers – that was the park where Yin almost kidnapped him.
The thought of Yin sent shivers down Jaeyel’s spine. It had all been a blur of panic, hands grabbing at him, the fear pressing into his ribs like a vice.
And Yang was always there to… to save him.
Yang, who had gotten him help. Yang, who made sure he saw professionals to recover from the trauma. Yang, who…
Jaeyel exhaled sharply, his thoughts stopping mid-track.
His fingers tightened slightly on his sleeve as he turned his gaze back to the window, trying to shake the weight in his chest.
And that’s when he saw it.
A man.
Standing by the sidewalk.
Still.
Unmoving.
Watching.
Jaeyel’s breath hitched.
The van’s tinted windows should’ve kept him hidden, but somehow, he felt the man’s gaze lock onto him.
The eerie stillness of his posture sent a deep, instinctive unease crawling through Jaeyel’s body.
He couldn’t make out the face, but the presence alone was enough to make his stomach twist.
The van kept moving.
The man remained. His gaze never wavered.
Jaeyel swallowed hard, his arms unconsciously wrapping around himself.
He didn’t know why, but…
Something about this felt wrong.
…
The next day
Jaeyel sat with his members, legs stretched out, the salty breeze from the ocean filling the air. They were far from the city now, the noise and rush replaced by waves and wind.
They were on break before taping the next part of their MeTube episode, and for a moment, everything felt calm.
Peaceful.
Then, his phone buzzed.
Yang…
Jaeyel glanced around before answering. “Hello?”
“Have you eaten?” Yang’s voice came through, smooth and direct as always.
Jaeyel sighed. “Yeah, I did. And seriously, stop sending those expensive meals. We’re fine with normal food.”
Yang didn’t even hesitate. “If I send something expensive, you’ll feel pressured to eat it.”
Jaeyel blinked. “That-“
That was actually true.
Yang knew. Jaeyel hadn’t been eating lately.
Caught off guard, Jaeyel didn’t even have a comeback. He just muttered, “I’ll eat properly now, so just stop.”
Yang hummed, clearly unconvinced. “We’ll see…”
Before Jaeyel could argue, he heard a voice on the other end, calling for Yang’s attention.
Work.
Jaeyel took that as his cue to let him go. “You sound busy. I think-“
“I’ll try to wrap everything up today,” Yang cut in. “Might be able to come back tonight.”
Jaeyel hesitated. “Mm… okay”
That was all he managed before the call ended.
With a quiet sigh, he lowered his phone, gaze drifting back to the ocean.
The waves crashed, steady and endless, but Jaeyel’s mind wasn’t anywhere near as calm.
There was too much on it.
Too much he couldn’t – shouldn’t – think about.
…
Night had fallen by the time filming wrapped up.
Jaeyel walked alongside the staff, making his way toward the van. The salty breeze carried the rhythmic crash of waves, a steady, soothing sound against the quiet of the night.
Even though the ocean was nothing but an endless stretch of darkness now, just hearing it calmed him, at least a little.
Before climbing into the van, he glanced back one last time, taking in the quiet and letting it settle around him.
The moment he got inside, his phone buzzed.
A group chat notification.
HURRY UP.
WE’RE WAITING.
MOVE YOUR ASS, JAEYEL.
Jaeyel scoffed, shaking his head. “Idiots,” he muttered with a laugh. How were they waiting when they weren’t even in the van yet?
He sighed, about to step back out and call them out on their ridiculousness –
BANG!
The van door slammed shut.
Jaeyel jerked, stumbling back into the seat with a sharp gasp. His pulse spiked, confusion hitting him first.
What the hell?
His eyes darted to the staff member outside – the one who had closed the door.
His breath hitched.
That face…
He didn’t recognize the person.
A cold chill slithered down his spine.
The staff member turned, walking away without a glance back.
Jaeyel’s heartbeat thundered in his ears as he reached for the door handle, fingers trembling.
He yanked it.
Nothing.
He tried again, harder. The door wouldn’t budge.
Locked.
His breath came out unsteady. That wasn’t supposed to happen. The van doors only locked from the inside – or when the driver…
Jaeyel froze.
The driver.
Slowly, stiffly, his gaze lifted toward the front.
The rearview mirror reflected a face.
A smile.
Wide. Unblinking.
Jaeyel’s stomach dropped.
…
Yin.
A shiver crawled up his spine, paralyzing him in place.
The van’s engine rumbled to life.
And then – it started moving.
