JoongDunk Ep5

---

The loud banging on the door startled Khao, who happened to be nearby. Curious and concerned, he made his way toward Joong and Dunk's dressing room. As soon as he stepped inside, he found Dunk standing there, looking utterly lost.

"Dunk, are you okay?" Khao asked, his voice laced with concern.

Dunk barely lifted his head. "Phi, I'm fine," he muttered, but ,his voice was so small, so unlike him.

Khao frowned. "You don't seem fine to me. What's wrong? Talk to me."

Dunk's lips pressed together as his eyes welled up with unshed tears. Khao barely had time to react before Dunk broke down completely, silent tears spilling down his cheeks.

"Oh my God, I'm sorry! Stop crying," Khao said in a panic, unsure of what to do. He placed a gentle hand on Dunk's back, rubbing soothing circles. "Come with me."

He led Dunk out of the room and into his and First's dressing room, figuring that some space from Joong might help. First was still filming a solo scene, leaving them alone.

Dunk sat down, sniffling quietly as he wiped at his eyes.

Khao sighed. "Look, if you don't want to talk about it, that's okay. But please, stop crying. You still have scenes to shoot, and you don't want your eyes to be swollen, do you?"

Dunk nodded weakly, trying to compose himself just as the door opened again.

Joong.

The moment he stepped inside, his eyes went straight to Dunk. "Dunk, can we talk?" His voice was softer than before, almost hesitant.

Dunk clenched his fists. "I don't want to talk," he mumbled, still avoiding Joong's gaze. "Please, just-"

"Joong," Khao interrupted, his tone firm. "You guys should talk later. I just managed to calm him down, and he still has work to do. Talk on the way home, okay?"

Joong exhaled, frustration flickering across his face, but he nodded. "Okay."

As he turned to leave, he cast one last glance at Dunk. This wasn't over. He wasn't going to let Dunk run away from this-not from him, not from them.

Not anymore.

---

The silence in Joong's car was thick, stretching between them like an invisible wall. Dunk stared out the window, his arms crossed, still fuming about being dragged away from First and Khao. He had been this close to escaping, but Joong had been quicker, pulling him along before he could protest.

The vibration of Dunk's phone broke the tense silence. He glanced at the screen before answering.

"Hello, Mum."

Joong kept his focus on the road but listened closely.

"I'm on my way home," Dunk said, pausing as his mother spoke on the other end. "No, no after-party. It's too late, and everyone was exhausted from shooting, so we postponed it to tomorrow." Another pause. "Yes, I'm with Joong. He can't talk to you, Mum-he's driving."

Joong, who had been quiet until now, suddenly said, "Put it on loudspeaker."

Dunk shot him a look, clearly wanting to protest, but with a sigh, he did as he was told. "Mum, he can hear you now."

His mother's cheerful voice filled the car. "Joong! How are you? You must be tired, driving that big baby around!"

A small smirk played on Joong's lips. "Mum, it's okay. As long as it's Dunk, I don't mind at all." He stole a quick glance at Dunk before returning his eyes to the road.

Then, as if he had been planning this all along, Joong added, "Mum, can Dunk spend the night at my place? We have something we need to discuss."

Dunk's head snapped toward Joong, his mouth already opening to protest-

"Sure!" his mother answered before he could even get a word in. "That's actually better. Joong's already driving you around, and it's late. You don't need to come all the way home tonight."

"But Mum!" Dunk whined, gripping his phone. "You didn't even ask me! What if I wanted to come home?"

"Stop whining," his mother scolded lightly. "Joong's being a sweetheart for taking care of you. And if you two have something to talk about, do it. Stop running away from your problems, Dunk."

The line went dead.

Dunk stared at his phone in disbelief. "Joong, this is kidnapping. I don't want to talk to you right now."

Joong chuckled, completely unfazed. "I have your mum's blessing to kidnap you. That's enough for me." Then, his tone softened just a little. "And you can't keep avoiding issues forever, Dunk."

Dunk huffed, crossing his arms again.

Joong let the silence settle between them for a moment before asking, "Has Pound called you yet?"

Dunk's body stiffened slightly. "Yes."

"What did you guys talk about?"

"I don't want to tell you."

Joong sighed but didn't push further. "Okay." His grip tightened on the steering wheel, determination flickering in his eyes.

No matter what, they were settling this tonight. Dunk could run all he wanted, but Joong wasn't letting him go this time.