Chapter 4: Stage 2- Indifference

"I hope to see this guy tonight."

Later that day, everyone from the gang was going through their routines, laughing and joking around as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened. But for Minho, the situation from the previous day and today was spreading like a shadow in his mind, refusing to fade. He was in the mansion's gym as planned, his face full of sweat and completely absorbed in his own thoughts. The gym was empty, just the way he liked it; no interruptions, no eyes staring around.

As he was hitting the heavy punching bag, he let his frustrations out with each powerful punch, the bag swinging back and forth in response. With every hit, he felt a little bit of relief, but the questions still wouldn't leave his mind. "What should I do now? Do I have to find him and actually get closer to him?" he said aloud, his voice barely a whisper over the sound of his hits. He was even more focused now, each punch driven harder by his thoughts, trying to sort out the mess in his mind. Minho then muttered to himself, "Even if I find him, what should I talk with him about?! I doubt that he will only want to talk to me. The only thing he might actually want to do is…" Suddenly, he paused mid-punch, a realisation hitting him. "THAT'S RIGHT! I can do that …!" he shouted, pride swelling in his chest. He sat down on the ground to catch his breath, determination shining in his eyes. "But it's not going to be easy for me, though … BUT HEY! I will do it for the team… and for dad… Yes!" With a new sense of purpose, he stood back up with a smile on his face, and rushed out of the gym.

As he strolled down the hall toward his room, he spotted Jin chatting with a few other guys. Perfect timing. He needed to find Jin anyway. Minho smiled again and approached them. "Hey Jin, can I talk to you for a sec?" Jin smiled warmly back. "Sure thing!"

They walked a little away from the others. Minho took a breath, feeling a slight blush creep up as he spoke. "I'm thinking about going to Moonlight tonight again... to try and talk with Seo-Jun." He knew exactly where this "talk" could lead.

Jin looked a bit puzzled. "Mhm, I don't think he's going to be there. You saw him there yesterday, right?" Minho nodded. "When I and the others from the team tried to get closer to him, we found out he barely goes to that bar. There's almost no way he'll be there for a second night straight." His words let Minho feel more or less disappointed. After all, Seo-Jun was the owner of the bar. Who doesn't check in on their own bar regularly? It felt like a missed opportunity, and he couldn't shake the feeling that he needed to try again. He must try something…

Despite Minho's disappointment, he sighed and said, "Well, I can at least try and go... maybe I will be lucky." His eyes were filled with a mix of hope and uncertainty. Seeing Minho's disappointment, Jin decided to lighten the mood a bit, teasing him, "Okay, so you will probably want me to go with you. I won't make you beg me to go, I am in—" but before he could finish, Minho abruptly interrupted him, shouting, "No, don't!"

Jin paused, kind of confused by Minho's sudden shouting. "What's with the panic?" he thought, slightly confused. Minho quickly tried to cover up his reaction, explaining, "I mean, he might recognise you and think that I am from your team, and he might distance himself from me as well. It would be better if I went alone. Not to cause suspicion."

Jin considered this for a moment, then nodded, saying, "Okay... if you think you will be okay going alone. Just keep in touch with me; if anything goes wrong, call me." His tone was warm, but there was also a bit of concern in his voice. He smiled and gave Minho a reassuring pat on the shoulder. Minho felt a wave of relief wash over him and replied, "I will."

As Jin walked away, Minho stood there, his thoughts racing. "Let's do this then! I never thought I would say this, but... I hope to see this guy tonight." The mix of excitement and hope went through him, fuelling his determination to go and find Seo-Jun…

This very same evening, Seo-Jun was somewhere else, not at the bar. He was at a motorcycle racing track, a thrilling venue strategically placed around the outskirts of the city. This racing track was designed to provide a safe and exciting experience, featuring a well-constructed layout that included a mix of sharp turns and long straightaways, perfect for high-speed action. Oh, and it was very legal; in fact, it was a very strategic move to make in order to ensure a big profit.

The atmosphere was exciting, with fans gathered in the grandstands, eagerly awaiting the next race. The track was surrounded by lush greenery and city lights, creating a stunning backdrop as dusk settled in. As the owner, Seo-Jun took care to ensuring that everything was in top shape, from clear asphalt to the advanced safety features that made the track one of the best in the region.

He walked through the pit area, where teams were busy making final adjustments to their motorcycles, the sound of tools clinking and engines revving filling the air. The track was not just a place for racing, it was a place of comfort for motorsport enthusiasts, drawing crowds from all over the city. Seo-Jun was the champion of this track, known for his unmatched skill and speed. His name on the track? - "The unbeatable champion"

Seo-Jun was getting off his bike after yet another victory, the thrill of the race still pulsing in his veins, but he seemed to be unbothered by it. Just as he was about to swing his leg over and remove his helmet, a man approached him with a mischievous grin on his face. "Hey Seo, you ready? I have something interesting for you," he said, his smirk growing as he nodded towards a man standing some distance away, his quite small figure slightly obscured by the evening light. "You see, this guy over there… He wants to "talk" with you… in private…" The man's playful tone of speaking was making a huge contrast to the intensity of the race, where every second you need to be completely focused on the track.

Everyone had their own ways to deal with the stress they faced—some turned to reading, others to puzzles, workouts, or yoga. But Seo-Jun… had a different method of relaxation, one that was "unique" to his own, yet it brought him the same exhilaration and energy that others found in their activities. And after almost every race night, he was looking for this kind of enjoyment…

Seo-Jun turned his gaze towards the man, his expression screaming disinterest. He didn't feel even a bit interested in this guy. However…his mind wandered back to yesterday's encounter when he had unexpectedly found himself being quite intrigued by someone else. It was rare for him to feel any kind of interest towards another person, but this time was different, awakening a sense of curiosity that he couldn't quite shake off.

Seo-Jun stood rigid, his face a mask of indifference as he locked eyes with the other man. "I have to go, I don't have time for him." He said flatly, the weight of his words hanging in the air. With a swift motion, he hurled his helmet at the other man, and turned around to walk away. The other man, taken aback by the sudden outburst, scrambled to catch up with him, his voice laced with confusion. "Hey! You just came here, what's the rush? Where are you heading to?" He was clearly confused by Seo-Jun's sudden leaving.

"I have to head to the bar and check on something." Seo-Jun replied firmly, his mind racing as he quickly took off his racing suit, the fabric sliding off his body as he gathered his things in a rush.

"The bar? Weren't you there yesterday?" The other man's confusion replied, his curiosity piqued out because of the unexpected change in Seo-Jun's routine. It was unlike him to go frequently to the bar and everyone knew this.

Seo-Jun nodded, his focus unwavering as he prepared to leave.

"Two nights straight? I didn't think I'd see this ever. You barely go there—why start now all of a sudden? Is it because someone's waiting for you there?" The other man leaned in with a teasing smirk.

"It's none of your business." Seo-Jun replied, his tone icy cold and devoid of emotion. With that, he pushed past the exit, leaving the race track behind him.

The man was left alone, shaking his head with an amused sigh, thinking, "Typical Seo-Jun. What an asshole…" He turned around and made his way over to the man who had been waiting patiently for Seo-Jun. "Sorry, man, he's not available today…maybe next time." Seo-Jun's friend said, trying to soften the situation with a warm smile. He patted the man on the shoulder, hoping to comfort him at least a little. But the man looked disappointed, his expression falling as he glanced down, then started to walk away with him toward the track, his shoulders slightly slumped.

Meanwhile, Minho had been sitting at the bar for about an hour, his eyes darting around the noisy place. The atmosphere was electric, filled with laughter and loud conversations, making it difficult for him to focus. He turned his head at every new guest that entered, scanning faces and hoping to spot the person he was looking for. Just then, Seo-Jun made his entrance through a back exit, his presence instantly noticeable by almost everyone. As he walked in, he caught sight of Minho sitting near the entrance, alone and sipping his drink. A playful smirk spread across Seo-Jun's face as he approached, sitting down next to Minho. "Are you looking for someone?" he asked, his tone teasing, clearly enjoying the moment.