As soon as Sol entered his room at the dorm, he collapsed face down on his bed. The tension, trauma, or whatever else it was—none of that mattered. Just minutes after getting into the van, the warmth from the heater melted him, and he lost consciousness as if fainting. Sol only woke up when they arrived near the dorm. He briefly felt relieved, thinking he had passed a turning point after finally sleeping, but that relief was short-lived. Perhaps driven by anxiety over the late return, Yeong-ho began to speed up the van.
Sol had only been awake for five minutes, but it felt like half his energy had drained away. He gritted his teeth, trying not to wake the other sleeping members, but Tae-oh, ever sharp, was the first to open his eyes and glance at Sol.
Inside the van speeding through the dark city, the lights from the streetlamps and passing vehicles would intermittently illuminate Sol's pale face, making him look even more ghostly. One by one, starting with Tae-oh, the other members woke up and looked at Sol with concern in their eyes. Sol waved his hand, trying to signal that he was fine, but all four pairs of eyes stayed fixed on him.
In the end, as soon as they arrived, Sol barely managed to step out of the van, practically collapsing to the ground. Dizzy and unable to walk properly, he stumbled, and Tae-oh and Ga-ram each grabbed one of his arms, carrying him into the dorm like a piece of luggage. Normally, he would have at least said something to reassure them, but completely exhausted, Sol went limp as the two carried him. Eventually, he was laid down on his bed, which now felt like the most comforting place in the world.
Even in his exhaustion, he could hear the sounds of the others tidying up the messy dorm they had rushed out of in the morning. But Sol remained still, sprawled out like a dead man, not moving a muscle. He pretended not to notice because even lifting a single finger felt impossible. It still felt as though he was in the van—like the mattress beneath him was shaking and he could hear the honking of horns ringing in his ears. His vision blurred, and his body, which had been frozen solid, now seemed to be burning up as it thawed.
He had no idea how much time had passed. He heard a knock on the door, but Sol still didn’t move, keeping his eyes shut. When there was no response, the door creaked open. Since no one would knock before entering their own room, it wasn’t Tae-oh. The footsteps were lively.
“Sol-ah.”
A clear, cool voice echoed through the room. It was Ji-ho.
“Sol-ah? Are you really going to sleep like that, without even taking off your clothes?”
At Ji-ho’s words, Sol realized he was still lying on the bed in his padded jacket. His mind told him, “I should take this off…,” but neither his mouth nor his hands nor his feet would cooperate. Instead, the mattress seemed to sink even deeper, pulling him down as if it were glued to the floor. As Sol remained motionless, Ji-ho called his name again a few more times, “Sol-ah?”
“He's completely out of it.”
Ji-ho sighed softly and lifted Sol’s arm. Like dressing a stubborn child, Ji-ho removed Sol’s jacket. Sol didn’t need to see it to know from the sound that Ji-ho was carefully hanging the padded jacket on the coat hanger. Ji-ho had always been meticulous about keeping the place tidy.
"Ji-ho hyung, the bathroom’s free."
"Okay."
Ga-ram, with a towel draped over his head, stuck his face through the wide-open door. Ji-ho, who had been standing with his arms crossed, helplessly watching Sol, who hadn't moved an inch, waved his hand in acknowledgment of Ga-ram’s words. But Ga-ram wasn’t the type to just pass by quietly. Shaking his wet hair with the towel, Ga-ram walked into the room and stood next to Ji-ho, staring at Sol, who was lying face-down, completely still, like a corpse.
"Sol, is he going to sleep like that?"
"Seems like it. He hasn’t budged."
"Isn’t he having trouble breathing?"
Ji-ho glanced at Ga-ram, letting out a small chuckle. Ga-ram’s random question amused him. From the moment they got off the van, Sol had been looking pale, as if he might collapse any second, so Ji-ho had only thought of taking off Sol's coat, since he couldn’t even change out of his clothes before passing out. That was as far as his thoughts had gone. But hearing Ga-ram’s words, he realized it wasn’t just uncomfortable to sleep with his face buried in the bed like that—he might actually suffocate.
"Should we flip him over?"
"That might be more comfortable…"
Ji-ho and Ga-ram exchanged glances, looking from each other to Sol, who was still lying face-down. Ji-ho was the first to move cautiously toward Sol, grabbing him by the shoulder. Ga-ram followed, taking hold of his legs. They wondered if Sol might wake up, but even as they gently turned him over, he didn’t so much as flutter his eyelids. Watching Sol lie there so still reminded Ji-ho of Eun-gyeom, who had been treating Sol like a doll all day at the photoshoot. Ji-ho couldn’t help but pout in annoyance.
He couldn’t stop thinking about Eun-gyeom, wondering what ulterior motives he might have had in approaching Sol. The way Eun-gyeom brazenly touched Sol, as if it were nothing, also left a bad taste in his mouth. Ji-ho, knowing Eun-gyeom better than anyone, couldn't shake the feeling that his actions weren’t just out of kindness. While Ji-ho was lost in thought, his eyes narrowing, Ga-ram tapped his arm.
"What?"
"Wasn’t he pale earlier? Now he looks a bit red, don’t you think?"
"Where?"
At Ga-ram’s words, Ji-ho quietly studied Sol’s face. In the van, Sol had looked deathly pale, but now, as Ga-ram pointed out, his complexion seemed a bit flushed. Still, what came to Ji-ho’s mind was more practical: "He needs to remove his makeup before sleeping…" Ga-ram reached out, touching the back of his hand to Sol’s cheek.
"Does he have a fever?"
"Maybe it's because he was in the cold and then came into a warm place? But more importantly, He need to wash off his makeup before going to bed…"
"........."
For a moment, Ga-ram and Ji-ho silently stared at the sleeping Sol’s face. His cheeks were flushed, and the peaceful expression on his sleeping face was like a painting. The kind you'd expect to see in a gallery, perhaps titled "Sleeping Angel." The two stood there, gazing intently at Sol’s face, and exchanged a glance without saying a word. They couldn’t bring themselves to wake him. Understanding each other without speaking, they nodded, tucked the blanket around him, and quietly left the room.
As soon as Ga-ram and Ji-ho's presence faded, Sol let out a deep breath. Then, he blacked out again. How much time had passed? Sol came to his senses at the sound of the door opening again. Whether he had actually fallen asleep for a moment or not, his whole body felt even more lethargic.
As Ga-ram had mentioned, it felt like there was heat rising to his face, a warm sensation resting on his closed eyelids. The firm footsteps entering the room belonged to Tae-oh. Assuming Tae-oh would go to his own bed, Sol quietly listened. But when Tae-oh’s steps stopped right in front of him, curiosity stirred within him. However, his body and eyelids still refused to move.
After a moment, Tae-oh’s hand suddenly slipped under the blanket. Startled by the bold action, Sol felt as if he could hear his heart thudding in his ears. Tae-oh’s hand, after checking the warmth under the blanket, quickly withdrew. Though flustered, Sol couldn’t react. He thought Tae-oh would return to his place, but then something cold touched his face.
This time, Sol’s eyelids, which had been refusing to move, opened on their own. His eyelids trembled slightly and barely parted, allowing him to catch a glimpse of Tae-oh.
In Tae-oh’s hand was a cleansing wipe. Through his half-open eyelids and long lashes, Sol’s dark eyes gleamed. After confirming that Sol was awake, Tae-oh showed him the wipe in his hand to avoid any misunderstanding and added a single sentence.
"At least wipe it off before you sleep."
Even at Tae-oh’s words, Sol gave no reply and simply closed his eyes again. He didn’t want to move a finger. The heat rising from his face spread throughout his body, leaving him feeling as limp as melted butter. His limbs felt heavy, like they were sinking into the bed. His mind was foggy, still drowsy, and the sound of a horn echoed faintly in his ears. The light pouring from the ceiling felt as harsh as studio lights used in a photo shoot.
When Sol didn’t respond, Tae-oh quietly and gently wiped his face with the tissue. If it had been his own face, he probably would have scrubbed it roughly. Up close, Sol’s skin looked so delicate that Tae-oh didn’t want to handle it too harshly.
As the cool, liquid-soaked tissue passed over his flushed face, Sol felt a sense of relief. Like a child seeking attention, he closed his eyes and stayed still, letting Tae-oh wipe his face however he wanted. Tae-oh's touch was so careful and ticklish as it moved across Sol’s face that the corners of his mouth twitched. His red lips quivered, and his perfectly shaped eyebrows, as if painted onto his smooth forehead, furrowed.
Seeing Sol’s reaction, Tae-oh worried that his hands might have been too rough, so he became even more delicate, treating him like a high-priced piece of craftsmanship. Eventually, Sol couldn’t resist the ticklish feeling any longer and let out a soft, deflating laugh.
“If you're awake, at least wipe off your makeup before sleeping. It'll ruin your skin.”
As Sol laughed, Tae-oh unfolded the tissue in his hand and draped it over Sol’s face. Though Sol still had his eyes closed and couldn't see, Tae-oh’s face and ears turned bright red, as if they were about to explode.
“I don’t think I can step out of bed.”
“Should I carry you like I did when we got here?”
At Tae-oh’s words, Sol remembered being carried into the dorm like a piece of luggage and shook his head.
“…No.”
Sol quietly replied, raising his hand to remove the cleansing tissue covering his face. Then, he half-opened his heavy eyelids and looked at Tae-oh. If he were to participate in Eun-gyeom's schedule, he would have to ride in cars more often from now on. He would have to show himself like this each time, and the worst-case scenario could happen. Sol suddenly realized that, as the leader, Tae-oh deserved to know. Avoiding Tae-oh's gaze, he stared at a corner of the room instead and spoke as calmly as possible.
“Tae-oh... I don’t actually get carsick.”
“…Then?”
Tae-oh asked, his voice as careful as his touch. Sol had always been reluctant to talk about the accident with others, but as the words left his mouth, he was surprised at how calm he sounded. Or maybe it just felt that way because he was half-asleep.
“I was in a car accident. Since then, every time I get in a four-wheeled vehicle, this happens.”
He tried to sound as casual as possible, as if it wasn’t a big deal. When it came to performing on stage or dancing, Tae-oh had already noticed Sol’s struggles and reached out to him first. But this time was different. Sol was confessing his own flaw. A member with stage fright was already difficult enough, but a member who couldn’t even properly ride in a vehicle, which they’d have to do constantly? Even if Tae-oh responded with harsh words, Sol wouldn’t be able to blame him. He was both curious and afraid of how Tae-oh would react.
