The pale morning light leaking in through the window of the Search and Rescue Center wasn't enough to lift the heavy air inside. The space smelled of tension, fatigue, and faint disinfectant. The team was preparing to depart. This mission carried both hope and uncertainty.
Hana walked toward the group waiting at the table. She placed the radio in the center. "Listen, when the team sets off, you'll hear everything through this device."
Ray headed toward the door.
"Ray, where are you going?" Hana asked.
"Hana, I need to go with them. They might overlook something. I need to be there."
Hana gently touched his back and guided him into a chair. "Ray, I understand. You're worried about Gogo. Believe me, I feel the same. But the company won't allow it. That's why we have this radio. The only thing we can do is pray for a sign of life."
Ray didn't insist after that. Everyone exchanged silent glances. Powerless but resigned, they followed the decision. The room filled with a tense, restless anticipation.
"Command Center, approaching verified coordinates. I repeat, approaching." The pilot's voice was clear.
A burst of static crackled through the radio, followed by the pilot's strained tone. "This area is covered in a dense sound curtain. Visibility zero. Magnetic interference is—"
The radio cut off with another harsh crackle.
"Our navigation system is malfunctioning. Even if the island is here, we can't see it."
More static. The pilot's words broke apart as they came through.
"Too… risk… need to… re—"
The second transmission came in slightly clearer.
"Visibility is zero. We need to turn back. We'll try again tomorrow."
The team returned. Those listening beside the radio hadn't expected the day to end like this. Their hopes were pushed to tomorrow.
FØXEN HOUSE
When night fell, the same news kept looping on TV. Fans and media were relentlessly questioning the company's failure. Ray sat with a bottle of medication in hand, staring blankly out the window.
Tomorrow was supposed to be the start of their world tour. Yet the day had twisted into something unimaginable.
– Gogo was missing.
– His own illness had been exposed.
– The world tour was canceled.
He almost wished it was all a dream. But it wasn't. Every bit of it was painfully real. And that reality was tearing Foxen apart. Maybe Foxen's story was meant to end here. Maybe the journey had already reached its limit.
Ray's mind churned like restless waves. Exhausted from his own thoughts, his eyes slowly began to close.
"Ray, bro, you okay?" Jeno asked. "Today was rough for all of us. You should rest."
"You're right," Ray murmured. "I'll lie down for a bit. You guys should rest too. We'll go back to the center tomorrow."
From the corner, Kiko added softly, "Don't worry about us. Just take care of yourself. Foxen needs both Gogo and Leader Ray."
A faint smile finally appeared on Ray's face.
Day 2
By the next morning, the Search and Rescue Center had gathered again. The sky looked slightly brighter than yesterday, but everyone's faces remained grim. The helicopter crew departed once more. Ray and the others stayed by the radio.
An hour later, the pilot's voice echoed with weary frustration.
"Command, the fog isn't as thick as yesterday, but it's still here. Still no signs of life. Magnetic interference continues. Attempting a close landing or contact is too dangerous."
Another failure. The team returned again, forced to rest and prepare for the next attempt.
----------------------------
Island
As evening settled, a gray-blue silence draped itself over the island. The sea's murmuring sounded like a distant breeze, and a thin veil of fog still clung to the shore. The fire crackled softly… and Gogo quietly hummed a melody from one of his own songs.
At first Yuri didn't notice, but then her ears caught the familiar curve of the tune. Without realizing it, she stepped closer. Then a little closer. And then closer still, drawn by the deepening sound.
Her foot slipped.
She toppled directly onto Gogo. For a moment, their breaths mingled. Their eyes locked. A small smile tugged at Gogo's lips.
"Surprising," he said from beneath her. "Island life seems to suit you. Did you gain weight?"
Yuri froze. "What…? What are you babbling about now?"
Gogo exaggerated a strained expression as if being crushed. "If you stay on top of me any longer, I might actually die."
Yuri scowled. "You—!"
She lifted her fist to hit him, but Gogo grabbed her wrist and pulled her closer. Their faces were suddenly inches apart.
Yuri's breath hitched. Her eyes locked with his. They stayed like that for several long seconds.
Then Gogo murmured, voice low, "If you keep looking at me like that… I'll think you've fallen for me."
Yuri jerked back to reality, scrambled off him, and brushed off her clothes. "Arrogant idiot. Just because you're an idol doesn't mean I have to fall for you. If you'd sung louder instead of whispering, this wouldn't have happened."
Gogo grinned. "Well, if you wanted me to sing, I'd give you a free concert."
"Sure, sure. Right. Of course," Yuri said sarcastically. Then she added, "Assuming you wouldn't do it just to annoy me."
"You're wrong," Gogo said simply as he sat down.
Yuri stirred the fire. Gogo added a few dry branches. Flames rose gently. Silence settled.
Yuri broke it first. "Do you miss your friends?"
Gogo exhaled deeply. "Yeah. A lot. We were supposed to start our world tour today. First and biggest concert in Korea. And now I'm here."
Yuri chuckled softly. "Life is strange, huh?"
"It is," he admitted. "But the good part is… we're still alive."
Yuri smiled faintly. "Perspective matters, I guess… But I don't think I have much strength left."
"Same here," Gogo said. "Days without a proper shower or meal… my muscles are disappearing. If this keeps up, we'll rot here."
"Looks like it…" Yuri murmured.
A small pause.
"You know… if you weren't here, I'd probably be dead by now."
"Oooh, is that a confession?" Gogo teased.
"Fine! I take it back!" Yuri snapped.
Gogo burst into laughter. "Okay, okay, calm down, Queen Yuri. So tell me… what were you doing in a wedding dress on our yacht?"
Yuri squinted playfully. "My lifelong dream was to get married. I got on the first yacht I saw. With the dress already on, I figured: 'I'll marry the first guy I meet—after we get stranded on an island together.'"
Gogo's eyes widened. "What?! Are you serious?! What kind of story is that?!"
Yuri laughed uncontrollably. "Come on, it was funny."
"Yeah, hilarious," Gogo muttered, offended. "Whatever. I'm leaving."
Yuri grabbed his arm. "Okay wait! I'll tell you the real story. Promise. Sit."
Gogo sat again. This time Yuri grew serious.
"My stepmother… wanted to marry me off to an obsessed businessman. For money. We used to date, but his love was… obsession. Dangerous. I broke up with him, but he didn't stop. My stepmother pushed the marriage anyway. On the wedding day… I escaped. I planned the whole thing. I ran before they could trap me. I boarded the first yacht I found. And it happened to be yours."
"So your escape… was because of that?" Gogo asked quietly.
"Yes," Yuri replied. "Isn't it reasonable?"
"That's not what I meant."
"Then what did you mean? Should I have married him? He might have killed me on the first day."
"You're doing it again, Yuri. You're getting upset at things I didn't say. I didn't even open my mouth."
He sighed. "Forget it. Let's drop the topic. Want a mini concert?"
Yuri's face lit up instantly. "Really?" She clapped. "Absolutely yes!"
Night thickened over the island. The fire's orange glow stretched a thin line of light into the sky. The breeze whispered through the leaves. Gogo rubbed his hands together and smiled.
"Ready for my mini concert?"
Yuri grinned. "Go on."
Gogo inhaled deeply. The fire crackled like percussion behind him. He started in a low, soft tone—barely a whisper. Then he lifted his voice, the rhythm rising, echoing through the island's emptiness.
Without realizing, Yuri matched the beat with her steps.
Gogo suddenly grabbed her hand. "Come on. Stand up."
"What?" Yuri blinked, but he'd already pulled her to her feet.
Small steps first. Then a gentle spin. Gogo lowered the tempo, shifting into a hushed transition. Yuri laughed, flustered. "We're dancing now?"
"Do you need a reason to have fun out here?"
The firelight painted their faces, their shadows breaking across the sand like two uneven silhouettes.
Laughter eventually replaced the music.
"How was it?" Gogo asked.
Breathless, Yuri replied, "Perfect. I think being here with you is probably every fan's dream. Maybe I used up all my luck today."
Gogo smirked. "Too late. You're my fan now. No escape."
For the first time in days, all the tension dissolved. The night ended in peace. The flames dimmed, the breeze cooled, and the island sank back into silence.
--------------------------------------------------------
Day 3 – Night – Search and Rescue Center
The lights in the monitoring room were soft and dim. Everyone was exhausted, but all eyes remained fixed on the same point: the radio.
The night-operation team had dropped off new equipment on the command table.
"Night-vision systems ready. No matter how low the visibility is, we'll at least detect heat signatures."
The pilot's voice came through suddenly.
"Center, beginning night scan. I'll report the moment we get any heat reading."
Minutes moved painfully slow.
Then—
"Center! We've detected a moving heat source! I repeat, we have a human-shaped signal!"
The room froze—then inhaled at once.
Hana shot to her feet. "That… that could be him!"
Kiko covered her mouth. Jeno's eyes lit up. Ray stepped back and grabbed the wall for support. Relief spread through the room like a warm wave.
For the first time in three days, hope took physical shape.
They all embraced Hana. One after another. No titles. No idol image. Just young people desperate to get their friend back.
The radio crackled again.
This time the pilot was clear:
"Approaching before conducting medical assessment is risky. Air ambulance inbound. Landing in 10 minutes."
Silence settled.
But this time it wasn't fear.
It was anticipation—sharp, trembling, alive.
Ray inhaled deeply.
"Gogo… hold on," he whispered.
END