As the festival continued in full swing, Chanyeol's curiosity was piqued by Kai's increasingly pale complexion and his distant demeanour. Concerned, he inquired, "Kai? Is everything okay?" He regarded his friend with a furrowed brow, sensing that something was amiss.

Kai, his anxiety mounting as he realized Moonji was missing, quickly concocted an excuse. "Nothing. Could you guys go ahead? I want to use the restroom." He attempted to conceal his unease from his friends as he scanned the crowd for any sign of Moonji.

Frantically searching for his phone, Kai soon realized he had left it behind at their apartment. Frustration welled up within him, and he couldn't contain his temper. He began to run along the Han River's edge, shouting in desperation, "You rascal, you're making my life miserable!" Each step he took seemed to ignite his anger, culminating in a furious kick to the ground.

Amidst his frantic search, Kai's sharp eyes caught sight of a young girl sitting alone on a bench beneath one of the riverside trees. Her tear-stained face and dishevelled appearance tugged at his heartstrings. "Ra Moonji!" he called out, his voice stern with a mix of relief and anger. In an instant, he crossed the distance between them and in anger, he delivered a slap to her cheek. "Where the did you go?" He yelled in frustration. 

Like being struck by lightning, he is suddenly aware of his action when Moonji's sobs turn quieter. Then, without hesitation, he pulled her into a tight embrace.

Moonji, her emotions in turmoil, could hardly believe Kai's sudden appearance. She had lost herself in a sea of tears, her makeup running like a cascade down her cheeks. As Kai scolded her and dragged her towards the car, her face was a testament to the emotional storm she had endured.

Inside the car, Kai's tone softened as he implored, "Why are you here?" Moonji, still overwhelmed by her fear and relief at being found, struggled to control her sobs. She continued to cry, her tears seemingly endless.

Upon their return to the apartment, Kai led Moonji to the bathroom. He gently splashed water on her face, his stern demeanour giving way to concern. "Ra Moonji, stop crying, please," he pleaded. Seeing her distressed state, he couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt for losing his temper earlier.

Kai set to work, removing the hairpins from Moonji's wig and gently lifting it away from her head. Her short, straight black hair was revealed, and Moonji hung her head in shame. With his gentle touch, Kai reached for some tissue and carefully wiped away the remnants of her makeup. Her fair, unadorned skin shone through.

Startled by what he saw, Kai couldn't help but be captivated by Moonji's natural beauty. It was a side of her he had rarely seen. However, his gaze soon fell upon the red marks on her face, a stark reminder of his earlier actions.

"I'm so sorry for slapping your face," Kai murmured, his voice filled with remorse. "I should have let you hold my hand, and I promise this won't happen again." He reached out and took her hand in his, his sincerity palpable.

Tears welled up in Moonji's eyes once more as she met Kai's gaze. "Kai, I'm the one who should ask for forgiveness. I was careless, and I lost you. I had no idea what might have happened to me if you hadn't found me." Overwhelmed by gratitude and relief, she hugged Kai tightly. For the first time, Kai allowed his skin to be touched by Moonji, understanding that this was a moment that transcended the boundaries they had previously maintained.

"I am hungry now because of you. Is there some food in the kitchen?" Kai's voice rumbled with hunger, his tummy growling playfully in response. He attempted to lighten the atmosphere, hoping to dispel the tension that had hung over them moments ago. Both of them chuckled upon hearing the comedic interlude of Kai's growling stomach.

Yet, as Kai realized they were still in a tight embrace, his tone shifted to one of surprise, and he gently tried to extricate himself from Moonji's arms. However, Moonji sported an impish grin and clung to him tenaciously, displaying a childlike quality that momentarily caught Kai off guard.

"Can't we just go to the kitchen hugging?" Moonji playfully whined, her voice reaching an annoyingly high pitch. Kai relented, pushing her away with a chuckle. "Stay in the bathroom as long as you want!" he teased, walking off toward the kitchen in search of dinner.

Moonji followed Kai into the kitchen, helping him set the dining table. Kai, displaying his trademark impatience, began eating without waiting for Moonji. She scoured the fridge for some cucumber kimchi while maintaining a self-conscious posture, using her hand to shield a part of her face. Her low self-esteem lingered, preventing her from showing her true face to Kai.

"Hey, what are you doing?" Kai tried to gently remove her hand, but Moonji skillfully evaded his attempts to unveil her face. "You don't need to see my face without makeup. It's really hideous," she replied, her words muffled by a mouthful of food.

Kai, however, wasn't having any of it. He seized Moonji's hand and held it firmly. "Now eat!" he instructed, his voice resolute. Moonji, under Kai's watchful gaze, lowered her head and proceeded to eat her meal. Unbeknownst to her, Kai couldn't help but admire her beauty. Her fair skin glowed, her eyes sparkled with a certain charm, and her features held a captivating innocence.

Kai's grip on her hand tightened as he found himself lost in the enchantment of her true face. He marvelled at the cute, pointed nose and naturally pink lips that adorned her lovely visage. He couldn't believe he had never seen this side of Moonji before. Unbeknownst to him, her blush deepened as she noticed his intense gaze.

"What's wrong?" Moonji finally asked, curiosity dancing in her eyes. Getting caught off guard by her question, Kai stammered momentarily, "Why did you always wear makeup to hide that kind of face?" His grip on her hand tightened further.

Confusion filled Moonji's eyes as she glanced down at her plate. "What kind of face? I'm not pretty," she murmured, her voice tinged with insecurity.

Kai leaned in closer, his gaze unwavering, and whispered honestly, "No, you are. You are very pretty in my eyes, and you don't need makeup to be pretty. I like your face without makeup." His words, heartfelt and earnest, hung in the air.

Moonji blinked, clearly taken aback by Kai's unexpected compliment. "I'm pretty sure you're lying," she replied, her scepticism clear. She couldn't shake the years of ingrained self-doubt.

"No, I will never lie to you. Who do you think I am?" Kai's voice held an air of exasperation. Moonji was left speechless for a moment before mustering a smile, her heart warming to his words.

"Thanks, Kai, for your compliment. It's my first time somebody has complimented my true face. I hope it's true, though," she said with a hopeful smile.

Just as the atmosphere between them seemed to ease, Kai's phone rang, breaking the moment. He answered the call, his conversation with Chanyeol serving as an abrupt intrusion into their newfound rapport. As he finished the call, he turned back to Moonji.

"You don't need to wear makeup in the house anymore. Goodnight," Kai stated, and with that, he retreated to his room, leaving Moonji in a whirlwind of emotions.

✿✿✿✿✿

The next day, as Moonji ate her lunch alone on a bench near the canteen, Baekhyun unexpectedly joined her. Despite her attempts to ignore him, he remained silent, his presence a lingering intrusion. Eventually, he couldn't resist teasing her.

"You look really cute while eating. Don't you know that?" Baekhyun remarked as he reached out to wipe a stray crumb from . Moonji pushed his hand away, feeling a sense of unease wash over her.

Baekhyun chuckled at her reaction and stood up, offering her his handkerchief. Moonji accepted it, but as she glanced at the fabric, she discovered a message scrawled upon it: "Byun Baekhyun likes Ra Moonji?" Confusion and uncertainty gripped her as she hastily gathered her belongings, the bell ringing to signal the end of recess. Looking at Moonji's confused and puzzled face, Baekhyun erupted into a huge fit of laughter. 

"Stop making such a disgusted face at me~!" Baekyun laughed as he saw Moonji's face twisted into a frown. "How could you display your dislike to me this openly? I never felt this offended, you know," He continued. Moonji stood up and threw the handkerchief before she rolled her eyes and flipped her hair, which causes Baekhyun to laugh more when he was looking at her.