A Conversation with a Stranger

The Faze members continued to chat with Sangwoo, their conversation flowing easily as they tried to draw him out. Jason and Adapt slid into the semi-circle, still a bit quiet as they observed Sangwoo's demeanor. Rage, never one to be subtle, sat down next to Sangwoo on the bench, his arm brushing against the stranger's as he tried to flirt. "So, what's your name?" Rage asked, his voice low and smooth. Sangwoo's gaze flickered to Rage, his expression unreadable. "I'm Sangwoo," he said, his voice calm. The group introduced themselves, one by one, and Sangwoo listened intently, his eyes locked onto each of them as they spoke. When it was his turn to ask questions, he started with something innocuous. "So, how long have you guys been a group?" Lacy launched into a detailed explanation of how they met and started streaming together, and Sangwoo listened attentively, his eyes never leaving hers. As she finished, he turned to the others, his gaze lingering on Jason. "What's it like being a popular YouTuber?" he asked, his voice neutral. Jason shrugged, laughing. "It's crazy, but we love it. We get to do what we love and connect with so many amazing people." Sangwoo nodded, his eyes still fixed on Jason. "That must be really fulfilling. Do you guys ever feel like you're losing yourself in the process, though?" Adapt's instincts started to twitch as Sangwoo asked the question, his tone seeming a bit too probing. He exchanged a glance with Jason, who seemed oblivious to the undercurrent. "It's a good question," Jason said, his voice thoughtful. "I think we all struggle with that sometimes, but we try to stay true to ourselves and not let the fame go to our heads." Sangwoo nodded, his gaze never wavering. "I see. And what about relationships? Do you guys find it hard to maintain them with your busy schedules?" Rage chuckled, launching into a story about his past relationships, but Sangwoo's questions continued to focus on Jason, who seemed to be growing a bit uncomfortable under the scrutiny. As the conversation went on, Adapt's unease grew. Some of Sangwoo's questions seemed a bit too targeted, a bit too invasive. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but something about Sangwoo's demeanor put him on edge. The others seemed to be enjoying themselves, laughing and joking with Sangwoo, but Adapt's instincts were screaming at him to be cautious. He leaned back, his eyes fixed on Sangwoo as he waited for the stranger's next question. Sangwoo's gaze flickered to Adapt, his expression unreadable. "And what about you, Adapt? What's it like being the quiet one in the group?" Adapt shrugged, his voice neutral. "It's just who I am, I guess. I'm not really a big talker, but I like to listen and observe." Sangwoo nodded, his eyes never leaving Adapt's face. "I see. Well, it's been nice talking to you all. Maybe I'll catch your stream again sometime." As the group began to disperse, Adapt couldn't shake the feeling that Sangwoo's conversation had been more than just small talk. There had been an undercurrent to his questions, a sense of something hidden beneath the surface. He glanced at Jason, who seemed oblivious to the potential danger, and felt a surge of protectiveness. He didn't like this one bit.