Underwater World

S

TW: use of homophobic language

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"Are we there yet?"

"You're really like a child, you know that?"

"Wow, you wound me, I am hurt and I'll never experience happiness again."

"Shut up, you're so insufferable."

"You guys remind me of some people I know."

Jongho sat there in the carriage they were in, on the way to Salef to visit Wonwoo's father. The two had been arguing the whole trip, to the point where Jongho was having flashbacks to his little trip with his friends.

The trip that ruined his life.

"Really? Were they nice people?" Mingyu questioned. It seemed the longer they sat in the carriage, Mingyu had been getting more and more crazy. Maybe it was the cramped carriage, maybe it was the rocky movements, maybe it was the scorching sun. Who knows.

It was probably the dehydration, as Mingyu forgot to bring the bottles of water and left them on the kitchen counter. By the time they realised, it was too late to turn back. So they had to suffer from heatstroke.

"Yeah... they were wonderful." Jongho sighed sadly, trying to keep the tears at bay. He really missed them, all of them. Especially his brother.

He couldn't help but to think it was all his fault. I mean, how dare he live on happily while his brother had to suffer for his mistakes. He suggested they go along, even if Hongjoong would be present. He pleaded and begged with San to go with them. He made them go.

He also couldn't save them.

"Hey, I know that look better than anyone else. Whatever you're thinking, get it out of your head for now. Besides, we're almost there." Wonwoo comforted, placing his hand on Jongho's shoulder.

Jongho shook his head to rid of those toxic thoughts, before looking outside again.

The neighbourhood they seemed to have entered looked very wealthy. The houses were almost as large as the palace, but there were loads of them. The street just oozed privilege, and Jongho didn't know if he'd like this place too much.

They all stepped off the carriage while Wonwoo payed the driver and sent him off. They walked down the street a little before standing in front of one of the many identical houses.

Jongho had no idea how Wonwoo could tell which was the right one, they all looked exactly the same. But he guessed since it was his childhood home, it just stuck. He didn't know if that was a good thing.

They walked to the door and Wonwoo knocked, waiting patiently. Some loud noises came from inside in response, before the door swung open.

It was a man, about in his mid fifties to sixties. Even so, he looked very gruff and strong. He sported a buzz cut, and there was a small scar just under it. Jongho knew what kind of man this was, he had encountered way too many in his time.

He had this violent look in his eyes, before he spotted Wonwoo, then his eyes lit up. Jongho assumed that this was Wonwoo's dad, as he stepped forward and hugged Wonwoo aggressively.