Dream or Reality

Mirror of Horrors

Hongjoong has been keeping a close eye on Yeosang whenever they do group things over the past two days and he was glad to see that everyone was making an effort to include him. The two dreams he had were pretty mild ones, one of Seonghwa having the other members dote on him and the other of Mingi being able to fly. Mingi's one was a pretty funny one. They were currently all having dinner and Hongjoong intended to keep an eye on Yeosang but he found his eyes drifting to the smaller boy beside him. He wasn't eating much, that much Hongjoong had noted very quickly. It worried Hongjoong so he kept an eye on him throughout the meal and sure enough, he barely ate, just mainly pushing his food around his plate or bring it up to his mouth but talking and putting it back down. He didn't want to corner him in front of anyone so he thought of a quick plan.

"Wooyoung, can you please help me get some glasses from the kitchen," Hongjoong asked. Wooyoung nods and gets up following Hongjoong to the kitchen. He went to go to the glasses cupboard but Hongjoong stopped him.

"Why aren't you eating Youngie," Hongjoong asked, figuring being direct straight away would be the best idea. Wooyoung was clearly caught off guard but he just shrugged.

"I'm not very hungry, I had a big lunch," Wooyoung said. Hongjoong frowned, running his tongue over his top teeth as he debated whether to let it go or not.

"You promise you're just full from lunch," Hongjoong asked. He knows very well how much Wooyoung has struggled with his body image and eating disorders in the past.

"I'm fine, just not hungry," Wooyoung said with a nod. Hongjoong sighed and decided to let it go for now. He pat Hongjoong's hair and pat the top of his head gently, intending to go back to the table but Wooyoung suddenly hugged him. He let it go and hugged the younger back for a few seconds before pulling him away and ushering him to the table gently. No on pointed out that they went for glasses and returned with nothing.

~~~~~

Hongjoong decided to stay home rather than going to the studio for the night so he got ready for bed with Seonghwa. He left his room and walked down the halls towards the kitchen for some water but paused when he noticed Jongho hiding behind the corner wall, looking into the loungeroom where the 99-liners were watching a movie. He went over and lightly tapped his shoulder, making the younger jump slightly and turn to him.

"You can go watch if you want, it's not exclusively the 99ers," Hongjoong said quietly and Jongho shook his head.

"I'm tired so I'm going to bed anyway," Jongho said before walking off. Hongjoong frowned but let it go and got his water before heading back to his room. Seonghwa was laying down flat on his stomach, his head stuffed in his pillow as he groaned. Hongjoong laughed and went over, placing his glass down on the desk.

"Is your back a little tight," Hongjoong asked. Seonghwa nodded into the pillow so Hongjoong went and sat down, leaning over and lifted Seonghwa's shirt, rubbing his fingers into Seonghwa's back to get out the knots. Seonghwa let out a breath of relief at the action, settling down into the bed.

"I've noticed that you've been takin good care of everyone lately," Seonghwa said softly.

"I've just been keeping an eye out, trying to make sure everyone is doing ok," Hongjoong said, shrugging slightly as he continued what he was doing.

"Just make sure you're taking care of yourself as well Joong. Don't do too much," Seonghwa whispered.

"I will," Hongjoong replied.

-----

The room was dark, eerie. The walls were black, except for one wall that was covered completely by a mirror. Standing in the middle of the room was Wooyoung, wearing tracksuit pants and an old baggy top. His face was blank and emotionless as he walked forwards until he was standing right in front of the mirror. His face darkened and he just stared at himself through the mirror. Tears start to slowly slide down his face, only they weren't normal tears, they were black tears. They ran down his face, leaving black trails in their wake before they dripped to the ground. His hand slipped down to the hem of his shirt and he slowly slid it up, revealing his stomach underneath. At normal glance, Wooyoung looked amazing, tired and sad, but amazing. His stomach wasn't too toned but it was flat and had slight forming divets of abs. In the mirror however, the image was changing. His stomach seemed to be swelling, getting bigger and bigger as he continued to watch. He was getting overweight before his very eyes, fat growing very quickly. The black tears started to fall faster down his cheeks, his face scrunching slightly. He turned his head to try and look away from the mirror, not wanting to watch himself but out of nowhere a black, deformed hand reached out of the shadows, the fingers thin, long and with sharp claws. It looked inhuman. The hand grasped Wooyoung's chin pushing it back to face the mirror and holding it in place tightly, forcing him to continue watching his body grow before his very eyes. Small sobs begun to escape Wooyoung's lips, his neck flexing as he tried to look away but the hand didn't allow him. The Wooyoung in the mirror was now almost unrecognizable, too overweight and different. Another hand suddenly appeared from the shadows, this time holding a small knife. Wooyoung sobbed but grabbed the knife, the view shifting the reflection Wooyoung in the mirror. Reflection Wooyoung just had a blank, emotionless smile as he place the dagger under his stomach, preparing to slice...