Why Stay When No one Cares?

Chapter 2: Worried Feelings

*Mentions of depression and eating disorder!*

*Paper's P.O.V* 

*After talking to Balloon in the elevator*

I was heading towards OJ's office to check up on him after having a small chat with Balloon. Balloon, didn't seem... okay. When I heard the elevator, he was just standing there with this really upset look on his face. I tried to see if he was okay, but he still seemed... off.

Sure, I may be a little scared of him, but that doesn't mean that I shouldn't avoid him or be mean towards him like most of the residents here. My job is to make sure that everyone here is okay, like a thearpist of sorts. I could tell Balloon was lying when I checked on him.

I'll be honest, I feel bad for Balloon. I mean, yeah, he was really mean back in season 1 and tried to manipulate his team. Though, these last few years, I've noticed he's more, sad and lonley and nothing like his old self. He's very fidgety, he always looks nervous, he stutters a bit, and he apologizes a whole lot.

The more I think on this, the more I feel sorry for him. I can't imagine how lonely one must feel being hated for years because of how you acted. Maybe I should talk to OJ about it.

Speaking of OJ. I made it to his office. I knock on the door and a muffled "come in" is heard from the otherside. I open the door and make my presence known.

"Hey OJ." I spoke out, letting him know I'm in the room.

"Huh? Oh. Paper! Hey." OJ response back, turning his chair around. "Need anything?", he questioned

"No, just came here to check up on you." I answer back.

"Awe. That's thoughtful of you Paper!" OJ says, with a tint of blush on his face? Must be my imagination.

"No problem OJ. After all, it's my job to make sure everyone is doing okay, you included!" I exclaim. I walk closer and pull up a chair next to him.

"Haha. I suppose that's fair." OJ laughs. Man, his laugh is super cute... Wait what? 

I shake the thought out of my mind. "So, I did actually want to talk about something OJ.", I then told him in a somewhat worried tone.

"Oh? What is it?", OJ then asks. I take a breath, feeling nervous for some reason.

"Um. It's about... Balloon.", I answered. OJ's face goes from curious to a bit of a frown. Oh dear.

"Oh. What about him?", OJ asks with a hint of anger in his voice. "Did he do anything Paper?", he asks with the anger becoming more prominate.

"It's nothing bad OJ. And no, he hasn't done anything bad.", I answer back. OJ must really not trust Balloon. "I'm just. A little worried about him.", I then say.

"Worried? For Balloon? Really?", OJ says in a very questionable tone. "You sure you're talking about the same Balloon, Paper?", he asked.

"Yes, I'm talking about the same Balloon, OJ.", I reply. "Haven't you noticed that he barely comes down? Or even seen how.... sad he looks nowadays?", I asked OJ.

"Um... No. Not really. I don't really pay attention to that.", OJ answered. "Though, I do notice he is very on edge a lot, when I do see him.", he confessed.

"I was on my way to check on you when I heard the elevator ding. I went to check it out and saw Balloon there, not moving and very deep in thought.", I then told him. 

"I got a little concerned, so I went to see if he was okay. And, he said he was, but his body movement said otherwise.", I continued.

"Hmmm. Well, I don't see much wrong with that.", OJ says. Nothing wrong? Balloon could be hurting for all we know!