The Beauty and the Beast (Seventeen Meanie story)

Chapter 24 - It's Over

A/N: This chapter is pretty short, but the next one will make up for it I hope

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'Yes!! We beat 'em, they are leaving! We won!!' exclaimed Soonyoung and all the objects cheered as the last villager escaped the castle too, humiliated by the fact that they got defeated by a bunch of furniture. No one is going to believe them this. No one. But they also weren't planning to brag about it.

'Wait, there's one more guy!!' screeched a plate. The teacup quickly jumped forward.

'No! He is on our side! He is Wonwoo hyung's friend!' he defended Seokmin.

'Wonwoo came back?!' gasped Jun.

'Yes, he is back!' said Seokmin, looking at the weird gathering of furniture in front of him.

'Guys, that means we still have hope!' exclaimed someone and loud cheering broke out again. Seokmin chuckled despite having no idea what they are talking about. Soonyoung, the candelabra hugged Jihoon, the feather duster, and spun him around.

'We are going to be saved, I know it!' he sang happily and Jihoon laughed in relief too. Seungkwan smiled, watching all of this, but then suddenly a small ding came from his chest. He frowned.

'Guys...' he began, but he didn't need to say anything else. Everyone turned towards him hearing the familiar noise and they watched the arms on Seungkwan's clock reach the top.

'It's midnight...' said quietly Jeonghan. The items all held their breaths.

'It can't be too late, right?? They must've confessed, right?' asked Minghao, sounding desperate.

'Do you think it's too late?' muttered Chan so that only the other teacups around him could hear him. The teacup next to him didn't answer and Chan turned around to see what was wrong, widening his eyes at the sight. 'NO!!' he yelled. Everyone turned towards him. The cups around Chan were now all standing still. Chan desperately pushed the cup next to him, trying to get him move or say something. It didn't move anymore. It was just a teacup. Nothing more.

'It's over' whispered Jeonghan.

The time was up. Mingyu failed to confess and find requited love until his birthday and the last petal of the rose fell. There was nothing else they could do. The curse became permanent.

'Well... I guess it's time' said Jun bitterly.

'Hyung, I don't want to-' cried out Chan sniffling, looking back and forth between Jeonghan and the other teacups that weren't his friends anymore, just some regular teacups. Jeonghan smiled at him sadly.

'It's okay, Channie. We'll be okay' he said.

Soonyoung watched the scene with a broken heart as Chan snuggled up to the rest of the teacups, then looked over at his other friends and coworkers, seeing their faces disappear and their bodies stop moving one by one, not being able to do anything. Minghao, the wardrobe closed his doors, next to him Jun, the coat hanger stiffened, becoming a real coat hanger till the end of time.

Soonyoung looked at Jihoon in his arms, about to say something to him one last time, but his boyfriend didn't move anymore. Soonyoung was only holding a feather duster in his arms. He hugged it tightly and choked back his tears as he gently let it down on the ground.

'Hyungs...' sniffled Chan. Seokmin looked around confusedly.

'What is happening to all of you?!' he asked.

'Our time is up here' said Seungkwan sadly. 'No pun intended' he gestured at his clock, making him, Seokmin and Soonyoung let out a bitter chuckle.

'Go and find Wonwoo' said Jeonghan to Seokmin warmly. 'Take care of him... he is going to need you. And tell him we said thank you for everything... I wish we could say that in person' he added. Then slowly he and Chan next to him became stiff and didn't move anymore, tearstains drying on the teacup's surface.

Seungkwan and Soonyoung watched side by side all their friends turn into lifeless objects for eternity, leaving just the two of them. Soonyoung turned to Seungkwan and looked at him in the eye.

'Kwan... I know that we didn't always see eye to eye and weren't always on the best terms... but you need to know that it was an honor working with you' he said and bowed, feeling moving more difficult with each passing moment. Seungkwan bowed towards him too.

'You too, hyung. It was a pleasure meeting you' he smiled.

The candelabra and the mantel clock stared at each other until the clock struck 12:01, spending their last few moments together before becoming motionless forever...

... or was that the case?