SOUL DORM

50

You don't own me!

***

CHAPTER 50:

LABYRINTH

We were waiting with the other couples outside the Dorm. The moment I saw the crowd in the garden, I realized we couldn't just walk to the carnival. Bong explained that the carnival's location changed constantly, and we needed special rides to get there. So, we joined the line for one of those rides.

I watched in awe and amazement as souls boarded the carriages. They looked like horse-drawn carriages, except there were no horses. The two big wheels in the back and the two smaller ones in the front somehow moved on their own. They were so fancy and beautiful, making me think of Cinderella for the millionth time tonight. Each one was uniquely designed in shades of lilac, purple, and pink, covered in intricate decorations and sparkling brightly.

Unfortunately, once the initial shock wore off, I was acutely aware of where I was and who I was with. The reality of being alone with Bong in one of those carriages hit me like a slap in the face. I hadn't considered this. I wasn't ready. What was I going to talk about with Bong? I barely knew him. Yes, I had asked him to the carnival, but... I had imagined it would be more of a group event, like the nights by the lake, where we'd hang out with others.

I took deep breaths, trying to hide my panic. Unlike me, Bong seemed perfectly content. His hand was still on mine, which was resting on his arm. I tried to keep up with his story with short responses, but I wasn't really listening. My eyes were scanning the crowd, hoping to spot one of my friends, but there was no sign of them.

Instead, I found myself observing Mars and the girl with him, who were a few couples ahead in line. Like Bong, they seemed thoroughly at ease, enjoying each other's company. The redhead was especially tactile, seizing every opportunity to touch Mars—whether her hand was lingering on his arm, back, waist, or threading through his hair. When it was their turn and a chubby carriage pulled up, Mars gallantly assisted her inside, holding her hand. Clearly, Mars could play the perfect gentleman when it suited him.

"Must be tough," Bong said, turning to me. He was watching Mars, too.

"What must be tough?" I asked.

He looked at me. "Being soulmates with someone like Mars..."

I tried not to react, but my eyes still darted away from his.

"Did you know Mars's father is one of Italy's wealthiest?" Bong queried casually. I didn't know, nor was I eager to hear this from him, but he pressed on. "That boy has always lived a life of privilege, everything handed to him on a golden platter. But you, you're different," he observed, his tone shifting slightly. "You're a fighter, just like me, mermaid. You battle for what you want. That spoiled boy doesn't deserve someone like you." He reached out, gently turning my face toward him. "And yet, you seem quite adept at putting him in his place."

His smirk widened at his own words, sending a cold shiver down my spine. I recoiled swiftly, pulling my face away from his grip. It was a gut reaction; his touch hadn't felt right. Bong's upper lip quivered slightly, but he maintained his smile.

"Is there something going on between you and Mars?" I probed, curiosity tinged with caution.

He exhaled sharply, a mix of frustration and resignation in his tone. "Something... or a lot of things... Mars and I go way back. When you've known someone that long, you get so close that inevitably, you begin to drift apart. Especially when you're two souls with fundamentally different views on life..."