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Heeseung
After hours of tense waiting and strange procedures, the group was finally led out of the testing area, now dressed in fresh, clean clothes. For the first time in what felt like forever, they felt somewhat normal. It was an odd sensation, being so well-treated in a world that had been nothing but harsh to them.
"Holy crap, I can't remember the last time I smelled this clean!" Ni-ki exclaimed, taking a deep breath of his freshly washed hoodie. He tugged at it dramatically, making everyone laugh. "Am I glowing? Be honest."
Sunoo grinned, running a hand through his hair, now neatly styled after their impromptu showers. "I think I am. I feel like a new person. I'm ready to conquer this apocalypse in style."
Jake chuckled, looking down at his own clothes—simple but new. "You guys are acting like you've never worn clean clothes before. Relax."
"Jake, you can't tell me you're not enjoying this," Sunghoon chimed in, flexing his arms in his fitted jacket. "This stuff actually fits me. It's a miracle! We've been wearing the same clothes for weeks."
Heeseung, standing off to the side, wasn't so easily convinced by the luxury they were experiencing. His mind was still in overdrive, thinking about Aiko, wondering where she was and what they were doing to her. But for now, he kept quiet, letting the others have their moment of excitement.
As they continued walking, the guards led them through the gleaming halls of the facility, explaining that they would each have their own private room. The guys were practically buzzing with excitement at the thought of their own space after being crammed together for so long.
A guard, one of the few who had shown any kind of friendliness, gestured to the first door. "Each of you will be assigned a room like this one. You'll have keycards that give you access to your rooms and the floors you're allowed on. Some areas, particularly the top floors, are off-limits."
Heeseung's eyes flicked up to the mention of the restricted floors, but he didn't say anything. That only made him more suspicious. What were they hiding up there?
"Off-limits?" Jay asked, raising an eyebrow as they walked. "Why? What's so special about the top floors?"
The guard shrugged. "It's just protocol. The upper floors are for high-clearance personnel only. You won't need to worry about that."
Sunghoon leaned in closer to Jay, whispering loudly enough for everyone to hear, "Maybe it's where they keep all the gourmet food. Don't wanna share with us peasants."
That got a laugh from the group, even from Heeseung, who was trying hard to keep a serious face.
"Yeah, sure," Jake joked. "Or maybe that's where they store all the Neomorphs, and they don't want us stumbling in on a science experiment gone wrong."
Sunoo shivered exaggeratedly. "Don't even joke about that, bro. I'm trying to enjoy this moment."
They reached the next floor, and the guards stepped aside to allow them a small tour of the living quarters they would be staying in. The hallways were lined with sleek, minimalist décor, soft lighting giving everything a calm, almost serene atmosphere. It was a far cry from the harsh world outside.
"Oh, this is fancy," Ni-ki said, nodding in approval as they walked. "I could get used to this."
As they reached their rooms, the doors slid open automatically with a soft hum. Inside, each room was more luxurious than they'd ever imagined. The beds were large and comfortable-looking, with fresh linens, soft pillows, and plush carpets beneath their feet. There were even small desks, a private bathroom with a shower, and, to everyone's disbelief, a small entertainment system with a TV.
"No. Way." Jay's jaw practically dropped as he stepped into his room. "They've got freakin' TVs in here? Are you kidding me?"
Sunghoon immediately dove onto his bed, sprawling out with a dramatic sigh. "I'm never leaving this place."
"Same," Jake added, sitting on the edge of his bed with a grin. "This is like a five-star hotel."
Even Ni-ki, who was usually pretty chill, looked overwhelmed with excitement. "This is better than anything I could've imagined. They've even got snacks in here!" He held up a small basket of neatly packaged snacks with an expression of pure joy.
Sunoo, who had taken a quick tour of his own room, popped his head back into the hallway. "Yo, there's a shower in here that's not broken! I'm living here forever."
Heeseung, however, stood by the door to his room, watching the others with a small, tense smile. He couldn't fully relax. The pristine surroundings felt like a trap—a way to lull them into a false sense of security. His gut told him not to trust this place, no matter how nice it seemed on the surface.
"Enjoy it while you can," Heeseung muttered to himself, leaning against the doorframe. "Something about this still feels off."
Jake, overhearing, gave him a pat on the back. "C'mon, man. It's not every day we get to chill in a place like this. Just... take it in. You'll see Aiko soon."
Heeseung nodded, though the worry didn't leave his eyes. "I just don't like being separated from her. And this whole 'restricted access' thing makes me feel like they're hiding something."
"Yeah, probably," Jay agreed with a casual shrug. "But let's deal with that later. Right now, I'm going to take a long-ass shower, maybe watch some TV, and pretend the world isn't a total mess."
"Same," Ni-ki said, already halfway into his room. "But first, I'm eating all the snacks in this basket."
They all chuckled, and for a brief moment, it almost felt normal. Almost like the world outside didn't exist, and they were just a group of friends enjoying a nice hotel stay. But even with the laughter, there was still an underlying tension.
Heeseung looked down at the keycard in his hand, turning it over thoughtfully. Whatever Genetech was planning, whatever they were doing to Aiko, they wouldn't keep him in the dark for long. He'd make sure of it. But for now, he'd keep up the appearance of being cooperative.
"Alright," Heeseung said, straightening up. "Enjoy your rooms. But stay alert, okay? We don't know what's coming next."
Sunoo saluted him with a grin. "You got it, boss. But right now, I'm off to take the best nap of my life."
The group dispersed into their rooms, each one eager to enjoy the comfort they hadn't experienced in what felt like an eternity. The excitement and relief were palpable, but for Heeseung, there was still that gnawing feeling of unease in the back of his mind. He couldn't shake it.
As he stepped into his own room and closed the door behind him, he took one last look around. It was comfortable, sure. But it wasn't home. And until they were all together again, until Aiko was back with them, he wouldn't let his guard down.
