fyi starting from here is the present time
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❝ it's ten o'clock, kids. time to go to bed. ❞
when the seven boys went off to their assigned rooms, each let out a groan. they were each still young in their teenaged years, and wanted to do practically everything but fall asleep.
and of course, it was the only thing they disobeyed to. sure, they might've been in their beds, but none of them could fall asleep.
one thing none of them could understand, was why their caretaker seemed to put each of them in separate rooms. it was as though he didn't trust them together, yet maybe it was for another reason.
but tonight, they all spent their night at mark's room, as it was the largest one of all.
eight rooms; seven children, one caretaker. it was only logical it was this way. but no, the caretaker slept on the sofa in the living room, which sparked the same curiosity of mark nine years ago.
what was that room for? if it was empty, why didn't he sleep in it?
and after telling the other six boys about the mysterious room at the far end, they started to approach the room altogether. they weren't so certain about not getting caught, but why not take a chance anyway?
" we need to go quietly, " mark instructed, as the younger boys nodded.
they took silent steps towards the room, and the familiar feeling of getting so close sent goosebumps to mark's skin. he shivered as his fingers touched the cold doorknob and twisted it open.
cautious glances were thrown over towards the snoring caretaker at the far end of the room as each of them entered. it was obvious that he was asleep, but mark couldn't seem to erase the scene when he appeared out of nowhere.
as the last one to enter, mark gently shut the door as quietly as he could and faced the rest of them. jisung tugged at mark's sleeve moments later, and pointed to what mark had been staring at ever since he entered.
it was a box just in the middle of the room; a wooden one painted with pastel purple that seemed untouched, yet new. it rested on a table of brown, but everything seemed off.
donghyuck, being the ever-so curious kid, stood beside it, glancing at mark for permission to open it up. upon mark's nod, he hurriedly pressed on the clasps and opened up the box.
everything, whatever was in it, glowed. it was so bright that donghyuck, all the way to mark and jisung, had to shield their eyes before the light blinded them.
and suddenly, the room looked even colder than before, despite the light that shone. it only made its perfect white walls visible from the dark.
mark anticipated a treasure. smartphones, torchlights, anything, really. there wasn't much given to him in life for him to expect anything big.
" hyung, what's that? " jisung asked, rubbing his eyes and letting out a silent little yawn.
mark took a step closer, and all eyes were suddenly on him. there were some agape mouths, furrowed eyebrows, and he was confused than ever as he finally took a look for himself.
chewing gum. loads of its tiny pieces.
" i— "
just when mark was about to speak, the snoring of the caretaker stopped. panic rose in mark as he gestured for the younger ones to return to their rooms, all except jisung, who looked more dead than alive beside him.
" can you help me carry this, jisung? "
mark snapped his fingers in his face. jisung's eyes widened a bit, before nodding and taking the box of chewing gum from his hands.
" hyung, " jisung said as mark successfully closed the door without a sound.
" yeah? "
" i hear footsteps. "
mark's eyes widened at his words. he grabbed jisung by the elbow and practically dragged him back to his room and locking the door. jisung fumbled with the box before slipping it safely under his bed.
" i think i should go. mister won't be happy seeing my room empty. "
jisung nodded in agreement and eyed mark as he rushed back to his room with no sound at all. and once he heard his door close with a 'click', he reached under his bed and took out a piece of chewing gum from the box, and popped it in his mouth.
