PENTAGON | Chattin' It Up!

...up on u

Hui: *phew* i think we did it, guys. after he thinks about it, im almost sure he'll come back to us.

Yeo One: *looks at his phone and suddenly starts laughing*

Shinwon: *jumps* gosh that scared me

Shinwon: changgu... what's so funny?

Yeo One: everything. lol what the heck am i doing rn? 😂😂😂

Yeo One: *removes his encouraging messages, one by one*

Hui: *grabs Yeo One's phone* what do you think ur doing? R u trying to ruin everything?

Yeo One: maybe. *shrugs* what's it matter to you?

Yuto: *looks confused* did i miss something here? changgu, why are you acting like this?

Yeo One: *suddenly stops smiling* nothing. Nothing at all.

Yeo One: it's just... i started thinking and... maybe we don't need jinho after all.

Hui: *stares at Yeo One, infinitely surprised* changgu... if ur serious... i just... how could u say something like that?

Yeo One: i don't know. maybe because i meant it? 😏

Hui: 😡 get out. Right now. i won't stand to hear such slander from you. Jinho doesn't deserve it. Get out before you say something you'll regret even more. somethng that keeps him from coming back. before i lose my temper.

Yeo One: suit yourselves. i'm just speaking the truth. *leaves the room*

Wooseok: 😤 *starts forward* can i hit him?

Hui: u have my permission.

Wooseok: 🤜

Shinwon: *holds him back* no violence. violence wont help anything. ...violence wont bring jinho back or erase the things Yeo One said. lets just... take a moment to breathe and reflect.

Yan An: guys... i'll be right back. *follows Yeo One out into the hall*

E'Dawn: *pushes his food away* im not even hungry anymore.

Kino: 🤢 me neither. i feel sick, tbh.

/out in the hall/

Yan An: 😟😟😟

Yeo One: what?

Yan An: 😟😟😟😟😟😟😟😟😟😟😟😟😟😟😟😟😟😟

Yeo One: y r u looking at me like i'm some sort of monster?

Yan An: cuz u sure are acting like 1. what's gotten into you? i can't even begin to guess why you've changed so much in such a short time...

Yeo One: maybe i haven't changed. maybe it's u who's changed.

Yan An: *shakes his head* u know what ur doing. tearing the team apart. my question is why.

Yeo One: i can't tell you why. so just... leave it alone, ok?

Yan An: i can't do that. im worried about u, Changgu. more worried than i ever was about jinho leaving the team.

Yan An: one moment, u tell jinho he can't leave... that we'll never be the same without him. the next, you stab him in the back and act like he means nothing to you. what is that? is your heart really ok with this?

Yeo One: *is growing more agitated by the minute* i... i just... no, it's not. but... i can't... he means... jinho is-

Yeo One: would u stop it? stop making me overthink this... overthink something so simple-

Yan An: im not doing anything. IT'S YOUR OWN GUILT YOU'RE DEALING WITH, CHANGGU.

Yeo One: 😁 so u think. but i feel nothing. im absolutely fine. just watch me.

Yan An: u don't look fine. what you're saying... doesn't match ur expression. u actually look pretty sick. are you okay?

Yeo One: *looks at Yan An, his eyes tired* no... im really not.

Yan An: *bursts into the kitchen, where the others are still gathered* something's wrong w/ Yeo1. whatever is happening... whatever he's said... it's not his fault.

Hui: O-O what do u mean?

Yan An: his skin is almost green. he says one thing, and then another... yet none of it matches. it's like... he can't stop himself... he tries to swallow the harsh words but can't... and its killing him. You all know Changgu. you know how soft his heart is. well... his heart is hurting. terribly. he's so conflicted, and as a friend... it hurts to watch him.

Yan An: i wish i could help him... but he's acting like he's possessed, and i dont even know where to start.

Hui: whatever's affecting him... may be the reason jinho's not feeling himself, either.

Hui: why don't we try to think back to when this first started. when a few people began feeling queasy after prac-

Hui: *suddenly dizzy, puts a hand to his head* whoa...

Yuto: *reaches out to steady him* r u ok?

Hui: 😒 why are you touching me?

Yuto: 🙁?

Hui: why are you all looking at me like that?

Shinwon: u were speaking... n u never finished.

Hui: well, i guess it just wasn't important enough to finish then.

Hui: moving on.

Wooseok: *wincing, leans against wall, one hand on his stomach* i think im going to throw up.

Yuto: guys... i don't feel so well, either. 🤒

Hongseok: its happening to all of us. we're all going to end up like Yeo One and Jinho... heartless and depressed...

Hui: *coughs, clears his throat* i uh... guys im sorry if-

Hui: i just... i can't fight it. it takes too much energy. energy i dont have.

Hongseok: *hugs his chest* god, i can already feel it happening

Hui: its like living without a soul

Hui: i... i dont recommend it.

Yuto: we cant escape it.

Kino: it will take over us all.

Yan An: just what is it? what in the world is making us feel this way?

E'Dawn: its not normal

E'Dawn: and its not worldly

E'Dawn: i've seen it. it's a being from another time, another place. and its out for blood. it wont stop until its shaped the world in its own image.

Yan An: *faintly* how do you know?

E'Dawn: i've felt it. and i can see it right now. its right here in this room. But its always been there. when we sleep... when we wake up... when we dance... when we sing... when we eat. Always.

Yan An: i cant see anything...

E'Dawn: pain blinds u from the truth. it infects you before you have the chance to understand it, to see what's happening to you.

Yan An: how can we stop it?

E'Dawn: we cant.

E'Dawn: but maybe there's hope. it cant get to me... at least, it hasnt yet.

Yan An: then i guess ur the ace up our sleeve--our last hope.

E'Dawn: maybe. but sometimes its easier to pretend something like this never happened than it is to confront it.

Yan An: yes. it is. but when it comes to the ones you care about... when their lives are in danger... thats when your true nature surfaces.

E'Dawn: i've tried to live a simple life. only caring about my own well-being and that of a few others. but this time, you're right. and i wont stop until i can smell death. until the rest of you are safe.

E'Dawn: our lives depend on it.