going seventeen | seventeen

Chapter 17: Through the Window

"what is he doing?" wonwoo asked. i turned my head and squinted, trying to see what seungkwan was up to. "i can't see well, it's so dark."

seungkwan groaned, "don't fucking mind me, i'm hugging the floor."

"i'm getting claustrophobic," wonwoo started fanning himself, "fuck, how long until the repair service gets here? i don't even know what floor we're on right now. it's cold and dark, i thought hell was supposed to be hot."

"i'm here so it's hot," jihoon chuckled

"something the devil would say, to be honest," seungkwan mumbled. we all went silent for a few minutes. seugkwan stayed lying on the ground and wonwoo remained seated. jihoon on the other hand was being such a baby, demanding me to be his pillow and blanket.

"is lee jihoon being a little demanding bitch again, minseul? i can sense it," seungkwan muttered

"of course you can sense it, you fucking animal," jihoon replied as he snuggled closer to me. honestly, i feel like his temperature is so high because his skin fucking burns me. jihoon is literally radiating heat. "do you have a fever, ji?" i asked

"i don't know, maybe? who cares? i bet i'm going to die in a few days anyway!"

wonwoo was quick to react, "watch your words, jihoon. even if it's a joke you shouldn't be saying things like that."

"fine," the younger gave up, "i wonder what the other boys are doing right now. they're all free and i'm envious. i can't be stuck here forever."

"if you're so bored, just sleep," i told him, "i'll wake you up when it's time to go." the boy hugged me tighter and closed his eyes so he could doze off. honestly, i feel a little sleepy too, but i'm assuming wonwoo is already asleep and obviously, seungkwan is too. he's snoring a little too loud.

"ugh seungkwan is so loud," jihoon muttered "i would rather go see the girl at the fifth floor to get into another dimension and stay away from all shit the real world has to offer."

"i doubt the girl ghost would keep you in her world, jihoon. you're a fucking demon and they probably don't need another one in there." we heard wonwoo say (okay so he's not asleep then) and when i started laughing at his response, i felt jihoon turn his head so i stopped. damn.

the elevator slightly moved when seungkwan tried to sit back up. "what if we're on the fourth floor?"

"shut up, there's no fourth floor," wonwoo replied "i thought you were trying to sleep? go back to sleep."

"but it's cold. i don't want to lay my back on the cold floor, it's bad for the health."

"wow you're actually fucking smart for once—"

"ssshhh jihoon just sleep," i mumbled.

"hey i got a religious fun fact though i don't know if it's a fact," wonwoo chuckles. even if i couldn't see him well, i turned my head to his direction and waited for him to speak. "at the last supper, it is said that 13 people were present at the table and the 13th is judas who eventually betrays. so the number 13 is known to represent betrayal and death, or just unlucky to have around because it invites betrayal and death."

"lee chan, i knew it!" seungkwan blabbered, "why are all lees children of the devil?"

i can't help but correct the boy, "seokmin is an angel, excuse you." jihoon turns his head again and mumbles, "but i'm an angel too, right minseul?"

"ssshhh just sleep."

"ugh fine."

seungkwan started to sing in a slightly high pitched voice, "tip toe through the window, by the window, that is where i'll be. come tip toe through the tulips with me—"

"stop, i don't like it!" jihoon whined out loud

"fuck you, seungkwan. shut the fuck up, you're not making things any better," wonwoo cut him off. wow i've never heard him cuss so much. seungkwan started to laugh. oh my god why is he like this? we stayed silent for a few minutes, though seungkwan was furiously tapping his fingers on the floor and jihoon's breathing pattern was concerning me. it's so weird. but it's a good thing that he managed to doze off.

"what's so wrong with tip toe through the tulips?" i asked "i find the song really cute."

"thought you hated clowns, minseul," jihoon whispered to me

"i do, but i don't think the song has something to do with clowns."

"it's sung in the same way as how a clown would give the idea of forced fun. if that makes sense," wonwoo answered "if you look it up, it sounds too happy and forced. i think that's what makes it creepy—"

"i don't like this conversation," jihoon mumbled

"you know, it's a good thing that it's dark. that way, i couldn't see the mirrors in this stupid elevator," i muttered. wonwoo seemed to agree. while pressing the alarm button repeatedly, he told me some stuff about how some people got stuck in elevators and died by climbing out. it wasn't long until the officer in charge started asking about out situation through the intercom provided in the lift.

"hello?"

"yes, hello?" wonwoo replied

"are you alone?"

"no, there's four people in here."

"how are you feeling?"

"well, the lights are completely off and but the air circulation seems fine," wonwoo talked "overall, we're fine."

"no, i'm hungry!" seungkwan whined

"seungkwan shush!"

"i see. we already sent someone across. they will be there shortly. please don't panic nor try to exit the elevator."

"yeah we know that sherlock," seungkwan muttered, "but please, how short does shortly means?"

"pardon?"

"nothing, that was nothing," wonwoo answered "please carry on."

we waited for a few more minutes—maybe half an hour until the elevator started to slightly move, and eventually, the doors opened. "fucking finally," jihoon grouched. we all got up from the floor, with wonwoo and i thanking the technicians who did their best to fix the problem. after that, we decided to go grab something to eat because seungkwan looks like he's never going to stop whining if we go home without getting food.

jihoon still didn't want to eat though. he just wants some cola. but wonwoo and i both told him that having cola with an empty stomach is bad.

"hey minseul," boo called, "next time, please don't take me to a mental hospital again. that shit was hella creepy. i mean did you see......"

he instantly trailed off, not bothering to finish his sentence because he was just looking outside.

"see what?"

"......."

"earth to boo seungkwan?" i nudged the boy "see what?"

"nothing," he laughed it off

_________________

school starts at 10 :( going ✈️ depression era
kbyeilu. stay healthy
—jiro