Caratland [Seventeen FF]

-15-

"So do you want to see my world now?", Chan asked me, while jumping up and down. Two days passed since I made up with Jihoon. It was evening and Chan waited for me to finish the last box of coins.
"Let me finish first", I laughed. Chan tapped the table impatiently.
"But I wanted to show you my world two days ago and you keep pushing it back", he whined. Jihoon stayed unbothered and brang the boxes to the coin storage.
"Fine. You can show me your world today", I gave in.

It felt like Jihoon told me everything he knows about that world but it felt like more of half my questions were still open. There must be a reason why Jihoon never went to that world when the others did. We always stayed in his room or chilled at the harbour. Also I wanted to see the other worlds too. And if the world is supposed to show us our wishes and dreams... Does Jihoon hate people? When I was there everyone ignored him and it was a small village in the landscape. Maybe he only hates attention.

After I finished I went with Chan and the others to the portal. Jihoon told me he'll find something to do without me so I shouldn't feel bad going with them. I was still curious about the things the others did to see this world. But I guess they will open up to me if I get to know them a little better. Actually thinking about it I know Chan pretty well, but I don't know if he would tell me why he works here.

At the portal Junhui held a little speech about how he wants to stay alone in his world. Of course Minghao needed to say something too and a whole argument started.
"Gosh, shut up, both of you", Wonwoo ended their conversation, pushing both of them into the portal.
"I'm curious in which world they ended up in", Mingyu commented, having Hansol, Seungkwan and Seokmin nod in agreement.
"Okay, we're next!", Chan exclaimed, grabbing my arm and pushing the others away. He forced me through the portal, leaving the others behind.

Like the first time I went through the portal the way was short and bright. On the other end appeared a... circus? A circus in midden of a field.
"Welcome to my world!", he shouted excited.
"Is it a circus?", I questioned.
"Uh, yeah", he said, having a suspicious look on his face, "Why?"
"Just because", I shrugged my shoulders. Well a circus is near to an amusement park right...?

We went into the gigantic tent. The animals already stood there still and waiting for a command. There were tigers, lions, elephants, even a crocodile.
"I'm the boss here. I can decide when a show starts and when it ends. Wanna see one?", he explained and asked at the end.
"Uh, yeah, why not", I agreed. He adviced me to sit somewhere in the crowd and suddenly people randomly appeared one after one, slowly filling up the circus.

After the circus was full the show started. It was a typical circus attraction just more fascinating with firework and swimming pools. Half of the show was in the air and the people were thrilled. All in all a successful show, all thanks to Chan. At the end he made a grandiose bow, making the people stand up and applaud excited. Shortly after, like they appeared, the people started vanishing one by one. I also applauded, making Chan laugh cutely.

"Wow, I didn't know you were such a good trainer", I laughed, walking down to him.
"You're the first one to compliment me so I guess I'm not that special", he shrugged it off smiling.

We walked around the circus. There were other people greeting him and showering him with compliments. The complete opposite of Jihoon's world. I was curious what their true wishes were. For Chan it was clearly attention, but why? Why were their worlds the way they are?

"Well, yeah that's all for my world", Chan said when we sat down on some rocks. I also got a little tired.
"So we're turning back?", I asked yawning.
"I guess since you're tired", Chan said.

We stood up and went to a small room backstage of the circus. It was a bedroom without a bed. It had similarities with the hotel rooms. He went to the shelf in the back of the room and pulled out the last compartment, revealing a green portal.
"Okay, let's go back", he sighed.
"Wait!", I stopped him. He took a step back, looking at me curiously. "Actually I wanted to ask you earlier, but it never seemed to be the right time so", I started.
"Say it", he asked for it.
"Why are you working here? I mean most of you don't work here because of the amusement park itself", I asked him. He thought for a while. He then sat down on a chair. "Well my story isn't so interesting, but if you want to know it"

"My parents worked the whole time. They went overseas, worked way too many hours at their company. Yes, we were rich. More like they were rich. We had a big house, three cars, a maid, two butlers. Most of those things weren't necessary. You can imagine I got everything what I wanted. Until I went to school. School was horrible: they bullied me day by day and they never stopped no matter what I did. I even paid them at the age of ten! Yes back then I only knew the power of money. My parents didn't believed me so instead of homeschooling I went to middle school, then to high school. I even started and suffered the first year of college. Back then I hated people more than everything else. My parents never cared about me, same aged people also abonded me. I had no place to go and no place where I was welcomed. I just ran away. Then I ended up on this island and well was the best place I've ever been so far", he explained, smiling at the last part. I didn't know what to say so I stayed calm, nodding quietly. "I know my childhood was a little shitty, but I'm fine now so let's go back", he changed the topic. I nodded so he grabbed my arm and went through the portal, back to the reality.