Caratland [Seventeen FF]

-24-

Soonyoung poV:

"Jihoon, now stop!", I exclaimed as I grabbed his arm. I followed him running to the food court. How can a person run that fast with such tiny legs? He turned around, but looked on the floor. "Thanks for protecting me but-", I started, but he quickly cut me off.
"Don't say anything! I already regret saying it, so just don't", he sighed. I closed my mouth after that and kept looking at him, hoping that he keeps talking.

"I know that I was mean and that I wasn't supposed to scream it in his face, but I just couldn't help it because it were things I wanted to say to him before. I just didn't want it to turn out like that so don't blame me. I know it's my fault", he explained, still looking on the floor, while playing with his fingers nervously.
"I wasn't going to blame you", I said.
"You weren't?! But why-"
"I already told you that I think exploding at that point is normal."
"Yeah, but it was mean and you shouldn't accept it like that", he shook his head.
"And you shouldn't keep things boiling up inside you! I'm here, so you can tell me things. I won't leave you", I said. He was silent for a moment.
"But I don't want you to take the burden", he murmured.
"I don't take it. We share it", I corrected him.
"But you'll still take a part. I don't want you to get sad", he mumbled.
"I won't get sad. I'd rather know your concerns than left dumbfounded. So let's sit down and you'll tell me your perception of the world", I suggested smiling. He just nodded so we went to the hotdog shop.

"So Jihoon, now spill everything", I said as we got our hotdogs. I'm still wondering how there's always someone handling the shop. He was quiet for a moment and sighed.
"The thing is, I got used of building up everything inside me since there wasn't someone to listen to me anyway. But that thing Wonwoo said to you was just over the limit. I mean how can he say something like that? Doesn't he think before he talks!", he got furious at the end again. I snorted even though I wanted to stay serious. "What?", he asked confused.
"I just find it cute how you get protective over me", I grinned. His cheeks turned lightly pink so he quickly looked away. "But seriously, you don't need to fight like that", I said in a serious manner, "I'm still thankful"
He stayed quiet, so we finished our hotdogs in silent.

As we got out of the store we saw Seungkwan and Hansol eating ice cream.
"Hi guys!", Hansol shouted, as he noticed us too. I waved at the two.
"What are you doing here?", Seungkwan asked us.
"The right question would be why you two are here. Aren't you supposed to be in your world?", I asked them back. They switched looks and then shrugged their shoulders.
"Was boring there", Hansol responded. I laughed.
"What's so funny?", Seungkwan reacted fast.
"It's just that Chan keeps emphasising the fact that my presence in this team changes y'all and now I start believing it too", I explained my random laughter. It was quiet for a second until Hansol's face took some funny grimaces.
"Oh my God, Seungkwan we changed too!", he grasped dramatically, making us, even Jihoon, laugh. More like he giggled for himself.

We walked with them to the hotel, while chatting about random stuff.
"But Soonyoung", Hansol started, after finishing his theory about why people dislike things. We were now in the hallways of the sixth floor. I turned to him. "Do you know why you can't see the portal alone?", he asked. I shrugged my shoulders.
"Y'all still know more about that world than I do", I said.
"It's so weird because thinking back where Seungcheol's brother explained us the reason we see the portal, it made sense, but Chan also has a world and a portal colour even though no one, not even himself, remembers doing anything bad in his life. So either the theory of Seungcheol's brother is false or Chan must have done something bad in his life and just doesn't want to tell us. But let's think that the theory is false. That would mean that everyone can see the portal so you should see it too, but you can't. It would only make sense if Chan really did something bad in his life, but it was so bad that he didn't want to tell us. Also why can you see the portal when we're around, but alone not? The first time you went there with Jihoon you were unable of seeing it. But after that you could. So you either must have done something bad in that time, what I'm sure you didn't, or something is really messed up", Hansol shared his thoughts with us. Everyone was speechless. We looked at Hansol, but he just looked at us, hoping for answers.
"Sometimes I think you're an idiot, but I think you're an idiotic genius", Seungkwan commented.
"Also adding to what I said: Soonyoung passed out the few times he went there. Maybe it's true that Soonyoung doesn't have a world and that's why when he enters our worlds he passes out. Like a mistake of the universe and we're causing it", Hansol added.
"Wow, not even I thought about it so hard", I murmured, fascinated over the fact that Hansol said that.
"So you're saying that Soonyoung's second world absence is a mistake of the universe?", Seungkwan asked confused.
"Yeah, think about it. The world attracts bad people to devour them and to make them part of itself. Soonyoung isn't bad so maybe the universe thinks that he shouldn't even have the possibility of dying in that world. Maybe that's why he keeps passing out. Like a warn from that world, so he stops going there", Hansol kept talking.
"Okay, I think I got that part now, but assuming from the look in your eyes, you want to test out if your theory's right", Seungkwan lifted an eyebrow.
"Somewhat yes", Hansol responded.
"No, Soonyoung's not going to go back to that world. The last time he even got a nosebleed. What if it gets worse?", Jihoon immediately denied Hansol's idea.
"After all it's up to Soonyoung if he wants to go there again. I just shared my thoughts and theories", Hansol said, innocently raising his arms. Now all eyes laid on me. Hansol looked a little hopeful, Jihoon slowly shaking his head and Seungkwan just looked confused.
"Can't we just go to sleep? I think that was a little much information in one go", I suggested a little overwhelmed.
"Sleep is also good", Seungkwan immediately agrees, nodding heavily. Hansol shrugged his shoulders.
"Well, good night then", Hansol bid goodbye and entered his room.
"Same here", Seungkwan yawned and entered his room.
"You should go to sleep too", Jihoon said, already knowing that I considered going back to that world.
"You too", I grinned.
"I will, but you won't. That's the problem", he uttered.
"I will, so don't worry", I shook my head.
"But don't go there. Even if Hansol's theory is right with that 'mistake of the universe' thingy, it isn't sure what's going to happen to you. Also if it's really a warn we should certainly not mess with that world", he still denied the idea, while crossing his arms. I nodded so he entered his room.

In my room I made myself ready for bed. Then I lied down. Too many things happened today's evening: Firstly that fight between Jihoon and Wonwoo and now that theory about this world. Jihoon's doing fine now, but how's Wonwoo doing? He also seemed pretty hurt after the sentences of Jihoon. Also I shouldn't have left Chan alone like that, but Jihoon was priority at that moment. And Hansol's theory... Jihoon was right: If it's really a warnsign, I shouldn't go there anymore. But now I'm curious again. If Chan really didn't do anything wrong, why can he see it and I don't? Maybe they interpreted the rules of this world wrong. Maybe there aren't even rules for this world and I just happen to be that mistake. Whatever, I should sleep for now.

Tomorrow won't be any easier...