Caratland [Seventeen FF]

-44-

The next day or the first day of vacation week was like the day before. Jihoon kept avoiding me, without replying to my questions, always finding an excuse to run away. I was so sick of it, but I wasn't angry. Just sad. It was worrying me that it stayed for so long.

The second day was the same. Wonwoo and Mingyu took the ship to the city. Jihoon seemed to open up to Seungcheol and Jeonghan since I saw the three of them talking and drinking a milkshake. I'm glad that he at least talked to someone, but I guess the problem has to do with me since he would always talk it out with me.

The third day changed a little. Jihoon started talking to me again, but he still didn't tell me the reason why he acted that way for a week. This day Seokmin took the ship to the city.

On the fourth day Jisoo told us that he found a little mini job as sommelier so he also left the island for the rest of the time. Hansol, Seungkwan and Chan took advantage and rode the ferris wheel. Jisoo always said that a lot could go wrong so he never let anyone of us ride it.

Jihoon and I were playing earth conquer, while eating the last tangerines that somehow survived the last days. Since the vacation started, the four walls of my room became my best friend.
"No, kill the pig!", I shouted with a full mouth.
"Wait, I need the resources", Jihoon said, sitting up straight since the level was important. Once Jihoon finished plundering all the boxes he quickly came back to the battlefield. The tension rose as we were about to finish that level successfully. Only the last goat-
"Yas!", we both exclaimed at the same time, giving each other high five.
"You got better in this game", I complimented him surprised. He just turned pink, looking away, while stuffing a whole tangerine in his mouth, which looked so cute. I decided to not comment on this one.
Suddenly we heard a knock on our door. The person revealed himself as Minghao.

"The other ones wanna go eat chicken. They ask if y'all want some too?", he asked mumbling a little.
"Let's go then", I said and got up.
"I'm sorry but since when do you get along again?", Minghao asked a little reserved.
"Same goes for you and Jun", Jihoon replied, also getting up and burying his phone in his pocket.
"Long story that I won't tell", Minghao sighed, going forward so we wouldn't question him further.

It was already dark outside. Can't wait for summer season... For the first time in weeks everyone who could came with us. Minghao, Junhui, Hansol, Seungkwan, Chan and I stayed at the front, whereas Seungcheol, Jeonghan and Jihoon stayed at the back.
"I would've never expected that Jihoon hangs out with the oldies", Minghao suddenly commented, killing the conversation as everyone stopped talking. "Cringe", he mumbled by himself as he noticed it, making everyone laugh.

At the chicken shop most of us got pop chicken. I sat next to Chan, Hansol and Seungkwan. Since the tables could handle a maximum of four people we all sat at different tables. Hansol and Seungkwan were talking about some nonsense that Hansol made up, while I poked around my popcorn chicken.
"Hey, wanna visit my world again?", Chan asked, as he noticed that I was fed up.
"You know that I don't go there anymore", I replied, not looking at him.
"Yeah, but I taught the lion a new move and I really want to show it to someone. You know how the others are rather not interested in my stuff", he explained and pouted at the end. I peeked a look at him, but his pout didn't disappear.
"And who's going to take care of my work?", I asked him an eyebrow raised, alluding to my little handicap.
"It's vacation week anyway and if you still don't wake up then...", he mumbled, thinking hard. "Then I'll do your work", he said.
"Do you even know what to do?", I asked, still not convinced from his idea.
"I basically stalked you the whole time you're here so I guess", he shrugged his shoulders. Well, thinking of it, he was always around Jihoon and I when bored.
"Fine, but don't take so much time", I rolled my eyes persuaded. A bright smile then appeared on his face. Excited he clapped in his hand.
"I won't disappoint you", he assured me determined.
"Whatever", I laughed. Such a passionate kid...

After dinner we made our way back. Halfway we split with the others since Chan and I went to the amusement park and the others back to the hotel.
"Where are you going?", Jihoon asked us.
"Chan wanted to show me the new trick he taught his lion", I explained, pointing at Chan, who agreed with nodding.
"So you really go back there?", Jihoon asked, an eyebrow raised.
"It's vacation week anyways", I shrugged my shoulders, telling him the same that Chan told me.
"I really can't convince you that you're playing a risky game here", Jihoon sighed. "Do whatever you want, but I warned you and if you're still unconscious when work starts again, you'll gonna do twice the work", he said and turned around to follow the other ones.

"Don't you sometimes feel annoyed by Jihoon's overprotective behaviour?", Chan asked me as we entered the storage.
"Firstly I'm used to it and secondly I know that he doesn't mean it in a annoying way so I let him be", I shrugged my shoulders.
We were standing in front of the portal, which lit up in a beautiful green.
"You really accept everything, right?", Chan asked.
"My father always said that friendship is about acceptance, not about changing. In other words: you don't want to change the friend in the way you like him to be, but rather accept the difference between you two as two different individuals", I said, smiling bitterly over the thought of my father. Chan suddenly stood still. I turned around to check up on him. He looked on the floor as if he questioned himself something. "Is something wrong?", I asked a little worried.
"Nope, nothing", he quickly replied, smiling real quick. I raised an eyebrow, but didn't question any further.
"You go before me", he said pointing at the portal. I did what he said.

This time the way was short... or not? I remembered somehow the way, but after that everything was blurred and went dark again. Did I pass out again? But why on my way there...?