Chapter Text
- Let's go, Woo, there's a vacant table under an umbrella! - San exclaimed, having stopped in the middle of the water park.
- No, let's join the others, - Wooyoung squinted in the sunlight, unamused. - I wanna try that scary orange slide.
San, his ex-boyfriend, has been noticeably gallant lately, so much it is on the nose. So much it is almost nauseating.
- But... - San furrowed his eyebrows, growing desperate. - You said you wanted to rest and drink something in the shade...
Wooyoung said that in hopes San would finally leave him alone at least for half an hour, as he had been dying to finally attend this waterpark. It was very naive of Wooyoung to think that.
- Never mind, - Wooyoung shook his head and looked to the side. - Let's go.
- You're in a bad mood, aren't you? - San asked, taking a step forward to get closer to him.
Wooyoung took a step back.
- I'm in a normal mood, - Wooyoung grumbled, annoyed, mostly because San was reading him like an open book. - What is it? You were eager to try everything in this waterpark, let's go!
San looks upset and concerned, and Wooyoung is getting more and more annoyed.
- Look, why do I have to persuade you? Why are we fighting in the middle of a waterpark, as if we're are still together?! - Wooyoung asked with his arms crossed on his chest.
- Maybe, because we should be, - San said quietly.
Wooyoung closed his eyes and let out a noisy exhale.
Going on vacation with his ex-boyfriend was a bad idea, even though six months have passed.
- I've already told you... - Wooyoung looked him dead in the eye. - I'm not going to repeat.
San sighed, frustrated.
- Okay, fine... - San gave up. - But let's at least have something to drink. Like a milkshake or something. And then we'll join the guys.
- A milkshake, - Wooyoung chuckled, shaking his head. - Yeah, whatever. Let's go.
- Cool! - San's face lit up. - Follow me!
He led Wooyoung to a small café in the water park's premises, walking with a swing in his step from excitement.
- They have cool cocktails here, I've checked! - San is chattering, and Wooyoung cannot help but admire him.
He feels warmth and gratitude towards San. Anyone would probably be envious of Wooyoung if they saw that a man like San is tiptoeing around Wooyoung, trying to impress him and win him back. Wooyoung cannot help but feel guilty because San is trying hard to bring back what they had but he cannot win him back. It is not a competition. San cannot win but he is not a loser either. It is not how it works.
- Try it! - San told Wooyoung with playful fire in his eyes after putting a glass with an ocean-blue liquid in it.
Wooyoung smiled wistfully, feeling sorry for San and his desperate attempts. He looks like a kid who is trying to get his favorite toy back, like a trophy.
Wooyoung squeezed the straw between his teeth, looking into San's eyes. The blue liquid started flowing up the straw slowly, and a smile appeared on San's face.
- Wait, I'm gonna ask about the ice-cream! - San jumped up from his chair and went to the register.
Wooyoung keeps sipping on the cocktail, staring into the void and thinking about his past. He and San have made a lot of memories together and have had a great time. Constantly thinking that he has made a wrong decision by breaking up with San and feeling guilty because of it is Wooyoung's personal hell. He is going back and forth every day, stuck between the two extremes. Sometimes, especially at night before falling asleep, Wooyoung feels like his desire to be brutally honest with himself and others and stop denying his real feelings have not made anyone happier. Maybe, there are cases when it is better to live in denial, to live a white lie, and enjoy the good things as much as possible.
He looked down instinctively and choked on his drink.
- They have the rainbow ice-cream! - San announced happily. - Oh, hey, are you okay?
- Uh, yeah... - Wooyoung assured him, smiling. - It's really tasty...
He started playing with the straw with his fingers.
- Thank you, - Wooyoung smiled playfully.
- Not at all, - San smiled back. - You're welcome. You're in a better mood now, aren't you?
- Maybe... - Wooyoung keeps smiling and nodding.
- Oh... - San smiled even wider, raising his eyebrow.
Wooyoung keeps smiling and looking at San, as if challenging him.
- So...should I bring the ice-cream? - San asked, hopeful.
- Yeah, - Wooyoung nodded. - I bet it's tasty. Very sweet...
- Oh, I'm sure it is... - San agreed. - Very sweet...
- Then I'd like to taste it, - Wooyoung said.
It was enough to make San wrapped around his finger again and dancing around him on his tiptoes again. They ate the ice-cream, and Wooyoung was flirty, licking his spoon and smirking.
- You're different today... - San remarked, leaning on his elbows on the table with his face close to Wooyoung's face. - There must be something in the cocktail. Or in the ice-cream.
- There might be, - Wooyoung uttered seductively, playful but still unimpressed, needing more. - We'll never know.
He finished his ice-cream and pressed his back against the back of his seat with his arms crossed on his chest.
- So... - San smirked. - What are our plans now?
Wooyoung bit his lip.
- Well... - he shrugged. - I wanna go on the yellow slide, and then the orange one.
- I'll ask the guys where they are, - San took his phone. - They must still be waiting in line at the rainbow one...
- Um... - Wooyoung pouted and started stretching.
San gulped.
- Well, we don't necessarily need to join them, - Wooyoung said, looking up. - We can just go there. You and I.
San's eyes lit up.
- Then we can join the guys after the yellow one, - Wooyoung went on nonchalantly. - Or the orange one.
- Wow, uh... - San raised his eyebrows, overwhelmed and excited. - Yeah, um...Yeah, let's go!
Wooyoung smiled.
- Uh, but the lines there are crazy... - San sighed, frowning. - Especially at this time of day...And we still have to go to the locker room, and only then there. It's, like, one kilometer long !
- Um... - Wooyoung looked down with his eyebrows furrowed. - Let's do it this way: I'll go to the locker room and put our things into the lockers, and you go to the yellow slide and stand in line. By the time I join you, the line will have moved a great deal, so we'll get there faster.
- You're so smart, - San shook his head and touched Wooyoung fingers with his. - You don't cease to amaze me. We're are a good team, right?
- We are, - Wooyoung agreed. - We'll be an even better team if we manage to go down the orange slide before dinner time!
- We will, I promise! - San stood up and started walking, still facing Wooyoung. - We'll be the first in line!
Wooyoung nodded and hurried to the locker room with the two phones in his hands. He ran into the locker room, found San's photo in his gallery and tried to unlock San's phone with it. Surprisingly, it worked.
Wooyoung clicked on the messenger, looking around frantically and shuddering after every noise. Children are screaming excitedly and running around, relaxed adults are laughing, the sun is shining but Wooyoung is unable to enjoy the atmosphere right now.
- Shit... - he mouthed, widening his eyes.
San has a chat with Yeosang.
His Yeosang. His best friend since childhood and the love of his life. The reason of his breakup with San.
I think I'm ready to do it too.
This is the message Wooyoung has seen on the screen of San's phone when it lit up in the café. His heart skipped a bit when he saw Yeosang's number. He has his phone numbers memorized, both the Korean and the British one, and this is the British one. At first Wooyoung thought he had misunderstood something and hallucinated Yeosang again. Wooyoung thinks about Yeosang every day, sometimes all day long, so there is no wonder he sees him everywhere.
But he decided to check anyway, and his intuition was right.
- Shit, shit, shit!!! - Wooyoung cussed when Yeosang started typing again because the message had been marked as read.
sorry, I know you have a doctor's appointment today, and I was not supposed to text you. but I just wanted to say I'm ready~
I think I'm going to do it today. I need some support from you.
- What the hell... - Wooyoung muttered, panicking.
His knees are weak, and his body is shaking. He selected all the messages in the chat with trembling fingers and forwarded it to himself, then put the phones in his locker and left the locker room like a zombie.
He is headed to the yellow slide, neither dead nor alive. The world around him being happy, colorful and full of life feels like a mockery. Right now Wooyoung is scared of the children with floaties on their arms, scared of the sun, scared of the slides. Everything seems threatening now, after Wooyoung has caught a glimpse of some of the messages in the chat.
- You were totally right! - San is smiling widely. - The line is moving quickly, and we've saved a lot of time!
Wooyoung smiled broadly.
- Cool, - he said.
- You were right about this slide as well, - San said, getting even closer to Wooyoung. - The more I look at it and hear people scream while going down, the more I want to try it!
- I've told you, - Wooyoung nodded, forcing a smile. - I can't wait.
- Yeah, it's really cool! - San exclaimed and gently touched Wooyoung's arm with his hand. - I've heard people in line say that you start off at a low speed but then...
Suddenly Wooyoung's stomach convulsed, and all he managed to do was to take a few steps to the side and throw up on the floor next to a lazy river. His vomit is partly ocean-blue from the cocktail he drank earlier.
- Shit, are you okay? - San ran up to Wooyoung and put his hand on his back.
Wooyoung wanted to fall down on his knees and cry but he straightened up instead.
- It's strange that it happened before the slide, not after it, - San joked, trying to lighten the mood.
Wooyoung forced a smile again.
- Shit, Sani, I need to go to the bathroom... - Wooyoung exhaled slowly, taking advantage of the situation.
- Of course, I'll go with you! - San put his hand on Wooyoung's slim waist.
- No, no, it's fine, you stay in line, - Wooyoung pleaded.
- No, I'm not letting you go alone! - San argued. - What if you faint? You must feel this way because of the heat!
- No, please, Sani, stay here, it's fine, I promise! - Wooyoung assured him and rubbed his shoulders to dull his vigilance. - I'll faint if we have to go back to the end of the line!
San furrowed his eyebrows, worried.
- Don't worry, Sani, okay? - Wooyoung pleaded, looking into his eyes, and gently touched San's jawline with his knuckles.
San sighed, closing his eyes.
- It'll be quick, - Wooyoung assured him. - I'll come back soon...
He quickly left San in line before San changed his mind and headed to the bathroom. That is, to the locker room, as they are located in the same building. Wooyoung ran into the locker room, forgetting about his nausea, hastily opened his locker and took both phones out of it. He then went to a bathroom stall, closed the door and squatted down with his back pressed against the stall. He felt a bit relieved and opened the messages he had forwarded to himself from San's phone. After scrolling to the very beginning, he started reading.
yeah, Kakao is more convenient than Twitter. thank for talking to me~ you really understand me. people don't usually understand. they try to support me but they don't understand. you can't really understand it until you feel it.
Wooyoung felt a sting in his chest, and his eyes filled with tears. It seems Yeosang has been going through something, and Wooyoung has been completely unaware of it.
yeah, I get it. I know it's hard. I mean, it's hell on earth. for real
I know how it feels, man
I just wanna die tbh
me too. at this point I'm ready to ask someone to kill me. because I've tried and failed.
Wooyoung put his hand over his mouth but still let out a desperate horrified cry.
oh, I'm so sorry, man~~
what exactly happened?
you won't believe it. I live in a cartoon. I've tried gas, and the neighbors felt the smell from my stove. I've experienced clinical death, was even in a coma for a day but I lived. my life is a joke. I can't do anything right.
Wooyoung is crying like a child, hurt and absolutely terrified, but he keeps reading nonetheless.
OMG I'm really sorry man. you've been really unlucky so far ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
or luckyㅋㄷㅋㄷㅋㄷ depends on the way you look at it
unlucky. really unlucky. I need more luck just one last time.
Shivers went down Wooyoung's spine.
can I make a horrible joke?
of course, go ahead.
you know what they say...three is a lucky number
- You fucker...- Wooyoung muttered through gritted teeth.
let's hope so.
sorry, it was brutal ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
no, I like dark humor. I hope I'll be lucky this time.
I hope I'll be lucky too. I'm planning it but haven't chosen the date yet
try to postpone it. don't give in.
nah, man, I've already decided. this life is not for me
I'm not cut out for it, you know? I've failed in life, and I don't five a fuck about this messed up world. I haven't lived up to my full potential, I've got zero game, zero relationships, zero money and zero opportunities
I'm gonna end my shit soon
you've described me perfectly. this is literally my situation too. I've got nothing to live for. well, I have something to live for, but there's no point in it anyway.
Wooyoung rubbed his face with his hand, shaking his head. He cannot believe his eyes. He still hopes this is a hallucination but, apparently, it is not. Why would San pretend to be depressed in front of the man Wooyoung loves?
oh...what is this "something"?
I mean, what do you stay alive for?
oh, it's pretty banal. a person I love.
Wooyoung is feeling guilty for feeling hurt but he is also feeling relieved at the same time. It is hard for him to process this mix of confusing emotions at once. He is unbelievably jealous and heartbroken but happy that Yeosang has someone by his side. Of course, he does. Wooyoung shook his head, chuckling nervously. What did he hope for? Of course, Yeosang has a significant other! This is not what Wooyoung should worry about right now...
your gf? you're a lucky man, I'm envious
I wish. no, I'm gay and very stereotypically love my best friend of many years. it's actually very stupid. maybe, I still haven't grown up, that's why I'm so obsessed with the same person I was obsessed in school. we don't even talk anymore but I still love him.
oh wow...
it's very hard. lately it's become unbearable. he's happy and his life is amazing, and I'm very happy for him. but I can't help but be jealous when I see him with other people. I can't help but love him.
- Oh my fucking god... - Wooyoung muttered, letting the tears flow.
I'm so sorry, man
that's a bummer
it really is. he's on vacation right now and he posts photos every day. he's so gorgeous...I fall for him even more every day. but he's probably there with his gf or bf. I don't have any chance anyway. I know it, and I've tried to move on but I've failed. he's so...he's the best person ever. but I'm just a friend. best friend. brother. but not his potential romantic interest. it hurts so much.
Wooyoung gasped for air, suffocating while sobbing.
do you think you're out of his league?
kind of. maybe, not in general, but right now definetely. my live has gone downhill since we've fallen apart. lately it's been especially tough for some reason. I can hardly eat and sleep. like I've told you, I'm unemployed and generally have nothing to live for. my life is empty. and I want it to finally end.
Wooyoung dropped his head on his knees helplessly.
yeah, I feel you, man
I wish I could cheer you up but I feel the same
this life is shit, it's very unfair, and I can't wait to end it
just like you
yeah, unfortunately. I thought that, maybe, I would feel relieved after confessing to him. but at the same time, I'm so afraid. if I was scared to do it many years ago, it would look even more absurd now. I'm scared I'll only make it worse, and he'll hate me.
yeah...sorry to upset you, man, but I feel like it can only make matters worse
it might
I'm just being honest with you. I don't want you to feel even more hurt
Wooyoung is reading San's responses, boiling with rage.
your best friend confessing to you is...kinda creepy
I'm sorry
I'm sorry, man~
especially since you say you're like brothers...
no, it's fine~ you're right. that's what I'm thinking too.
sorry
but one of my friends confessed to his best friend. he's a boy and she's a girl. and they've been friends since childhood
she was very freaked out. it was not the same between them anymore after that. he's basically lost her
so confessing to your best friend is...tricky. very risky
- Ah, you fucker, fucker, fucker!!! - Wooyoung cried out angrily and hit the plastic wall of the bathroom stall with his fist several times.
San knows Wooyoung has loved Yeosang for years so Yeosang's feelings are more than mutual! And he has clearly made his imaginary friend's confession story up! Well, he definitely has not told it to Wooyoung...
yes, this is what I'm afraid of. you're right. I shouldn't do it. I don't want him to be freaked out.
- Yeosangie, my baby... - Wooyoung muttered, hysterical.
He scrolled down as reading those messages hurt too much.
I lack motivation to look for a job. I hate job hunting. I just want to die before I run out of money.
same, dude
you're so right
job market is fucked up. they don't hire you even with a university degree, even with experience
they want you to dance in front of them like a clown, they want to humiliate you
and even if you do it, there's still no guarantee they'll hire you
exactly, that's what I'm talking about. I'm too burnt out for this. I've worked a lot and earned a lot of money. so now I want to find an even better job but I fail. I want to grow but there are few opportunities. and I'm too tired to fight for them.
so true, man
I do have a university degree, and I'm quite qualified. I know I can earn a lot but only if I find a good job. a good opportunity. but I'm bad at networking.
yeah, networking is what really matters. they only hire nepo babies these days. and judge you based on your zodiac sign
I've given up tbh
fuck them all
what's your degree?
IT
yeah, no luck there. my friend is an IT guy too, and he's been struggling with employment. he's barely surviving on freelance, and the guy he studied with works at a fucking Burger King
y'all have it tough now, don't you? ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
yeah, kind of. I think. I know C., C++, C# and Java, and I'm learning Go. I hope that maybe I'll manage to find something soon. maybe, not that highly paid but at least something that could entertain me, give me a sense of purpose.
I hope so, man
again, don't wanna scare you, just a PSA
that friend of mine knows all the stuff you've listed, Go., PHP and Python but he's still broke. they say your folk is being replaced with AI so
take care
wow, your friend is so skilled...can you send me a link to their account? I wish I knew as much as him...
yeah, but he says it doesn't help. he's about to just go work for McDonald's ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
Wooyoung chuckled bitterly, shaking his head slowly. Besides rage, he is also feeling secondhand embarrassment. San must have googled these programming languages on the spot while chatting with Yeosang. Who is that mysterious friend of his who is so qualified in the IT sector? Should Wooyoung ask San to introduce them to each other?
Oh, right, he can't. Because this friend does not exist.
Wooyoung scrolled down, hurt and frustrated.
I've found the pills I might swallow soon
have you heard of them? here's a link
Wooyoung clenched his jaw and gritted his teeth. San knew what he was doing. He had a goal.
hope you don't mind some suicidal memesㅋㅋㅋㅋ
ofc I don't. they're funny ㅍㅎㅎㅍㅎㅎ
this will be me soon ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
but this meme has it wrong
it's not how you should cut your wrists
Wooyoung closed his eyes, furious and terrified at the same time. If he did not know it was San, he would not judge. Different people have different ways of coping. But he knows it is San. This chat was in his phone. If San had not been distracted by Wooyoung's flirting, he would have probably continue manipulating Yeosang right there and then. At the waterpark, while on a vacation, sipping on a cocktail and having the time of his life.
What San is doing is diabolical.
The first few days of their vacation flashed in front of Wooyoung's eyes. They were sunbathing at the beach, and San was on his phone. They were playing board games, and San was on his phone. They were on an excursion, and San was on his phone. He was laughing, joking, eating local food and praising it, beating others at Uno, basking in the sunlight with his phone in his hands.
I feel like I'm torn between the two worlds. sometimes I get inspired and start to think that, maybe, there is still hope, and I just have to hold on. but then I lose this inspiration and feel like I will never be happy and should end it already.
again, I don't want to upset you
so I'll just stay silent
I'm happy for you, man
no, please, be honest.
in my case, this feeling always lies. I also get inspired sometimes and try to change something but it just never works out. I'm tired
maybe, in your case it's different
but I'm sick of trying. nothing ever changes. it doesn't get better. it never does. it's a trap
life is a lying fucking bitch
you and I are just unlucky
people like us remain outcasts forever
Well, San has never been an outcast to Wooyoung's knowledge! You never know what is going on in someone's head and soul, it is true. Wooyoung would have even thought San is indeed going through something if he had not talked to Yeosang, who was the reason for their break-up. Why would San would choose Yeosang out of all people just to complain to him?
I honestly feel like we should kill ourselves, man
I'm sorry
it would save us a lot of time and energy
you do you, but I have decided
we can play a game: who will kill self faster?
ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
just joking
or am I?
let's place our bets
I feel like I'll beat you to it
no, please, don't do it. I'll be the first.
which method would you choose?
theoretically, of course ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
I don't even know...I have to think. I definetely won't repeat my mistakes.
yeah, you should choose wisely
we should choose wisely
I'd advise pills
I wish I was on antidepressants like you and had access to pills
you have to choose the right dosage. it's hard.
nah, I've actually found a good guide for this. it has right dosages for different medicines
Wooyoung's chin is trembling, and he is paralyzed by terror and disgust. He scrolled down and saw an image with Nike's logo and slogan "Just do it".
we should follow this advice ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
nothing is gonna get better anyway
we really should
This message was sent yesterday at three o'clock. Wooyoung remembers clearly that at that time they were at the beach, and San was in a great mood. He was scrolling on his phone while joking and laughing, and after he had put his phone down, probably upon sending the last message, he played volleyball for three hours and cheered loudly after every win.
Sweat mixed with tears is dripping down Wooyoung's face.
He has to move, and he has to do it quickly, before San suspects something. But at first he must make sure Yeosang is safe and sound. He decided to text him from San's phone first, trying to copy San's speech patterns.
hey, man, it's fine~ I've left the doctor's office early
please, don't do it
are you okay now? please respond
don't do it, man
I know we've been joking about doing it a lot but those were just jokes, okay? we will live, okay? we'll both find our happiness
you're smart and will find your dream job soon. you're still young, dude
and I think you should confess to your friend. if you really love him, just tell him. you'll feel better
sorry for being so pessimistic. I've been just feeling like shit
there is still hope for you
what are you doing now?
are you okay?
Wooyoung is staring at a single tick at the bottom of the message bubble, sniffling and rubbing his face with his hand. Yeosang was online twenty minutes ago but not now. After a few minutes have passed, and he still has not responded or at least read the messages, Wooyoung exhaled frantically and took his own phone.
hello, Yeosangie~
how are you??
sorry for texting you randomly but I can't keep it in anymore
I just miss you so much...
you can't even imagine how much I miss you and love you
sorry for saying it like that
you've anyways been the love of my life, Yeosangie
I'm fine, don't worry
I just wanted to finally come clean
Wooyoung started crying quietly again, covering his face with his hand. He has imagined how he would confess to Yeosang many times but was never brave enough to do it. Now he has finally done it but in horrible circumstances. Wooyoung would feel relieved and even proud of himself if he did not feel like he was in a horror movie.
He opened the browser and started booking a plane ticket to London, where Yeosang lived, with trembling fingers. Once the ticket was downloaded, he sighed and looked at his chat with Yeosang again.
I love you so so much, Yeochi~~~~
After sending one more message, Wooyoung wiped his tears and got up. Unfortunately, he has no time to wait for Yeosang's answer. He is extremely short of time. He has to think and act quickly.
He changed the password on San's phone, put the two phones back into his locker, washed his face and left the locker room, praying that San would not leave the queue.
- Holy shit, Woo, it's been ages! - San exclaimed. - I was going to check up on you! Are you okay?!
Wooyoung smiled, approaching him.
- It's fine, - he assured him with a smile. - I'm fine.
- How are you feeling? - San furrowed his eyebrows, looking concerned.
- Relieved, - Wooyoung told him the truth. - I'm feeling like a brand new person.
- Thank God! - San widened his eyes. - Do you still want to go down the slide?
- Of course I do, - Wooyoung replied confidently, - let's go.
San smiled, and in a few minutes they were already sitting in front of the two parallel yellow slides with their legs in the tube, holding the upper edge of the tube with their hands and waiting for the staff member's instructions.
- On your mark, set, - the staff members said, - go!
They both started sliding down, gaining speed with every second. San is screaming excitedly while Wooyoung is silent.
- Ye-e-e-e-a-a-a-a-ah!!! - San flew out of the tube and fell down into the pool. - Shit, it was amazing!
Wooyoung is floating in the pool too, watching San like a crocodile is watching its prey. San is not prey, Wooyoung knows it for a fact.
- It was so cool, right, Woo? - San asked Wooyoung, smiling widely. - I went down so fast!
Wooyoung is looking at San, who is radiating happiness and love for life, and struggling to believe that this man has been trying to make another person kill themselves, methodically and cruelly.
- Woo? - San furrowed his eyebrows and slightly tilted his head to the side. - Are you alright?
Wooyoung quickly approached him and leaned on him with all his weight, drowning him. San is a good swimmer, the pool is not deep, so this will not harm San in any way. But this is the closest Wooyoung can get to having his revenge right now.
- Oh, shit, you're playful today, aren't you?! - San laughed and spat out the water, then pushed Wooyoung, splashing him with water. - Aren't you scared you might get punished for that?
Wooyoung is not even angry anymore. He feels completely numb when he looks at this man.
- Are you sure you're capable of that? - Wooyoung asked, unamused.
Despite San's muscles and strength, he apparently prefers questionable methods to get his way. He is not a good fighter.
- Let's go to the orange one now, - Wooyoung said and got out of the pool.
Mentally he is with Yeosang, or at least at the airport. Sunshine is blinding him, and the cheerful sounds of the waterpark seem like white noise to him. What feels like a perfect day that will later turn into a happy memory to others feels like an escape game to Wooyoung, and he only has one attempt.
- Oh, hey, we've lost you! - Seonghwa cried out, smiling widely.
Wooyoung let out a shaky breath, mentally thanking the heavens, even though he had never been a believer. He and San ran into Seonghwa, Hongjoong and Mingi on their way to the orange slide.
- We're going to the orange slide, - San said right away, squinting.
- Yeah, we too, - Mingi nodded. - I think I'm gonna shit myself but it's worth it!
Everyone, including Wooyoung, laughed.
- Cool, let's go, then! - Wooyoung put on a happy mask. - It'll be less scary if we go there together.
Wooyoung could feel San's gaze piercing him and heard him sigh but ignored it. The group headed to the orange slide, and their jaws dropped when they saw the line. Wooyoung bit his lip and squinted, thinking his plan through.
- Holy shit, it will take ages! - Mingi complained, scratching his head.
- But, like you've said, it's worth it, - Wooyoung insisted.
They stayed waiting in line. San is not bubbly anymore, looking bored.
- Hey, maybe, let's spend some time alone instead of being stuck here? - San whispered in Wooyoung's ear with his hand on his waist.
The other three cheered and whistled, then started whispering and chuckling. Wooyoung turned his head and closed his eyes, wishing to shield himself from San's attention.
- It's a scary slide, and you felt sick earlier... - San added quietly.
- Guys, are you...- Seonghwa chuckled, smiling widely.
- San's just bored, - Wooyoung explained. - Let's play some game...
Wooyoung used all the skills acquired through the years of working in the music industry to keep his friends entertained. San stood with his arms crossed on his chest and was unusually quiet but seemed calm. This is what Wooyoung needed. To make sure San was calm and away from his phone.
When it was finally their turn to slide down the notorious orange slide, Wooyoung screamed the loudest to incite his friends to slide down one more time.
- That was insane, I wanna do it once more! - Hongjoong exclaimed excitedly.
- Me too, it was crazy! - Mingi agreed.
- You look like a wet chicken, - Seonghwa told him, smiling. - But I agree. Are you with us, guys?
- Of course we are, why are you asking? - Wooyoung affirmed.
- Uh, it was pretty rough, wasn't it? - San crossed his arms on his chest. - Are you okay?
- I'm completely fine! - Wooyoung assured him.
- I'm just worried, - San added. - You were feeling sick earlier, so...
- Oh, really? - Hongjoong asked, concerned.
- Are you okay? - Seonghwa asked.
- Yes, yes, I'm okay, let's just slide once more! - Wooyoung exclaimed, getting impatient.
Hongjoong furrowed his eyebrows, sensing that something was off.
- Let's go! - Wooyoung was the first to go back to the steps leading up to the top of the slide.
The rest followed him, and he sighed with relief. He went up the stairs, trying to figure out what time it was. Judging from the position of the sun in the sky, it was no later than noon. His flight is set to take off as late as at ten in the evening so he has to keep San entertained for at least one more hour.
Because if San finds out Wooyoung is leaving, he will not let him go without a fight.
- I need to go to the toilet, - Hongjoong announced after waiting in line for fifteen minutes.
- I'll go with you! - Wooyoung took it as an opportunity.
San wanted to protest but Wooyoung managed to quickly leave.
- Am I tripping, or is San really flirting with you? - Hongjoong asked, and Wooyoung's heart skipped a beat. - Are you back together?
Wooyoung gulped, deciding what his next move would be. It is too difficult to tell Hongjoong the whole truth, considering how little time they have. Hongjoong is too relaxed right now and generally pretty skeptical so it might take Wooyoung long to explain the situation to him and convince him he has not lost his mind. After all, San is Hongjoong's friend too, and Wooyoung somehow seeing those messages, tricking San into giving him his phone and then putting his phone out of order does not look good.
- No, we're not, - Wooyoung rolled his eyes. - Um, actually...
- What? - Hongjoong asked.
- He wouldn't leave me alone! - Wooyoung complained. - He's being too clingy!
- Yeah, I've noticed... - Hongjoong nodded.
- You know, I was thinking... - Wooyoung squinted and looked around before adding in a quieter voice, - I actually wanna go back to the hotel.
- Right now? - Hongjoong furrowed his eyebrows.
- Well, yeah, after we go down the slide again, - Wooyoung nodded. - Please, help me, Joong. I need some alone time. I wanna spend some time away from San. I know it sounds mean but...
- No, I get it, - Hongjoong agreed. - San can be very...persistent.
- Exactly! - Wooyoung nodded, widening his eyes. - And I just want to have some rest. So, after the slide I'll go to the bathroom again, and you go to some other slide, I don't know, persuade San to do something else, keep him entertained, okay? Please, Joong!
- But he'll most likely follow you, - Hongjoong raised his eyebrow.
- That's why I'm asking you to distract him for as long as you can, - Wooyoung pleaded. - Please, Joong! I want to spend at least an hour in peace!
Hongjoong looks skeptical, definetely suspecting something. Wooyoung knows Hongjoong has a hunch for such things but he also knows Hongjoong is a good friend.
- Well, okay... - he shrugged. - So you'll go to the toilet and just...leave?
Wooyoung nodded.
- Um...San said you were feeling sick earlier? - Hongjoong tilted his eyebrow.
- Uh, yeah I... - Wooyoung admitted. - I threw up while we were waiting in line at the yellow slide.
- What? - Hongjoong frowned. - Why? Maybe, you shouldn't go down the orange one again then?
- No, it's fine, I'm fine, and the slide is cool! - Wooyoung assured, nodding nervously. - Besides, I better hang out here with you all more to kind of...dull San's vigilance, you know?
- Woah, Woo, you make San seem like a monster! - Hongjoong chuckled.
Wooyoung chuckled nervously too.
- No, I just... - Wooyoung shook his head. - I don't want him to worry and cause a scene.
- He will cause a scene if you leave anyway, - Hongjoong said. - But don't worry, we've got your back.
- Thanks, - Wooyoung smiled.
In a minute they reached the building the locker room and toilets were located in, and Wooyoung rushed to his locker.
- I'll wait for you here, - he told Hongjoong and opened the locker with his rubber bracelet.
Looking at San's phone made him feel nauseous again but he took it anyway and unlocked it.
No response from Yeosang. Only the ominous messages he sent earlier.
Wooyoung squeezed the door of his locker so hard his knuckles went white. He cannot cry right now, no. Not now. The other way round, he must act as naturally and nonchalantly as possible.
are you here, man? I'm worried about you
please respond
please
are you okay?
Wooyoung is shaking from panic, biting his cheek not to break down crying. He checked his own phone too but Yeosang has not responded to his messages either. Besides feeling terrified and horribly guilty, Wooyoung is also feeling frustrated that San reached out to Yeosang earlier than him, even though with a malicious intent.
- You've been here the whole time? - Hongjoong asked, approaching Wooyoung.
Wooyung perked up nervously and almost threw the phones back into his locker.
- Yeah, - Wooyoung is trying to sound as nonchalant as possible in hopes Hongjoong cannot tell he is on the verge of tears.
- Okay, let's go, - Hongjoong is suspicious but is not able to put his finger on it.
While waiting in line to slide down the orange slide the second time, Wooyoung was restless and kept dozing off. It was a torture for him. He obviously wanted the queue to move faster so that he could finally leave but at the same time he understood that the more time he spent here, the better.
- Holy shit, I thought I was gonna die this time! - San cried out after landing into the pool, laughing, and started approaching Wooyoung. - How are you?
- I, um...- Wooyoung looked down into the bright blue water of the pool. The time has come. - It was cool but I'm feeling a bit nauseous again. I'm gonna go to the bathroom...
They left the pool quickly, as instructed, and Wooyoung started walking in the direction of the bathroom.
- I'm going with you, - San is tagging along. - I'm worried about you.
- No, Sani, there's no need, - Wooyoung assured him. - I'll be fine.
- You told me that before, and now you're feeling even worse! - San caught up with Wooyoung and touched his hand.
Wooyoung exhaled, panicking.
- I'm not feeling worse, - Wooyoung argued, growing impatient. - I'm okay. I just need to use the bathroom.
- You've been using it way too often, - San remarked with his eyebrows furrowed. - I'm worried about you, Woo! I think we should just go back to the hotel. You go to the locker room, and I'll warn the guys.
Wooyoung's heart almost stopped, and shivers went down his spine.
- Stop deciding for me! - he exclaimed angrily. - Sani, you know I don't like it. Please, just let me go!
- I'm not deciding for you, I'm just worried! - San objected. - I'm trying to do what's best for you!
Wooyoung clenched his jaw, barely holding back insults.
- I know, Sani, I know! - he said softly. - I'm fine, I promise you. Please, don't worry about me. Go join the guys, and I'll join you later.
San sighed, looking down with his eyebrows furrowed.
- Come on, Sani, I'll be back, - Wooyoung smiled and rubbed his arms.
There was distrust in San's eyes but he surrendered.
- Fine, I'll wait for you, - he grumbled. - Take care.
Wooyoung smiled and walked away, relieved but still tense. When he looked over his shoulder in a minute, and San could no longer be seen, he started running. He must be as fast as lightning.
Wooyoung quickly got to the locker room, took his clothes and the two phones and went to the changing room. He got dressed at a record-breaking speed, like in the army, and left the building, hiding his face behind the mask. He then ran ever faster to the turnstiles at the entrance, looking over his shoulder every few seconds to make sure San was not after him.
Every minute is crucial right now. Wooyoung has had a head start, but it is a matter of time until San realizes what is going on. Wooyoung has ran to a bus stop which was located not far from the water park but not right in front of it. He is now waiting for the bus, biting his lips and shaking his leg nervously, checking both phones every minute. Yeosang is not active on any social media account. The last time he was online in the messenger was more than an hour ago when he sent San those notorious messages.
- Sorry, where is bus? - Wooyoung asked a local at the bus stop in broken Dhivehi.
- English? - the man smiled, and Wooyoung nodded, thankful. - The bus late. They late always. You wait long.
- Fuck... - Wooyoung looked down and shook his head.
The area around the water park is very crowded, and the demand for taxis is correspondingly high.
- One thousand rufiyaas, - a taxi driver with tan skin, gold crows on his teeth, grey moustache and a smirk on his face warned Wooyoung.
- Yes, go fast, - Wooyoung ordered after hopping into the car, and the driver sped up.
The taxi is going fast, just like Wooyoung has requested, and he is feeling slightly nauseous again. His nausea is becoming even worse because he is constantly looking at the two screens in hopes Yeosang will respond. He sniffled and pressed his phone to his ear with the tears in his eyes. He is only hearing long beeps instead of Yeosang's voice.
Wooyoung has tried to call Yeosang several more times from both phones but to no avail. He is in such panic he is ready to call the British police, or at least Yeosang's parents but he is trying to remain calm and rational. He has to arrive in London at first.
When the taxi stopped in front of the hotel, Wooyoung felt slightly relieved and gave the driver even more money than he had requested.
- I'll pay you more if you wait for me here and then take me to the airport, - Wooyoung told him, leaving the car.
- I'll wait here, - the driver smiled, sticking his bent elbow out of an open window, content.
Wooyoung ran up the stairs, then to the elevator, then from the elevator to his room. He has packed his things with a speed of light, leaving some unimportant stuff in the room, then showered, made sure both phones were charged, and left the room with his luggage.
- I'm checking out, - Wooyoung forced a polite smile at the reception. - Have a good day.
The driver was still waiting outside of the hotel, so Wooyoung put his luggage in the trunk, got into the car, and the car took off. Wooyoung let out a long relieved exhale, mentally putting a tick next to another important step in his plan. Is San already after him? Maybe, maybe not. At the very least Wooyoung is getting farther and farther away from him with every second, as the car's engine is revving and the landscape is fleeting behind the window.
The car took him to the port, where Wooyoung took a ferry. As the ferry was slowly sliding across the water, Wooyoung was watching the shore get smaller and smaller. He soon got to the airport and finally checked the phones again. In a taxi he promised himself he would only check them once he got to the airport, not earlier. He has done it, and the result has disappointed him, but he is at least already at the airport. He is on his way to Yeosang, he is already doing something. He is not feeling completely helpless, like in the water park.
Woo
have you stolen San's phone?
Wooyoung's heart started beating faster when he read Hongjoong's message.
he said his phone was in your locker but it was locked so we had to ask the staff to open it. only to find out his phone was not there
A crooked smile appeared on Wooyoung's face, and he chuckled nervously, covering his mouth with his hand, like a child.
San said he thought someone had stolen it but I don't think that's what he thinks. he's protecting you. what's going on, Woo?
San looked very nervous when he found out there was no phone
Oh, of course, he was!
what is going on between you two?
I thought I was helping you, I trusted you. but it turns out I've helped you steal San's phone?
Woo, please, respond
just explain it to me
Wooyoung started selecting the forwarded messages, chuckling maniacally and feeling like he was about to drop a bomb. He said nothing, just forwarded the messages to Hongjoong, then locked the phone and chuckled again, looking out of the huge airport window.