“...and how she would feel with all their simple sorrows, and find a pleasure in all their simple joys, remembering her own child-life, and the happy summer days.” Closing the book in hand, the storyteller turns his head to the little boy on his lap. Said boy was hugging his teddy bear close to his chest while staring at the cover of the book. “Still not asleep yet, Channie?” the former asks. The two were currently sitting on a plush couch in their family living room. Their parents were out so the former had to look out for his little brother. The younger of the two, Chan - or Channie according to the other - look up at the older and opens his mouth.

“Why were all the characters so angry, hyung?”

With a fond smile the older replies, “Ya, of all the things I read, that’s all you remember?” Placing the book on the table in front of them, Chan just squirm a little while whining out a stressed out ‘hyuuung~’. With a wider smile showcasing teeth, the older just hug his brother even closer. “Alright little guy. I’ll tell you a secret, but I won’t hold it against you if you don’t remember. So the characters in the story weren’t angry at anybody. Did they seem angry to you?”

“Not exactly,” the little one says uncertainly.

“Exactly, they were just a little crazy.” With his last word, he crossed his eyes and look at his brother, getting a laugh from him.

“But how does that make them mad?” he asks after his laughter subsided.

“Forever curious, aren’t you?” the oldest asks rhetorically, to which the younger just nods anyway. Smiling down at the child, he told the boy, “They were mad because Alice was going mad herself.” Seeing the confusion, he continues. “Remember Alice was dreaming. These characters were all in her head. She wanted a world where the most impossible things were possible and that’s what she got. Wonderland is nothing more than a place you go to when you don’t wanna grow up.”

“That’s stupid.”

Laughing at the little boy, the older just pick up the toddler and made his way up the stairs into his room. “Oh, Channie, don’t ever lose this innocence of yours.”

“What?” he turns his head to me before seeing his surrounding. Forgetting his question in a snap he quickly asks, “I get to sleep with you tonight, hyung?”

“Of course, little guy. With umma and appa away, who’s to protect you from the monsters?”

“Not funny, hyung,” Chan tolds him while being tuck into the big bed. The older soon settled onto the other side.

“I’ll always protect you, Channie,” he whispers while hugging in Chan closer to his body.

(Present time)

Tears fell from a young man’s eyes as he finished reading the book in his lap. “...and how she would feel with all their simple sorrows, and find a pleasure in all their simple joys, remembering her own child-life, and the happy summer days.” More tears fell into the book before he finally closes it. Looking up at the stone in front of him, he read the inscription:

Lee Seokmin

February 18, 1997 - June 02, 2015

Beloved son and brother

“Protect your Wonderland, then you can protect yourself.”

The last line brought more tears to the young man’s eyes. His hyung always told him to protect his Wonderland, his innocence, whatever. He didn’t get it until now. He can’t believe he was truly alone now. With a hoarse voice, the man greets, “H-hi hyung. It’s me. Channie. I-I miss you.”