Chapter 1
Round & Round
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The second hand on his watch spun on its spot without rest, as the minute hand danced forward every so often in an attempt to catch up. The hour hand, despite its prominence, had only moved thrice since the car pulled out of the driveway.
The steering wheel, the command central of the vehicle with the inability to steer itself, turned at the control of another, it's fate entirely decided by the driver and his decision. It was almost laughable, for that particular driver always felt like his fate was steered by someone else, someone who didn’t like him very much.
Without knowing its destination, the black tires ran forward, spinning in circles at an unusually fast pace, unperturbed by the tiny rocks on the old worn road, absorbing every impact- big or small, preventing the owner of the car from feeling anything from the outside world.
And Byun Baekhyun felt nothing.
The man was drained, even though it had not been a long drive. It wasn't even a taxing drive, for even though he had not return for a long time, he still remembered the route. Every turn, every tree, every landmark, was exactly the same as what he had seen when he took the same road years ago, albeit in a different direction.
Which was strange, for Baekhyun was sure he had buried that memory to the back of his head. It went to show some memories you simply could not forget and some things you simply could not control.
Baekhyun detested that.
He never really thought he would be back here. Maybe he would have found it funny, given other circumstances. But right now, Baekhyun could not muster up any energy to laugh. He was exhausted. He was frustrated. He was pushed to his limits. Baekhyun didn’t used to believe in limits.
The sky let out a low rumble, as though angry on his behalf.
Truthfully, there was nothing back here for him. He didn't even know what made him return to the quiet town where he used to call home. Baekhyun was elated when he finally ran away from this hopeless old town to city when he was 17. Ten years later, he was back here, probably as one of the most successful graduate of their local high school, and Port Town was still as run down as ever. It was as though time had stood still in this part of the world.
Of course, there was small pockets of beauty in a place that had not quite caught up with times. Particularly, the sunset by the seaside was one of the prettiest that Baekhyun had seen and he definitely had seen plenty. It was a pity, for there was no such view today. Thick and gray clouds loomed heavily in the sky, reminding Baekhyun that he was an unlucky man. Brushing that depressing thought aside, he continued driving to the edge of Port Town, where the waves crashed mercilessly against the pier. The fishermen shook their heads, it was not their day either.
It was not the fishing jetty that drew Baekhyun to this place, but rather a giant boardwalk further up. There it was, with its faded colors and tacky flashing lights, the old amusement park on the pier, stood through the ages. If Baekhyun was to roll down his windows now, he was certain that he would smell the overwhelming scent of buttery popcorn, even when the air was thick with the threat of rain.
The business was bad as usual, though the weather was partly to blame. Baekhyun found a parking spot without any difficulty. From the comfort of his car, Baekhyun watched the number of fools who decided that the dark clouds would not deter them from having a day out. A mother was buying her child a hotdog. A chubby boy was running for the queue after just finishing the very same roller coaster ride. A group of middle school girls laughed, as they took photos at the entrance.
Everything felt familiar, but it wasn't. He never like taking photos for instant, in fact, Baekhyun avoided mirrors until puberty finally graced him with its magic. He had always feared the roller coaster when he was younger, opting for milder rides. In particular, Baekhyun had no memory of a mother who would buy him food at from the stalls.
What made him like this place then?
His eyes were drawn straight to the colorful centerpiece of the small carnival, where the same horses were still dancing in the small circles. A single carousel stood proudly, unfazed by the uncontrollable in life, be it the weather, the natural wear and tear, or its declining popularity in a town with a decreasing population.
The carousel was still going rounds, without a single passenger to appreciate its hard work. Baekhyun almost felt sorry, tempted for just a single second to step out of the comfort of his car to take the ride that he was so fond of as a child. He reined himself in, shaking his head at his own immature thoughts. He was twenty-seven, for heaven’s sake.
Baekhyun closed his eyes, unable to comprehend the things in his head. It was all too much for a day, and he was exhausted. It was getting late, and he really ought to look for a place to settle down. Just when he found strength to open his eyes, a strike of lightning tore through the sky, illuminating the entire pier. The man frowned as he glanced up at the rainless sky, just when the delayed thunder roared in his ears.
The loud sound made him jumped, and instantly Baekhyun felt ridiculous by his own reaction. He was way too old to be caught off guard by anything but, still the shock from the thunder sent shivers down his neck like a gust of cool wind.
If Baekhyun was a fool, he would have wondered if the thunder sounded extremely intense because his car door had been opened and slammed shut right at the moment, sending in a slight draft that would made any other grown man shivered.
But Baekhyun was no fool, and he didn't believe in assumption or wasting any sort time to wonder. The man turned his head around, his lips tightened as he scanned his backseats, confirming his thoughts once and for all. He was too old to be caught off guard, but Baekhyun found
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