~*~

"You're kidding, right?" I said.

Their eyes were avoiding me, like they were scared to say something. I saw Yuta's jaw tensed at my question. 

"It's the only way." Mark said, his eyes were still on the dinning table.

After we got Hendery to the house, their supposed house, I was about to leave but they stopped me.

I tried to walk away again. 

Xiaojun got to the backdoor before I could and shook his head as a no. "This is the only way that we can be safe. Until we figure out where we'll be going next."

"We don't want this as much as you." Yuta said before standing up from his seat. Then eyed each of us respectively, "don't trust anyone outside this house. If someone tries to offer you something; reject them kindly." Then his eyes finally landed on me. "If someone tries to get you out of this city; don't hesitate to put them down instantly."

The way he said it sent shudder down to my spine. I wish I just misheard it but he just really said that without any remorse. 

"So where should we go?" Jaehyun said.

I noticed Yuta's eyes never left me. He walked and grabbed me by my wrist to the guest room near the kitchen. After letting go of my hand, he closed the door and locked it.
 

"You could've just asked me nicely." I said quietly.

"We all know that wouldn't work on you." Yuta said. I felt his intense gaze at me and I didn't dare to look up from the floor.

"What do you want?" 

"What did I do to you?" He suddenly asked.

I shot him a confused look, "huh?"

"What did the dark witch do to you when she looked like... me."

I honestly was not in the mood to talk about it. Why did he have to bring this up now? I was exhausted and my head still hurt. 

"Nothing." I managed to say. "Was nothing serious." 

"But you were pretty upset when I did talk to you after your encounter with fake me." He said.

"Can we not talk about this now? Let's just go back outside and figure out where we should go." 

I tried to reach the door but he held back my wrist. I pulled away from him immediately.

"Are you okay?"

I gave him a glare. "Why is everyone asking me that?" I managed to stay calm. "How am I supposed to act? I have to somehow learn the four elements in ten days— not to mention— the Avatar State, the dark witch is after us, my brother is missing, Victor disappeared just like that, and who knows maybe I killed Hendery that's why he's not waking up, and Taeyong—" 

I stopped when I realized I shouldn't have said anything about Taeyong. 

Yuta gave me a look, more of a pity than surprise. "Hey," he held my face with both of his palms. "I'm sure Jaemin is fine. He is a smart kid. And Hendery is okay. Give him more time."

I let out a sigh. "Sorry. I shouldn't let it all out on you." 

"I'm glad you did." Yuta let go of me and cleared his throat. 

Since the past few days, he was nothing but helpful. He was so patient and gentle with every situation despite all that is going on. It made me wonder if all of this was an act. Of course it was. 

"How do you do it?" 

"What?"

"Aren't you scared?" I lifted my head to glance at him. 

"Who says that I'm not?" He returned my gaze. 

"What are you scared of?"

He paused for quite some time. He looked like he was hesitating to speak. "Everyone looks up to me like I'm some kind of a genius leader." He said. "They think that I have everything under control. Everything planned out. They're right of course," he shrugged and let out a light chuckle. "But at times I can be just as scared and clueless like everybody else."

I hated myself in that moment for not knowing what to do. I wanted to comfort him. But there I was, standing in front of him like a fool.

"It's getting harder and harder to pretend at those times." He said. "But I can't let anybody down."

That was it. I stepped forward to take his palm and gave it a reassuring squeeze.

"No one's ever been perfect. It's okay to screw up sometimes." I said. "Just so you know, I won't be disappointed." I smiled before realizing that came out wrong. "Uh— Not that I'm expecting you'll mess up or anything..."

Yuta's chuckle lifted up the heavy feeling that had been lingering on my chest for quite some time. I was relieved, and so was he. Even just for that one short moment. I was glad we were laughing.






 

YUTA

I wish we could've met in a different time. I wish we weren't tight up in this ridiculous prophecy. I wish I wasn't the son of an Olympian. I wonder if she would've liked me in the first place if I weren't. I wonder if we had a chance if I weren't.

The look in her eyes. It was only pity. Nothing more. Nothing less. 

I wonder if she would've looked at me differently. Perhaps... in an affectionate way? Trying to comfort me because she actually cared deeply about me? 

I can only wonder about it.

I regret deciding to open up to her. I knew she would either only listen and stay silent, or try to console me in a way. Of course the latter would make me feel better. But now I wasn't so sure. 

I felt devastated.