Like a heavy weight being lifted off the team’s shoulders, they sat under the chandelier of the living room, keeping their eyes fixed on Soobin, who gradually stirred awake.

He looked fresher now, his pale complexion now gaining colour as he drank some water, his lips glossy with the liquid layering over, his dishevelled hair now tidily arranged, and his forehead wrapped in gauze with a few strands of his purple locks falling over. The little scars on his arms and legs were treated with bandages and band aids, while the large rash on his right leg with peeling skin was covered up with another long piece of gauze after one of the nurses carefully removed tiny pieces of dirt and dust.

Whether he needed his crutches again or not, it didn’t matter, for the crutches were long abandoned somewhere within the enclosed area, and most likely destroyed by the machine.

Soobin slowly lifted himself from his resting position, turning around to keep his feet on the ground while his back leaned against the cushioned couch. He bent over to look at his leg, a small frown lacing his lips as he gently pressed his fingers against the fabric.

“Soobin.”

At that quivering and breathy voice, he raised his head, only to see a gathering of people looking at him with wide eyes. He pulled his lips into a tight smile and said, “Hi. I guess I’m not dead.”

Immediately, he found himself being embraced by a group of people, their whispering words of comfort rushing into his ears like a train disappearing into a tunnel. He couldn’t help but smile as he in a deep breath, almost like he was breathing in the essence of life. He couldn’t deny that it felt good to be alive, to be with his friends.

“Don’t you dare try and sacrifice yourself for any of us, okay? We’re not heroes in a drama, we’re survivors.” Taehyun was the first to remove himself from the warm hug, a small smile on his face as he stared at the older with bright eyes. “Are you okay?”

Soobin simply nodded, before he flashed a smile towards the rest of the team looking at him. He specifically nodded towards Felix, knowing that the latter tried to get closer to him over these few days. He then felt a sudden chill as Beomgyu stepped away from him, but the younger’s hand rested on his shoulder.

“You idiot. You can’t die, okay? It’s literally not allowed according to my rules.”

He giggled softly at the other’s ridiculous remark, but his heart beamed with gratefulness. He was more than delighted to see his friend’s smile one more time, a pretty smile at that.

Kai gently sat next to Soobin and squealed, reaching out to rub his hand on the older’s stomach. “Soobin-hyung, you still owe me a plushie, so you better stay put.”

The older couldn’t help but smile at the younger, lifting a hand to pat the other’s head. He nodded firmly and whispered a soft apology, only for him to smile again. He didn’t know how he thought he could leave behind the younger; he could never leave the younger.

He couldn’t leave behind anyone.

He then relaxed his shoulders as the last person moved away from him; he looked to his side to see his best friend smiling fondly at him. He couldn’t help but drop his own smile, immense guilt and remorse washing over him at once. He didn’t think he would be here, sitting next to Yeonjun with the latter looking at him with such admiration that he thought he was floating, but there was a strange aura around his best friend that somehow always kept him sane and on the ground. He knew right there and then, Yeonjun was the one who always completed him.

There was no need for an exchange of words; all that Soobin needed for his heart to calm down was that forgiving look.

“You should rest. All of us should rest through the night. It’s been… It’s been a tiring day, a tiring night.” Jisu suddenly interrupted sheepishly, glancing at Kai and Jungeun, aware that the three of them were unconscious for quite some time.

Kai rose to his feet and looked over his shoulder to look at Soobin yet again, a reassuring smile surfacing through. He then turned his attention to the others, “And no one’s going to tell me about me supposedly exploding with my power? Why don’t I remember?”

Before he could receive an answer, he flinched as he looked at the large doors that served as the entrance to the mansion. He saw a group of people flood in with their belongings, the mass of civilians being led by some members of the team.

Yeosang, who stood at the front, clarified: “There are no slimes outside or by the river, and even if they do come, it’ll take them a long time to reach us. We should all rest.” He then looked at Yeonjun with concerned eyes; he knew how this all must’ve affected him, but he needed to make sure that filling up the mansion wouldn’t be a problem.

Yeonjun nodded slightly and sent a look towards his father, and upon receiving an eager nod, he slid off the couch. Closing his fingers into fists, he pointed at the stairs leading to the next floor lurking within the darkness. “Some of us should head upstairs to accommodate the others.”

“Wait, can everyone confirm that all of us are here?”, Yeosang added in a clear voice, eyeing the people around him. He waved his torch as he began counting the people of the squad, before averting his gaze to a group of elderly that he carefully helped inside.

He couldn’t risk forgetting someone, not after what had happened with Soobin.

Soon after, Kai and Taehyun raced up the steps, while Yeonjun and Beomgyu helped Soobin head upstairs with his aching leg. Following them were a few others who fled into the bedrooms and made themselves comfortable despite the darkness only bringing them an air of distress.

Meanwhile, the quintet entered a large room at the corner of the hallway, one that they all recognised to be Mr. Choi’s office; it was enclosed by tall walls of exquisite design, four pillars adorning the corners along with a few massive artworks hanging around, while a mahogany desk sat at the centre, an untidy heap of papers scattered across. The leather chair behind the desk faced away from the door, a sign of rushing out of the house upon the barrier’s expansion.

They noticed how the barrier cut through a portion of the room, limiting access to part of the office.

“Of all the rooms in this big house, you chose your dad’s office for us to sleep in?” Beomgyu was already complaining as he walked towards the barrier and placed his hand against the surface, frowning at the lack of feeling against his skin. He was still puzzled by its features and capabilities.

“Our most grateful friend, Choi Beomgyu…” Kai responded with a chuckle as he threw himself onto the couch at the corner of the room. He stifled a yawn and rubbed his eyes even though he was knocked out a while ago. He finally relaxed his shoulders as he felt slumber take over, trying his best not to ponder upon the fact that he almost lost his friend.

Yeonjun glared at the youngest, knowing that the couch would be a better place for Soobin, but the latter was adamant on letting Kai get his well-deserved sleep. He shrugged his shoulders and took his best friend to the leather chair, swatting away Taehyun’s greedy hands that poked at the material of the seat.

He considered it a responsibility to take care of Soobin, to protect him from harm, to keep him safe and comfortable, unaware of the fact that it was making the younger a little frustrated.

Soobin was still thankful, however, as the other didn’t bring up their conversation from back at the library. He didn’t want to talk about his suppressed feelings, nor did he want to discuss the plan Mr. Choi had devised behind his back. He didn’t want to put his heart on the line and risk their friendship, and he knew that it would be rather selfish and foolish of him to try and confess again. In all honesty, he didn’t mind having his best friend as a mere best friend.

In the end, he simply didn’t want to keep any secrets from the one person he trusted to an unfathomable extent.

In the end, he simply didn’t think he would be alive after all that happened to him, after all that he endured, after all that he said and sacrificed.

Yeonjun dragged his tired feet across the carpeted floor and pulled away the heavy curtains by the window that faced the river. He squinted his eyes and tried to see through the dark, but the glimmering moonlight reflecting on the river assured him that they were safe for now. Although there were no slimes in sight,