“She has a special ability. An ability to see what people fear most,” Doojoon continued, looking at Yoseob, waiting for his reaction.

Yoseob was puzzled, hearing the explanation from Doojoon. An ability to see what people fear most. The words echoed in his head. So, she screamed because she saw what he feared most. But, what was he scared the most. Was it death? No. Was it blood? No. Was it bullet? No. What was it? He couldn’t figure it out. He started to scratch the back of his head, sighing.

“Don’t worry. It is not important to know what you fear most,” Hyunseung suddenly voiced out as if he could read Yoseob mind. He could see how Yoseob reacted to Doojoon explanation. He felt the same when he knew about the princess’ ability. Now, he didn’t feel like he needed to know it. It might be better for him not to know. He smiled to himself.

Yoseob turned to Hyunseung. He was a bit surprise with Hyunseung words. Then, he started to notice again how familiar Hyunseung face to him. He cocked his head to the side, scanning Hyunseung face.

Hyunseung noticed the look that Yoseob gave to him. He felt awkward with Yoseob weird look on him. Was his sentence made Yoseob look at him like this?

“Seungie?” Yoseob finally recognized who was Hyunseung.

*********

“Seungie,” A seven years old boy came to an older boy. He was just older by a year.

“I told you don’t call me Seungie, 510” The older boy replied as he turned to the smaller boy.

“I hate calling people by number, plus 444 is a bad number,” 510 pouted as he stood beside his Seungie.

“It is not that I really want that name. But why call me Seungie?” 444 asked curiously. He had heard a lot of times about how 444 was a bad name as it was a very bad number.

“481 says that Seung suits you,” 510 replied in cheerful tone.

“But one syllable for a name is weird,” 444 replied, unsatisfied.

“That’s why I call you Seungie,” 510 told 444, smiling brightly. He was happy that he could call 444 by a name. Usually, only sold slaves and fighting slaves were given names. Those who were still in the factory would be labelled by number to ease the process.

“It still sounds weird. Anyway, how do you talk to 481? I never see he talk to anyone. I seriously think he is deaf,” 444 changed the topic. However, it was true. He never saw 481 spoke a word. That boy always kept his mouth shut, no smile, no pout, no expression at all. He was like a machine and he scared most of the boys here.

“It’s a secret,” 510 winked.

*******

“How do you survive?” Yoseob asked Hyunseung right after he noticed that Hyunseung was Seungie.

“Survive?” Hyunseung was puzzled with Yoseob sudden question.

Doojoon was also shocked with Yoseob question to Hyunseung. Does he know who is Hyunseung? He thought as he remembered the first time he met Hyunseung.

**********

Doojoon, 11 years old, was looking through the metal bar as he saw others were practicing with their partners. He didn’t have any partner as most fighting boys were avoiding him. Was it because of his name? He chose Doojoon because he thought it suited him. Doo meant head and Joon meant handsome. When he rearranged that it would become the head of handsome men. He slightly laughed at his own thought. It might be a stupid name but all the good names had been taken and he seriously not good at making names although he liked it.

Unexpectedly, the gate of the jail was opened. Then a boy walked in. He was so skinny and dirty. The gate was closed again.

“Your new partner,” said the gate opener strictly and walked away after locking the gate.

“Anneyoung,” Doojoon greeted him. He never saw this boy before. He must not from this factory. Was he been bought by the master? Or he was the street boy that was taken by forced. He had met many street boys that was kidnapped and brought to the factory. Some of them had parents of their own and they kept crying, wanting and missing their parents. Doojoon didn’t understand the feeling as he never knew his parents.

The boy didn’t reply him but he kept staring at him with innocent look. It seemed like he didn’t understand what Doojoon said to him before. His eyes were pretty and that blank look suited him. At the second glance, he looked like a girl. Doojoon had saw girls before and they were pretty. However, he could never greet them as they were always at the other part of the factory.

“I’m Doojoon,” Doojoon offered his right hand for a hand shake.

That boy slowly took Doojoon hand as he was hesitating. However, he smiled when Doojoon held his hand tighter. It comforted the boy, to feel the warm in his hand.

Doojoon smiled as the boy accepted his hand. It was like the boy was accepting him. Doojoon took back his hand when the boy released it.

“What is your name?” Doojoon asked, curious. He really wanted to know this angelic looking boy. Angelic? Yes, he looked so innocent, naive and pure. He might look dirty but somehow Doojoon felt that he was a very kind-hearted person. It as if he could trust him already.

“Seung,” The boy answered.

Doojoon forehead frowned. It was an awkward name since it just had one syllable. However, Doojoon didn’t mind. He smiled again.

“Why are you here?” Doojoon asked as he wanted to know whether the boy was actually a slave or a normal street boy with family. If he had a family, it must be hard for him to survive here.

“I... I don’t know,” Seung startled. He shook his head as he closed his eyes.

“Do you have a family?” Doojoon truly wanted to know. If he did, Doojoon wanted to comfort him. Still, he just needed to know.

Seung shook his head again. “I... I don’t remember. I... I can’t remember,” he fell to the ground.

Doojoon was surprised. What had happened? He approached Seung that was laying on the ground.

Seung was holding his head as it was painful. He wanted to remember but he couldn’t. Doojoon questions echoed in his head. Who was him? Where he came from? Why he was here?

“Are you okay?” Doojoon concerned.

“I... can’t remember anything,” Seung replied. He just remembered that his name was Seung. That was it. Not more. The pain sharply pierced his brain. It was hurting him. However, Doojoon questions made him wanted to remember so he tried even it was painful.

“It... it is okay,” Doojoon tried to comfort him. It seemed like Seung was in pain when he tried to remember and he didn’t like it. The painful look didn’t suit Seung.

“You don’t have to remember,” Doojoon continued as Seung still looked bad.

Seung slowly felt the pain walked away. He turned to Doojoon. I don’t have to remember. He thought. Doojoon statement soothed him.

Doojoon smiled as Seung stopped holding his head. He sat beside Seung.

“Since you are new here, I’ll give you a new name,” Doojoon said cheerfully.

Seung was blanked. New name?

“Hyunseung. Since Seung is really weird. It only has one syllable,” Doojoon continued explained.

“Hyun means angelic. So I add Hyun to your name. Do you like it?” Doojoon kept talking when Seung was kept looking at him blankly.

Hyunseung. Seung thought. It did sound better. He smiled and nodded his head.

*********

“Yeah, how do you survive the explosion?” Yoseob asked seriously as he looked at Hyunseung intensely, waiting for the answer.

“What explosion?” Hyunseung became more confused, he took a step backward. Was it related to his past? Why Yoseob kept asking him? Was it important? Does Yoseob knew the real him?

Yoseob took a step forward towards Hyunseung. He wanted to know about something else. He wanted to know whether that guy was okay. Was he survived the explosion? He was injured badly at that time but if Seung was survived, he might be survived too. Since at that time, Seung was with him.

Doojoon quickly grabbed Yoseob arm when Yoseob took another step toward Hyunseung. He knew Hyunseung would be in pain when he tried to remember his past. He didn’t want him in pain although he was curious of his past.

Yoseob was shocked with the hold. No one ever touch him that way before. He turned to Doojoon, glaring at him sharply.

_________________________________________

Honestly, I never imagine this chapter. It comes out as I write. To tell you the truth, I might focus at all the characters. I'm that type of character after all. hehe~

Subscribes and comments are <3~