ѕσ ωну ∂ση'т ωє яєωяιтє тнє ѕтαяѕ?
──────✧✦✧──────
「０９」

⇒ Lee Felix

After a minute of standing dumbstruck, I realised Chan had let go of my hand and was heading to the entrance of the building. I hurried to catch up to him. He pushed open the huge wooden door and waited for me to enter. With a gulp, I stepped inside. It was dark. I could barely make out the staircase before me. Chan walked ahead then stopped to look at me.

"Give me your hand and watch your steps. Okay?"

I accepted his outstretched hand with a nod and allowed him to lead the way. We climbed a flight of stairs buried under overgrown saplings. You'd never imagine this place was inhabited if you looked at only this set of stairs.

Once we reached the second floor, Chan stopped before a door. It was an elevator. At the top, 'HELL' was scribbled in red over the start of the label 'Elevator'.

It read 'HELLEVATOR'.

I'd be lying if I said it didn't creep me out. Chan pushed on the button, and before the door opened, I could vaguely see 'Hellevator' messily carved onto the lift's metal doors. The door slid open to a small elevator. Finally, some light.

I walked in after Chan and observed the insides. Ah, that word again. Hellevator was scribbled everywhere, even on the ceiling. I felt Chan's gaze on me and I looked at him. He smiled warmly.

If not for his gentle gaze and reassuring presence, I'd have peed my pants long ago. The elevator dinged multiple times, and I concluded we must be approaching one of the highest floors by now. I couldn't know though, since the indicators inside the lift were all broken.

After a while, Chan searched his pockets and pulled something out. A key. He inserted the key into a keyhole I hadn't noticed, right below the rows of buttons. I couldn't resist the wave of confusion inside me. The shaky lift came to a stop and its metal doors slid opened. I was at a loss for words. We were met with a black door. Like stopping an elevator before a closed door was the most natural thing, Chan unlocked the entrance. We now stood at the start of a corridor of some sort, with neat walls and clean tiles. I gasped, unable to hide my surprise.

Chan gestured for me to enter after him and walked inside. The corridor lead to a spacious living room with two cozy sofas with a glass coffee table in between. It was pretty decent, I had to admit. Who would've thought the top floor of this worn down building was fully furnished? On the left was an open kitchen with a marble-topped island in the centre. Chan was by the fridge, gulping down water. He glanced at me. "Make yourself home, baby."

I smiled, but before I could respond, I heard footsteps. More like, someone running towards us.

"Hyungie is home!"

I jolted and turned to the excited voice. At the entrance of one of the four rooms stood a short boy with untamed brown hair and squishy cheeks. And a very toothy smile which froze as he locked eyes with me. I forced a smile to seem polite then looked at Chan, who stood still by the kitchen counter without speaking a word.

"Woojinnie! Hyungie brought a boyfriend!" The squirrel-like boy squealed. "A pretty boy!"

I felt my face heat up immediately, and I fumbled to deny it but within a matter of seconds, there were two more boys by his side. They gasped in unison.

Then another guy emerged from the room, causing the boys to move and give way. He narrowed his eyes as he saw me, and I felt my legs begin to turn jelly.

"Don't scare him, Wooj."

I exhaled as I felt Chan's hand around my shoulder, his warmth making me feel safe. Chan urged me to the sofa. I took my backpack off and placed it on the table before sitting down.

"This is Felix." Chan announced. As I shifted my attention from Chan to his friends, I jumped in surprise. The squirrel boy was right next to me, his doe eyes sparkling like a little kitten.

"I'm Jisung!" He grinned. "You're cute."

I smiled shyly at the remark and glanced at Chan.
"That brunette there is Seungmin, and the short one is Changbin." He laughed as the guy identified as Changbin groaned.

Changbin and Seungmin approached the sofa and flopped onto the opposite one.

"That grandfather is Woojin." Jisung whispered, chuckling as he pointed to the scary guy who stared at me emotionlessly. But once we made eye contact, his features softened and he smiled.

"Sorry for scaring you, Felix." Woojin said, then directed his attention to Chan with a serious expression. "We must talk."

Chan reached out to mess my hair. Then he ruffled Jisung's hair, who leaned in to Chan's touch.

"Don't make a mess while I'm gone." He said before following Woojin into one of the rooms.
──────✧✦✧──────