the monkey screamed in pain, loud. really loudly. my ears are threatening to bleed out.

"the veil of shinsu was my last show of mercy before you enter the tower and fall into despair. those who don't qualify, 'get lost'." tears streamed down his face, gripping his hair in pain. sucks to be him. "feeling pain?" Lero Ro taunts, "the concentration of shinsu on you is routine above the 30th floor."

"I'm not sure if he'll be able to survive till the 30th floor, even if he passed this test," I whispered to Bam. "do you get it now?" Lero Ro releases him out of his misery. "the reason you can't go up? it's not like you weren't strong enough or your effort wasn't enough. it's because you just weren't one of the chosen ones."

the monkey started coughing and vomiting, quite profusely might I add, on the floor. "go back to the floor you came from. you're not qualified to climb the tower." he turned around and started walking out. away from the screaming, complaining monkey man.

he said something about giving up everything to train. that there is nothing left for him back home. that's why you don't leave your loved ones behind. that is why you don't leave anyone behind.

because someday you'll be running back to them

and the chances of them taking you back are close to zero

"isn't God cruel?" Lero Ro sat himself down in the same place he did earlier. "when he first shows you the world, it seems like you can have anything in this limitless world. but one day he appears again and tells you 'this is your limit'. although there're so many things that you still want to get."

I pulled my knees closer to my chest, hiding my face behind my arms.

"Mr. Lero Ro, do I deserve to go up the tower?" I heard Bam ask beside me. "well, I wouldn't know. But I'm sure there will come a time when you have to stop your journey and I just hope that you find what you're looking for, whatever it is."

~

"When do you think Khun's gonna come out?" I ask Bam, my voice muffled behind my arms. "I'm sure it's soon. Are you worried about him?" I hesitated but nodded anyway, "why?" you're right. why am I so worried about him. it's not like we have met before. It's not like he's my close friend. It's not like... I like him.

"I don't...know."

"look, there he is." Bam points towards Rak and Khun who is trying to pull his leathery suitcase out.

"hey, Bam! (y/n)" he called us. "Oh! Khun! (y/n) was just saying how she-" I slapped my hand across his mouth. "yo daddo, we're leaving." he nods and bid us farewell, wishing us a safe trip. "you better keep your mouth shut about that." I grumbled, whispering to Bam, who's nodding meekly.

"oh, Bam, (y/n), I advise you to avoid getting to close to your teammate Mr. Khun. he's from a dangerous family who's well known to be acquaintances with a powerful and terrifying family. be careful."

his words hit straight to the guts. powerful and terrifying? he got the powerful right. but terrifying?

Khun waved over at us. "let's go Bam."

~

"those of you who passed the test, make a line! the next test will be on a first come first serve basis!"

"Hi! I'm the test guide, yellowy." what kind of name..? "the test will conduct one team after another. the remaining teams, please wait and follow the instructions of the guide robot." she pointed towards the red floating robot who's wearing the same yellow striped shirt yellowy has on.

"well, let the test begin. the first team may enter now."

Khun sighs, "waiting is so boring." he whined. then silence. awkwardness filled around us. Khun, who noticed the awkward tension - mainly between me and him - decided to cast his gaze towards Bam, who's looking around curiously.

"what's so interesting Bam?" he asked, "huh? No, it's just, I've never been in such a bright place." I began fiddling with my fingers. why do I act like this around him? Gods I hate myself. "what's wrong (y/n) turtle?" Rak asks, bending lower to meet my gaze.

I snapped my neck towards, waving my hands left and right. "N-No, it's nothing. really." he seemed unconvinced with my words. I would be too. "you're acting really fidgety." I looked back down again. "It's about Khun. I have no idea why but I just can't seem to stop being awkward with him." Rak started to look disappointed. "I mean, it wasn't like the first time we met. But- Rak are you even listening?"

"huh? I got bored." I groaned. of course he would. "hm? something wrong (y/n)?" Khun turned around to look at me. "HUH? oh no, no. everything is fine here!" I gave him a thumbs up.

he stepped closer to me. "you sure?" he bent down, his face bearly inches apart. "Y-YEp!" I wanted to back away, but my body froze. he gave me a smirk. "I trust you can take care of yourself." he places a hand on my head, ruffling my hair. leaving my perfectly neat (h/c) hair messy.

I touched the spot where he put his hand, my face felt like it grew hotter in seconds.

don't fall for him, don't fall for him, don't fall for him-

I kept repeating it in my head, again and again until i was finally snapped out of my daze by a scream.