castle runaway. ˡᵉᵉ ᵈᵒⁿᵍʰʸᵘᶜᵏ

FORTY

Haechan's POV

I skipped dessert just to meet up with this head gardener that Monique said who wants to see me. I trust her with this and she won't pull off such a prank right now that we're both kind of injured from the fall earlier.

I made my way out of the palace and to the royal garden. It was already dark and there were fireflies flying around. There were also lamps near the benches so I was still able to see.

As my feet took me closer to the fountain, I saw a silhouette standing there. That's probably the head gardener. "Excuse me," I called for his attention. "I heard you want to meet up with me?" I asked politely.

The man slowly turned around but I still can't make up his face. "Oh, uhm, yes." He bowed. I was going to walk closer to get a good look on his face but instead, he did. Step by step, the light dawned on his face and he looked insanely familiar.

"Have we met before?"

He didn't reply. He just.. smiled and looked at me like I was his lost brother or something. He inhaled and exhaled. "You're all grown up, Tootles."

Okay, maybe I am his lost brother.

My eyes widened when he showed me his toothy grin. "Doyoung hyung?" He smiled and nodded. I rushed towards him and hugged him tightly. He patted my back while I felt myself starting to cry. "I thought I'm never going to see you again." I said, teary-eyed.

"Oh, don't think so bad about me now, Tootles," He said and pulled away. "Look at you. You're grown up. You were so scared to grow up but now, you're here.." He said breathlessly. I wiped the tears on my cheeks and smiled gratefully.

"I'm so glad I believed Monique." He chuckled and patted my shoulder. "Of course you would. She seems so special to you." He remarked. We started to walk while chatting. "Yeah, but she's just really a very close friend."

He raised a brow, completely teasing me. "Is she?" I bit my lower lip and scratched my head. I looked to the direction of the balcony and I saw her there. She showed a sheepish smile and went back inside. I hid a smile as well and shrugged. "Hmm, I don't know."

"Sha-la-la-la-la-la, my oh my, look like the boy too shy. Ain't gonna kiss the girl." Doyoung hyung started singing to tease me and I pushed him away, pouting. "No, I don't want to kiss her. She's just a friend that seems like a sister to me."

He shrugged. "Yeah, okay. Like I'll believe that." I just rolled my eyes. "But anyway, how have you been? How did you end up here?" I asked, changing the subject.

"Wind direction. I got lost in the Yellow Brick Road for days before the Lion and Tin Man saw me. They took me here and Ozma let me stay for a week. Seeing the garden was a mess, I organized everything on my own. She liked my work so she made me the head gardener and let me stay here." He said.

I sighed. "Well, at least you got a job. I'm—" He cut me off. "Haechan, your job is good as it is," I raised a brow. He looked down on his feet and smiled. "Monique told me about it. I think your job is worth it, really. You're fighting for Good."

"Hyung, I have Evil in my heart," I admitted. "And it can't be erased. It won't grow as long as I do good deeds." He nodded. "That's just part Evil, but you're Good. Your work is noble." He said.

We talked more and asked about where the others might be, but even Doyoung hyung doesn't have a clue on where they are. "I hope we could meet them again." He said, his voice full of hope. I put a hand on his shoulder. "We will."

He smiled and patted my back. "It's getting late. You should probably go back and sleep. Monique might be worried sick about you." There he goes again with raising his eyebrows up and down. I scoffed and smacked his back. "You, too."