Chapter Text
His feet were aching.
Soonyoung's favourite cafe was situated at the farthest end of the university's campus, and he often wondered if the long walk was worth it.
"Tired?" Wonwoo asks after he hears the exasperated sigh. He did not even need to look up, he knew it was Soonyoung by the sound of his sigh.
"No, not quite." Soonyoung takes a seat opposite Wonwoo, turning to squint at the menu hanging on the wall. "Not really in the mood to switch realities right now. Have you ordered?"
Wonwoo hums in response, "yeah. You were late again and I really needed to get started on calculus." Wonwoo lifts his notes, "Can you understand this?"
"On second thought, maybe being a prince right now wouldn't be so bad."
When Soonyoung first confided in Wonwoo, he was met with apprehension and disbelief. "I think that's called dreaming, Soonyoung." But his realities felt real, they felt so very real. He was unable to recall a time where he would go to sleep as a university student majoring in dance, and not wake up as the crown prince of a faraway kingdom. He was most definitely not able to explain how this was able to happen, and neither was he clear on what this peculiar ability meant. All that he was sure of was that both of these realities were very much real.
"You're kidding," Wonwoo shook his head. The two boys were sitting on a short wall, feet dangling and popsicles in hand. They were only 13 years old. "You're trying to tell me that you can change your reality? And you're a prince in that one? I think that's called dreaming, Soonyoung."
"Do you feel pain in your dreams? And do your dreams always seem to continue right where they left off?"
Originally, Wonwoo was sure Soonyoung was pulling his leg, but Soonyoung was insistent. His details were always consistent, and never once did he seem insincere. Wonwoo quickly realised that it was close to impossible for one to keep up with such an elaborate lie. The boys were 15 when Wonwoo finally believed him wholeheartedly.
"Seriously? You're going to go to sleep right in the middle of the cafe at 3 pm to avoid helping me with calculus?"
"Well, it sounds bad when you say it that way. Besides, why would you ask me for help? I don't even take calculus."
"Fine, I'll ask someone else."
Soonyoung huffs as he sets his notes down, finally beginning on his assignments.
"I met someone the other day."
"Oh yeah? How cute is he?"
Wonwoo scrunches his face in disbelief. "I never mentioned a gender."
"Oh please," Soonyoung kids. "I can tell from your face."
The two are walking back to their dorm building after their late afternoon study session. Wonwoo pinches Soonyoung's arm, causing him to yelp. "That's utter bull. But you're right, he is cute."
A pleased smirk forms across Soonyoung's face, Wonwoo trails on. "But he's not my kind of cute. He's kind of small, long black hair that almost reaches his eyes— they're really pretty, by the way. I guess I would say that he has a nice style, he's a music major, a real prodigy. Oh, and he has really pretty hands."
Soonyoung scoffs. "Sounds like you're in love with him."
"Oh really?" Wonwoo jeers. Soonyoung makes it a point to not look at him, but he can see his expression in his head. "Wouldn't that make you jealous?"
No response.
"Oh come on, Soons. You know I just described your ideal type."
Soonyoung uses his keycard to open the door to the building, only half-listening as Wonwoo prattles on about this cute boy. "Uh-huh. And how do you know so much about him anyway?"
"Oh, I didn't say?" They were now in the elevator, heading up to the fourth floor. "I'm pretty sure I said it."
"Well," Soonyoung feigns interest. "Maybe I wasn't listening."
"I hate you so much, honestly.” He huffs in exasperation, but continues anyway. “He's a childhood friend of Seungcheols’, he just transferred over from a University in Busan. He was over at our dorms yesterday."
"Ahh. So what should I do with all this information, huh?"
Wonwoo shrugs. "It's up to you, really. I just thought you would be interested." The lift door opens and the two step out. Close to the end of the hallway, a man steps out of a room. "Would you look at that? That's him right there."
Soonyoung stares intently, something about that man was oddly familiar. "What did you say his name was?"
"I didn't, but it's Lee Jihoon."
Soonyoung's face runs pale.
"So what you're telling me, is that you know someone from the other reality named 'Lee Jihoon'? And somehow… somehow Seungcheol's roommate has the same name, and looks just like him… could that be a sign?"
"I don't know, Nu." Wonwoo and Soonyoung were sat on the floor of their shared dorm, a book in Soonyoung's hand and a theory on the tip of Wonwoo's tongue.
"Okay, okay. Who is he to you though? I've never heard you talk about him before."
Soonyoung knows he had never mentioned Jihoon to Wonwoo, but he squints at him regardless, wondering how good his best friend’s memory is. “Surely you can’t remember the names of all my friends from the other side.”
“Sure I can!"
Soonyoung hums in response.
"No, but seriously. Who is he?"
Soonyoung scrambles to reply. He has never mentioned Jihoon to Wonwoo before, and for a good reason. Lee Jihoon was a young guard in the palace, he joined the force when he was only 17, to avenge his father's death. His father had died in the hands of the enemy, and the grief-stricken teen promised himself that he would become a well-respected soldier to ensure that no other innocent men lost their lives to the wicked enemy. The young guard was handsome and charming, enough to catch the eye of the beloved prince. Soonyoung had often watched the soldiers train, and he always found himself focusing on one particular guard, the one with the pretty eyes. He had always secretly admired the boy, watching the way he swung his sword with confidence and precision. Although he had never spoken to the boy before, he was almost certain that his voice would sound just as delightful.
He closes the book in his hand and slumps onto the ground, eyes closed.
“Are you falling asleep?”
“Yeah, I'm tired.” Soonyoung groans. He feels his head grow heavier as he starts to drift off to sleep.
“Avoiding my question, huh?”
Soonyoung does not bother to reply.
Wonwoo sighs at his best friend's antics. "Well, could you do me a favour at least?"
He hums.
"Find out about Lee Jihoon for me, I think he has something to do with your whole situation."
The first thing soonyoung thinks of when he opens his eyes is a young guard by the name of Lee Jihoon. God fucking damn it, Soonyoung thinks. He let Wonwoo get to his head.
And then came the what-ifs. What if this boy did mean something? What if he does have the answer to why Soonyoung lives this way? What if this boy leads to something more? What then?
Would soonyoung even like to know? Sure, Wonwoo piqued his curiosity, but mere curiosity and actively searching for answers are two separate things.
"Sir! I must ask that you do not barge in! His royal highness is still sleeping!"
"I'm his best friend, and I urgently need him awake!" The sound of Seokmin's voice drifted through the thick brass doors of Soonyoung's room, prompting him to sit up.
"Eunjun, I'm awake. Let him in."
He hears Seokmin cheers as his guard, Eunjun, pushes open the heavy doors. Seokmin skips into the room, stopping before the foot of soonyoung's bed and he gives him a grin. "Good morning, your royal sleepyhead!"
Soonyoung sighs groggily. He's no longer tired but he contemplates going back to sleep anyway. Dealing with Wonwoo and his university classes is far more enjoyable than his duties, despite how much he likes his friends here too. "What's so urgent that you need me desperately?"
"Nothing," Seokmin's grin grows, "I'm bored. What's your plan for the day?"
"I don't know," Soonyoung crawls out of bed as a maid rushes over to help him get dressed. "Maybe we could go see the soldiers."
Oh, Wonwoo, what have you done to Soonyoung's brain?
"Soldiers? Were you asked to?"
"No," Soonyoung admits. "But I reckoned it's been a while."
Seokmin shrugs.
They're out of Soonyoung's room and walking down the long hallway, Seokmin by Soonyoung's side and Eunjun following closely behind.
"Where's Seungkwan?"
"Busy. His father has tasks for him again."
"Why aren't you ever busy?"
Seokmin smiles cheekily, "Don't know, but you get to spend more time with me!"
Soonyoung rolls his eyes at his best friend before turning to Eunjun. "If we're watching the soldiers, you don't have to stick with me, right?"
"I'm afraid not, your royal highness. If you're watching from afar, I will have to be by your side. If you want to observe them up close, I will have to follow you from behind."
"And if I want to speak with one of them? Privately."
"That will be fine, your royal highness, but I will have to escort you to him, and he must not leave your side until you are with me again."
"Fair enough."
"Are you planning to speak to one of them?"
Soonyoung nods.
"Why?"
Soonyoung shrugs, he was not too sure either. All he knows is that Wonwoo's suspicions had sparked something in him too, but surely he could not tell seokmin that. Soonyoung loved Seokmin to death, but he could not imagine anyone living in a monarchical society to be forward-thinking enough to even hear him out. "I just want to ask a few questions."
"Is it because Eunjun's term is almost over?"
Soonyoung does not have a plan, he does not even know what he is trying to do. But if there had to be a starting point, it would be keeping Jihoon close.