Everything Is About You

Showering and heading to bed, he dreamt of parties from before. Music, dancing, singing, and festive foods were always around. He would always avoid them, but now… he searched for it. It wasn't too different from being a prince to being an idol. He laughed at himself. If he had paid attention and did what he had to as a prince, becoming an idol would had been much easier, right?

'Stupid. Mother always knows best.'

The next day, they gathered around the television screen awaiting the results.

"Global votes are in. Only top 15 will live on 2nd floor. Those who did not make it will return home."

"What?!" "Why didn't we hear this before?" "I would've worked harder!" "I don't want to leave."

The trainees were in an uproar, but Shun ignored it all as he searched for his name. Their faces were shown with percentages beside them. For Shun, he was the overall highest. He felt all the tension of all those training days seeped out of him. He could breathe easier and he grinned. Looking for his friends, he was happy they were all still going to be with him.

So packing up and saying goodbye to those who didn't make it, he entered the elevator to head to the 2nd floor. When the elevator door slid opened, he was grabbed into a hug so quickly, he stumbled back. Laughing, he cried into Ping's arms and from the wetness he felt against his shoulder, the boy was also crying. He hugged his friends and said his hello to the others.

"Finally!" Ping grinned before it fell when he saw one of the twin made it, "I can't believe you are here," he frowned.

Shun pinched the boy's cheek and shook his head.

"Show me around, didi. I forgot what everything looked like."

This earned a large grin and him being pulled all over the place. He didn't mind. He welcomed it. Smiling as he listened to the young boy, he ate the crackers pleased to hear his friend was doing well. They enjoyed the day sharing stories of the bottom level and the top level.

"Heeang, be honest. Did you and your brother break the camera on purpose?" Taemeng brought up and the tension built up in the room. The twin was by himself, since his brother did not make it.

"It was an accident," the boy frowned, "I already told you it was."

"No offense Danny," Kiki spoke up, "Why was Shun not voted to head to the 2nd floor?"

'How did the conversation became about me…' he sighed and ate the snack.

"You are the main protagonist. Everything is about you."

'Prince Peter,' he glanced at the large television set in the living room, a room the bottom floor did not have.

"Do you wish to see something?"

'Can't I be a support character? I know I have to get used to the attention, but…'

"Main protagonist equals all attention."

'Right…'

"System update required."

'You popped up just to tell me to update you. What next? Your face will show up?'

"…"

'Oh please don't.'

"…"

'I'm serious!'

"…"

'Go ahead and update.'

"Update in progress."

Shun rolled his eyes and suddenly heard a hand slammed on the table.

"Shun don't you believe me? I wouldn't do anything just to make you lose!"

"You along with others wanted him to stay so you guys did not have to waste time cooking. Don't think any of us forgot what you told the mentors. You forgot the words and blamed Shun," Taemeng stated with crossed arms, "Just admit it."

They were staring at one another so hard, Shun was certain if he waved before their faces, neither would blink. Letting out a breath, he cleared his throat.

"Look, whatever reason it was, it doesn't matter anymore. We are all here and eventually most of us would be in a group together. We have to get along, okay?" He saw that there were hesitant nods and he looked over at Ping, "Have anyone played charades?"

Talk about breaking the ice and getting comfortable with one another! This game was hilariously frustrating. Shun was in the same team as Ping and Heeang. When one would perform an action, the other would get it right away. This only led to him laughing and barely contributing to their points.

"Gege! Stop laughing! Concentrate," Ping would frown and shake him.

"Shun, come on! That was easy! How did you not figure it out?" Heeang would shook his head disappointedly at him.

The entire game, he found himself thinking about the shadow plays back home. How his baby sister loved it, and how his oldest brother's eyes would shined. Shun found his smile fall the more he thought about home, about his family, about the times he had missed.

When it was time for bed, Ping had joined him like a baby koala. Laughing softly, he held the boy close and fell asleep. He felt relaxed and happy to be holding his little friend again, even though he thought of home.

The next day, they went to the living room where the host was taking over their screen.

"Today you will all be heading into town. Gather as many fans as you can. You will each have a camera to take pictures. The 5 lowest will return home. Good luck."

Quickly going to their rooms to dress for the occasion, Shun decided to wear comfortable clothing in case he needed to run after people- he really hoped he didn't have to. Joining everyone in the elevator and out of the building, he saw Ping and Kiki thought the same as him. However, the others looked like they were going to a performance or a meeting.

'Wonder if it is because we came from the same company…' he laughed to himself.

Ushered separately to different blacked-out cars, he felt his hands sweating from the unknown. Shun wondered if it would be a big city he would end up in or would it be a small town. Would he have fans there or would there be none?

'I was never this nervous when visiting a different kingdom,' he sighed, 'All those times hiding away… now I have to put myself out there. Hopefully, this is simple.'

Of course, it wasn't. Shun had luck like a gnome in the garden.

The place he was dropped off was a small town, one that took in much of what he knew back in his kingdom. The road was dirt, the people did not wear fancy clothes, and they were occupied with their work. The familiarity of his village back home made him smile. He wondered if that witch granted him this or did she just wanted to get in his good graces.

First, speaking with Prince Peter's voice. Second, making him meet Suu Jin. Now…

'I could just watch them work,' he smiled to himself and walked around waving at anyone who looked over.

Their eyes stared at him confused and he cleared his throat.

"I am sorry to bother you all," he spoke up to the fieldworkers, "May I…"