It took a lot longer for the stage to grow back this time.
Do-yun had been back in the box for almost ten minutes, sitting slumped against the glass with a stupid grin plastered across his face, and the stage down below was still only halfway rebuilt. Huge chunks of rock were drifting up out of the darkness one at a time, slow and sulky, fitting themselves back together like pieces of a puzzle someone was being forced to solve against their will.
"I think you hurt its feelings," Areum said.
"Good," Do-yun said. He held up both hands and stared at them. The knuckles were split and swollen, and his palms were still pink and raw from the glue. "I hit the air. I hit the actual air, and it broke. Does anyone else understand how insane that is?"
"We were there," Jin said. "We saw."
"I know, but do you understand?"
"Do-yun."
"I'm just saying. I'm never gonna be normal again."
