seventy-two

Grandma Hwang is sitting in a rocking chair. Knitting. She's beside her bed. A smile's on her face as she watches Jisung curled up there. Asleep.

Minho greets her quietly. He steps around to Jisung. Touches his face. Pulls the cover higher. He thanks Grandma Hwang. Leaves the room.

"He seemed a little warm, right?" Mrs. Hwang asks him.

Minho nods. "I don't think he feels too hot, though."

"But he's not usually tired when he comes here..."

"Yeah... he always has so much energy..."

Is it because Minho's been taking him out so much?

Or is it the dreams? Is he not sleeping well?

Minho has told Jisung to wake him... if he ever gets up in the middle of the night... And they also agreed. The room should be locked.

Jisung proposed last week that Minho should tie his wrist to the bed. He must've seen it from Minho's drawings...

But Minho told him he could hurt himself. If he's trying to get out. So Minho cuffs Jisung to his wrist instead.

The key is on Minho's side. And if Jisung moves... Minho will be pulled. It can wake him up. Stop Jisung from leaving.

Nothing has happened. Yet. Jisung sleeps fine. Even if he does mention... that he's had a dream. He doesn't fully remember it.

Minho sighs. "I hope he doesn't wake up not knowing himself..."

Mrs. Hwang pats his arm. "We'll make sure he's fine."

- - -

- - - - - -

Minho chats with Mrs. Hwang for the next hour.

His phone rings. They're surprised. Because it's Jisung. They exchange a look. Then both stand up. Hurry to the room.

Grandma Hwang seems to have dozed off. Jisung's sitting on the bed. His eyes are puffy. He's holding the phone to his ear.

He sees Minho. His eyes widen in shock. He scrambles off the bed. Minho makes a gesture. To be quiet. He points to Grandma Hwang.

Jisung nods. Hugs him tightly.

Minho brings him out of the room. Mrs. Hwang closes the door.

"I'm sorry!" Jisung whispers. Frantically. "It's late. I didn't call you—"

"Shhh, it's okay, Jisung..."

"How did you come? Were you worried? I'm sorry!"

"I called him for you," Mrs. Hwang says.

She gently nudges the two. Out of the hallway.

"Everything's fine," Minho murmurs. "But, let's be quiet, okay?"

"Okay..." Jisung says. "I'm sorry..."

"Jisung, how are you feeling?" Minho says. Sits him down on the couch. Touches his cheeks. They're slightly pink. "You're warm..."

Mrs. Hwang leans down. To touch his face too.

"Do you want to check your temperature?" She says.

"W-Why?" Jisung says.

"Well, we're worried if you're sick..."

Jisung swallows. "My throat hurts a little. Is it because I just woke up?"

"No, I don't think so," Minho says. "Does anything else hurt?"

"Um, n-no... but I feel very tired," Jisung says. Sighs.

"Minho, dear, he might be getting sick then," Mrs. Hwang says.

"L-Like Mama Haeun? W-Will my mind become bad?"

Minho takes his hand. Realizes Jisung's had two experiences with "sick" people. Hyunjin's father and grandma. Both were extreme.

"Your mind?" Mrs. Hwang says.

Minho pulls Jisung to stand. "Sorry, I'll explain it to him. If Jisung's caught a cold or something, I better take him home."

- - -

- - - - - -

"Do you still want this on you?" Minho says. They're a pair of soft handcuffs. Just to be safe. But Minho still feels it's wrong.

"I don't want to escape..." Jisung mumbles. Holds out his wrist.

Minho puts it on him. Carefully. "Okay then..."

Jisung sighs. "Oh... I didn't give you what I bought you today."

"It's alright, you can give it to me tomorrow, okay?"

They had a light dinner. Jisung's in a pair of blue PJs.

Right now, they're both ready for bed.

"You seem very tired. You should sleep now. How's your throat?"

"Not better... My eyes kind of hurt too..."

"Oh no. You need to rest. I really have gotten you sick, haven't I?" Minho gently pushes him. To lie down.

"No!" Jisung says. Then he coughs. And sniffs. "You've— you've only taken care of me. But.... this is weird. I've never been sick before."

Minho reaches over. Finds the tissue box. Places it right on his nightstand. "Yeah, I figured. You might get a runny nose too. I'll get you some water, okay? Wait here."

"Minhoooo... you didn't... attach your hand to mine..."

Minho bends down. Pecks his head. "I know, I just want to get everything for you first. Wait a second."

"What if I run away? I d-don't want to run away..."

"Oh, Sungie... I know, I'll stop you." Minho tucks him in. Pecks his head again. "I'll be quick, don't worry."

He runs. Gets water. Medicine for cold. Comes back.

"I'm here," Minho says. "See, I'm already back."

Jisung's sniveling. "Minho... b-but I haven't been sick before..." He says again. "What will happen to me?"

"You should be okay... Everyone gets a cold now and then. It is just part of life. And for you... remember you hadn't slept before either, right? But you sleep now and you spend the whole day as a human..."

"Because you give me love... You make me get life..."

Minho smiles. Pecks his head.

"But... every time I do something I haven't done before, don't I remember things? Don't I get closer to..." Jisung gulps. His eyes close. His throat must hurt more.

Minho holds out a pill. Sits down beside him. He's very concerned. But tries not to appear so.

If Minho took him out last time... could he have gotten sick then? Or was he just incapable of being sick at that time? Like how he didn't need sleep... didn't use the bathroom...

Is this different?

Minho makes Jisung drink all the water. He wipes his eyes. Nose. With a tissue. Then he pushes his own hand into the cuffs. Clicks them close.

"Jisung, we'll figure it out. You do your best to stay here with me, and I'll do my best to keep you. Don't think about the past or whatever you dream or remember."

Minho slips into bed. Reaches to turn off the lamps. Pulls Jisung to his chest. "Good night. You'll be okay. I love you."

"I d-don't want to forget you... I love you so much."

Minho kisses his head. "I know you do..."

Jisung's free hand moves. Holds Minho's shirt. "The people I see in my dreams... one of them told me to call her mother..."

To be continued...

I'm sorry for the lack of updates. I lost motivation and... I got rejected recently so I've kinda just been down the past few days.