twenty-nine

Hyunjin spends more and more hours with Minho all week. He takes breaks from work and hopes that seeing him often...

Could help him get some sanity back.

Hasn't the guy been stuck at home a lot?

He's been saying he's working...

It is true. Yes. Minho does that often. He takes a few days just being home. Getting work done. But not for too long.

Minho's a person who easily gets lonely. Gets blue.

Hyunjin has contacted their mutual friends. And he heard they haven't been seeing Minho as much either. It's been less and less...

All since... Hyunjin dropped off that mannequin...

Hyunjin's known Minho for years. He's seen him go through so much. He lost his parents. Struggled through school. Dropped out twice from college. He was too lonely. Depressed.

Hyunjin has seem him grow. Seen him keep trying. Again and again. He's watched him become independent. Determined. Succeed. Minho worked hard. Kept a positive outlook.

Hyunjin's always felt like taking care of him. He's known Minho experienced sadness and pain. But he always stayed kind.

It is deeply saddening. To think behind his adorable laughs... smiles... childish jokes... this talented skillful artist... was slowly going mad?

Hyunjin thinks he's failed as a friend...

- - -

- - - - - -

Little Kkami's very curious. He's about to be fussy in his bag. They haven't even reached the door yet.

Today, Hyunjin's taking him to his parents' house because... he can't take Kkami with him to see Minho...

Hyunjin has taken Kkami to Minho's place. He knows Minho. Is used to Minho. And Minho likes the cute little dog too.

So Hyunjin didn't think it would be a problem...

But it was a problem. No, a disaster. Yesterday and the day before. Because of that... mannequin. Minho calls it Jisung.

Kkami is normally unfriendly around strangers. He's shy. He barks at people he's not used to. He doesn't do that towards things. Unmoving objects. Especially those bigger than him. He just doesn't go near them.

But he acted like that with the mannequin the past two days. He barked nonstop. Jumped. Ran around the thing. Climbed it. Pulled at the mannequin's clothes with bites.

So... Minho started crying! He tried to get Kkami to stop. To calm down. He was worried about the mannequin.

"You're scaring him, Kkami, please... he's not used to dogs... please don't scare him... he'll be too scared to turn back..."

Hyunjin sighs at the memory. He speeds up. Heads to his parents' house. Strokes the little dog's head.

"Kkami... I'll leave you with mom for a couple hours, okay?"

The dog wiggles. Tries to climb out of the bag.

- - -

- - - - - -

Kkami's very active now. He's fidgeting. Recognizing where he is. Hyunjin pulls him out of his bag. Places him down.

"Hello? Mom?" Hyunjin calls. He walks into the kitchen.

His mother's standing in front of the stove. She's making lunch. "Oh, hello dear," she says. "Have you brought Kkami for us to look after?"

Hyunjin nods. "Yeah... I'm sorry, mom..."

"Well, it can't be helped..." She takes Kkami from his arms. "Anyway, how's Minho doing? The poor boy must be under so much stress."

"Oh he's... getting better..." He lies.

"That's great to hear. Look after him well, okay?"

"Y-Yeah. Umm, how's grandma?"

"She's been better, actually. She asked about you again, though. She asked if you'd met this Jisung. Why don't you go in and see her?"

"Maybe when I come back," Hyunjin says. "I have to go now." He pats the little dog's head. "Kkami, be nice to mom and grandma, okay?"

- - -

- - - - - -

Hyunjin sighs heavily. He's arrived at Minho's place. He sits in his car for a moment. He's unsure of what to do.

Minho keeps telling him every time: Don't call my brother. I'm fine.

But he's not. He acts fine. Works fine. Cooks fine. He can have conversations about everything fine. He talks of news. Life. Friends. Family. His studies. College.

He remembers everything from the past. He's aware of everything in the present. Of whatever's planned for the future.

All that... he does it just fine. But he's not fine.

Because he claims the mannequin turns alive. He cries over it not turning alive. Loses sleep and tears for it.

Hyunjin has heard him speaking to it. Many, many times. Especially when he drops by in the morning.

What if... Minho gets worse?

He enters Minho's place... thinking...

Maybe a week's long enough. He should contact his brother now. If Felix comes here... maybe he can convince Minho to go with him. Spend some time with him. A change could be good for him.

Then... Hyunjin can take the mannequin away...

Maybe... to his parents' house? He could fix its position. So it's standing. And he needs to get someone to repaint its face as well... To change its worrying expression. Its wide eyes... full of fear.

He can also put it in his grandmother's room. Right! It could help her. It's supposed to be hers. Maybe she will stop asking about... Jisung.

If Minho does not get any better... then maybe it's time to get him help through a doctor...

"Minho?" He calls. Softly. He doesn't want to scare him.

The man is not in the kitchen. His work is on the coffee table. Like usual. There are pens and brushes. Papers. Colors. They're all placed neatly.

Hyunjin turns towards his room. He hears Minho's voice again.

MInho's talking to it again, isn't he?

He's crying over the mannequin again... isn't he?

"Minho..." He says again. Knocks on the door. Frowns. He opens the door slowly. He's not sure. He thought he heard a new sound. "Hello...?"

Minho's on the floor like usual. He's sitting... murmuring... to a person in his lap.... he's held tight in his arms...

Hyunjin gasps. His heart halts. Then beats fast. He has to blink his eyes rapidly. He's too shocked.

"Oh Sungie, no... don't be scared... it's okay, baby. This is Hyunjin!" Minho lifts the person's face. Pecks his forehead.

"Remember I told you about him? Hyunjin, where's Kkami? I don't hear him—oh, Sungie, baby, Kkami's not here today... it's okay..."

Clutching tightly onto Minho is... the mannequin... What?

Its face... it's the same... it's turned to Hyunjin... its eyes... they are shining with tears... wary... the lips are trembling... the clothes... hair...

They're all the same as all week. Everything's the same. It's the mannequin. But... it's a person?

Hyunjin's trying to make sense of it. What's happening? Is it a joke? Was he pranked from the beginning?

No. He brought it here—it was a mannequin. A hard, stiff mannequin.

"He won't hurt you," Minho whispers to it. Strokes its hair. Its cheeks. Kisses its lips. Then Minho turns to smile at Hyunjin.

"He's just not used to people, Hyunjin... but I swear, he's nice and lovely. He wanted to kiss you before! Remember that? Jisung?"

The mannequin makes a noise. A little whimper. It buries its head in Minho's neck. Its arms wrap tightly around his back.

Minho laughs. His eyes are tearful. They have been the whole week. But he's smiling through tears. He's hugging the mannequin. Kissing its hair.

"Jisung, I miss you so much. Thank you for coming back..."

Hyunjin watches the scene. He's pale. He's unable to form a single word. He's taken aback by everything. Unable to process anything.

To be continued...