thirty-five

Jisung's hugging Minho's arm. He's half hiding behind him. They're both on the couch. They're facing Hyunjin. And his dog.

"It's okay," Minho repeats. "Kkami won't hurt you."

Jisung moves a little. Smiles at the little puppy.

Kkami growls. The poor guy squeaks. Hides further.

"Kkami," Hyunjin says tiredly. "Be a good boy."

The little white dog turns docile. Nudges his hand.

"Hyunjin..." Minho says. "I love Kkami but... you know what he's like with Jisung... maybe you shouldn't have brought him..."

"I couldn't leave him with my parents today. He's loud with grandma too and she's already unwell..."

Jisung peeks from behind Minho. "W-Who? Mama Haeun—"

Kkami barks. Jisung grips Minho hard. Covers his face in his shoulder.

"Kkami..." Minho says. Upset. He doesn't want Jisung getting scared. It's making him scared as well. He strokes Jisung's arm.

"I'm sorry, Sungie. Please just ignore him."

Jisung hides himself more.

"Mama... Haeun?" Hyunjin says.

"Oh, she told Jisung to call her that."

Hyunjin looks at Jisung. "You know my grandma?"

"Yes," Minho answers for him. He's worried Hyunjin's tone will hurt him. "I told you... and you agreed... that we should get your grandma to come here, so they can both see each other..."

"That's why you said you wanted to see him first, right?" He continues after a deep sigh. "And that's what you're here for... right?"

Hyunjin removes his hands from Kkami.

"To be honest, I came here to figure out how you fooled me into thinking that's the mannequin I had brought. Is it makeup? Did you create a mask? Where did the actual mannequin go?"

Minho reaches back for Jisung's hand.

"Hyunjin... why would I go to such lengths?"

"Yes, that's what I don't understand. You tell me."

"So you've just been saying... yes and okay to everything... for what? To come here and let me reveal some trick to you? Did you think I was... acting? Or did you think I was going crazy?"

Minho's voice shakes. He's going to cry. But how will Jisung react to that? What if he starts crying? Would he think he's hurting Minho?

"Minho..." Hyunjin says. Uneasy. His dog gets restless too. Looks around. Minho's eyes have teared up. He's not sure what to do now.

He has this man... or the so-called Jisung in front of him. He's alive. Moving. Speaking. But he doesn't believe them.

"Minho's not crazy..." Jisung says suddenly.

Kkami makes an unfriendly sound. He growls. Barks.

"He's a good man. Probably the best," Jisung keeps going. "I was brought to Mama Haeun by your father... we read books together."

"You weren't around in those times because you'd usually spend more time hanging out with your friends, right? You were rarely home."

"Your grandmother would make clothes for me... just like my white shirt... oh Minho, where is my shirt?"

"With your other clothes, I think?"

Jisung moves. To bring it probably. But Kkami barks. He sits back down.

"Stop... you're being a bad dog!" Jisung says. His voice trembles. "And you do this to Mama Haeun too? You're mean—"

Kkami barks more. Hyunjin has to hold him. Shush him gently.

"Your grandmother made that white shirt for me...." Jisung doesn't raise his head this time. Just talks. "She had a sewing machine in the attic."

"She would make me wear clothes she made. Then she'd tell your father to buy her more cloth. He got her the wrong fabric one time... she had to go change it... but your father... got sick when she was gone..."

"He was hurting a lot and he fell.... then he stopped living..."

Jisung's voice wavers. Minho hugs him with one arm.

"B-But I didn't know what to do... Mama Haeun was so scared when she came... she got mad at me... and then other people came and took them and... I went back to the attic because I was scared, too..."

"I waited... but she didn't come back to talk to me..."

Minho looks at Hyunjin. The other is tearful. His lips pout sadly.

"My grandma was depressed... for years... after my father passed away... and so was I." Hyunjin says. He's speaking slowly too.

"She could take care of herself and she seemed okay... but Mom said she would sometimes get strange... I didn't see her that much because she didn't talk a lot and kept to herself."

"This year... my mom said the doctor was concerned and she needed to be looked after more closely... Mom's been saying she... talks to herself... and she's worried that she's losing her mind..."

"Is she... sad now too?" Jisung says.

"Yeah..." Hyunjin replies. "I asked her about the mannequin... then she got upset, demanding for... Jisung..."

Jisung gets to his feet. "Yes, that me! She's talking about me!"

"Yeah," Minho says. Over Kkami's barking. Jisung gets back on the couch. He's smiling a bit now. He puts his head on Minho's shoulder.

"Maybe... maybe she wants to speak to me..." He murmurs.

"No... this is crazy," Hyunjin mutters.

"It's not!" Jisung says. "If she wants to see me t-then I want to see her too! If she wants to get mad at me, it's okay. I will see her. Right, Minho?"

Minho smiles. "Sure, if that's how you feel."

Hyunjin stares at the both of them.

"Hyunjin," Minho says. "Can't you bring her over for just ten minutes? I know it sounds insane. I know." He gulps. "But just minutes, please."

Hyunjin groans. Closes his eyes. Shakes his head.

"Minho, I can't just put her in the car and bring her! My mom won't let me do that! What if she gets upset about something on the ride, or here? How am I supposed to deal with that? Mom won't like it!"

Minho turns to look at Jisung. He's about to cry.

"I don't want her to get upset..." Jisung whispers. "Okay, you don't have to bring her..." He sniffs. Wipes his eyes. "If she's better without seeing me, then I shouldn't make her see me..."

"No," Minho says. "I don't think it's like that. Hyunjin, what about if we come visit her then? Please, they need to see each other... just..."

He pauses. What if Jisung's scared or hurt?

And he becomes a mannequin?

"Just what?" Hyunjin says.

Minho observes Jisung again. The other's eyelashes are clumped. From his tearful eyes. Minho places a kiss on his forehead.

"Sungie," he says quietly. "Will you be okay outside again? I'm always worried you'll change to become a mannequin if you're unhappy—"

"I'll be okay," Jisung says. "But you will be sad if something happens to me. I don't want that. I want to see you happy. So I will not go outside... I will try not to... But I want to..."

Minho's heart hurts. He smiles at Jisung. Tears up quite a bit.

"Okay. Thank you." He turns to Hyunjin again. "Then... can we do that? Just a short visit. I haven't seen your mom for some time too."

Hyunjin's still got that look on his face. He's not completely believing anything. But he's not left with much to do and say.

He takes a long breath in. "I don't even know what to think anymore..." He says. "But... fine. I guess I can tell her that... you.... um..."

"Want to introduce her to his boyfriend?" Minho suggests.

Hyunjin sighs. "She would definitely... be happy to hear that..."

"Great!" Minho says. Smiles.

"Please don't do anything weird..." Hyunjin says. He gets to his feet. Kkami begins barking again.

"What?" Minho says. Hurt. But he quickly decides to ignore that comment now. "Okay, tell your mom. And let me know soon. Please."

To be continued...

Next update will be in the next week. My exams are starting tomorrow and I will be really busy.