fifty-seven

Minho sits in front of Jisung. Every single day. He does not leave him. Except for short minutes. To get things. To grab food.

It's been over a week now since he's been found.

He brought Jisung in Mrs. Hwang's car. The woman couldn't believe it. But Minho paid her no mind then. Just told her to drive them home.

Minho carefully cleaned Jisung's hands. His feet. His hair. However much he could. He used a wet cloth.

There were tears in Jisung's clothes. A large rip's on the side of his shirt. But there were no signs of anything else.

Jisung's position is of someone scared. Protective of himself. But not defensive. He was not... in the midst of an attack.

That gave Minho the tiniest relief.

Jisung clearly ran. Hid. Then reverted to a mannequin.

It makes Minho tear up. Every time he thinks of it.  Jisung must've been so terrified. This experience would've hurt him even more.

- - -

- - - - - -

"I'm sorry, I can't..." Minho says. He's on the phone.

His brother has called. He's worried about Minho. Because he hasn't gone to see him. For too long now. Since he first got Jisung, actually...

"Are you okay, Minho? I'm really worried about you..."

"Yes. I'm okay." Minho takes a deep breath. "I'm taking care of someone very important to me right now... so I need to stay here..."

"Someone?" Felix says. With surprise. "I thought you were overworking yourself again— who is this someone? Why haven't you told me?"

Minho smiles. "His name is Jisung..."

"Jisung?" Felix says. His voice's happy. "You like him?"

"Yes... Very much... I love him..."

"Oh my god! I have to come to see you soon—"

"No, please. N-Not now. Not soon. He's sick... I'll bring him to see you when he's better. I promise."

"What's wrong with him?" Felix says in concern.

Minho bites his lip. Sniffles.

"Hey, what's wrong? Are you able to handle it? You're scaring me— how bad is it? Are you sure you don't need my help?"

"Don't worry. I can handle it, yeah." Minho says. "It'll be okay. He'll be fine. If I just stay with him and take care of him, he will be okay."

"Please tell me what I can do, Minho..."

"Thank you. But Hyunjin's helping me. His whole family is."

Felix sighs. "Okay, that's good... Please tell Hyunjin I said hello. I haven't seen him in so long. I miss him."

Minho laughs quietly. "Yeah, yeah. I will. And I promise, I'll keep you updated and I'll call you often. Goodbye, take care."

He puts his phone down beside him.

"My brother would love you," Minho tells Jisung's statue form. "When you turn back and feel alright... let's go see him, okay?"

Jisung stays frozen. Minho wipes his own cheeks.

"Hyunjin's gonna come soon. I better eat or he'll scold me."

He pecks Jisung's head. Stands. "I'll make something for you too. I'll bring it to you, okay? Wait for me."

- - -

- - - - - -

Hyunjin places the bags on the counter. He walks back to Minho.

The other is sitting in front of Jisung. There's a sketchbook beside him. Pencils and pens. A pillow. A blanket.

Hyunjin's heart squeezes. He feels pity for his friend.

"Do you want me to take it— him, to your room?"

Minho turns his head. "Oh... Should I?"

"Yeah... so you don't have to sleep on the floor."

Minho smiles. His eyes are red. He constantly cries. But smiles at Hyunjin every time. It hurts a lot.

"I'm not sure..." Minho says. His eyes get more tearful.

"If he remembers me... I want him to see me. To know I'm here for him. But if he doesn't... I don't think he would feel nice... in a small closed place... do you understand what I mean?"

Hyunjin hugs him with one arm.

"How long will it take? For him to... start changing?"

"I don't know," Minho whispers. "But I need to talk to him... make him feel safe... and loved..."

- - -

- - - - - -

Minho keeps working in front of Jisung. He eats in front of him. Draws him. Talks to him. Then sleeps in front of him.

Every night before he sleeps... he leaves a plate of food. Right beside Jisung. Then he kisses his forehead. Brushes his hair back.

Minho tells him... how much he loves him. How much he misses him. And he apologizes. Because he still thinks this is all his fault.

He hopes for a touch while he's sleeping. A kiss.

He dreams of Jisung's face. His laughter.

But he wakes up to Jisung still there. Cold. Lifeless.

Jisung's tightly hugging his knees. His face's hidden.

- - -

- - - - - -

"I've drawn you so many times... I could do it with my eyes closed now," Minho says. He's sketching the shine in Jisung's eyes. That brilliant smile of his. And those adorable cheeks.

He stops for a second. To rub away the tears blurring his vision.

He takes a long breath. Reaches to touch Jisung's hair.

"But I miss seeing your beautiful face..." He puts aside his sketchbook. Moves his pillow. Lies down. Stays turned to Jisung.

"It's strawberry pie tonight," he says. "If you wake up and you're hungry, which I know you will be... please eat it? The Hwangs sent it. Hyunjin said his grandma helped make it... because she heard it was for you..."

She hasn't been told. That Jisung's stuck as a mannequin.

Minho doesn't know if she'll understand. It could make her worse.

Mrs. Hwang came yesterday. She cleaned up a little. Brought food. Then she stood. With a frown. At Jisung. In silence.

Hyunjin has stopped bringing Kkami. He only brought him once. He hoped he wouldn't be too loud. But he still barked too much.

He gets aggressive around Jisung. It got Minho nervous. Upset.

So Hyunjin comes alone. But he comes at least once. Every day.

Minho lies listening to his own breathing.

He hopes he can hear something other than that. Soon.

"Jisung, you have people waiting for you," he murmurs. "They love you and miss you... so please... come back..."

To be continued...