eighty-five

"So I can't touch you?" Jisung says. He's upset.

"Under my shirt? Anywhere below? When someone is here or we're out or I'm in the middle of doing something? No."

"Y-You don't like it?" Jisung's voice quivers.

"It's not that. But there's a right time and a wrong time. When someone else is here or I'm doing work, we can't do those things, right?"

Jisung nods. He sniffs. "Okay... Sorry..."

"And Jisung," Minho says. Gently. He extends a hand to take his. "What we do between ourselves is not for anyone else to know or see."

"Between ourselves? Like our bodies? Like fucking?"

"Anything... sexual. Yes."

"Oh," Jisung mumbles. "I j-just thought... Hyunjin's our friend and you tell him everything and you trust him and I was so happy..."

"I understand, Jisung. You're right, I do trust him. But sex... well, it's a private matter. It's special for those who want to do it together."

"Some people get uncomfortable if you talk about it. Some think it's disrespectful. Some just don't want to hear any details about w-what um, people are doing with each other, you know?

"It's just us consenting to... seeing and touching each other, it's no one else's business and it shouldn't be."

"Because we love each other?" Jisung says.

"Yes, and we trust each other. So what we do is our secret. I don't want Hyunjin or anyone else to know about the details of it, just like I don't want to know what Hyunjin does in his relationships—"

"Oh, does Hyunjin have someone?"

"He's in a long-distance relationship... with my brother. Anyways! Back to what I was saying. People's bodies are theirs alone and they decide who to tell or how much to tell them or how and when and where they let someone else touch them. Does that make sense to you?"

Jisung gazes at him. Thinks. His eyes go wide.

"You asked me yesterday! In the bathroom! If you could touch me! So I need to always ask you first, too!"

"Yeah..." Minho says. "Jisung, I think... because this is all new, maybe right now it's hard for you to know when it's okay and when it's not. So for now, while you're still getting used to this and learning, you can ask me first if you want to do something, and I will ask you too—"

"You don't have to ask me anything!"

Minho laughs. "But I will. Until you can determine what's okay and when it's okay for yourself, alright?"

"Okay," Jisung says. Nods seriously. "So you're not angry with me?"

Minho cups his face. Kisses him. "No. I won't be mad at you for something you just didn't know anything about."

"Is it okay if I kiss you now?"

Minho chuckles. "Sure."

Jisung squeals in happiness. Pecks his lips.

"Can I sit on your lap too?"

"Absolutely you can," Minho murmurs. His heart's filling with love. "Oh... how are you feeling, by the way? You didn't tell me if you had any dreams or new memories."

Jisung shakes his head. "It won't hurt me anymore."

"What do you mean?" Has he remembered everything?

"I know... all that I'm supposed to know," Jisung says. He gently holds Minho's face. "So it's okay now..."

Minho moves back. Looks at him properly. "Okay, how?"

Jisung bites his lip. He's instantly uncertain.

Minho strokes his back. "I'm just asking to make sure we can go back to living how we usually do. That's all."

Jisung blinks up. Nods. "Yes! I told Hyunjin I want to see Mama Haeun because I am okay now. I can live the same as everyone else!"

"I won't change and even if I get scared, I won't become a mannequin and I won't get stuck and I won't lose my memories!"

"You're... completely human? Normal?" Minho says. Unsurely.

"Y-Yeah? If I can still be normal... after what Mary gave me... People will hate me just like her... if they know, right?"

Minho doesn't know what he means. So he shakes his head.

"No, it's a different time now. But Jisung, no one has to know about... about anything. You being a mannequin or..."

Minho pauses. Thinks. There's more...

Is it the knowledge? The... powers Mary gave away? Then the spell... to keep those powers... hidden?

"Or anything else," Minho finishes. "And those who know of you being a mannequin... well, they'll love you regardless, right?"

Jisung's lip wobbles. He tears up.

"Okay. Thank you. I don't want to tell anyone about what I have. I'm scared they'll want it from me... or they'll hurt me like they hurt Mary. If they try to do that... then I might become a mannequin again but... I might also..." He stops. Sniffs.

"You might... hurt them?" Minho says. Remembers the old articles. The storms. How Helen and her husband both ended up dying in one of them... And how they affected the village...

Jisung's lips press tightly. He gives a nod. "I never wanted to hurt anyone... B-But if they keep trying to hurt me then... it just happens. I can control it now because I have all my memories."

He whimpers. Into Minho's shoulder. "But I made bad things happen in that old village... and to the other people too..."

"Not on purpose..." Minho murmurs. Strokes his hair.

"It's still bad..." Jisung sniffles. "I don't want to hurt anyone..."

"I know that." Minho wipes his cheek. "If someone tries to hurt me... and I can't get away, I have to fight back too, right? That's how everyone is."

"W-Who tried to hurt you?" Jisung says. He's shocked. Concerned.

Minho chuckles. "It's just an example. But I want to say... it's okay now, right? You won't have to go through it again. It won't happen to anyone else, if you say you control it..."

"Yeah... if no one tries to hurt me... for what I am..."

"No one will," Minho says. Confidently. "There are people who will protect you now. You have me and the Hwangs."

Jisung smiles. Adorably. "Okay. Thank you."

Minho hugs him again. "You're so amazing, Jisung. You're so courageous for trusting me... Thank you..."

"But... I trusted everyone who was nice to me... whether they were pretending or being genuine... I didn't know. You're special, Minho... you got me here. It was hard for you, but you still held on to me... went through all of that for me, twice... thank you..."

"Oh, Jisung... I would do it a million times for you... I love you."

To be continued...

GWAHHHH I THINK THE END OF THIS STORY IS NEARING :'D

(kinda wanna end it painfully haha ^^)