Matching Key (JoongNine AU)

Code XVII

Nine

I sat on the sofa at his house. For a reason unknown, I didn't even hold my phone for emergency, and just clenched my hands together waiting for the guy who stood looking at me with disturbed eyes.

"What shall I call you? Don't say Joong, I would kick you for that", I said coldly.

"Archen".

"Are you kidding me right now? That is Joong's name too. I asked for yours, stop pulling my legs!"

"That's my name too,you know, how many people in this earth have the same name? So, would you tell them they are a fraud too?", he gives as good as he gets.

"Alright. Archen. I would call you Chen, for short, we used that here. So, you brought me here, easier to be disposed off, once settled, right? Nobody would care or find out too".

"Excuse me? Disposed off, what?"

"My body! After all, I kind of found you out. I asked Joong and he said he has no twin. All I could think about is that there's a belief, that there are seven people in this world who looked liked you. So, before I believe you're an alien, I tried to hold on to the more plausible reasoning first. But, you two look uncannily similar, albeit with a little difference in personality".

My rambling, caused him to smile. My lips tightened in annoyance. Is this how a psycho work? Bring you close to him, taunting, and now satisfied that you're at your wit's end, before the torture begins?

"This is life, Nine, not a movie. If I wanted to harm you, might as well I do it while we're alone at the hotel room, isn't it? You are already into me at that time too..."

"Don't be so sure of yourself, who is into you? I just felt responsible, since we're, I meant, Joong and I, are supposed to work together. What I don't understand is, why did you choose to dupe me? What wrong has I ever done to you, and how would you know Joong is in talk to work in the company? The timing was too perfect that it'd blown my mind, just thinking about it for these two weeks".

He moved and I flinched, damn it, don't show him your nerves, Nine!. He kneeled in front of me and looked directly into my eyes.

"I could see, there're dark shadows under your eyes. You must had felt tired, working in this condition", he said, raising his hand, trying to touch my cheek. I blocked his attempt and pushed his hand roughly away.

"You can stop pretending concern. No need anymore. Just tell me everything and end this".

"You're afraid of me, and also angry. But, don't you stop for a bit, to ask yourself why you willingly followed me liked this? You must wanted to trust me too, isn't it?".

"I don't know why I became foolish liked this too, Chen. But, the truth will ease my mind too, I can't live day by day thinking of that time back then as if it didn't happen. Who would trust my words too, when I am also in the dark...".

He took a deep breath and stood up, "Would you be willing to listen, openly? I'm afraid, I'll sound liked a psycho, and you would run away faster. If you wanted to, then I won't push you to stay...so, before I start, that door is not locked, you could leave now, and I give my words that I won't disturb your life again".

I stood up, looked into his eyes deeply and walked to the door.

Joong

I closed my eyes, and thought this would be the ending. If Nine walked out, I would surrender myself to the Hunters, gave up and be deleted from Another Earth. It didn't matter. I'd lived long enough alone, without purpose, without meanings too.

But, the sound of the click, caused me to look at the door's direction, befuddled. Nine had locked the door, instead of going out. He walked back and faced me.

"I've made my choice. So, start. Whether you're crazy or not, let me be the judge".

"Why do you trust me?"

"I haven't yet! But your eyes wanted me to, so I'm willing to give you a chance".

So, I told Nine everything, about Another Earth, about the Hunters and the task. By the time I finished, Nine was sitting on the floor, grabbing his hair into a mess.

"So, you're an alien?", he asked in wonder.

"Maybe, if that's what you called anything out of earth, but then again, it's a parallel world, then it's earth still, just in the far away future. So, no...wait, is that the most of your concern?", I almost felt astonished.

"I am a key? Gosh! I thought you're...err, flirting. I am so embarrassed", he covered his face with his palms.

"Nine, for some reason, you're weird, you know that? Most people will run away right now, or said I am a crazy and delusional, yet you...treated this, err, liked...a movie".

"I needed to, if not, I am the one who'll become crazy, Chen. But, wait, if I am just supposed to be a key, why did you kiss me? Two times, mind you, though one was a dream. It didn't add up. Are you playing around, hmm?", his face looked scary, but cute nonetheless, and waited for me to explain.

"Well, that's another thing that I can't explain properly, because I am unsure about it, too".

"About what?"

I moved closer and held Nine's hands. He stiffened but didn't pull away. "Sometimes, when our skin touched, I got this buzz in my head, about someone, just liked you in Another Earth, my key...that's what it showed".

"You said your dream, was about lovers. What a key had to do within that dream, then, Chen?". I shook my head, not knowing the answer too.

"Ehem...then, does it need to be...err, an intimate touch, or something? Just curious, that's all...", Nine asked, but his cheeks were blooming pink.

I shook my head again, "I don't know, Nine. The first time, was when you cried inside my arms, I was connecting to read your feelings and touched your nape to hug you closer. The second one, well, you knew, err, that kisses...", I was suddenly, rubbing my nape in agitation too. What is this feeling, that my heart is thumping hard, remembering the kisses again?.

"Want a quick test?", he suddenly said, the pink had turned red, but he still continued,"don't misunderstand, we...treat this as an experiment, yes, that's all...", his eyes were darting, breathing rapidly.

"Are you sure?", I touched his neck to feel the pulse, it was rising, "but, you're still afraid...".

"No, this is not fear, just nervous, that's all...".

I bit my lips, and looked again at him, he nodded a little, though the pulse hadn't calmed down a bit. Better not delayed this test then, or Nine might collapse from high pressure.

I bent down, angled my head and gave him deep kisses. Nothing. No buzz nor happening, just a wet kiss. Maybe my theory was wrong, but before I could pull back, Nine raised his hands, held my face and kissed back. The shock it brought to my system, was sudden.

"I can't bear it anymore, Joong, just end everything ...please...", the weak voice that resonated in my head, from the small body that I held tight, causing me to feel his pain to my bone. What had happened? Before I could dive deeper, Nine was pushing me back with all his might, and I opened my eyes.

"You are doing it again, Chen, holding me too tight. I'm sorry, I have to push you away...".

I looked at Nine who was in front of me, and suddenly, felt the pain again, my eyes dampened.

"I think...I might have lost you, once, before, Nine...".