In These Arms [mxm]

Chapter 6 - Discharge day

After laying for hours through a dark and sleepless night, daylight finally came. My heart drummed wildly with nerves and anticipation to the point where I could hear it in my ears. Rubbing my aching temples, I climbed out of bed and stretched my shoulders as I went straight towards the bathroom. Jung-ho stirred in his sleep, so I moved quietly.

Seeing myself in the wall-length mirror didn't bother me as much anymore. I was beginning to recognize this twenty-six-year-old man who looked like me, even though I never grew older than nineteen. Thanks to Jaemin who'd spent these last few nights helping me to shave and treat the poor condition of my skin, my face felt smoother, and the bags below my eyes appeared less dark and severe. Even my fingernails were neatly trimmed. I truly looked well groomed; more like a civilized member of society, and less like I'd woken up from a seven-year sleep.

After turning the shower on, I held my fingers under the gentle stream of hot water until it reached a comfortable temperature, then slowly stepped inside. The trickling of water on my fingertips reminded me of what Dr. Sai told me last night. I lifted my fingers close to my face and studied the fingerprints. The depth and sizes of the ridges looked inconsistent, with some appearing normal and others fading into bare patches. I wondered if my fingerprints grew back once the skin was healed, and if maybe it altered my prints at all.

Now that I knew he had no knowledge of my condition, and that I was essentially hidden without explanation for seven years, I didn't know how to broach this topic with him. Would he be willing to hear me out? Would he even believe me? It's not like there was any reason for him to. Anything I say might come across as ridiculous. Your lover has been asleep for seven years right under your nose, but now I'm here and ready for you to take me back.

Still staring at my fingertips, I scoffed at the thought.

"Even if it's hard to believe me, Chanyeol," I whispered, turning my hand to let the water trickle down the back of it, "I hope you still do."

Once I was out of the shower and changed into another new set of clothes, this time consisting of casual blue jeans and a loose fitted stripey shirt, and ankle-high brown leather boots. This time, I hoped not to come across so needlessly wealthy in front of Chanyeol. The less I looked like a rich woman's husband when I tried to approach him, the better.

Jung-ho was sitting up in bed reading a book when I came out of the bathroom. He closed the book with his hand still between the pages and looked up at me smiling. "Today's the big day, huh?" he said, shuffling to readjust himself on his spot. "These casual clothes look much trendier on you than the other ones. You look good for the occasion."

I smiled grimly. "Thanks to you and your wife," I said. "I'll wear these well."

He patted a spot at the side of his bed and motioned for me to sit with him. The blanket material felt like heaven the moment my hands touched it. Now that I was sitting close to him, I could see his coarse dark skin, the dark stubble that spread around his chin and jaw, and his dark black eyes. He looked like he was nearing his fifties, and if I remembered correctly, then he was probably around forty-seven years of age. With twenty-one years between us, it could be easy to think of him as a father-like figure, just as Jaemin naturally felt like a mother-figure even though she looked so young. In fact, Jung-ho probably looked much older than her.

"You must have a plan in mind for your discharge, right?" he asked.

I grinned. "Not at all."

Jung-ho chuckled and swept his hand through his hair, shaking his head with lighthearted disbelief.

"Of course not," he said teasingly. "If your non-existent plan doesn't work out, just come back here and we can let you stay in our vacant rental here in Seoul. It's under renovation so the main house is a little worse for wear, but the granny flat will be fully functional once the power and water are connected."