In These Arms [mxm]

Chapter 12 - False hopes

From the moment they shoved me into their vehicle to the moment they threw me inside this cell, I was treated like a criminal for the stalking, breaking and entering, and willful damage of a wealthy man's property. They refused to believe me when I tried giving my side of the story, so here I was curled up in the corner of a cold and drafty cell.

There was only one other person here a few cells across from me, some drunk guy who'd caused a scene in public and was dragged here for public nuisance. He'd vomited so many times that it was all I could smell, and now I could hear him snoring away without a single care in the world. If only I could've had a few drinks too, then maybe this would feel more bearable. They'd confiscated my phone and contacted Jaemin to let her know I was here, but then went ahead and refused my bail.

I didn't know if she was still here somewhere or had given up and gone home to her children, but I felt so cold and lonely here by myself. If only Chanyeol could clear up this misunderstanding, but he wasn't even answering his phone. The first time they told me he didn't pick up his apartment phone, I made them get his mobile number from the reception and begged them to call again. I didn't know how much longer I could take, when every time I convinced them to ring him, he wouldn't pick up.

Where could he be at two in the morning? I didn't have to ask myself that question when I already knew. The face of that handsome man he kissed this morning haunted me. They acted so familiar with one another that it felt like I was the one interfering when it wasn't my place to. I shriveled further into a ball, wishing that I could fall asleep so I didn't have to feel this way anymore. Even after knowing everything, it was hard to believe he'd still turn his back on me. I guess seven years was a really long time, after all.

Clenching my eyes shut, I willed myself to fall asleep so I could let go of everything. Before I could drift off, heavy metal doors clanked and made me jump back to attention. A police officer entered the jail area carrying a large set of keys in his hand and quickly approached my cell.

"He finally picked up," he said, deftly unlocking the cell door and opening it for me. "You're a lucky man, Mr. Bom."

I rushed past him and burst through the doors to the reception area, frantically looking around for Chanyeol. Instead, I saw Jaemin sitting there in light blue pajamas with her two children sleeping on either side of her lap and tried to hide my crushing disappointment.

"Mr. Bom," the police officer said, stepping into the office and approaching the protective screen barrier at the front desk. "All charges have been dropped against you so you're a free man. I'll come and bring your bag out."

I bowed in thanks and looked back at the seating area, feeling a second wave of disappointment hit that Chanyeol wasn't here. Of course he wouldn't be, so why did I delude myself into thinking he might? All he had to do was clear the misunderstanding through the phone after hours of being incessantly hounded by numerous calls through the night, then he could fall back into a comfortable with his lover in his arms.

Seeing that I was out, Jaemin gently moved her children aside, then came rushing to pull me into her arms. "Oh, my boy," she mumbled, wrapping her arms around my neck. "You spend seven years in a mental jail just to jump straight into a real one. Why is life the meanest to you of all people, hm?"

I buried my head in her shoulder and hugged her tightly, laughing as I wept at the irony in her words. "Jung-ho and I did our best to get you out, but they refused your bail," she said with so much regret, as if she was responsible for me being here. "I'm sorry you had to wait so long."

"It's fine," I whispered, hugging her tighter. "Thank you for coming for me."

The officer came back with my bag and patted my shoulder, giving me a victorious smile as if he believed I was innocent all along. I hated that condescending attitude; wasn't he cold to me from the moment I was dragged in here? Speaking with Chanyeol must have changed his mind about me after having treated me like a criminal for the entire ten hours. I dipped my head with a dismissive bow before the police officer disappeared back inside the office.