Oneiric Tryst

23. Spa

The second Hongjoong appeared again.

When Hongjoong entered Seonghwa's dreams to find himself in the man's flat with Yeosang locked outside the door to terrorise the neighbours, the man with the exact same features as him already sat on the couch. Seonghwa leaned at the kitchen aisle and scrutinised him just as quizzically as Hongjoong. As soon as Hongjoong appeared, their eyes met, and a faint blush spread out on Seonghwa's cheeks. Fitting of the blushy selfie he had posted in the morning with the caption 'I'm in love' and several endearing emojis.

Hongjoong came closer to the second Joong to circle him like a predator its prey. With the same guarded expression on his face, the other stood to do the same.

Seonghwa must have studied Hongjoong's features a lot, for they were nearly identical. The other Hongjoong was just a tad bit too smooth, missing some marks and tiny scars that Hongjoong had. Apart from minor blemishes, however, they were similar as if shown through a mirror. Even the outfit down to the many piercings was the same.

"I can't wrap my head around how different the two of you are. And so eerily the same still."

Hongjoong hummed as he halted. The other Hongjoong didn't resist when the real one put a hand on his cheek, caressing his jaw.

"It's because you get to know me better. And you can project your knowledge on this Hongjoong. Since we look the same, this one triggers that response from your subconscious anyway, since you have the expectation for him to act just like me, too. It's just the same for if you dream of Wooyoung."

Fascinated, Seonghwa hummed behind him. When his eyes flickered to the clamour outside, Hongjoong focused back on his twin. He was intrigued. Seeing himself as a separate person he could touch and look at without a mirror was a peculiar occurrence. Hongjoong couldn't help but regard the other him in the same way that Seonghwa saw him. Experimentally, he pulled dream-him in at his waist, holding him close.

Their height difference didn't fit, of course. And the way that the second Hongjoong was awkwardly still and unbothered by all of this.

Seonghwa cleared his throat.

"Hongjoong, that..."

Hongjoong didn't need to glance at him to know he was blushing again. And watching them with great interest at the same time.

"Is this too much for you? Two of us?" Coy, Hongjoong leaned forward to place a kiss on his own cheek.

As if he had breathed life in an inanimate automaton, the other Hongjoong came to life. He rose his arms to wrap them around Hongjoong's shoulders, a teasing smirk broadening on his lips.

Hongjoong chuckled at him. He got the gist of Hongjoong's personality down.

"Or isn't this exactly what you imagined when you first understood how there can be two of us?" The other Hongjoong spoke up, his voice the same drawl that Hongjoong used for playfulness. Pride swelled in his chest for his copy. Along with a shy little inhibition since Seonghwa had studied him so well. And they knew each other mostly from his ever-changing dreams, so that meant a lot.

"I-" Seonghwa drew his brows together. Then, he stemmed his flat hands on the kitchen aisle. Jealousy and a hint of panic laced his voice. "This is unfair. One of you knows more than the other. How weird to see my mind and your face melt into one."

Hongjoong caressed his own cheek one last time before he stepped back. As he walked over to Seonghwa, he didn't doubt that the other Hongjoong disappeared, since he wasn't needed anymore. With dark eyes, Seonghwa watched him come closer. Eyes, that liked what they had seen.