Oneiric Tryst

30. Locked Out

With Seonghwa by his side, Hongjoong had experienced quite a lot of ups and downs. Like the seasons changing in his dreams, they had been hotter and colder, closer and farther apart. Hongjoong had watched Seonghwa shine like the bright sun of summer and gloom like the winter blues.

Whenever there was an up, there could be expected a down. The fewest developments in real life rose linearly towards perfection. But Hongjoong could foresee only so many downs. Because they played like the faint music in the back of Seonghwa's dreams, an eerie reminder of the dwelling shadows. Shadows that Hongjoong couldn't get rid of.

Shadows that were about to manifest as the music reached its crescendo.

Snow clung to the silver plaque with the quote on it as Hongjoong went to work on Wednesday. Seonghwa and he hadn't found the time to meet again since their last date, and only spent his dreams flirting and laughing with each other.

A long time ago, Jongho had explained why he had chosen this sign specifically for their building. Primarily, of course, since it had to do with their work. But he had argued about the meaning of eternity, as well. Eternity could be beautiful, full of learning and the charms of life as it was.

But eternity could mean suffering, too. Suffering, that prolonged until forever. As humans, the only way to experience eternity was within those dreams. Because dreams were timeless and untamed, tricking the brain into accepting eternity as its new reality.

Hongjoong trudged up the stairs shivering. He met Mingi in the middle, where the man was busy putting up Christmas decorations for the incoming festivities. As he wished the man a good day, Hongjoong wondered how Seonghwa would spend this Christmas. Maybe he would return to his hometown to be with his family. After a long while, Hongjoong might get to know his parents in the man's sleep.

His boyfriend's parents, Hongjoong reminded himself with a grin.

Hongjoong put his bag down and powered up the PC in routine. While he snacked on the box of berries he had brought, he chatted with San. His friend promised to inform Jongho of today's healthy meal plan to get Hongjoong some respect points. Amused by their antics downstairs while Mingi worked so hard to get their office ready for festivities, Hongjoong leaned back as he waited for Seonghwa to fall asleep. The sun had long since set and darkness shrouded the buildings outside in a mysterious veil. Alone with the little lamp on his desk, Hongjoong scrolled through his social media.

Seonghwa laid awake for several hours before he could fall asleep. Hongjoong read a blog about insomnia and cast several worried glances at the monitor. His heart ached for Seonghwa's misery.

By the time Seonghwa finally fell asleep, his nightmare dawned upon him instantly. And it came with the darkness. The list of instant impressions was long. Cold, dim, and back in that basement. With his grandmother around. None of those light-hearted dreams that Seonghwa had for the past few days.

Hongjoong rushed to the door, never wanting to be late again. Sometimes, the memory of failing Seonghwa that one night invaded Hongjoong's mind at night. And each time guilt so raw and painful punched his heart like a pillow. Those two dreams, the zombie one and the car crash were Hongjoong's biggest fails on Seonghwa's account.

Hongjoong dropped onto the floor. He hastily brought along his gun and an emergency kit before he jumped blindly into the dream.

Like a wave, disorientation crashed on him.

The first thing he heard was the music. It hammered down on his senses in the dark and confined space he was. Violins, several of them that pierced his eardrums with their resounding and irregular notes. They screeched like animals in pain, triggering a rush of adrenaline and fear in Hongjoong's body. He pressed his hands to his ears, trying to blend out the dissonance. The music purposefully hurt him, making it unsettling to listen to. Especially since he was in the dark. Alone without Seonghwa.