Oneiric Tryst

31. Rushing

Hongjoong's eyes flickered between the clock and his phone. He had sent multiple worried texts to Seonghwa, telling him to contact Hongjoong right away in case anything happened to him. When the device stayed icily quiet despite the minutes ticking away, Hongjoong got increasingly more anxious. His body on his seat was strung like a rope, and his hands clamped onto the steering wheel as if it were his sole anchor.

"Please, Seonghwa... You can do this," he mumbled under his breath. The iron flavour of blood filled his mouth when he gnawed on his lips for too long.

The streets were deserted at this time of night. The skies were dark, minus 10 degrees outside. Hongjoong had turned off the automatic heat in his car since he was sweating so much. Combined with his chattering teeth, his body felt trapped in feverish nausea.

Another glance at the dead phone. Hongjoong pushed down harder on the gas, uncaring of the traffic laws he broke. Seonghwa's wellbeing was worth a ticket.

Seonghwa lived a twenty-minute drive away from Hongjoong's workplace. Twenty minutes filled with anxiety and agonising cramps in Hongjoong's guts. In the dream world, that time wasn't much. But Hongjoong suffered from every moment he didn't know how Seonghwa was. Without the soothing count of his heart rate.

When Hongjoong finally arrived at the place, he parked right at the sidewalk in the no-parking area. He jumped out of his car and directly up the stairs to the third level. Inconspicuous and mild, Seonghwa's home greeted him. But Hongjoong didn't have the time to think about the starry umbrella in the corner or the little flowery 'Welcome Home' sign on his door. He punched in the code and snuck into the darkness of Seonghwa's flat. The shoe area right behind the door was orderly and all shoes neatly lined up with the wall.

In a hurry, Hongjoong merely kicked his shoes off and snuck in. Though he had never been here, the layout was familiar to him. The kitchen greeted him first. The room to his right was open, showing an orderly and neat living area. The step up left of the kitchen aisle led towards the bathroom. And straight ahead through the living room and sharp right was Seonghwa's bedroom.

Hongjoong swallowed around his hammering pulse. He felt cheap for not knocking as he stretched out his hand for the handle.

Inside, he could hear someone tossing and turning on his bed. Little whimpers filtered through the door and set Hongjoong back into the dream. Only this time, he could actually open the door.

Seonghwa's bed was at the centre of the wall. Pale moonlight fell onto part of it and lightened his dark blue sheets. After hours of writhing, Seonghwa had successfully kicked off all blankets and pillows. As if twisted in a fight with an invisible creature, his body squirmed on the bed.

His breathing was flat and hectic, giving away his fear.

Hongjoong hurried to his side, indecisive about how to wake him without a scare. Ultimately, he could just stretch out his hands for Seonghwa's shoulders and shake him roughly, though.

"Wake up, Seonghwa! Wake up!"

Seonghwa's eyes shot open almost instantly. In the faint light, they were filled with terror. The nightmare still reflected in them as he stared at the person above him, frozen in fear.

Then, faster than Hongjoong could look, Seonghwa's hand shot out for his nightstand. It was far too precise for his sleep-riddled status. Not a moment too late, Hongjoong saw his colours as a trained police officer come through.

Just as Seonghwa's fingers yanked the drawer open to reach for his gun, Hongjoong slammed Seonghwa's arm down. He had to use all of his might, nearly getting shaken off in his fragile state.