GATEWAY 🝔 LEE JENO

🝔 1.20

"Jeno~" a delicate whisper came out. The boy turned around to find Ga-eun in her nightwear rubbing her eyes while slowly dragging her feet towards the boy. Lazily she dropped down beside him on the bench at the front of her house still wrapped around in her light fluffy brown blanket. "What are you doing here late at night?" she yawned looking at him with her drowsy state.

Jeno's pupils wandered between her tired ones which kept on blinking now and again sluggishly. "I was just thinking of my mum" he truthfully spoke out looking up at the blanket of stars that stretched to infinity.

"Why?" Ga-eun shot her eyes open. She could hear the sorrow in his voice and she knew that there was something wrong. There was an eerie silence settling the air. The only sound of crickets rhythmically dancing in the quiet night. He thought once, twice, three times whether to tell her or not.

The only person who knows about this apart from his family is Renjun. But for some strange reason he trusted the girl. Compared to the beginning he became fond of her and their friendship. She was an honest person, sweet and caring. Before he could even completely decide he spoke out without realisation. 

"My mum is in hospital"

Immediately Ga eun furrowed her brows "What's the hospital?" she tilted her head. Chuckling he shook his head lightly. "Where people who are ill get treated?" nodding she looked away. "You mean a sanatorium?" he gave her a judging look but nonetheless he just nodded dismissing it.

After understanding and digesting his words completely she sat up straight gasping in shock. The girl shifted closer to him. "Is she ok? What happened?" he was alarmed by her sudden concerned tone.

He could see the worry dancing in her pupils and agitating look. Maybe it was because she was an herbalist who works for treating people but she was just so caring. It bewildered him because she doesn't know his mother personally.

"She's just having an surgery" he muttered, feeling pain ridden in his heart by just the thought of losing her if anything goes wrong. "Surgery?" at this rate he wasn't even sure why he was telling her. She seemed so naive and clueless like she knew nothing in the world. How can she not know what a medical operation is. It just bewildered him how people here think he is the strange one for using terms that are just plain common knowledge.

It's as if they aren't from the same world.

Same world?

Just at that thought he felt like his heart skipped a beat. His limbs shook partially as he stared up front into the dark night surroundings. Bringing back all his memories that he formed after coming he noticed all the clues. The portal, the unusual sighting of mythical creatures, their whole lifestyle and their lack of knowledge on items and words that he used.

It all linked up now. How did he not realise?

He wasn't in a book. A dream 

Alternative universe? No it can't be!

"Jeno?!" The boy felt his shoulder shaking. "Huh?" he turned around to kind Ga-eun with a stressed out expression. "Oh sorry I was - um,uh - d-daydreaming" he coughed out. Rubbing his nape he carried on so that the girl doesn't think too much about how he randomly blanked out.

"It's just medical practices for treating someone" he finished off. The girl stayed quiet not knowing what to say. "Jeno . . . I know what a surgery is" she breathed out making him seal his lips a bit awkward with what just occurred. That's when he realised that she was asking for what it was for. 

Noticing the hesitation, Ga-eun relaxed her shoulder a little before grabbing hold of his hand. "You don't have to tell me" she softly spoke out. Jeno tilted his head down to the intertwined  hands feeling heat crawl up to the tips of his ears. Clearing his throat he brushed it off shaking his head. "Appendectomy" he muttered out. 

He spoke of it so casually that she couldn't figure out why he was so calm about it. But at the same time his eyes were speaking the truth along with his body language. The grip on her hand tightened. That's when she realised that he was trying to place on a tough act to not be effected by it. However, he was scared. She knew. She had seen many people lie this, frightened for their loved ones health. 

Suddenly he felt a warmth around his back. Slowly Jeno turned to the side to find Ga-eun wrapping half her blanket around him so they both could share in the freezing cold weather. Leaning closer she moved until their shoulders touched each other. There was barely any gap between then so that both could comfortably sit in the warmth of the material. Swallowing hard, he watched as she nuzzled closer before reattaching their palms together. It was like it was meant to be there.

"You miss her?" she softly spoke out to which he nodded not looking away from her. "Very much" Pursing her lips she glanced away to the broad night sky. "Don't worry Jeno. If something bad happens to your mother I will treat her better when I meet her the day we take you back to your home." she flickered her orbs back at him with a determined look.

Shined against the shimmering stars they brought out a glow radiating from her. Jeno's lips parted and he couldn't help but admire her features. He knew how her smile is like the light in the day, raining sunshine.

But observing her beaming beauty under the lit up night sky he realised how naturally pretty she was. Make his mood brighten up from the dull emotions he felt seconds ago.

Scoffing lightly he couldn't help but now realise how ridiculous it sounds. That may never be possible if they really are from different worlds. However, not wanting her mood to fall apart he smiled lightly. It wasn't even confirmed if he was correct but unlike his previous theories this one seemed the most realistic. It matched up with everything that was happening around him.

As much as he did not want to, he had no choice but to lie.

"When the day I find my home comes, you can meet her"

OMG he finally knows !!!