My Lifeline - Jaywon Shortstories

Deposition Part 2

Obsessed.

This word never had resonated in Jungwon's mind as much as it had been these last two days. He had heard about obsessions. He had seen his friends being obsessed. 
But him?

No.

Turned out he had miscalculated, because he was definitely feeling obsessed about the handsome policeman.

Officer Park.

Was it strange? Constantly thinking about someone you don't even know, imagining cute conversations, daydreaming about their gaze?

Jungwon kept wondering.

Did it matter though?

Once someone steals your heart, there is nothing much to do. Believe Jungwon, he had tried.
He had tried doing anything to get his mind off the officer. He had tried thinking about anything else.
Evidently, none of what he tried had worked.
No, he was too hooked.

So once he realized that, Jungwon did nothing. Well, nothing except wait for officer Park's call.

The days seemed to stretch indefinitely. Jungwon had to focus on his university classes, after all this last year was being the most difficult and demanding.

However, none of that mattered anymore.

Jungwon sighed, looking once again at his notification-free phone.

~

"Jay?"

The latter didn't hear his colleague calling his name. He had work to do, yet only one thing interested him at that moment : read Yang Jungwon's file once more.

"Can you hear me, or should I be concerned?" asked his colleague one more time.
"I hear you calling my name" said Jay.

"Good, then don't ignore me" added the colleague.
"What is it Hoon?" asked Jay.
"I thought we shouldn't use nicknames in the workplace?" said Sunghoon, surprised.
"Yeah well" replied Jay, realizing he had forgotten about the rule he had imposed to Sunghoon and himself.

Sunghoon and Jay knew each other since kindergarten and had always been best friends, which was fortunate, because both of them wanted to enroll in the police.
However, Jay thought it might be wiser not to mix their friendship and work too much. They had just started their jobs and Jay wanted to sound and be professional at all times.

Sunghoon had agreed. He wanted to do well as much as his best friend.

"What is up with you?" asked Sunghoon.
"Nothing, just working" said Jay, unsure how he could have convinced anyone with that.

"Uh, Jay?" asked Sunghoon. "You've been typing the later M for three pages on your report."

Jay looked at the screen. The whole page was filled with "F" letters. His pinkie had been pressing the keyboard this whole time and he hadn't noticed.

"What are you reading to be this distracted?" asked Sunghoon, starting to worry about Jay.
"Nothing" replied the friend, slightly embarrassed.

Sunghoon simply grabbed the file and read it quickly.

"Why are you upset about some guy loosing his wallet?" asked Sunghoon, not understanding anything.
"I'm not upset" said Jay, just loud enough to prove how upset he was indeed.
"Right" replied Sunghoon, raising his eyebrows.
"If ai didn't know you, I'd wonder if you have a crush on this guy."

That's when it his Jay. His eyes unconsciously widened as he realized the truth.

He had a crush on Yang Jungwon.

"Wow, it was supposed to be a joke" added Sunghoon. "Apparently not."

Jay stood there, frozen in realization.

"Try to get some work done nonetheless, okay?" asked Sunghoon. "We have to hand the report tomorrow."

Jay simply nodded, incapable of doing anything else.

~

Jungwon was eating a late lunch. He had a class during his usual lunch time, which meant that he had left the classroom extremely hungry. Hopefully, the cafeteria still had curry for him. It wasn't as good as the one his grandmother used to cook for him, but it was good nonetheless.

He was playing on his phone to pass time before his next class when he saw to long awaited notification pop up. An unregistered number was calling him.

"Hello" he answered, trying not to get his hopes too high.

After all, it could be someone else.

"Officer Park speaking. This is Yang Jungwon, right?" asked the deep voice on the other side of the line.

Jungwon felt the blood rushing to his cheeks. It really was him!

"It is" he confirmed, nodding even though officer Park couldn't see him doing so.
"Your documents have arrived" announced the officer. "You can come pick them up at your earliest convenience."

Jungwon had to think fast. His last class ended at 18h.

"Are you still opened around 18:15?" asked Jungwon, not wanting to wait another day to get his documents.
"Of course" replied officer Park.
"Perfect, I'll pass by today then" said Jungwon. "Thank you."
"My pleasure" replied the officer.

The both of them let silence spread. They didn't really want to hang up, but at the same time, it didn't make sense to make this conversation last.

"I'll see you tonight then" added the officer.
"Certainly" said Jungwon. "Have a nice day!"

Suddenly very aware of what he had said, Jungwon hung up instantly. He was too embarrassed to hear how the officer would have reacted.

~

Jungwon was walking as fast as he could without looking like a MANIAC. 
However, as he got closer to the police station, he noticed the lights were turned off.

Weird.

He checked the time on his phone. It was only 18:08. He wasn't late.

Before he could wonder about it longer, he saw someone inside the station walking towards the door, and hence, towards him.

Jungwon was now close enough to recognize who it was.

Officer Park

The latter had opened the front door by the time Jungwon had arrived.

"Hello" said Jungwon.
"Hi" replied Jay.

Both were surprised to hear themselves talk so unfamiliarly to the other, but somehow it came out naturally. They walked towards the reception counter and Jungwon kept wondering why it was less lit then usual, and why was the station so silent.

"Is... the station closed?" asked Jungwon.
"Well, uh" replied Jay. "Yes."
"But, you said" started Jungwon.

"It's dangerous to be out without documentation. I thought I could make an exception and receive you here after hours" explained Jay.

Jungwon didn't initially know what to reply.

"Thank you" he simply said, still surprised by officer's Park attention for him.

The officer walked behind the reception counter and disappeared a few seconds.

"There you go" he finally said, handing Jungwon a thick envelope.
"Thank you" repeated Jungwon, accepting it.

As his hands reached for the envelope, Jungwon's fingers touched the officer's. Both of them felt a wave of electricity spread from their contact through their whole bodies.

Their eyes locked and they stayed like that for a little while, trying to process what was occurring between them.

Eventually, Jungwon slapped himself mentally. If he wanted to do anything, now was the time.

"Do you, uh, want to grab something to eat?" asked Jay.

Jungwon had to mentally slap himself a second time to answer.

"I would love to" he said, somehow wondering if this was technically a date.