HEAL ME (RYEJI)

CHAPTER 6

Yeji found it hard to focus on one thing when Ryujin kept on changing the topic. She felt frustrated. How can her mother handle this woman? I guess she's just patient enough. It's always like this ever since Nayeon didn't come along.

"I just need to finish my thesis now." Ryujin ended her story about her university life. Of course, she put little extra details to spice up her stories.

"I know you didn't do that to your professor." Yeji didn't fall for one of many forms of Ryujin's symptoms. She wants to be praised and admired.

"technically, yes. She made a mistake and I corrected her. That's a form of humiliation. You're a psychiatrist you should know this." Ryujin put her leg on top of the other and folded her arms.

"you finished your forensics study in two years?" Yeji went back to the topic.

"I got bored. Nobody wants to play with me." Ryujin sighed. "I guess I can just finish studying my hobby and work on my dad's company."

"what kind of play?" Yeji got curious. "college is just your hobby?"

"Russian roulette." Ryujin intertwined her hands and put it on top of her knees. "yes. I went to get a degree for my hobby."

"and your hobby is?" Yeji didn't ask about the game she's playing. Not now.

"observing dead people." Ryujin paused to think. "how they died." Ryujin then leaned towards Yeji. "especially the photograph." She added a smirk at the end.

"well that's interesting. No wonder you like Edward Hawk." Yeji pursed her lips. She wrote something on her notepad.

"you're shaking. Are you scared, doc?" Ryujin leaned back to give them some space.

Yeji just took a glance at Ryujin. No wonder her mother couldn't make a point about her. Her symptoms just kept changing. One time she's caring, other times she's just cold, then friendly, then a little trait of psychotic disorders. Yeji got curious.

"you stopped talking for almost three minutes. Usually, you will end the session after this. So I'm just gonna go." Ryujin stood up and fixed her outfit as well as her glasses. She walked towards the door and grabbed the handle. "see you, doc." Ryujin turned around, put two fingers on her temple and move it outwards.

Yeji sighed and leaned back at her chair.

-

Yeji arrived at her apartment. She decided to live alone since she can make a living from her work. She called her mother to ask about Ryujin. Even though the files from when Ryujin came first are available, everything changed. Seems like Yeji needs to observe her a little more.

"yes, mom. I did. She's really not like what you describe." Yeji massaged her temples.

"you have other patients. Ryujin is hard to work with. Don't get too focused on her."

"I know. But this is something I've never work with before. I need to get it done. You trust me, right? You said I'm good enough for this." Yeji really admires her mother. She loves getting compliments from her.

"yes, yes. Don't forget your meds." Dr. Hwang then hung up the call.

"alright. Let's see what's wrong with you Yoo Ryujin."

-

Yeji kept on reading about Ryujin. Today she's supposed to come for a visit. Her visit supposed to be three times a month but sometimes more. Ryujin honestly just wants to see Yeji. She's the one that keeps getting interested at her. Yeji didn't know when Ryujin will stop the session.

"doc?" Ryujin opened the door. She came in and sat in front of Yeji. "you're reading about me?"

"you're my patient. I should be reading about you." Yeji sighed.

Ryujin stood up and went to the bookcase and found a book other than by Hawk. She then brought the book and shove it in front of Yeji.

"what for?"

"page 173. Second paragraph. Read it." Ryujin waited for Yeji to look for the passage.

"with all of the evidence, running doesn't mean that you're getting what you want faster. Maybe you're just a hamster on a wheel. Having a walking mindset...." Yeji stopped reading. "you see me as a hamster on a wheel?!"

"I'm helping you here. You're the one who's supposed to help me." Ryujin fixed her glasses. "keep looking up about me. I like what you do."

"this is my job. It's not like I want to do this." Yeji shook her head. "you know what? Forget it. I don't want to work on you anymore."

"you're shaking again. Like two weeks ago." Ryujin smirked. "tick. Tock. Tick. Tock." She ended with a chuckle. "you're just like me."

"we're not the same, Ryujin."

Ryujin just nodded. She just triggered something from Yeji. She didn't bother of course, but at least she got the thrill of teasing her. She wondered what would happen if she pulled the trigger. Ryujin also read a lot of psychology books so she knows that Yeji covers up something.

"you will disappoint your mother if you gave up on me now. She's patient with me, doc. I thought you're the same."

Yeji thought to herself. There's no way she gave up Ryujin. She's her responsibility. She will fail if she gave up on her.

"I'm just tired of you. You keep messing up my diagnoses. I can't focus." Yeji's sudden confession made Ryujin interested.

"focus on me, then. I like how you're so determined to cure me." Ryujin leaned closer to Yeji. "I don't need to be cured, doc. The control of one's mind is in the hands of their own."

-

Jeongyeon finally have some free time to take Ryujin with him to work. Ryujin took her time to put on a suit jacket, a more formal look for Ryujin.

"you got that handsome face from me, huh?" Jeongyeon pulled her in for a side hug as they walked towards the CEO office.

Ryujin takes a good look around the building as she walked beside her father. She noticed everything is well organized. She likes the place.

"remember that time when you got your IQ test came out?" Jeongyeon said as he opened the door. He then sat on his desk.

"264." Ryujin smiled proudly. "I remember exactly your face, dad."

"then, this matter of managing a company is an easy task for you. I don't need to worry."

"of course."

"I taught you a lot of stuff on my free times. Getting a license for your gun thingy, driving, and what else...." Jeongyeon tried to recall.

"not much really." Ryujin smiled. "the books you gave me, my study room, my car, and that's about it. I learned it myself."

"yeah. I wish I could spend more time with you, kid." Jeongyeon turned on his PC. "now help me with these."