KILL THIS LOVE | JENLISA

Chapter 6

Jennie

Turns out I had managed to check my newfound confidence at the gates of the psychiatric institution.

The asbestos letters that spelt out the institution's name seemed too shiny and new for the contrasting huge structure behind it. The ornate architecture that adorned the building suggested that it had seen, at least, a complete century. The perfect setting for a stereotypical horror movie.

I had expected the asylum to be crowded with students like us, but eerily enough, the hallway was pretty much soullessly empty except for me and Mino.

"Stop doing that." He hissed.

"What?"

"Shivering."

I clenched my hands into fists to help with the erratic chills running down my body, suddenly all conscious.

"There's nothing to be scared of Jen, you just watch too much American Horror Story." He incited, earning a playful glare from me.

My anxiety was off the charts today, a kind of unusual, inexplicable panic building up inside that I hadn't quite felt in many moons. There was something indefinable in the air. Insanity, perhaps

Although in my mind, I kept chanting that everything is fine with every step towards the front desk, I just couldn't help but instinctively keep close to Mino.

"Hello!" The woman behind a computer beamed, her chirpy voice a massive contrast to the noir ambience of the building. "And how can I help you?"

"We're second year students from Seoul National University." I mused and handed both of our files to the woman. "We had this assignment..."

"Ah, yes." The woman interjected, never taking her beady eyes off the files. "You've signed the documents and agreements, haven't you?"

Both Mino and I nodded together, as the lady flipped through the file.

"Okay," She started as she looked up, "So you kids will be allowed an hour, every three days with your patient. Oh, and also we have been instructed to not disclose much information about the patient except for a psychiatric diagnosis. "

She explained, then proceeding to call a man, who looked like any trace of happiness had been drained from his life.

"Your patient is Youn Yuh-jung." She said to Mino, then pointing at the gloomy man, "Hae-jin will take you to her room, 147."

"Youn Yuh-jung." Mino repeated to himself, smirking at me, "Another lonely babe who could use some Mino time."

I rolled my eyes while he nudged me and left with the nurse who was giving us constant stink eyes.

The cheerful lady then turned to me. "I'll take you to room 327, Lisa Manoban."

As she read the patient's name out loud, her facial features contorted for a millisecond. What I couldn't figure out, was why it looked like it had been out of fear. The lady led me down the bright hallway, into another dim lit one.

The starlight was mocking the atmosphere. I could clearly feel the pace of my heart picking up, as I treaded past room number 325.

I had an infinity of questions that were clouding my mind at the moment, but a deep feeling inside the pit of my stomach prevented me from forming any legitimate sentences, as I walked down the hallway.

Not even a painful few seconds later, I was standing right in front of room 327.