Number 9 |jaewoo|

5

Over the course of the three days, Jungwoo just stood by. He didn't want to be a nuisance while everyone scurried around. He spent time outside in the orchard where nobody cared to be, sitting in the crunchy grass despite the drop in temperatures. He now considered it to be his safe place. But his thoughts would drift off. He tried not to fuss over his lost memories too much, because he trusted that they return. Then, an idea popped up: the outside world. He knew Taeyong said it was dangerous, but what has changed since then? Has it even changed? What was it like?

No, Jungwoo whispered to himself. Don't even think about doing that. His thoughts were blank and empty from being unconscious for so long. He missed out on so much and hoped to have a little more freedom someday.
He glanced at the handkerchief. He never let it out of sight. Holding it close brought him happiness. Because it reminded him of Jaehyun.

Jungwoo barely saw him due to how busy everyone was. But on the third day before the government's yearly visit, it seemed like Jaehyun made an attempt to find him. During golden hour, Jungwoo was there laying in the grass again with his arms and legs all stretched out. From where he was angled the sun hit directly on his face, being the only thing keeping it toasty. He thought heavily, hoping to trigger something by himself, but nothing ever happened. He only saw red through his closed eyelids and listened to leaves grazing each other with the wind.

"Jungwoo!" Yelled a male's voice. He sprang up when he saw Jaehyun walking towards him with some kind of fabric in his arms. Jungwoo found himself grinning so hard his cheeks hurt.

When he arrived, Jaehyun asked, "Still laying here with the bugs, huh?"

"There are no bugs." The blond replied, his hair swaying.

"Look. I found something for you." Jaehyun showed him the rolled up blanket. It straightened out once he held on to the hems and let it float onto the grass. "There! It's better than laying in nasty grass all day."

"It seems like you worry too much."

"Go ahead, lay on it." Jaehyun ignored him. Jungwoo nodded and crawled onto the blanket. When he lied back down, he felt a little cozier. He didn't even have to say anything; the way Jungwoo looked up at him expressed everything he needed to know. "I'm glad you like it," Jaehyun said.

"Come lay with me." Jungwoo had an idea.

Jaehyun stopped in his tracks. "Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Okay... if you insist." Jaehyun hesitated at first, although he gave in when Jungwoo smiled again.

Soon enough, they were laying side by side, watching the sky transition from gold to pink. "It's so beautiful," Jungwoo breathed.

"Yes, it is. You know, I've never really taken the time to watch the sky. Maybe I should do it more often."

"Maybe." Jungwoo said. With his friend here now, he needed to get something off his chest. "I need to confess."

"About... what?"

"I saw a vision of us together. But it was too upsetting. You were there and I left you."

Jaehyun swallowed. "Go on."

"It all seemed so real. I don't know why I'd do something like that. Which is why I must ask... what happened that day?"

"Please," Jaehyun raised his hands. "Do not let me go back there. Please, not yet."

"I need to know." Jungwoo turned to his side.

"I don't want to remember."

"But I do."

"I shouldn't say." Jaehyun shielded his eyes. With that, Jungwoo hushed himself. Maybe now wasn't a great time. So he picked himself up and put his head right on Jaehyun's chest. Listening to his calm, rhythmic heartbeat made him sleepy. "I enjoy being with you," Jungwoo then said. "With you, with Taeyong... I'm not sure what to feel. Its intense. I don't understand it... at least, I don't remember it."

"With Taeyong?" Jaehyun squinted.

"Yes. He's so happy that we're bonding. I hope... to bond more with him. He's the one who gave me a second chance, after all. " Jungwoo held Jaehyun tight, while of course being mindful of how he was doing it. The sun set even more, until the sky was a serene, light blue. Jaehyun stayed quiet the entire time. And for a while, he believed Jaehyun was his protection.

"Please don't go," said some far off voice in Jungwoo's mind. "Please... please don't die."

"I need to go inside," Jaehyun sat up, interrupting it. Letting Jungwoo off, Jaehyun got up and made his way back inside. Jungwoo begged for him to return with his eyes, but he never looked back.

Not too far in was the security room. Jaehyun unlocked the door. Once inside he saw all of the monitors on the wall, showing every single room in the building, including the orchard. He went to one of them, which said Meeting Room as the subtitle. He did some digging and rewinded the footage. Then he saw it. He saw what Taeyong did with Jungwoo.

"I knew it." Jaehyun whispered. When he glanced at the monitor showing the orchard, he saw Jungwoo sitting there in a distance, watching the door for anyone to come back. Jaehyun quickly exited and sped out of the room.