The Mannequin - Minsung

thirteen

Jisung turned into a mannequin. On the couch. Where he must've waited for Minho. The cake was left. Not a single bite was taken.

Minho feels terrible. He... took long in the shower. All because he got too... excited. Well, he was nervous. Because his body had other wishes.

But Jisung leaving the cake... not eating any of it... when Minho rushed home for that... to see him eat it...

It makes Minho feel upset. He remembers Jisung's words. About feeling something bad. Because he thought he wouldn't be home.

And so he didn't feel like eating.

Minho stays on the couch all night. Near the mannequin. Who's seated small and tight. His hands are in his lap. His head's bowed a bit. His eyes are closed. Minho's worried that... he hurt its feelings.

He doesn't get much work done the next day. He can't draw the stupid adult scenes. Not when this shit was part of the problem.

He doesn't want to be... thinking of Jisung like that.

Not when the poor mannequin's probably hurt.

The thought of it tearing up... makes Minho's chest squeeze.

So he just wanders about in his place. Cleans. Ends up making some food. Then just sits on his couch. Beside the mannequin.

He keeps his eyes on its beautiful face.

His lack of sleep must've made him doze off. When he wakes up, it's night. It's past... the time Jisung should be... alive...

But he is still a statue... Why...

Minho's heart sinks. He touches the mannequin's face. Its hair. Arms. The sweater that it's wearing.

Jisung's eyes remain closed. His skin's hard. Cold.

Minho tries to stay calm. He waits. He tells himself he had the time wrong. Even though he knows that...

The mannequin's been turning human a few minutes earlier each day. Because it's getting that consistent love and care it wants.

So... why... why not now?

When it's past midnight... Minho can't fool himself anymore.

The mannequin's not changing.

He feels upset enough to cry. "Jisung," he says softly. Touches its cheek. "Please, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings."

Has he been... wrong? In thinking that the mannequin just doesn't know? That it can't be making decisions for himself? That it doesn't know what it's doing or saying?

Even now... sometimes Minho will think of him as an it... rather than a he... Because he's... or it is... not quite human?

But... didn't he hear his clear heartbeat yesterday?

It still doesn't have all its memories. Minho doesn't know anything about it. Jisung doesn't know anything about himself either.

He said he likes you though, Minho thinks. It wants you. Likes to kiss you. Wants you to kiss him.

The poor thing could just be wanting innocent kisses... but Minho's body is turning his feelings into not-so-innocent feelings.

He doesn't know what to do. He is sitting on the floor. Below the mannequin. It stays frozen on the couch.

"Jisung," he says to it. "I'm really sorry. I've just been so worried about doing something wrong to you. I don't want to hurt you."

His eyes tear up. The night's getting later and later.

But his beautiful mannequin remains lifeless.

"Don't you want to eat, Jisung?" He says. "I really wanted to see you eating that cake yesterday. Did you not eat it because of me?"

He touches the mannequin's knee. "Come on, Sungie. Please."

Minho moves closer. Peers at its face. He touches it again. Its soft hair. He runs his thumb over his eyelids. Nose. Lips.

His face feels so different from when he's alive. When it's warm and soft.

Minho wants to hold him. Hug him. Make him smile. See his eyes sparkling with interest. Curiosity. Happiness.

Minho leans up. He kisses the mannequin's lips.

"Jisung," he says. "I'm sorry. I'll kiss you all you want. You can kiss me all you want. Just please turn human."

To be continued...

MUAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA MUAHAHAHAHAHA