𝘽𝙇𝘼𝙉𝙆 | 𝙇𝙀𝙀 𝙁𝙀𝙇𝙄𝙓

6

"Do you want me to come along? If that can make you more confident.

- Nah, I think I have to do this alone. Thanks for the proposition though," I held my cellphone on my shoulder with my head as I quickly paced around the room, gathering random stuff I thought I'd need when I'd be with Jisung like water, rope, a blindfold, scissors...

"Bro, he's gonna think I'll kidnap him!

- Isn't that what you were planning to do?

- Well... Only if I need to! Its true that Jisung can be dangerous if he feels threatened.

- Just don't bring anything, it's not like you want to bring him to your basement, you're only getting a job.

- Yeah, true," I stood there watching my stuff for a while before taking the useless objects away and only deciding on bringing my water with myself. "Okay, I'm gonna go now. I'll call you later to update you.

- Alright, good luck!"

I thanked her and ended the call with a shaky sigh. I had to meet up with him in 15 minutes, so I had to go now if I did not want to be late.

I quickly put my shoes on and left my apartment, which was the ugliest, mustiest one I'd ever seen. Even our old dorm from 2018 didn't look like that.

I took the bus to get to the nearest stop from Jisung's studio and I'd only have a short walk to do to finally get there. Today's weather really influenced my morose mood, I just hope I won't do anything I regret even though I'm not like that. But, I still don't know myself in this life, so I can't be sure about anything.

Anyway, when the bus came to my stop, I got off after having thanked the driver and I looked at the directions on my cellphone, because I needed my GPS to find Jisung's studio. Maybe I've lived in Seoul for several years now, but that doesn't mean I know the city that well.

Talking about not knowing the city well, I got lost like three times before finally finding out that the studio was on the second floor of a small café.

Why do I always end up at cafés here?

I asked the cashier the way to the second floor and she showed me the small staircase to it. It was rather narrow, two people couldn't walk up side by side. The wooden stairs also creaked so loud that I thought I'd break them, but I luckily made it out alive.

Only when I reached out for the doorbell did I realize how shaky and moist my hands were. I shouldn't be this nervous, it is Jisung after all, but it feels exactly as if I was meeting him for the first time ever.

I checked my pulse on my neck before taking a deep breath in and I exhaled as I clicked on the doorbell. There was no turning back now and I quickly realized it when I heard him saying "come in!"

I let myself in the studio and I made direct eye contact with Jisung who was sitting on a black leather couch, he was on his cellphone.

"You came! You don't know how excited I was when you texted me," he quickly got up with a wide smile and we made a rather professional handshake. It felt weird to see him.

It's as if he isn't real. His skin is real but that's not exactly Jisung. But, the emotions still came to me and suddenly my words were stuck in my throat.

"Hey, you alright? Was it a long ride here?

- No, Uh," how do I even tell him about all this?

"Let's sit a little, we don't have to talk about business right now," he put an arm around my shoulders and we both sat on the couch, we were facing each other.

"Did something happen on your way here? Was it the people from the café?

- No, no. I just... don't you remember me? Just a little at least?" My voice was hoarse and I knew that if I let another word come out of my mouth, I would start crying in front of him.

I saw his eyes widen before his expression turned into a frowning one and he slowly shook his head after some thinking.

"No, I don't think I've met you before. Maybe you saw someone who looked like me?

- You spent a few years in Malaysia when you were a kid," I said, my vision getting blurry once again. I feel like all I do these days is crying and it tires me. I could see Jisung panicking.

"Hey, hey. It's alright. I'm not the guy you think I am, but I'm sure you'll find him someday. Wait here," he patted my shoulder in a friendly way and he walked to his small refrigerator.

I rubbed my eyes to try and see what he was doing better and once I could clearly see Jisung, I saw he was pouring some water in a transparent plastic cup. I could also see something else that made me freeze and I suddenly felt dizzy.

There was a chip on the back of his neck. The kind you see in movies.

I quickly got up and slowly walked towards him and he turned his head around to look at me. He showed me a small smile and handed me the cup he had prepared for me.

"Drink this, it's gonna make you feel a little better.

- Jisung, your neck.

- Huh? What about my neck?" He put a hand exactly where the chip was but he didn't seem to react much to it.

- There's something," I reached out to touch his neck, but he was quick to grab my wrist and to bring it back to my side.

"Don't touch me like that, please.

- Wait, but...

- You should get out man, you're creeping me out.

- Just let me take it out, please," I was shaking even more than earlier and I could tell Jisung felt it. He was still holding my arm still.

I mentally prayed everything would turn out good and I was quick to place my other hand at the back of his neck to feel the chip.

"Hey!"

His fist went flying on my face. I stumbled back.

"The fuck is your problem? Get out!

- Please forgive me later," I begged and I knocked him out with a single punch. At least I still had my Taekwondo skills, but I didn't plan on using them for this.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck," I stood there, looking at an unconscious Jisung who was on the floor. I looked around to think about what my next move should be and I decided I should place him on the couch first. Then, I'd call Gab.

"You're already back?

- Gab, I fucked up," I was full on sobbing, I wondered if she would get what I was saying.

"What? What happened?

- I punched him and now he's knocked out on the couch and there was a chip and...

- Felix, deep breaths. Calm down. Is he bleeding?

- He's not," Deep breaths. Inhale, exhale.

"Tell me where you are, I'll be on my way."