TWINEMY (Hyunjin FF)

((57))

~ Felix ~

Winter break finally began, after what felt like forever. I was stuck at home, though I already got used to being stuck there.

I decided to visit the big city again, even if it's a hassle and costs bus money. It's just been so long since I've busked there that I simply need to get away. I also really miss the cafe.

I finally got out of my apartment, after struggling down all the flights of stairs, and headed to the bus stop. As I neared Baker Street, I held my breath.

I was paying extra attention to my surroundings, so I immediately noticed the police car pull down that street.

Odd. Police usually avoid this area, especially that street, because they could care less about poor people.

Right as I passed Baker Street, I got a phone call. The sudden ringing made me jump a bit. I'm just a bit on edge.

I pulled it out and it was a new number calling, but the location was my town. I answered.

"Hello?"

"Hello. This is the Police Department. Would you be Felix Lee?"

My heart skipped a beat. No. I don't want to deal with this. "Yes, I'm him."

"Nice to meet you. I'm Officer Fetes. I've been working on your assault case this past week, and I believe we've found the guy."

No. Please no. Please let it be wrong. "Oh? Uh, who?"

"Well, we'd like you to come down to the station and give a testimony on your experience. For some reason, no one followed up with you after the assault even though what you remember is crucial to the case."

I realized I was standing in the middle of the street when a car behind me honked incessantly, so I dashed to the sidewalk.

"Uh. Okay. Can you pick me up, though? I don't have transportation and can't afford a bus ticket." The last part was a lie, kinda, but I also don't have much and don't want to spend it on a trip I have no desire to partake in.

"Sure thing. I'll pick you up myself in my squad car. What's your location?"

"Uh. Baker Street. The north end." The wheels in my brain turned a bit and I then I got confused. "How'd you get my personal number?"

"Your mom had to provide it when she filed for the crime. Baker Street, you said?"

"Yup. By the way, there's already a police car on Baker Street. I saw it pull in a few minutes ago."

"Oh." The word sounded meaningful, as if there was something going on that I should know of. "Don't worry about it. I'll come get you."

——

A cop car pulled up right next to me and the passenger window rolled down slowly. "Hey, Felix."

"Oh. Hi." I opened the door after seeing the name "Fetes" written on her uniform. I sat down and buckled myself, feeling a pressure to admit what I know happened.

It was silent all to the precinct, and we only spoke when we were situated at her desk. She got out a voice recorder and notepad and asked me to tell her the details of that day in detail.

"I.. Do I have to?"

Her face showed surprise, since I bet there aren't that many victims who don't want their assaulter to be caught. "Do you not want to?"

"Well.. I don't want to have to face him again. I don't want to have to go against him and see him and hear his voice."

She nodded and set her pen down. "You just have to pick him out a lineup and that's all. After that, even in court, you don't have to testify with him in the room. And you don't have to be present otherwise."

I sighed. "I don't want to take any chances. I can't see him."

She shook her head and set a hand on my shoulder. "Felix, I assure you you only have to see him once. He's a violent and dangerous person, and you'll surely get hurt again by him since I was told this isn't the first time he's assaulted you."

"...How do you know that? How do you know it's him?"

"I'm afraid I won't be telling you that. All you need to know is he'll be put behind bars for a long time." She went back to her notepad.

"Alright. Tell me what happened that day."

Trusting her, regardless of every cell in my body aching to run away, I told her the whole story. She wrote down several pages of notes and recorded the whole "testimony".

"Thank you very much, Felix. I'm proud of you. You did something very hard. Are you available to come back to the station tomorrow?"

"Again?" In all honesty, I was exhausted. Going through it all again was so stressful.

She hummed a yes. "We have Mr. Kim in custody currently. That was the cop cab you saw earlier. Tomorrow, we will have a lineup and verify the identity of the person who assaulted you."

I sighed deeply for the second time in this building. "Okay. I'll come. Just call me when it's time."

I got up and headed out, getting a ride back to my apartment. I didn't feel like going to the city anymore, since I lost all my energy recalling the attack.

After struggling back up the stairs, I went down the hall to my place. In front of the door was Hyunjin, my boyfriend who I hadn't spoken to or contacted in nearly a week.