Thinner

80

Reconsider.
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He stared into his phone screen. The number displayed on the screen with a series of attached messages that was barely even readable. His heart thumped in his chest. He could feel the anxiety creeping up his back. He swallowed heavily.

Hajun wanted him to go pick him up from a party. He had apparently gotten sick during the past 4 hours. And the thought alone made him feel unwell. Lately, Hajun had shown signs of fatigue. It all started about two weeks ago. He would call in sick from school, lay in bed, and have no energy to take care of his hygienic needs. So when Hajun announced early this evening that he would attend a party that was being thrown in a sketchy neighborhood. Jeongin couldn't help but become worried.

With the text attached to Hajun contacts, he didn't know what to do. Was he supposed to bring something for the latter? Was he supposed to carry an aid kit down the streets of a sketchy neighborhood? And asking Hajun didn't help because all he got as a response was to just come and get him as soon as possible.

He sighed as he hit the call button, waiting impatiently for the older to pick up the phone. All whilst he was putting on his shoes.

"Hajun, what's your exact location?" He asked as he grabbed the doorhandle, ready to leave until Hajun spoke.

"It's a street, with cars and lamps..it's so amazing, the lights are beautiful".

Just by the way Hajun spoke, Jeongin could tell. He could tell that Hajun was high, not just drunk, but higher than the sky itself. He sighed as he made his final conclusion, rushing into the bathroom before grabbing the emergency aid kit. Scavenging through the sterile packaged clean needles and bandaids. Grabbing the one thing that could prevent the situation from going south.

"Hajun, what did you take?" He asked with a frown displayed on his face, searching through the aid kit to see if anything could be in helping hand.

"I'm not sure..just some pills and weed-".

"Do you know what kind of pills?".

"Man, I don't know, all I know is that I'm walking, and it feels like I'm floating, and I know that I don't really have any friends and that my parents hate me. I'm also very unsure if you really are my friend, but I'd like to keep imagining that because you make me really happy. I'm also a bit dizzy, I should probably sit down. But I'd rather keep walking while talking to you-" All of Hajun words were slurred. All the sentences and the way he spoke were confusing and strange. Jeongin bit his lip as he decided to just take the whole aid kit with him. Leaving the apartment all together.

"Do you know where you are?".

"Do I know where I am? Do I even know myself? I feel like all my life has been secrets and untold truth-".

"Hajun, I need you to focus, okay? Look around you, see if there are any signs of where you could be" he spoke quietly into the phone, passing through crowds of people on the street, his eyes fixated on the kit in his hands, wondering if anything would be necessary to help calm down the drugs in Hajun's system.

"I see a lake. Oh my God, I loved swimming as a child. Maybe i-".

"Hajun, no. Just sit down wherever you are, and don't move an inch until I'm there".

"Did you know my great grandpa died swimming in the ocean when my grandpa was just a little boy? My grandpa always told me stories about it. And he seemed so saddened every time he brings him up..it's kind of funny, because I wouldn't be sad if my parents drowned. I wonder if they would even care if I died. I guess I'm just a disappointment to them. But I don't like admitting that because I want to believe I can be loved. But I'm really nothing without drugs and alcohol. That's the only reason why people like me. So they can invite me to anything, knowing that I will have drugs with me. They know that I will get stoned. They like that..but you, you aren't like that at all. I like you for that, I really appreciate you for at least seeming like a friend to me..but I don't know what friends are. I haven't had any before, that's kind of sad..everything is sad".

Jeongin was quietly sobbing as he crossed the street. He could physically feel his heart clenching from Hajun's words. The amount he related to the things Hajun spoke about, the amount of worry and concern he had for the older, made him feel so exposed.

"H-hajun, are you still by the lake?" He asked, having a feeling that he was nearing Hajun's location.

"Yes, I'm sitting by a tree..don't you think it's funny that trees lose their clothes in the winter? How are they supposed to stay warm-".

"I think I see you" he muttered as he approached the figure sitting against a tree. Head up and admiring the leaves.

His adrenaline kicked in when he was close enough to spot the older. His heart sank as he looked over Hajun's face. His eyes were read and puffy, skin pale and lips completely discolored. Drool dripping from the purplish tinted lips. Eyes seemed dry with barely any movement.

"Hajun, I'm here" he spoke as he waved his hand in front of the latter's face. "I'm going to call someone to come pick us up, okay?".

But Hajun was nothing but out of it. His skin was cold, and his body was almost completely stiff. He looked dead. But he could tell he was alive by the shallow breathing.

"I like trees. They are pretty. But not fuckable pretty, because trees don't have tits and a fat ass".

"Do me a favor and keep talking like that, just whilst I'm making a phone call".