A throw away

To change and still be the same

It was morning, sunlight filtered through Gumi's room through a small gap in the curtain. He had a good sleep and he was thoroughly rested. It was the fourth day and he had recovered from the fevers. As Gumi sat up in bed his emerald eyes blinked away the sleepiness. When he was awake enough he noticed his surroundings.

This was the room he had been staying in since yesterday. There it was the same arm chair that Takashi perched on. The same bedside table and lamp. The same brown curtain, all the same. Gumi frowned, he had failed to escape. When the strange man was finally asleep on the long chair he tiptoed out of this room and was halfway through the living room when he was mesmerized. The flat surface that showed an image. It was so strange and interesting.

Gumi just settled on the floor and looked on with amazement. The moving pictures had changed! Then he realized that there was something he had sat on. It was the remote and he pressed all the numbers from 1-9 and 0. Then he tried the arrows. When the volume was loud enough he figured that button was for making the TV noisier or quieter. Then he pressed the other buttons which caused the channels to change in order. Gumi made another discovery! On the upper right side were the numbers that changed when the pictures changed.

Two hours later Gumi was still hooked to the screen. When Takashi woke he had already long forgotten about his plans to leave. He was wholly hypnotized by the plasma TV. Only when food arrived was he finally able to look away.

Now he was disappointed at himself. How could he let that man lure him and keep him here! So mad! How could he be so gullible and think that he would not imprison him here like everyone else! Gumi got out of bed angrily and stomped away to the toilet. He peed then stomped out into the living room. Just when he thought the place was clear and that the man was still asleep he jumped out of his skin, scared by a voice.

There to his left was the bar where Takashi was transferring freshly cooked bacon and eggs to a plate. "Hey you're awake early! I thought you would sleep in 'cause you were watching TV till midnight. Well you passed out on the carpet and I had to carry you to your bed. Come over here and we'll eat breakfast."

Gumi wide eyed and still surprised was frozen in place. Slowly he got to his senses and took a seat on a bar stool. He was foolish to think he could just simply walk away through the front door. That he wouldn't be caught doing it. He told himself that there would be a next opportunity.

Takashi placed an empty plate in front of Gumi and a spoon and fork. The toaster dinged and he gave Gumi two slices of toasted bread. "Butter?" Takashi offered the platter which had the stick of butter still in the wrap. Then with his knife coated his own toast carefully. Gumi watched and then followed his example. The taste was great! It was crunchy but soft in the inside, salty and rich.