across the universe. | chensung

once again | chapter 4

After the awkwardness of the first few days, the atmosphere of the household seemed to have went back to normal, Chenle's high-pitched laugh filling the apartment.

But just when Jisung began to think that this would last, God decided to change their paths again.

Chenle disappeared.

For the second time in three years, he left. And this time Jisung didn't wait. He didn't cling to any useless hope or explanation. Because this time was different - he knew exactly where he had gone.

-

Jisung had woken up to silence. Stumbling out of his room, he had noticed Chenle's door was ajar. Maybe he had just gone for a run without him - but that didn't explain the absence of his suitcase and the empty wardrobe. Cold fear settled in the pit of his stomach. On the desk of Chenle's room he found the computer left on, its screen bright. Jisung's heart dropped to his knees.

Chenle had booked a plane ticket to Shanghai, and his flight - had been today, 8:20am.

It was 8:46.

He was gone.

"No."

Jisung's eyes frantically searched the screen, rereading it over and over again. There was no assurance needed; this was very much real. Chenle's flight was crossing the ocean while he stared at the screen.

He had left Jisung once before. No traces. But this time, he was probably never coming back. Jisung knew something was horribly wrong. Chenle had been overly exhausted after what used to be moderate exercise, he was dangerously thin - and his eyes. He couldn't read Chenle's eyes, emotions he couldn't decipher brimming in them; sad and happy and confused all at once. Smiles could only hide so much.

He had to find out. There was no denying curiosity, but he needed to steady his own emotional turmoil. He wanted an explanation, on how Chenle just took his first kiss away and left him alone here without a reason. Whatever Chenle had done to him, it wasn't acceptable.

Steeling himself from any second thoughts, Jisung booked the next flight to Shanghai. Even with poor knowledge of the country, he still did it with no doubt. 'What ifs' were excuses, and he wouldn't give himself room for excuses. This decision wasn't for turning back.

"What have I just done..." Jisung muttered quietly; then shook the thought out of his head. He should be thinking about packing, getting to Shanghai, and finding Chenle. The flight was at 2:40, and it was 8:53 now. He needs to pack for - God knows how many - days in one hour.

An hour later, Jisung was struggling down the stairs with his suitcase. He securely locked the door and called a taxi. "Take me to the Incheon international airport please, thank you." And just like that, Jisung is off to China, a foreign country he knew basically nothing about. He knew that this was crazy, but he's gone too far to stop.

Of course, being the smart person he is, he looked online for some useful knowledge such as different phrases in Chinese. He had booked a hotel in the suburbs of Huangpu, which from his memory, was where Chenle's house was in Shanghai. Hoping that Chenle's family wouldn't have moved for the past five years, he booked a room immediately.

Jisung arrived at the Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport at about 3:45pm China time. He really didn't know what to expect since he couldn't understand most of the signs on the way to the exit. At least he could figure out what they mean with the English written on the signs, even though his English skills were not the best. He finally fumbled his way out, got his luggage and found a taxi. The ride was longer than Jisung thought it would be due to the traffic conditions in this huge metropolis. After a hour or two, he arrived at the hotel, and checked in. Lying on the bed, drained after the events of today, he realised something.

The real problem came next:

Where is he supposed to find Chenle in this big city?