Coffee Cups || k.th

a bit tied up

I wake up with a massive headache. I groan turning over. What the heck happened last night? I don't remember ever coming home. My stomach churns and I feel like something's off. I slowly get out of bed to get some Adv¡l. I walk out to the kitchen and make myself a cup of coffee before walking to my living room. I sit on the couch and turn the tv on. I pick my phone up that was charging next to the couch. 17 missed calls?! They're all from Gihyun! I quickly hit the call button. He picks up after a few rings, "Where the hell did you go last night?!" He yells.

"Not so loud, please." I pull the phone away from my ear. He sighs, "You just left me last night after saying you would make sure to take me home." I take a sip of my coffee. "The problem is, I don't even remember coming home last night." I lay back watching the news program.

"What do you mean? You happily walked away with some guy. I tried to yell for you but you just ignored me." Some guy? Who was that? I look down at my pajamas shorts, did I? No. No way. Did I? No, I think I would've felt something by now.

"I swear I don't remember doing this at all. What did that guy look like?" The awful feeling gets mixed along with the feeling that I'm being watched. I have to get out of the house. "Hold on, Gihyun. Can you meet up with me?" He hesitates a bit, "Yeah sure. Where?" Thank goodness. I sigh in relief, "How does the park work?" I get up walking to my room to get dressed.

"Sure. I'll meet you there in ten minutes." He hangs up. I rush to get dressed, I grab my phone and wallet and get out of the house as soon as I can. The feeling just keeps getting worse and I people begin giving me looks as I brush past everyone. I stop at a convenience store to pick up some breakfast. I make some instant noodles to take with me. When I finally arrive, I sit on a wooden bench and finish my noodles. Ten minutes pass until I decide it's time to call Gihyun. It immediately goes to voicemail.

"Hey Gihyun. Call me as soon as you can." I start worrying. Did something happen to him? Is he okay? I throw my noodles away and start heading towards his apartment. There is too much bad aura hanging around today. I practically jump up the stairs not bothering to wait for the elevator. I knock on the door causing it to push open. Odd, he doesn't ever leave his door unlocked. I slowly step in cautiously. "Gihyun?" I call jumping a bit as the door squeaks. I hear a clatter from his bedroom. My heart races as though it's about to explode. "Gihyun?" I repeat. The sound again. I have two options. Leave, which doesn't seem like a bad idea. Or investigate. I've seen enough horror movies to see how this is gonna work out. But Gihyun's my friend. I clench my fist. I have to make sure he's okay! He would do the same for me. I stop at the kitchen for a weapon. I grip the knife in my hand as I slowly approach his room. "I'm warning you. If you aren't Gihyun. I-I- I'll stab you." I push the door open so I can get a better view inside. A chair sits in the middle of the room, and a poor beat up Gihyun cries out pushing to get closer to me. The chair tips and falls onto the floor, head first. I run forwards and quickly get rid of the gag around his mouth. I hold his wiping the tears away. "Gihyun! Are you okay?" I carefully undo the rope around his wrist and legs. He curls up holding his hands together. His head cranes up and his red, teary eyes meet mine, "You have to run." I shake my head confused. "What?"

His shaking hand holds onto mine. "You have to run." I lift him up so he's standing, "Then let's go. I'll clean you off when we're somewhere safe." I gently brush at one of his many cuts. "No. You have to go right now, by yourself before he comes back." He tries pushing away from me. I easily hold onto him in his weak state, "I'm not leaving you dumby. Let's go." I'm walking both of us out when I hear footsteps coming from the living room. I hold a breath whispering to Gihyun, "We're gonna have to stay extra quiet now." I turn us around and head back to the room. I let him go as I pry the window open trying not to make too much noise. Thankfully there's a fire escape right outside. I help him out first hearing the person grow closer. I step out and try closing the window to get rid of our tracks. But I'm too late, I don't have time to close the window. At this time, Gihyun has already made his way down the escape ladder. I pursue a few feet behind him.

"Hanji." A stranger's voice calls out. "I'll let you off nicely if you just come out. This is my only warning." They continue. How do they know my name? I know I shouldn't look back, I truly know that it's a bad idea. When we run around the corner into an alleyway is when I slowly turn to see who it was. A man, his hair was bleached white and pushed back. He wore a greyish striped suit with a small red handkerchief tucked into a pocket. I watch as he pulls a revolver out of his pocket, I take that as the signal that I should run before he has the chance to fire it. I hold onto Gihyun's hand tightly, "We need to go somewhere with a lot of people around." I glance back again, "Quickly."

We walk into the convenience store I stopped at earlier. I walk up to the cashier and buy him a bowl of instant noodles and a small medical kit. Gihyun watches as I pour the hot water into the bowl and tear the bags open. The silence eating away at my conscience. I open the kit and pull out a disinfectant wipe. As I reach forwards to clean his cuts he grabs my hand. We hold a stare before he finally says something, "Thank you." I nod, "Of course." He shakes his head on the verge of tears. "I told you to run. But you didn't. You stayed for me." I watch a small tear drip down flattening on the table top.

"You're, like, my best friend. I'd take a bullet for you, Gihyun. Now stop crying before you get infected." I hold his chin moving his face upwards so I could wipe the tears away. He flashes a faint smile, "Thanks." I gently dab away at the cuts and put a few bandaids over them, "But aren't I your only friend?" I scoff, "I was going to buy you some ice cream but I guess that's for my other friends." He gapes, "But I want ice cream." I smile pointing towards a freezer, "Fine, go pick a flavor then." He smiles walking towards the freezer and pulling out two cones of ice cream. One matcha flavored, and the other is cookies and cream. He remembered my favorite flavor. We pay at the register, and walk outside unwrapping the cones.

Gihyun and I wander around the busy city streets until the sun starts setting, the flow of people begins dying down. We both sit at a bench under a street light. At this time most of the people around besides a few shop workers have gone home, only a few stray pets wander around. I hear a small sigh, "You should probably head home before it gets too dark." I nod in agreement, "Alright, let's go then." I stand up and start walking. I only walk a few feet forward before I realize he's not following, "Aren't you coming?" I ask confused. "I thought you were going home." He seems almost as puzzled as I am.

"I am, aren't you coming back with me? It'd be a dumb to go back to your place." Question I buried earlier digs its way up. Who was that? How did they know my name? Why did they go after Gihyun? What's going on? He shakes his head, "I couldn't do that, I don't want to be a bother to you. I'll just find a hotel to stay at." I pull him up and begin walking, dragging him behind me. "You only bother me when you're being an idiot."