BRAINWASHED ~ Jisung

04

Six days ago. 10.45am

Chenle frowned at Jisung as they sat down at a table on their morning break.

"You look tired Jisungie, did you get enough sleep last night?" Chenle asked him.

Jisung shook his head. After last night he had had a fitful sleep and woke up this morning feeling like crap. He glanced around cautiously to make sure no one else was in earshot and then shuffled closer to Chenle.

"Something's wrong with me Chenle. It's that song, it's messing with my head and I'm starting to freak out about it." he whispered under his breath.

Chenle's frown deepened and he took hold of Jisung's hand, placing his warm hand over Jisung's in his lap.

"Did something else happen?" he asked.

Jisung nodded and swallowed nervously, "Last night I decided to watch the music video again to try and make myself remember the lyrics properly and I don't know what happened, I swear I only watched it once but then suddenly it was nearly two and a half hours later."

Chenle now looked very concerned and bit his lip.

"Well, maybe that song is frying your brain," he replied, "I think you should stop listening to it all together and it should be fine and you'll be back to normal soon." he suggested, though Jisung could tell he was doubting his own words.

"But what if it doesn't?" Jisung replied in a small voice.

Chenle gave his hand a small squeeze, "It will, don't worry." he responded, managing to sound a little more confident.

Renjun then plopped himself down into a seat opposite them, resting his face in his palms and staring inquisitively at the two of them while he leaned on the table.

"What's up with you?" he asked Jisung.

Jisung shot Chenle a nervous look and Chenle smoothly answered for him.

"Jisungie's just worried about his art project; he still hasn't got any ideas on what to draw for our charcoal piece." Chenle explained.

"Hmm," Renjun thought for a moment, drumming his fingers on the table. Then he smiled and chuckled as he got an idea.

He leaned his body over the table even further, like he was about to share something very secret.

"Why don't you draw a happy dolphin!" he remarked, pointing his finger at Chenle.

Chenle burst into laughter, "That's what I'm doing, silly!"

Renjun snapped his finger in dissatisfaction, "Damn! I thought that was a great idea."

"It is, but I thought of it first of course." Chenle remarked, poking his tongue out at him.

Renjun huffed dramatically and pretended to pout, leaning back in his chair with his arms crossed over his chest. Jisung chuckled at his two friends, glad he had them to take his mind away from his worries.

With them around, Jisung felt like himself again, as if there was nothing strange or creepy going on in his life at all. Maybe that was the way to sort his problem out; to just stick by his friends and absorb himself in other things to keep himself from thinking about that song and those unsettling lyrics.

"Well, we've got art next so maybe Jisungie will think of something then." Chenle said.

The three boys continued to chat until the bell rang.

"Have fun in art class!" Renjun waved goodbye and headed off in the opposite direction.

Chenle hooked his arm around Jisung's and they made their way to the art classroom.