Solitary ~Minsung~

Chapter 5

"Okay..."

Minho's eyes widen, obviously surprised by my answer, before the look of surprise turns into his signature wide grin.

As I tread over to his bed Minho pats the small space next to him, to which I kindly shake my head, blushing slightly. He laughs, obviously knowing it wouldn't work and just watches me as I walk to his bed, sitting cross legged next to the end of it.

"You okay? Are you comfortable? Would you like a pillow, or anything?" he asks hurriedly, concerned with me sitting on the floor.

"I'm fine" I reply in my small voice, quite happy actually as I could still have a view of Minho's lips as he read, the book covering the rest of his face. As he continues reading I watch him skilfully pronouncing each word, his naturally full lips slightly chapped from the hours of reading. Those lips, the lips that bring the words to life as he voices the different characters.

Becoming tired near the end of the book I lay my head on the end of the bed, next to Minho's feet. I could hear Minho stop reading for a split second to see what the movement was, before returning, smiling widely.

"Jane is now a common grown-up, with a daughter called Margaret; and every spring cleaning time, except when he forgets, Peter comes for Margaret and takes her to the Neverland, where she tells him stories about himself, to which he listens eagerly. When Margaret grows up she will have a daughter, who is to be Peter's mother in turn; and thus it will go on, so long as children are gay and innocent and heartless."

By the last line my eyes were closed from how tired I was and I was just listening to Minho's words. With my eyes still closed, I choked out "Again?" between a yawn.

Mino giggles his child-like giggle in response and replies "No, you're practically asleep already! How about tomorrow?". I nod, standing up groggily and padding over to my bed to lay down. As soon as my head hits the pillow I fall asleep happy; the quickest and happiest I've fallen asleep in my whole stay here.

Rather than a nightmare, I dream a lovely dream of Neverland. I am in a room with my best friends from school: Felix and Seungmin. We are laying in our beds laughing and talking to each other when a beautiful boy flies in through our window, dressed in a green outfit, fit with a little green hat. This boy was beautiful, with dark hair, bright shining moon-looking eyes, plump lips and long delicate eyelashes. I go up to him to try and touch his cheek, to see if this perfect boy was in fact real. He laughs an oddly familiar laugh before grabbing my hand and pulling me out the window. We fly away together, holding hands under the stars until we reach a foreign faraway place, landing on the boughs of a large tree. The boy sits next to me and places his sturdy arms around me to keep me warm in the chill night air. He talks to me about the stars and how they're stunning in the night sky, like beacons of hope for lost souls. He compared them to my eyes when I smile. He is perfect. I turn my head to look up at him from where it is currently sitting on his shoulder, only to be met with him looking down at me. Our faces are only a few inches apart and so the boy leans in, his lips touch—

"GET UP"

I am awoken from my dream by the nurse shouting the daily wake ups. I was asleep until wake up? That has never happened before.

I sit up to see Minho reading another book he must have picked up from the common room yesterday. "Sleep well Jisung?"

"Yes."

"What were you dreaming about? You we're smiling all morning."

"Nothing!" I reply startled, rushing into the bathroom and locking the door behind me. As I look in the mirror I see my face completely red, deciding to take a shower to cool down.

I peel off my shirt and pants, and like Minho, see pink scars littering my forearms, hips and thighs. The especially large vertical one on my left wrist reminds me of why I am here; of the utter mental anguish I was in a couple days ago and the time at which the scar was created. Hating what I see I step into the shower before I can dwell in anymore self-pity.

Feeling refreshed after my shower, I take another lot of the white uniforms out of the bathroom cupboard and put them on, covering myself before I look in the mirror again. I brush my hair and apply some moisturiser before I walk out of the bathroom. As I walk out Minho walks straight in, flashing me his crescent-moon-eyed smile before doing so.

I wonder what Minho thinks when he looks in the mirror and is reminded of his own past... Does he dwell, or move on? To be so happy he must have moved on? But how....? How do I move forward into a better life? Maybe he can help me to.

Minho walks out of the bathroom, his shaggy wet hair hanging in front of his eyes and his white uniform sticking slightly to his still damp body. He smiles at me and my heart instantly lightens at the sight, my previous worries drifting away.

I walk alongside Minho to breakfast, a couple inches between us, the closest I have been with another person since the assault. We approach the tables in the dining hall, walking to the furthest one. I go to sit down, but stop as I hear a cough. I look up to see Minho holding his hand up for me to stop where I am, which I do. He walks up to the chair I was going to sit in and pulls it out for me, then walking up to the lunch lady to grab our trays. I smile at how he didn't push the chair in for me, obviously worried that the close proximity would make me uncomfortable.

Minho brings the trays back and my heart jumps at seeing him, once again, with two pairs of chopsticks in his mouths as he tries to not spill the soup and rice on the trays as he places them down on the table. I drag mine towards me and hold my hand out to Minho who drops the chopsticks into them, I giggle at what seems to be our new routine. I take a pair for myself, leaving the other for Minho, who grins as he takes them.

During our lunch Minho and I laugh at each other as we have a friendly debate on whether we preferred the shipping of Tinker Bell and Peter Pan, or Wendy and Tinkerbell. I, of course, was for the one and only Wendy and Pete, however Minho stood by his pairing, nearly spitting his rice everywhere as I called him delusional.

All my worries drifted away in this conversation, I felt like my 'me' returned. I felt happy, and like myself again. I realised that every time I have been happy since I was in here had one common factor. That factor being Minho, he was the reason for my happiness. Even though I had only known him for about 24 hours I had spent all of them happier than my previous months here combined.

I am snapped from my conversation with Minho, where he was clearly wrong, by the feeling of someone standing next to me. I look up to see Hyujin and, in fear, respond by standing up in my chair and beginning to back off away from him. Hyunjin hold his hands up to me, as if showing me he means so harm.

"Hey Jisung, dude it's okay. I'm not gonna touch you. I just wanted to apologise for yesterday. I didn't listen to the nurses and I placed my hand on your shoulder... and I'm truly sorry. Please forgive me."

I nod at Hyunjin, who gives me a small awkward smile in return, before walking back to his table. I walk back to my seat and breathe deeply, trying to calm my fast beating heart.

"You okay, Jisung?" Minho asks, a concerned look on his face.

"Fine, where were we? Oh yeah! You not admitting that you're shit at shipping"

"I'm offended Han Jisung" he states matter-of-factly; the concerned face being removed by one of over dramatic hurt. I giggle at his childishness, my heart calming completely in an instant.

After breakfast we spend the whole day with each other, attending all our classes. He never comes too close, but just close enough that his presence calms me and I continue my day completely happy, no bad thoughts entering my head as long as he is there, always looking at me with his moons and wide smile.

The only time we leave each other's side is in the late afternoon when we each have our appointment with Dr. Seo, one after the other. I am first and so when we reach the office go to walk in first.

"I'll be waiting for you" I stop in my tracks as he says this and look down at the floor, blushing profusely.

"Thank you" I reply softly, my head still down as I enter Dr. Seo's office.