Solitary ~Minsung~

Chapter 6

~ 3 weeks later ~

/ Dr. Seo /

Jisung enters my office, still looking as frail as he did when he first entered the centre. However, he carried himself differently – no longer walking with his shoulders slumped and head down, but rather his head held high and his puffy squirrel cheeks appearing every time he smiled.

The smile, from what I could determine, has one definite cause; that being Minho. Whose back-of-the-head I can currently see. Ever since he had arrived to this ward, just over three weeks ago now, he has accompanied Jisung everywhere. They never touch, always walking and sitting with their shoulders a few inches apart, however looking at them the distance didn't seem to exist, they were so connected when around each other. Always smiling, laughing and having normal, casual teenage boy conversations, which is what both of them needed.

Minho has always been a happy guy on the outside, ever since he arrived straight from the hospital, covered in freshly healing cuts on his wrists and waist. After his suicide attempt his outer smile and bubbliness made people think he was okay, but he never was. However, after three weeks with Jisung he too can be seen to be truly happy and recovering. This change leading him to be able to be discharged within the next couple weeks. I am happy about this for Minho, but I don't know how Jisung will go once he leaves... I truly hope he does not revert back inside himself, isolating himself again...

I hear a cough and look up to see Jisung staring expectedly at me, obviously having been sitting for a while.

"Haha, sorry Jisung, just day dreaming. How have you been? You're looking really good."

"Thank you" he replies, face still.

"Are your scars healing okay?"

"Yes, fine"

"Do you feel like hurting yourself?"

"No"

"How are you feeling?"

"..."

He looks out the small window of the door and sees him...

"Good" he says happily, his previously 'still' façade cracking with a smile.

I note the change down on my sheet, proud of what Jisung had said. After some more discussion I hand him his medication slip and send him out, telling him to ask for Minho to come into my office.

The two share a smile as they pass each other, so many emotions in each other's eyes: adoration, trust, friendship and something else I couldn't quite put my finger on.

/ Jisung /

I grin as Minho walks out Dr. Seo's office, his signature grin on his face, yet... it didn't reach his eyes like it usually did. His moons were glassy, and the area around them slightly puff, as if he had been crying and trying to wipe away the tears to conceal them, obviously not having worked.

"Are you okay?"

"Fine, Sungie", he replies with the same sad eyes and contradictory grin.

Not wanting to make him any more upset in what is most probably a private manner, I look at the clock on the wall and see the time: 2:15.

"MIN, ART CLASS STARTS IN 5 MINUTES. WE HAVE TO GO PLEASSSSEEEEEEEEEEEEE." I beg, making my eyes big as I pout at him ferociously, trying to make him succumb to my request.

"Fine" he says while sighing, "But be warned, I am a terrible artist who only knows how to mediocrely paint cats".

My pout instantly changes to a look of delight at his response. "We can paint cats together!". Minho giggles as I say this, heading off to the art classroom.

"Hey, min, WAIT UP!" I yell, running after the longer-legged boy, getting told off by a nurse as I do so.

I catch up with Minho as we reach the art class door. He opens the door for me majestically enunciating "Sir" while bowing low.

"Why, thank you", I bow back at Minho, giggling like a school girl as I walk in the classroom; followed by Minho who stands up from his bow after I enter. We stand next to each other, of course, picking two easels next to the window on the opposite side of the room as the door. All the easels are placed in a large circle, facing inwards, around the teacher's chair in the middle.

"Hi guys!" I look towards the door and see Mr. Bang, the art teacher, entering the room and walking towards the chair in the middle.

"For the all the new people: Hi guys! I'm Bang Chan! And I'm from Australia!" Minho and I both exchange a humoured glance with each other at the energy the art teacher always seems to carry.

"Today is super chill, we'll just be painting whatever makes you feel happy, show me what you guys got."

I look up at Minho, who has already begun painting, no longer paying attention to me as he paints intently, his tongue sticking out slightly as he thinks. My heart flutters and I instantly know what to paint.

"Alright class time is over; you guys can continue tomorrow. I'm going to head out to see Dr. Seo for a minute, Minho and Jisung you're in charge of clean up today." Everybody begins moving their easels to the corner, so they can continue tomorrow.

"Ugh clean up duties, yuck." Minho says distastefully.

"Hey, at least it's with me." I say with a sheepish smile.

Minho smiles in return, "Well, I'm finished, can I show you what I painted?"

I nod, walking over to face his easel. I see a painting of what looks like a modern apartment with a couch in the middle of the room, in front of a window. On the couch is an oddly-proportioned man, with three cats on his laps.

"It's my apartment in Seoul... with you and my three cats... I just... I really want us to be friends even after we leave here. Do you promise you will stay friends with me?"

My heart has that same feeling as earlier, "of course, Minho." I say whole heartedly, my eyes beginning to water.

"Aww Sung, don't cry." He says, still keeping his few-inch distance as he has since we met, never once trying to decrease it, in worry that he will frighten me... however... today I don't feel so frightened at the thought...

"How about you show me your painting" he offers, trying to change the subject in an effort to console me.

I nod, walking over to my painting ushering Minho over. It is of two bright moons floating amongst the stars. On top of the left moon sits Wendy, and Peter on the right.

"Wow, this is excellent... But... it should be Tinker Bell on the left one" he giggles. I grab my paint brush and my palette board so I can flick some blue paint onto Minho.

"You – UGHHH, what was that for? Huh? Punk!" I laugh hysterically, but stop as Minho dabs some red paint onto the tip of my nose. He runs away to the other side of the classroom and I chase him, continuing to flick paint onto him.

He runs behind me, dragging the paintbrush across my uniform and hair as I run around wildly, slipping in some paint I had flicked on the floor earlier in pursuit of Minho. I fall towards the wall and Minho, obviously also having slipped, ends up just behind me, stopping himself with his outstretched arms on the wall around my head; his stomach facing my back. I can feel his warm, deep breaths against my neck and see the muscles moving in his arms as he struggles to not fall onto me.

My heart begins to quicken, and I panic at the thought of another anxiety attack, but as Minho pushes himself off the wall, away from me, I realise that I don't want him to leave me... that this quickening heart beat is different.

I turn around and look at Minho who coughs awkwardly, blushing profusely. "So that was-- "

"YOU TWO, WHAT HAS HAPPENED HERE?"