My Sleeping Partner | P. JM

Downpour

"You're burning, Minah."

"Sorry— am I heating you up?" I apologize as he presses his hand to my forehead for the third time. He shifts his hand down to my neck, shivering when I sigh in pleasure.

"Your temperature— it doesn't feel safe," He says worriedly, the sleep completely gone from his eyes as he wrings his hands nervously.

"I think you need to go to the hospital, Minah."

"No," I squeak, face flushed from humiliation. There was no way I was going to drag him to the freaking hospital just because I was being overly weird. That was just unthinkable.

"Minah." He says firmly, giving me a look of disapproval. His eyes narrow when I stare right back.

"As your Master—"

"Are you really using that card on me now?" He sighs, and I instinctively press my lips together. "Come on. I don't want to drag you to the hospital when you're all unconscious."

"Can't you just let me sleep?" I mumble as I press down on his fluffy hair, squeezing him to me like an oversized teddy bear. "In the morning I'll be fine."

Through my closed eyes, I can practically hear him contemplate whether or not he should throw me over his shoulder and match my struggling form to the hospital.

"Jimin."

".... Fine."

_________________________

After practically following me around the house looking up fever medicine on his database all day, I'd finally given up and let him bring me to the corner store.

"Which one should we get?" Jimin asks curiously as he holds up two brands of medicine. "This one says it's the best  for fever, but this one says it's... uh, specialist recommended?"

I laugh at his innocence.

"Both of them's probably lying," I giggle, holding up another box of medicine that claims that it's the best in the entire country. "Don't trust marketing, child."

"Child?" He looks at me, expression appalled. "I'm older than you!"

All I do is stick out a playful tongue as I skip to the counter, a box of medication clutched in my hand.

"Yoon Minah!"

The cashier— an old lady with glasses perched so low that she might as well not wear them at all— takes one look at Jimin.

Her eyes slit, and mine narrow.

"I can't sell this to you," She claims, and my lips press together angrily. Jimin's distracted with the snack aisle, and I take the opportunity to reveal my not-so-nice side.

"What do you mean you can't sell this to me?" I hiss, noticing how her eyes focus on the tattoo inked on Jimin's neck. "Are you discriminating him?"

"Just for being an AI?"

"AIs are nothing but trouble, girl." She scoffs, making my cheeks flush red with anger. "Just stick with a good, old-fashioned human."

Ignoring her cry of surprise, I slam the medicine down on the counter and grip Jimin's hand. He stares at me curiously as I practically drag him out the door.

"What's wrong, Minah? Did you get the medicine?"

Stupid old lady.

"Nothing's wrong. Let's just go home, okay? I'm already feeling fine." I lie, forcing a bright smile as he fixes his eyes on me.

My heart trembles when he stops.

"It's because of me," He whispers, skin ashen with realization. "It's because she saw my tattoo— it's because I'm an AI."

"No!" I yelp, tightening my grip on his hand. "What are you talking about? It's just that the medicine there wasn't what I was looking for—"

"Now you're lying to me, too."

Frustrated tears blur my eyes as he murmurs. I never should've let him drag me a single step outside my apartment. He didn't deserve this— and I'd given it to him.

"Jimin—"

His eyes grow dark as he wordlessly tugs his hood over his head, concealing his cursed tattoo. His laugh is bitter.

"Please leave me alone."

"Jimin!" I repeat again as I reach for his sleeve. He gives me an exhausted look, and I instinctively draw my hand back. Tears sting in my eyes when his lips force into a small smile.

It's not a smile at all.

"Don't worry, Master." He says, watching me cry silently into my sleeves. How had everything turned out like this? How could I have let everything turn out like this?

"I just need a little bit of time."

_______________________

My cheeks are red from crying as I look up at the clock. The house feels so alone without Jimin singing softly to himself as he waters the flowers on the windowsill, always telling me he'd somehow bring the near-dead daisies back to life.

He was so sweet, and it's all my fault.

What do I do?

I could suggest painting over his tattoo, but what if that hurt his feelings? What if he takes it the wrong way— and gives me that look again?

It was getting dark.

Not knowing where he was, what he was doing for even just an hour makes me want to pace around the house tearing my fingers through my hair.

Was he safe, at least?

Even though I'd promised myself not to act so dependent, I keep finding my eyes searching the darkening streets below for the familiar figure of Jimin.

He always moved with elegance.

After forcing myself to pay attention to Netflix for another hour, I finally give up on waiting. Usually we'd go to bed at this time, but of course no way I was going to fall asleep tonight without him by my side.

Two hours is enough time, right?

Breathing out deeply, I slip on my shoes and rush out into the chilly evening. The sun glows purple and orange as it sinks down on the horizon, and I know that I need to move fast.

Did he have night vision?

"Park Jimin..." I sigh as I shove both hands in my pocket, my feet silent against the empty streets. "Where in the world are you?"

Then thunder rolls in the clouds above.

"Crap."

Before I can squeak out another curse, heavy drops of rain splash onto my face. It doesn't even take ten seconds before I'm soaked from head to toe, shivering and chattering as fast as my mouth can keep up.

I just want to cry.

But I know that crying won't help me find Jimin. All it'll do is just prove how pathetic I am.

At least he can't feel the cold.

The downpour seems to never stop as I aimlessly roam around the neighborhood. And even though I'm soaking wet and shivering cold, I can't help but think it's a better alternative than going insane inside my apartment.

I should probably turn back now.

I'd somehow gotten all the way to Haneul Park, and if I went any farther, I knew for a fact that I was going to get lost.

Yeah.

I should probably go back.

But I never make another kilometer before everything grows dark.