not your typical love story // 𝓼𝓸𝓸𝓷𝓱𝓸𝓸𝓷. (EDITING...)

CH.38

it can't be, right?

that's what the lavender-haired jihoon had been constantly telling himself all the time as he made his way to the asylum.

the voice may be familiar, but it cannot be that of the blonde soonyoung.

jihoon knew that he doesn't have a phone and is still deemed as a patient who can't be left alone in his own device.

how could soonyoung even call jihoon in the first place if he didn't have his phone number?

you're just delusional jihoon. he told himself as he parked his car.

"and i'm finally here," jihoon muttered to himself as he stood in front of the well-known asylum.

cherry blossom rehabilitation.

it was such a familiar place with over a hundred memories attached to it that he couldn't help but reflect on how long it had been since he started working here.

time has flown by so quickly that he suddenly feel so old.

jihoon took his phone from his pocket and slid it open, dialing a number that was familiar to him.

it was none other than his friend, wonwoo.

before the other line picked up, the doctor could hear the ringing sound for a few seconds.

"hello," jihoon softly greeted.

"hey there, why did you call so suddenly, hoon? did something happen?" wonwoo, on the other side, was perplexed at the unexpected call.

"i just wanted to check if you're on duty today," jihoon said as he stood in front of the asylum.

"oh, about that," wonwoo explained, "something urgent came up yesterday, so i had to took a one week leave."

jihoon nervously said, "ah, is that so?"

"hm, yeah," wonwoo replied, humming. "but why did you asked though?" he continued.

"oh, nothing," jihoon replied. "i was just planning to visit you and jeonghan hyung." he continued.

"wait. you're outside? don't tell me you're alone right now?" inquired the frightened voice on the other end of the call.

he sounded so damn worried and he really is.

"but, uhm, i'm still at my apartment so you don't have to be so worried," jihoon lied, not wanting to cause the latter any concern.

"i'm begging you, please stay in your place for now," wonwoo advised. "you can't go around alone since it's still too dangerous, plus i'm not there and jeonghan isn't either since he's on a three-day business trip."

"i'm all good; that maroon-headed guy won't do anything to me; he doesn't even know where i'm currently staying at now," jihoon stated, forcing a smile while attempting to make a joke.

or perhaps jiwon still knew where he's staying at. jihoon pondered with a troubled heart.

if he could recall that certain incident, his unit in the doctor's apartment was previously trespassed by someone and the jiwon was the top suspect.

however, they still can't tie the guy and bring him into the station. damn, they can't even establish that they're right about suspecting that man.

jihoon said, "i'm hanging up right now."

"hm yeah, take care of yourself, okay?" wonwoo reminded, his soft smile visible over the other line."let's just hang out another time, when all three of us are free."

jihoon said, "hm, see you." before hanging up and letting out a long sigh

he told himself, "let's go inside now, lee jihoon."

"calm down, okay? it's not like this is your first time here," the doctor said as he straightened his coat.

this is a way too familiar scene.

it was when he used to be soonyoung's attending psychiatrist, during his third visit.

he felt so nervous and that feeling is exactly the same to what he's feeling right now.

"good morning, doctor Lee," the guards said as soon as they noticed him.

surprisingly, they haven't forgotten the doctor's name.

"good morning," jihoon said with a slight smile as he entered the place.

he was surprised when he is greeted by a new kind of ambience.

it used to give off a lonely atmosphere, but now it gives off an even more lonely impression, as if it were a morgue rather than an asylum.

"doctor lee?" asked a familiar voice.

he turned around and spotted seokmin, that kind guard who's with junhui before.

"oh, hello," the doctor remarked, "it's been a long time since i've seen you."

"it truly is," answered the security guard, smiling at their unexpected encounter.

seokmin asked, worried. "but why are you here, doctor? i thought you needed some time to rest?"

"I was just intending to visit someone," replied the doctor.

"yeah? don't overwork yourself." said the latter with a smile.

"oh. i'm good, thank you." jihoon remarked as he returns the smile of the younger.

"i'll see you around then." the younger said before they said their good-byes to each other, walking in opposite directions,

jihoon walked to the counter right away, but instead of meeting Jisoo, he saw a new face.

who?

jihoon soon pulled himself back and greeted. "oh hi."

"good morning sir, how may i assist you?" asked the young man, whose name tag reads as sanha.

"uh, can i asked where's jisoo? hong jisoo," jihoon replied.

"oh him?" the young looking male replied with a smile. "he's assigned to the second floor now."

"thank you," jihoon murmured as he walked to the stairwell, not wanting to take the elevator.

and there, you have it.

jihoon could recognize his friend's face even from afar.

and by friends, he literally meant friends.

the two had unknowingly becomes friend, though no one knows how.

"hey, jisoo," greeted the doctor.

"hey doctor lee, what brings you here?" the said male calmly greeted back. "are you here to see soonyoung this time?"

"uhm, yeah? something along those lines—"

however, jihoon was stopped short when a loud alarm sounded throughout the building.

"i repeat, requesting everyone to find a safe place to hide into, there's a patient with a gun who went missing and is still inside the asylum, a patient in ward 13 went missing and is still inside the asylum, he's with a gun," a woman's voice echoed through the speakers installed in the wall above.

jihoon cursed to himself, "damn. why now of all times?"

they could already hear scared people screaming and multiple shouts from the higher floor.

"doctor, let's go hide," jisoo immediately said before the two rushed to find a place to hide.

unfortunately, the two became separated along the way when other doctors and visitors came running, causing a mess in the place.

"jihoon-!" exclaimed jisoo as he was shoved away further from the said smaller male.

"jisoo-!"

as he found himself alone, jihoon murmured to himself in disbelief, "i am so fucking dead now."

he won't die today, would he?