RANSOM - 3RACHA

Thirteen

35 days before Chan was taken:

"If you hate your job so much, why don't you quit?" Jisung asked, examining one of Chan's expensive pens that he was twirling around in his hand. Chan was sat behind the desk, head in his hands as he stared at the documents in front of him until his eyes bled.

"I can't. My family would say I betrayed them and I'd probably lose everything I have."

Jisung got bored of the pen and picked up a photo frame instead. Turning it around, he saw a picture of 15 year old Chan, Changbin and himself, sat in a tree and smiling at the camera like they didn't have a care in the world. "Isn't it more important to be happy?" He asked.

Chan looked up at Jisung. Their eyes met for a second and when he saw the hopeful look in Jisung's eyes, he looked away without responding. Jisung didn't know what he was thinking, but he couldn't imagine the answer was 'no.'

"Me and Changbin are going out tonight. You should come!" Jisung offered, "it's obviously going to be fun because it's me and Changbin. You'd make it better though."

Chan scribbled something on the paper and looked back up. "Where are you going?"

"Clubbing!"

He scoffed, "no, definitely not."

"Aw, come on! Don't be such a killjoy," Jisung pouted, giving Chan his best puppy dog eyes.

Chan sighed, knowing he couldn't say no to Jisung. It was as if he was under his spell, willing to do anything to make him smile. "I suppose it wouldn't hurt..."

Jisung jumped up from his seat in excitement, "yes, thank you! We're going to have so much fun, I promise."

"If you say so."

-

Changbin and Jisung explained everything that had happened since Chan went missing to him; everything from going to visit his dad to stabbing the blonde lady in the neck. Chan was beginning to gain more strength as he listened until he was able to speak a few words. "You seem closer," he said. Jisung was sat in Changbin's lap on one of the hospital chairs, so they were closer in more than one way. Changbin couldn't believe that they told him Jisung stabbed someone and those were the first words he spoke.

Jisung blushed, "Chan..." He said, as if he wanted to ask a question.

"Yes?"

"Do you think it's possible to love two people at once?" He asked, unsure how else to approach the topic.

Chan tried to clear his throat but it remained hoarse and croaky as he replied, "I know so."

Chan's energy had been depleting since he woke up and he was surprised to find himself falling back asleep after muttering those words. He thought he must be on a medication to cause it because he wasn't usually this exhausted. Or maybe his body was making up for all the nights he deprived it, either way, he was asleep in seconds, leaving the other two alone. Changbin looked more serious now, "we need to talk."

"What about?"

"Crime Investigators want to talk to me. They think I found Chan and I didn't want to drag your name into it, but we need to come up with a story in case they question you."

Jisung frowned, "why? We saved him didn't we?"

"Yes, but you killed someone. You could go to prison for that if we're not careful."

Jisung's expressions fell, as if he hadn't considered the possibility before. "Prison? I don't want to go to prison, please don't let them take me to prison."

"Don't worry, I'm not going to," Changbin grabbed his hand and gave it a squeeze, "you're too cute for prison, remember?"

Jisung nodded, "I remember but you are too so please don't get yourself arrested either."

Changbin kissed Jisung's cheek, "we're going to be ok."

--

A day had passed tediously. The nurses tried to get Changbin and Jisung to go home but they refused to leave without Chan. Jisung was currently alone in the room as Chan was fast asleep and Changbin had gone to have an interview with the Criminal Investigators. Jisung was pacing back and forth across the room, awaiting his return. He didn't want to go to prison and he didn't want Changbin to go either, he'd only wanted to save Chan. He didn't mean to kill the lady Chan called 'Miss Everwere.' He didn't realise when a nurse entered the room and he almost knocked into her due to his pacing. "I'm so sorry-" Jisung began.

"It's ok," she smiled sweetly, tucking a lock of her ginger curls behind her ear, "is everything ok, you look stressed?"

"I'm fine," Jisung lied, smiling as he sat back down in his chair, "just...need to clear my mind.

The young nurse watched as Jisung started to nibble on his nails that were already bitten down to the nub. His foot was tapping against the floor too quickly for her to keep up with and his hands shook from all the coffee he had drank. "Sir," she began, "what you've been through recently has been stressful. If you'd like, we have a great team of therapists here and I'm sure one of them would be able to squeeze you in for a quick appointment, considering your circumstances. It could benefit you greatly."

"A therapist?" Jisung looked up at her, "you think I need a therapist?"

"I'm just saying it wouldn't hurt."

Jisung's eyes flicked to Chan who was fast asleep and probably would be for a few hours yet. Changbin was busy with the Criminal Investigators, leaving him with a few hours to kill. Seeing a therapist might be good for him or at least, as the nurse said, it wouldn't hurt.

"I guess I could try it," he nodded.

"Follow me," she smiled and opened the door to Chan's room. She exited into the hallway and Jisung followed closely behind. They passed by many sick and injured people as they walked down the halls. Some were weeping into they're hands, others were anxiously waiting for news of their loved ones. Things were different when they reached the ward the nurse was leading Jisung to though. The people waiting were laughing, yelling and screaming, except for the ones who stared at the wall blankly. One woman was pulling her hair out as she rocked back and forth and a man was mumbling words to himself, hitting his hand against his head. Jisung didn't think he belonged here.

"Miss, I don't think-"

"Don't worry, not everyone who sees a therapist is like this. Some people just need someone to talk to, ok? I'll see if they can get you an appointment as soon as possible."

Jisung sighed, it's not like he felt much difference from these people anyway. "ok."