patient • chensung

9 • of seeing what isn't there

sorry for the late update!! it's my fault this time because i've been so caught up in this kdrama i've been watching. sorry ): anyways, thank you for 24k on popular and almost 16k on transfer 💜 i love you all to the sun and back. hope u like this chapter. it's a bit of a turning point in the story.

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When the young boy's doctor arrived, Jisung did not realise how beautiful the boy actually looked- he had only witnessed him in loose white uniform and glasses. Everything that screams 'mature'.

He had even begun to believe it, until seeing him be himself, act his age.

Upon arrival, Chenle was dressed in baggy, dark green button-down shirt, tucked into some tight black, skinny jeans, some of the shirt hanging out at the back. His blonde hair was in soft loose locks, slight bangs framing his defined face shape.

"Ready?" he asked, walking towards the bed in a few strides. Jisung nodded, standing up infront of the boy but never breaking eye contact.

Apparently, Chenle was smaller than he'd originally thought. He only had to look down a little bit, although it was quite endearing to see the boy look back up at him; although the look was more of an observation- an observation that never left the older's eyes.

"Okay, lets go then-"

"Wait!" Jisung called out.

Chenle raised an eyebrow, turning his body back so that it was facing the younger completely.

"Let me just," he began, and reached out for the chinese's arm who confusedly leant foreword to be in his touch. Jisung began unbuttoning the sleeve buttons at his wrist and rolled it up slightly, to reveal his masterpiece he'd done not so long ago. It still looked a bright red, and the boy smiled. "Thank you."

Chenle swallowed and nodded. "Anytime."

And so the two left the hospital side by side, the cold air striking through them once again. Jisung felt elated to feel the freedom he had again, and it was amazing. The fresh air hitting him, the light of the moon sparkling on his face, and the occasional car engine revving.

"Where are we going?"

"Just come," Chenle responded, his teeth chattering slightly. Jisung looked at him, furrowing his eyebrows.

"Why are you cold?" Jisung could see the older was pulling his jacket tightly around him, attempting to obtain the slightest bit of heat.

The chinese paused in his tracks and rolled his eyes. "It's nearly November, of course it's going to be freezing." He said as if it was the most obvious thing, although he knew that for the younger, it really wasn't.

Jisung listened, although he couldn't really feel the cold as they walked through the dark streets, just a few flickering streetlights illuminating their path. For a strange reason, it seemed all too familiar, the road, but he couldn't quite place his finger on it. It was as if he'd been here so many times, but he hadn't all at the same time.

The doctor came to a stop.

"Jisung, tell me what you see."

The korean hitched an eyebrow at such a question. They were just standing in the middle of a road, a few buildings here and there.

He cast his eyes over his surroundings and sighed. "I see a road, a few buildings, a broken home, a few street lamps, and...... a car."

Before Chenle could respond, Jisung pounced onto him, encasing the boy in his arms and pushing them to the side, where the pavement was. He turned them a bit, so he was the one landing on the cold, concrete ground with his vice-like grip still clutching Chenle tightly.

"Jisung!" the older's exclaimed, turning to face the boy in his arms, now straddling him. "Are you alright?" he gasped, concerned, leaning down to examine any traces of blood or cuts.

The korean nodded. "Are you?" he whispered, looking into the other's eyes directly.

A sigh was let out by the older as he looked back and nodded. Jisung took this time to actually take in the position the pair were in, his legs trapping the doctor securely, hands loose at Chenle's sides.

"You're staring," he exhaled, feeling the intent gaze of the older's burning at his skin.

"Sorry," Chenle blushed and cast his gaze away as the taller got off swiftly. He did the same, pushing himself off the floor. "Thank you, by the way."

Jisung shrugged as it was nothing and continued to follow the elder. The subtle sound of their footsteps, coupled with the faint pitter patter of rain was all that could be heard now. A bright ray of moonlight shine directly above them, guiding them with the streetlights and gradually, they reached the end of the road and stopped.

"Jisung, tell me what you see."

The korean was still curious as to why the boy was asking him these questions, but decided on not questioning it.

So once again, he took a deep breath and observed his surroundings. "I see a playground. It has swings and a huge slide- oh and there's a little boy on the climbing frame too and a roundabout I think-"

Chenle furrowed his eyebrows, and turned to face the younger, who he'd cut off from the immersive rant he was on. "A little boy?"

Jisung frowned. "Yes. He's alone. Why isn't anybody playing with him?"

At this, the chinese knew something was wrong, because when he'd looked at the climbing frame, it was empty, and the only signs of life in this playground were him and his patient. It was also 10pm currently, and he highly doubts a child would be alone at this time of night.

"What does he look like, Jisung? Describe him to me."

At first, the korean looked confused, as if to say 'look at him yourself' but nevertheless, he opened his mouth and began to speak. "He has black hair, and he's small and skinny but looks a bit tall at the same time? I'm not sure because I can't see him properly but it looks like he has quite small eyes," Jisung finished, and looked to the side expectantly. Chenle simply nodded in gradual movements, as if to observe all the information given.

The pair had left soon after that scene, walking back to the hospital with long strides, and again, a heavy silence had fallen between the two. It was like there were unspoken words yet no need to fill them and Jisung was still quite bewildered.

But Chenle was more curious than anything, because that night, there was no doubt that Jisung had seen himself.