[COMPLETE] First Time

TRANSMISSION 14 - SUNGJIN

I thought I was already doing fine.

The first time Wonpil saw me faint, I immediately went to the Medical Arts building the next day and the medical intern Kang Younghyun checked me up and interviewed me regarding my condition. After my narration, he looked at me seriously and asked, "Sungjin, are you keeping something from me?"

Kang Younghyun was known as a prodigy in the medical arts field. Despite us being the same age, he already had numerous awards and accolades under his name. However because of his age and maybe the pride of some of his mentors, his potential had been locked within the four walls of the Institute.

I shook my head. "I've told you everything I know."

"Everything you know, huh... Unless... If you don't know..." Younghyun trailed off and stared at the ceiling, deep in thought, mumbling to himself. He wrote some notes and clapped his hands and said, "I have an idea on what your suffering from but it's just theory and guesswork at this point. I need more concrete proof. I know this has been happening more frequently now... If you collapse again, you have to come back here, okay?"

* * * * *

"Take me to the Medical Arts Building, please," I weakly asked Wonpil before losing consciousness.

When I opened my eyes, it was dark out and you were sitting at my bedside, humming a song. Why do you look so sad? Without thinking about it, I stretched my hand towards your face, brushing the tear that was running down your cheek. You jerked your head up in surprise and I pulled my hand back.

"I'm sorry, force of habit," I said, but stopped myself.

What habit?

We were silent for a few minutes before I ventured to say, "I know that this is the first time we talked... But that song you were humming a while ago... I have a feeling that I heard it before. In fact... I think I danced it with you."

You didn't say anything and just silently gazed at me. Before I could say anything else, Wonpil arrived with Jae and placed his cardgigan on your shoulder. You stood up and gazed at me with such vulnerabilty that it broke my heart seeing you that way. But behind the vulnerability was the resolve and I saw that when you said, "Please. Don't bother me anymore. Please, let this be the last time we'll meet." You bowed to me and Jae, and Wonpil ushered you out. The both of you greeted Younghyun when you saw him and his eyes widened as he met Jae's eyes.

Younghyun followed you out and I immediately turned to Jae. "You and Younghyun also know something -"

Jae sighed and he looked tired all of a sudden. "We've met, 'is all. I mean who wouldn't know prodigy Kang Younghyun," he said, a little bitterness creeping in his voice, just as Younghyun came back, bringing with him his holotablet. He opened it and showed us my vitals and some of his notes.

"No one believes me, because this has never been heard of. Me telling you this is going to get you in a shitload of trouble because I am not the 'authority' to give you a 'proper diagnosis' well! They should have never let me handle you if that's what they thought..." Younghyun snarled, which surprised me since Younghyun was usually calm and levelheaded.

"Sungjin, you have spacial/temporal dysfunction. The odds of getting this disease was close to 0 for regular students but you got it. And it's already an advanced stage so there's no cure. You only have a few years to live, five at most... And I don't know why but if you keep meeting that girl, your lifespan lessens by weeks, depending on your exposure with her."

"Younghyun, what are you doing?! This wasn't what we agreed on!" Jae yelled, slamming his fist on the table in front of us.

"I DON'T WANT HIM TO GO THROUGH EVERYTHING ALL OVER AGAIN, OKAY?!" Younghyun yelled back, throwing his holotab down. "Jae... What's wrong with protecting you guys?" He asked, frustration and sadness evident in his voice.

Everything all over again... This happened before?

"What are you guys talking about? What have you been keeping from me -" I started to ask, but Younghyun cut me off. "Oh no, Park Sungjin. Don't even start. I know you don't remember anything but don't take it out on us. You chose this. I just want to let you know what you're up against." Younghyun picked up his holotab and glared at me. "You're fighting a losing battle and I'm just tired of losing you over and over again."

He left me and Jae in the room, and I looked at Jae closely. He sighed and I just realized how exhausted he looked. Had he been losing weight?

"Talk about exploding and leaving me to  do damage control. Those guys have no sense of gratitutde at all..." Jae said, as he sat down beside me.

"Jae?"
"No, Sungjin. I ain't telling you anything. I think you already figured most of it out." He smiled weakly at me. "You're smart. You just do stupid shit."

I didn't have the heart to ask Jae because he looked so dejected so instead I said, "Jae? Thanks for always having my back. Then and now."

"We the ParkBros. Gotchu fam," Jae said, and I believed him. "Less talking, more resting, a'right? Do more stupid shit and not listen to me tomorrow, but right now, rest," Jae said, while touching my arm. I suddenly felt so exhausted, and my dreams claimed me once more.