In Every Heartbeat

3

The place was bigger than Junhoe had expected. It was one of those buildings with the high ceilings that had been used for warehouse purposes back in the day and then converted into luxury lofts. He saw that adjustments had been made to make it easier and more accessible for Jiwon. There were little ramps delineating each part of the house and there were minimal furnitures to ensure that he had more than ample space to turn and swivel his way around the house. Junhoe felt inadequate and unsettled. He could not imagine how two people could possibly share a space so big without getting into each other's hair and then realised that Jiwon had lived on his own and that must have felt pretty lonely.

The thrum from the industrial elevator told him that someone was coming up. Jiwon had passed him the keys yesterday night after they ended their day together. There was the one key that automates the elevator and another that unlocks the side door which was only accessible via the spiral metal staircase outside the building.

Junhoe could see Jiwon sweating profusely after he ended his jog yesterday. The batteries of Jiwon's chair had run out and he had to resort to wheeling the rest of the way. Jiwon was out of breath and Junhoe could see that he had not taken better care of himself since the accident. Jiwon had wanted to leave after the jog, but Junhoe shushed him and wheeled him back to his rundown apartment. Although he could not fit the wheelchair in through his door, Junhoe had carried Jiwon into his apartment much to Jiwon's shock and detriment.

"Why are you getting worked up? You agreed to spend the day with me, so just shut your trap and follow." Junhoe had intoned in that voice which promptly shut complaining Jiwon up. "Do you need anything? Water? Or a towel?" Junhoe asked firmly, as he unsheathed his shirt over his head. Jiwon shook his head, driven speechless by the sweaty masculine form before him. Junhoe nodded and then jumped, hands clasping the bar that had been installed between the doorway, which Jiwon assumed had probably led to his room. He started doing core exercises, his muscular back dribbling with sweat as he pushed himself up, legs perpendicular to the ceiling and began oscillating them in a circular motion. He did this for almost fifteen minutes and then he did side pull-ups for the same amount of time while Jiwon watched, completely taken in by Junhoe's dedication to working out.

Half an hour and a shower later, he emerged from his bedroom, dressed in tattered denims, a Nirvana t-shirt and a red flannel blouse over it, the long sleeves folded above his wrists. The hair was still damp and the fringe which almost covered the brows, made him look like a teenager. It was a far cry from the well dressed young man Jiwon met two days ago.

"Where are we going now?" Jiwon asked, watching warily as he carried a leather guitar case and rested it near the entrance. Junhoe was flashing that gummy grin, the one that made him look like the most harmless person in the world. There was no trace of the beast who had made Jiwon chase after him for almost three miles at all. He carried Jiwon again and Jiwon could smell baby powder on him, it was nostalgic and comfortable.

"Are you hungry?" Junhoe asked. Jiwon nodded. This close to him, Jiwon could run a finger to trace his jawline. "Good. I hope you like soup and baked potatoes." He added, placing Jiwon gently onto his wheelchair. "You think you have energy to wheel yourself?" He asked, he really was thoughtful when it came to this. He was not exactly babying Jiwon yet at the same time ensured he was not too tired.

"I can manage. Where are we going now?" Jiwon repeated, utterly curious as to their next destination. That gummy smile reappeared as Junhoe slung the guitar case over his shoulder and started walking. Jiwon wheeled beside him amicably.

"It's a surprise. Just follow me." The place turned out to be a soup kitchen for the homeless. There were makeshift tables lined behind the old brick stone building and a queue had formed along it. Junhoe had put his guitar aside and took some paper plates, instructing Jiwon to arrange them on the tables corresponding to the plastic chairs that had been arranged there. Jiwon was almost done when one of the man in the queue spoke up.