20 Chapter Fifteen

It was a long day, waiting for 7:00 to come around.

The highlight of the day was Kino. When I walked in, he seemed to be in a really good mood.

"Jane! Hi!" He said excitedly. I closed his door and smiled.

"Hey Kino! How are you?"

He was sitting on the edge of his bed, smiling at me. "I'm great! I couldn't wait to see you!" He moves over and points to the spot next to him. "Come sit by me!"

My eyed widened. "You... want me to sit that close?"

"I want to try something."

I slowly moved over and, hesitantly, sat next to Kino on the bed. He tensed up a little bit, but smiled. We were only about a foot away from each other. "What's gotten into you Kino? Now you want to try something again? This is great!"

He was shaking slightly. "It is? I don't know if I can do it, but I'll try..."

"The fact that you're trying at all is amazing!" I told him. "I'm so proud." I wanted to boost his confidence because he was one of the people I was most concerned about. He needed to feel supported.

"Aw, you're so nice to me. I think that's why I'm going to try with you. You're the only person... well, besides the others... to be this kind to me, ever."

That saddened me but made me happy at the same time. Is that possible?

"Okay, well, what are you going to try?" I asked him.

"I want to hold your hand," Kino replied.

I grinned. "If you can do this... I'm going to flip my lid. In a good way!" I was so excited.

"Well, I'm going to do it, even if I end up freaking out," he tells me, giving me a sweet smile. My heart was melting.

"Okay Kino. Take your time."

He looked down at my hand. I turned it so my palm was up and watched his face. He took a deep breath, then lifted his hand slightly.

My heart was racing. This could be his big breakthrough! I really, sincerely hoped he could at least touch my hand. I smiled. "You got this..."

Kino slowly inched his hand closer to mine. I held my breath, my eyes quickly moving back and forth between his hand and his face. He clenched his jaw, then moved his hand closer.

It was hovering over mine now. I took one breath, then held it again. Kino shifted, laughing softly. "I'm sorry it's taking me so long."

"Don't be sorry Kino. You can take the whole hour if you want."

He smiles. "I... I think I'm gonna do it."

"Yay!" I said excitedly.

Kino slowly but surely lowered his hand to mine.

His fingers lightly grazed my palm.

Kino gasped and jumped up, moving away from me quickly. "I-I'm sorry! I didn't m-mean to freak o-out!"

I looked at him, shocked by his sudden change in state, but I give him a wide smile. "Don't be sorry Kino! You were amazing! You touched me! You really did! I'm so proud of you!"

Kino was shaking, but he chuckled. "I-I barely did."

"I don't care, it still counts!" I stood and clapped happily as I lightly bounced on the heels of my feet. "You are starting to face your phobia!"

Kino grinned. "Yeah, I am!"

"Yay!"

I was so excited. This was amazing! He had touched me! Barely, but he did! That was a huge deal! The more he did things like that, the closer he would get to being healed, which meant we could get out of this hell hole sooner!

It was an amazing moment.

After I met with the B Patients, I then went and checked on the other four. When I got to Hui, I walked in and gave him a wide smile. I was still in a great mood from Kino's session, and now I got to see Hui, who I could barely get out of my head. I was really, really starting to like him. He always made me happier.

I opened the door and noticed him on the end of his bed. I grinned and walked inside, closing the door.

"Hey Hui, how are you?"

He looked up me and nodded. "Hey Jane." He looked down, almost... upset.

I immediately knew something was wrong. "What's going on?" I asked him. "Is something bothering you?"

He stood from the edge of the bed, clearing his throat. "It's nothing. What do you want?"

I blinked. "I... was just checking on you. Do you want me to go?"

"Yes."

I did not expect that. I shifted uncomfortably, moving my feet from side to side. "Hui... is this... is it about yesterday...?" I felt sick to my stomach. What was going on?! Why was Hui mad at me?

"Stop," he said. Hui ran his hand through his bangs and sighed. "Please... I don't want to mention yesterday ever again."

I held my composure when I really wanted to cry. Well. So much for a great mood. I had forgotten about Kino's achievement as I struggled to understand why Hui was getting angry like this. "Um... why are you...? Why all of a sudden...?" I blinked quickly, forcing away the tears.

"Look, you're the first pretty girl I've seen in six years. I was just... starving, I guess. I'm really not all that attracted to you, but you happened to be young and, like most women, you fell for my flirting."

I could feel my heart breaking. It was as if he'd ripped it out and stomped on it with his heel. He put his hand in his pockets and shrugged.

"Oh... okay," I choked out. "I'm sorry to... I'm sorry..."

"Don't apologize," he said in irritation. He walks closer to me. "I don't want to see you unless I have to. You didn't do it for me, okay? Your kissing was terrible. I don't think I've ever had a worse kiss."

"What?"

"Just go away Jane. You're not good enough for me-"

I slapped him.

I shouldn't have, knowing he had PTSD and was trapped here, but I did. The palm of my hand connected with his cheek, producing a loud SLAP!

I gasped and Hui looked at me in shock. I noticed then that he was a little teary eyed. "Please go away," he said. "I don't want to see you right now."

"Hui, I'm sorry!" I cried out. "I-I didn't mean to do that, I r-really d-didn't-!"

"Go!" He shouted, pointing toward the door.

I was embarrassed, heartbroken, and confused. Without another word, I turned and hurried out of Hui's room before I accidentally started crying in front of him.

As I locked his door I cried.

That was so... so unlike him. Why would he do that? Yesterday he told me he wanted to take me out... but what the hell was that?

I wanted to believe it was forced, but I didn't know what to believe right now.

I just knew I needed to get away from Hui's room.

I broke into tears even harder as I walked out of the Institution. Okay Jane, you have to relax. You have a meeting with Yanan tonight! You can't let this affect you. You have the rest of the guys... including Hui, to worry about. You need to get them out of here so you can leave too.

I hurried to the cottage and tried to stop crying, but the tears wouldn't stop. On top of the stuff with Hui, I was so stressed about the others, and about keeping my job, and about finding a way to escape if everything goes to hell, and knowing they're being hurt at night, and trying to stay sane myself... it was just so much.

I cried for a while, then took some time to relax before 7:00. I tried to focus on the fact that Kino had a breakthrough today, even if it was quite a small one. I was very proud of him. And he seemed so happy to have done it, even if he freaked out a little.

I changed my clothes. I felt dirty, or uncomfortable. My head was killing me, and my makeup was messed up. I fixed my makeup and took a pill for my headache.

How the heck am I going to face Hui tomorrow...?

Well, I would have to. I couldn't just not see him. I was still his therapist and it was still my job to help him, even if he didn't like me.

Why didn't he like me?

It was so random! So out of the blue!

Why was he so rude?!

I was starting to get irritated. I've been nothing but kind to him, and I did let him kiss me. He was the one who wanted it! And now he's suddenly calling me a terrible kisser?! When he clearly enjoyed it and was still interested yesterday? What on earth?!

What did I do wrong?

I sighed as I grabbed my keys. But then again... maybe it was my fault. Maybe he felt used... maybe... maybe...

My eyes widened and my heart dropped.

DID THE HM FIND OUT?!

My knees almost buckled from the sudden anxiety that seemed to consume me. It would make sense, but at the same time... wouldn't I be fired by now? Or was the HM waiting for the right moment?

Ah! So many questions!

"Okay Jane," I said to myself, taking a deep breath. "You need to focus on Yanan. That is the big thing right now. You still need to get these guys out of here."

I rolled my shoulders back and started toward my car.

It took me fifteen minutes to reach Capri, the pizzeria that Yanan suggested. It was extremely busy, but I was able to find a parking spot in the back of the lot.

I checked my watch.

6:51.

"Okay, you're early. That's okay," I muttered to myself. I straightened out my sweater and walked through the parking lot and into the restaurant.

I couldn't see Yanan anywhere. I quickly texted him to see if he was there or not. He responded quickly.

Walking in rn.

I turned to see him opening the door. He smiled at me and I gave him a small smile back.

"Hey, it's good to see you!" He said.

"You too," I replied. I tried to sound as chipper as possible.

They took us to a table for two and we sat down. We were at one of those tables with the bar stools, so it was higher up then normal seats.

We both settled in and took a deep breath.

"Should we wait until we order?" Yanan asked.

"Sure."

He began looking at the menu.

Hui... dammit get out of my head! I'm busy!

"What do you like on your pizza?" He asked, looking up at me.

"Anything is fine," I told him.

"Well..." he scanned the menu. "There's this garlic chicken pizza that sounds kind of good..."

"That sounds amazing," I replied. "We should get that."

He laughed softly. "Okay. It seems we're on the same page."

We ordered right away, with our drinks, then turned to each other.

"So," I started. "What happened to you? How did you escape?"

Yanan sat forward and sighed.

"Well..."