6 Chapter Five

Today was a new day.

I put some hair spray in my hair so the curl would stay and I decided on a dress. It was gray and reached my knees, a tad form fitting. The sleeves were long, so it covered my bandages.

I blew through my lips and grabbed my second set of notebooks and put the chocolate in my dress pockets. "Alright... let's do this..."

This time, I just made my way upstairs and to the patient area. My first patient for the day was Hongseok, so I went to his door and unlocked it.

"Hongseok?" I called out.

"In here."

I walked in and saw him laying in bed still. He rubbed his eyes, then looked at me in confusion. "Man, what time is it?"

"It's nine," I replied.

He groaned and sat up. "Ugh, I don't even want to be doing this, let alone at 9 in the morning."

I wasn't sure how to respond, so I walked over and settled into the chair. "I'll just wait here for you, until you're ready."

He stared at me in slight irritation. "I'm not Yeo One, I'm not...kind."

I shrugged. "I'm not a pushover, so I'll just wait."

He wasn't sure how to respond to that.

"Am I allowed to skip this session?" He asked me.

I blinked. "Why don't you want to talk to me?"

"Because it's always the same. All the therapists want to know is why I'm like this. Why don't therapists just mind their own business?"

"Well, I for one want to help, I really do." I crossed my legs and tapped the front of my notebook with my pen. "I'm sure being cooped up in here is torture."

Hongseok yawned and walked over, sitting on the couch and, like Yeo One, handcuffs himself. "Yeah, it is, but the worst part about it is really the therapy sessions. They're all the same."

"Well, I hope to change that," I told him. I dug the chocolate out of my pocket and held it out to him. "Here. Does this help? Will you talk to me now?"

Hongseok looked at the chocolate as if it were a million dollars. "Oh, that definitely helps." He took the candy from me and immediately ripped it open. "What would you like to know...what's your name again?"

"Jane," I reminded him. I opened the notebook and smiled softly. "You don't have to tell me anything if you don't want to. You can ask me questions if you prefer that."

Hongseok laid on the couch, stretching his legs and crossing them at the ankles. "Well. I don't know if I'm really up to talking about my terrible life just yet. I mean, I haven't even had my morning coffee."

I laughed softly. "It is early, isn't it?"

"They should give us some time to wake up," he groaned. "I was still sleeping when you walked in."

"I'm sorry about that," I told him. "I was just trying to be on time."

"It's fine," he waved it off. "So, I heard you had a little accident yesterday with Shinwon?"

My stomach dropped for a moment. "Yes... I did."

"What happened?"

"Um... well, I just... I accidentally said something and it scared him. And he just... I don't blame him for anything, he just scratched me a little."

"And your forehead?" Hongseok pointed out.

"Yeah... it was an accident..."

"Hey, I'm not blaming anyone," Hongseok assured me. "I was just curious."

I nodded. "I'm still a little shook up over it, but I'll be okay."

"He is not trying to hurt you," Hongseok said.

"Oh, I know!" I exclaimed. I was really just trying to make sure they all were okay with me, especially if I was going to be around for a while.

Hongseok watched me, then smiled. "You really want us to like you, don't you?"

I said nothing, then chuckled. "Yes, I guess I do. I mean, I want to get to know you guys well, and I'm going to be spending so much time with you, so I just... I'm a little paranoid."

Hongseok yawned loudly. "You seem quite naive. And... gentle."

"Excuse me?"

"You just seem like you think you can fix the world, when really that's something no one person can do." Hongseok smiled, but I didn't agree.

"Well, it would give me peace of mind to do my part," I replied. "And if I can make your guys' lives better, I'll feel I have some purpose."

"Why chase something that's impossible to reach?"

I think about that one. "Well, in my opinion, I would rather have a goal so I have something to work toward. I know I can't achieve world peace or whatever, but maybe I can help some people, and that's better than doing nothing."

"But when you have goals, you're either disappointed when you don't reach them, or you don't live in the present. So your life goes by like that." He snapped when he said like that. I nodded. He's wise. Very wise.

"You are right," I agreed. "But I find living in the now difficult."

"A lot of people do," he replied, smiling. He seemed to be warming up to me. "So you're goal oriented. I see the benefits in that too. Any hobbies?"

I laughed softly. "You guys are taking up all of my time now, honestly."

"Aw come on, you know what I mean."

"Um... I love baking, and writing, and really I love TV."

Hongseok nodded. "You seem like a lovely person. What the hell are you doing here then?"

"You know, you're like, the 4th person to say something like that?" I leaned forward. "What is going on at this place? Why does everyone seem upset that I'm here?"

Hongseok sat up and leaned toward me. Our faces were quite close. "It's not because we're unhappy you're here, it's because we're unhappy for you. I can't tell you much because I don't feel like getting shit from the Headmaster, but just know that he is not a good man. He's-"

Someone walked in then and we both jump back. I watched as the woman brought Hongseok his breakfast. He nodded a thank you.

"Hello, Miss Whittaker," she said to me.

"Hello," I replied. She walked away and left us alone once more.

My heart rate started going back down as I sat back. "She scared me," I told Hongseok, laughing softly.

He nodded. "Yes... me too."

We made eye contact for a minute. "Are you saying I should quit?"

Hongseok nodded. "Yes, I'm saying you should quit. Get out while you can."

**************

I moved on to Yuto about a half hour later. He was not in his wheelchair, instead staring out the window, his knees pulled up to his chest.

"Hey," I said, smiling at him. Yuto turned to me and sat up straight.

"Hello Ma'am."

"Please, call me Jane," I said, smiling. "How are you doing, Yuto?"

"I'm okay," he replied. "Sit down, please."

I did as he suggested. "Um... I know this is awkward, but... the handcuff..."

Yuto handcuffed himself and looked back at me. "Better?"

I nodded. I felt quite intimidated by him.

"Did you sleep well, Jane?" He asked.

I smiled. "I did, how about you?"

He shook out his hair. "No, I didn't sleep well last night. My... my light went out."

"Oh..." I looked up at him. "Are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm okay." Yuto rubbed his eyes. "I'm just very, very tired. I couldn't sleep at all last night."

I noticed the bed looked as if he had tossed and turned like crazy.

"Well, if you want, I can leave you alone. I don't think the Headmaster will really mind."

Yuto blinked and looked up at me. "Really?"

"Yes," I agreed. "I want you to be fully awake and alert for our sessions. I can come back to you later, if you'd like to take a nap."

Yuto smiled at me. "That... would be wonderful."

"Okay," I said, smiling. "I'll come see you around 3 or 4. Which would you prefer?"

"Does 4 work?" He asked.

"Yes, it works," I agreed. I stood and bowed to Yuto slightly. "I will be back then."

"Thank you so much," he replied. "And I'm sorry. I know you have a schedule and I don't want to put you out of your way-"

"You're completely okay," I told him, unlocking his handcuff. "I'll see you later today, Yuto."

He was already climbing into bed and falling asleep by the time I locked his door and left for Kino's room.

I walked into his room to see him sitting cross legged on his bed. I made sure to stand in the doorway until he acknowledged me.

"Oh, Jane," he said, grinning happily. "I'm so happy to see you! You're beautiful face just made my day!"

I blinked and smiled. He was stunning, and I was not used to such beautiful men complimenting me like this. First Hui, now Kino... goodness.

"You look wonderful too, Kino!"

I couldn't help but be enthusiastic back. His smile lit up the room.

"I'm in a great mood," he told me. He had a pillow in his lap and he was picking at what seemed to be a loose string.

"That's good!" I replied. "You're putting me in a much better mood as well!"

Kino grinned happily. "You're here early though!"

I nodded. "Yes, Yuto needed to get some rest, so I decided to go to him last."

He noticed that I was keeping my distance. "You can come in, Jane. I'm really sorry I made you nervous a few days ago. I just... I wasn't on guard."

I walked forward slightly. "Are you sure? I'll keep as distant as you want."

"I'm sure." He stared at me as I sat down in the chair. "Wow, you're radiant."

I was so taken aback I could barelt think. "Thank you, Kino. You're so sweet."

He scratched the back of his head and smiled. "Of course!"

I reached into my pocket. "Would you like some chocolate, Kino?"

"You have chocolate?" He gasped.

I threw the candy to him and it landed on the bed to his right. He stared at it in shock. "Oh wow! Thank you!"

I watched him as he smiled and began opening the candy. He had an energy to him that I couldn't help but admire. His smile was enough to melt anyone's heart. He was childlike.

"Of course," I said, smiling.

"Should I... handcuff myself?"

I looked over at the table and saw the handcuffs, then turned back to Kino. "I really don't want to, but I don't want anyone to get in trouble..."

Kino took a bite of the chocolate as he got off the bed and moved over to the table. "It's okay, I understand." He made an effort to stay as far away from me as possible.

I was so curious about him. What on earth could have happened to him for him to hate any form of physical touch?

"I was excited to talk to you," he told me.

"You were?" I asked, smiling once again.

"Yes, I don't get company that often." He put a handcuff on and sat back, pulling his knees to his chest and grinning.

"Well, I'm excited to talk to you too. What would you like to talk about?"

I opened the notebook and looked back up at him. He seemed to be thinking about it.

"Could you ask me a question?"

I blinked. "Sure. How long have you been in here?"

"3 years," he replies. "3 years too many."

He seemed to be joking, but his eyes said otherwise, at least for a moment. They were all making me quite nervous.

"Well, hopefully I can help heal you, and you can be out in no time!"

Kino pushed his bangs off his forehead. "I know in order to leave, I have to be able to... to touch. I haven't been able to... in years..."

I nodded. "Hey, you're gonna be okay. I'm going to help, okay?"

"So if I was... to like..." he shook his head. "Never mind."

"No, what is it?" I asked.

"If I wanted to try and... like... like touch your arm or something... could I?"

I was not expecting that.

"Well, I mean, sure," I replied. "I want to help, and if we could work up to that point, that would be great."

Kino nodded and smiled. "This time I really want to get better. The past few times..."

I write down few times and look back up at Kino. "Few times?"

"Well, the past therapists... I wasn't as cooperative... honestly I think they left because of me. But this time I really wanna go. I have been playing the victim long enough."

"You blame yourself for your illness?" I asked, writing his remarks down.

"Yes, I do," he agreed. "I'm not trying hard enough to get better."

He was really the first one to say something like that. "Well, I just want to say this is not your fault. I am going to do my best to help you out, okay? If I leave this place, you're leaving with me."

Kino smiled. "Thank you Jane."

"Of course." I settled in a bit more. "Could you maybe tell me about your time here? So I can better help you?"

Kino shifted uncomfortably. "Well, I think the others are wonderful... we haven't seen each other in quite a long time, sadly..."

"Why not?"

"They think it's dangerous when we get together...and they put a stop to it because we did something... that was two years ago."

I frowned. "Why don't I see if I can get you guys together at some point?"

"Really?!" Kino gasped excitedly. He almost jumped up off the couch. "That would be amazing! I miss them so much!"

Wow... how horrible... they're isolated from everyone... I have to get them out...

"I'll see what I can do," I said, smiling.

He nodded.

"Thank you, Jane."

I really hope I can get them together...

I had a lot to learn about this place, and the more I was discovering, the more I was feeling like I stumbled upon something terrible.

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