3. THE HAIR

THE HAIR.

Sung-hoon let out a breath as he gobbled the water in his mouth before spitting it in the sink. It had been a while since he had done this. The nurses would mostly take turns to clean him up, which left him embarrassed. He was more than happy when the doctor finally cleared him to move around so he could now do things he wanted in private.

Se-hee came more often than he thought she would. She was quite the opposite of what he had earlier imagined and often questioned why she wouldn't interact that often to anyone she was easily such a likeable person.

She brought him fruits and some food every day, saying the hospital food tucked. She would cut them up and make sure the fridge was stocked with fresh cut pieces of different fruit, making it easier for him to eat.

He didn't know how to thank her she had done a lot for him in a span of a few days of knowing her, and he didn't know how to repay her.

Aside from the fact that she insisted on paying for all the bills, which made him feel guilty. He wasn't used to receiving such treatment from anyone.

She never asked about what happened to him, but Sung-hoon could tell she was curious, but she didn't want to make him uncomfortable. 

Jae-wook hardly came by, though se-hee dismissed Sung-hoon's thoughts that he was avoiding him by telling him the practice time had been increased because his debut was getting closer.

Sung-hoon let out a sigh as he cleaned the toothbrush and put it in a glass cup hanging on the side. He looked up to see the cabinet was still open. He grabbed onto it and closed it.

He let out a breath as soon as the cabinet was closed. It had a mirror on the other side. The reflection that stared back at him looked hallow and tired. His cheeks were thin, and his body had lost weight. His eyes held bags, which was mostly attributed to the fact that he still couldn't sleep as well.

His hands started shaking as he reluctantly stroked his hair. He had always kept it long, and it had lengthened quite significantly since he last cut it. He didn't notice it when his breath became ragged and his left hand held onto the sink in a mighty grip as if holding on for dear life.

He looked at the mirror as images of that man's hands grabbing onto his hair and yanking him forced him to close his eyes.

He tried to think of other things, but he could hardly contain the images that run  through his mind. Suddenly, he collapsed onto the tiled cold floor, his breath ragged as he held onto his chest.

He had only kept the hair because his mother kept saying that she liked it long, and it reminded her of his father.

Yet another thing associated with her that turned to be a tragically part of his life. He should have been used to it by now. He let out a breath as he held onto the tiled wall, his heart beating rapidly.  There was only one thought in his mind.

He had to get rid of it.

He was done with her.

He was done with anything that had any remote connection to her.

His hands rampaged through the cabinet. There had to be something sharp enough he could use.

His breath was uneven and shaky as he lifted his weight so he could get a better eye level. He breathed out as he finally felt onto the two handles of some scissors. He grabbed onto them and held onto the sink, trying to catch his breath.

He didn't think that such a small activity would be so strenuous.

He looked up at the mirror. His hair was messy and covering part of his face. His lips were dry, and his eyes dead.

Without a thought in his mind, he grabbed a chunk of his hair and passed the scissors through it. He didn't hesitate as he threw the detached hair in the sink like a madman he grabbed another chunk, cutting through it.

It was only after cutting it a few more times that he looked up. His hair was uneven and even more messy.

Parts of it were short while other parts were completely cut. He let out a breath as his eyes scanned his form.

His current state started sinking in as he dropped the scissors, and his whole body fell to the floor.

His lips were shaking, and so was his body   involuntarily shaking. His hands shakily held onto his head, and he buried his head in his knees.

He didn't notice the time had passed so much while he stayed in that position until the door suddenly opened and confused Hazel brown eyes stared down at him.

"did you find him?" se-hee asked from further behind.

She saw jae-wook standing frozen, staring at something. 

Sung-hoon slowly lifted his eyes and came face to face with jae-wook. 

He felt himself fall further.

This was the second time they had seen him in his most vulnerable time. He felt like hiding away.

Not wanting to seem even more pathetic, he slowly tried to stand up. He had stayed in one position for too long that his legs had lost feeling.  He held onto the wall for support, but a wave of dizziness rushed in like a whiplash she wobbled a bit but felt hands quickly wrap around his waist, stabilising him.

He shook his head, trying to wave the dizziness off as he held onto Jae-wook's arm, stabilising himself further.

Se-hee looked at the both of them. Her eyes scanned the state of the bathroom before looking at Sung-hoon. Her eyes softened at his state.

She didn't know what he had been through and she didn't want to force him to tell her when he was uncomfortable but she had guessed it must have been quite a cumbersome ordeal if it affected him that much.

Jae-wook didn't say anything. He didn't like putting himself in uncomfortable situations, but unfortunately for him, Sung-hoon was doing a number on him, making him ask himself what exactly he had been through.

But he didn't ask. Even if Sung-hoon told him which he wouldn't since they weren't even close, they only just recently became acquainted, so he wouldn't necessarily call them strangers, but they were not friends either.

If it wasn't for se-hee forcing him to visit every now and then, he wouldn't even come.

She was always like that she always wants to help everyone. She was the reason they found him in that motel in the first place. Although he insisted on not going, she pulled him along. He also paid for the room in exchange for being  as far away from Sung-hoon, but she still was sly enough to force him to make visits.

"Thank you." Sung-hoon involuntarily whispered as his head rested on Jae-wook shoulders as he felt his legs give way.

Jae-wook gave out a sigh as he suddenly bent down, wrapped his hands around Sung-hoon's knees, and raised him much to Sung-hoon's surprise. 

Sung-hoon stared at him flabbergasted by what was happening he tried to get out of his grip, but Jae-wook only tightened it before giving him a stern look that made him halt his movement.

Se-hee held the door open as Jae-wook got out of the bathroom and placed Sung-hoon back into the bed.

"I didn't know a new hairstyle was trending. " she asked with a smile, trying to lift the mood, which made Sung-hoon's chuckle slightly.

"I can cut your hair if you want. " she said, her eyes soft and smiling soft and caring it warmed Sung-hoon's heart.

Sung-hoon nodded his head slightly, which made se-hee  happy as she announced she would be back after a few minutes.

Sung-hoon didn't realise how much her presence impacted until she left, and the mood turned gloomy, and the room was filled with silence.

"You are lucky to have her. " Sung-hoon suddenly said. His eyes stared outside the window in deep thought.

Jae-wook looked at Sung-hoon in The ewilderment.  This is the first time Sung-hoon had actually addressed him. When he came, he would come with se-hee, and she mostly held the conversation.

"she is amazing. " jae-wook agreed.

And for the first time since meeting Sung-hoon, he wondered what kind of a person Sung-hoon was. Since they brought him here, no one else had paid him a visit much less, given him a call to know how he was doing. It made him wonder if he was all alone.

His mind  thought back to the conversation he had with se-hee as they were coming to the hospital.

The car had just stopped at the last intersection before they finally got to the hospital when she turned to face him. Her face was solemn, and her sharp eyes held warning.

"you better be nice to him." She warned, giving no room for argument before turning back a smile on her face as she instructed the driver to continue driving.

After a few moments of awkward silence, the door finally opened, and se-hee finally came in, holding some bags.

She placed them on the side table before taking a smaller bag and bringing out an electrical razor.

"how would you like to do it?" she asked with a smile as she looked at Sung-hoon.

"Umm...I can do..."

"I will do it." A voice suddenly said from behind them, shocking the both of them.

Se-hee looked behind her with her eyebrows furrowed. She didn't have a chance to protest when her cellphone went off.

She quickly looked at the notification before her face crunched in shock.

"Oh my goodness, I totally forgot! I have to go." She said as she quickly took her bag and quickly walked towards the exit.

"I will leave it to you, jae-wook. " With that, she was gone.

The awkward silence between them returned.

"I can help if you want." Jae-wook said once again.

Sung-hoon nodded his head, uncertainly unsure of the unfolding situation.

"Where would you like to do it?" He asked his voice a bit awkward.

"The bathroom." Sung-hoon said as he tried to stand. He didn't want to mess up the room and give the cleaner a hard time cleaning his hair.

He saw that Jae-wook was about to approach him, and his hands laid out to help him to the bathroom.

"I can do it." Sung-hoon reasured him, making Jae-wook take a step back.

Jae-wook bit his lip as he watched Sung-hoon walk towards the bathroom using the wall as support. He assumed Sung-hoon liked to be independent and rarely received any help.

He took the razor that se-hee had got and followed behind Sung-hoon.  Sung-hoon sat at the edge of the tub to give Jae-wook ample working space.  He held the edge of the tub nervously  as he waited.

"how long." Jae-wook asked as his hand softly ran through Sung-hoon's hair, sending a shiver down his spine.

"um....all of it." He whispered.  His words held pain and anger as his hands tightened.

Jae-wook noticed his action but stayed silent. Although he had volunteered out of pure pity and out of the little goodness he had in him, he still wasn't ready to put himself in a more uncomfortable situation than he was already.

Sung-hoon let out a shaky breath as he saw his hair fall. And with it, he promised himself at that moment never to go back. Never to be vulnerable and miserable again. He promised himself never to be in that situation once again.

To start a new.

****

Sung-hoon looked up at the mirror once again , and unlike earlier, he let out a breath of relief. His hand unknowingly held his head, and a small smile graced his sickly face.

Jae-wook had finished cleaning up the fallen hair when his eyes wandered to Sung-hoon, noticing the smile etched on Sung-hoon's face.

He had never seen him smile this genuinely before, even the first time at the dinner when Sung-hoon laughed he looked like he was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.  Now he looked relieved and light.

He didn't notice he had been staring too long until his eyes made contact with Sung-hoon's through the mirror.  They both halted, and for that vivid moment, they reached an understanding.

Suddenly, Sung-hoon turned to face jae-wook his eyes a bit softer ,maybe it was the piling emotions in him that made him like that. But all he could think about was how these two people he just met despite their difficult first encounter had done so much for him than anyone in his life of family had ever done.

"Thank you." Sung-hoon whispered before bowing in respect, taking jae-wook by surprise.

His eyes widened with shock as he almost fell back but was held by the door. The action was so sudden he didn't know what to do.

"it was nothing. " He insisted, trying to brush it off, but Sung-hoon bowed once again thanking him.

Jae-wook held onto the door frame, ready to escape, but Sung-hoon suddenly stood up a smile on his face, making Jae-wook stand in stasis.

It was directed at him.

He hadn't even smiled at se-hee, but he smiled at him when all he did was cut his hair.

Questions ran through his mind, but he couldn't ask them out loud, so he just stood like a statue as Sung-hoon walked past him. He peaked through the door, watching him wondering if he had been possessed or something.

****

Sung-hoon pressed another button, changing the channel of the TV. He had been looking for something to watch for the past hour, but yet nothing seemed to catch his eye or interest. Jae-wook had been gone for a while, saying he had something to do before excusing himself.

Since the bathroom incident, the awkwardness around them had decreased but also increased at the same time he couldn't explain it nor could he explain his own actions.

He actually bowed and thanked him. He had bit his lip at his actions and dismissed them to the drugs, having a major influence on his decisions.

He let out a sigh as he let his head fall back on the bed. Just then, something rang at his bedside. He turned back and saw his phone ring. Se-hee had charged it for him and placed it beside him.

He didn't really expect anyone to call him. No one would care enough to. He reached out for it and looked at the caller ID.

Unknown.

His heart started beating rapidly as his eyes scanned the phone.

Thoughts raced through his mind at the prospect of that monster calling him.

He let out a sigh before finally answering the phone and slowly bringing it close to his ear. His hands shaking.

"H...hello.." He said his voice a bit distant and fear laced in his voice.

"what do you want to eat?" He heard a hoarse yet familiar voice ask.

Relief washed through his body as he visibly relaxed.

"Anything will do." He answered.

"is there anything you would like?" He asked once again, his voice slightly muffled by some background noise.

"I am fine." He answered back before someone called jae-wook me in the background before laughter rented the air.

Jae-wook  seamed slightly off, which made Sung-hoon curl his eyebrow slightly in confusion as he looked at the phone. Jae-wook's words were slurred, which indicated that he had had quite a few drinks.

Sung-hoon shook off that feeling as he continued scrolling through different channels.

It was after a few hours that there was a knock on the door. A man in a black suit walked in, holding a bag of food. Sung-hoon watched him as he placed the food in front of him and walked out just then, a text came through his phone.

Some food was delivered and made sure to eat it .

Sung-hoon took hold of the bag, a smile on his face as he looked at the contents.  There was some Chinese food, chicken, ice cream,  chocolate, as well as fresh passion juice.

He actually felt like eating it.

***