Number 9 |jaewoo|

1

Meanwhile, Taeyong stood in silence. Something about him made Jungwoo relax; his hands slowly revealed his pale face again. He had a bright, platinum blond wolfcut that was tickling his eyelids and he had to blink a few times to see Taeyong approaching the glass.

"Good evening," Taeyong said in a low, calm voice. Then, he gave a tender smile. He came closer and admired the innocence still remaining in Jungwoo's brown, expressive eyes. "Welcome back."

***

Taeyong decided to move Jungwoo into a room where it was safe and quiet. The room was a bright grey with a one-way window on one wall. Cameras were all over the ceiling. He asked everyone that he be alone, with the exception of Jaehyun watching through the window. Taeyong kept his distance, observing Jungwoo head to toe.

Jungwoo cautiously paced from one corner to another, not letting Taeyong out of his sight. He wore a red body suit that protected his skin. It was healing from the many grafts done to him, but he wasn't in any pain.

"Do you remember me?" Taeyong began. Every word spoken would be recorded.

Jungwoo shook his head. Then nodded.  Then shook his head again. "I don't know."

"Do you remember your name?" Taeyong continued.

"Kim... Jungwoo."

"Very good. I'm Taeyong."

"Wait... you're Taeyong. And I'm Jungwoo." The blond pointed at himself.

"Yes. We were great friends. Colleagues, even. The nine of us were going to create something that has never been made before. It was a prototype. But the public opposed of it."

"The nine of us?" Jungwoo repeated.

Taeyong nodded and grinned. "Yes. But... something happened. There was a disaster... some might call it a massacre. People stormed in and tried to destroy everything we built, all driven by hate and wild beliefs.Unfortunately, as we tried to escape... they targeted you."

"They targeted me."

"Yes," Taeyong sighed and tried to come a bit closer. "You were... pulled into a crowd. They stomped on you. Burned your arms and legs.There was so much blood leaving your body. It destroyed me. It destroyed all of us. None of it was deserved. But frankly... I will never forget how you sacrificed yourself."

"Was I dead?"

"Not exactly. You fell into a coma at first. That's when we made the decision... to modify your body. Your heart is an electric geode that will never go out. And after we gave you a transfusion, we injected you with a serum that builds your strength. But your brain still allows you to be you. To put its imply... Jungwoo, you're now a partial android."

Jungwoo looked down at his hands. They didn't seem so different to him."But I'm still me." He repeated to himself to make it true. But it didn't feel that way at all. He touched his cheeks, the strands of his hair,and rubbed his arms. He then pressed his hands against his chest. "I'm still me, right?" he asked, his shoulders beginning to shiver.

Taeyong could tell that his friend was getting visibly upset. So he came even closer to Jungwoo and took his hands. "Of course you are," Taeyong reassured. Behind the big glass window, Jaehyun stood up from his seat ,concerned. His fear of something going horribly wrong seemed to catch on.

"Then why can't I remember anything?! Why can't I say their names?!"The blond raised his voice.

"You remembered your name, right? That's a start. Perhaps you're suffering from temporary amnesia. But things will catch up eventually."

"No, no, this can't be!" Jungwoo shook his head and pushed Taeyong away in a panic. Taeyong fell backwards as if he was blown by forceful winds and landed right on his back. He underestimated the strength given to his friend. Jaehyun immediately went off and ran right into the room after the sliding doors allowed him in. Jungwoo gasped again and went down to Taeyong's level."Oh no, I'm so sorry! I-I didn't mean it!" the blond stuttered. Taeyong wasn't afraid, nor angry. He just sat up with Jungwoo's gentle help.

"Stop! Don't touch him!" Jaehyun yelled. He was holding something behind his back. "Get away."

Jungwoo looked up, his eyes suddenly watery. "I didn't mean it, please forgive me!"

Jaehyun kept his distance and watched Taeyong pick himself up. "I knew he couldn't control himself. I warned you, Taeyong. Get away from him."

"No worries," Taeyong said and dusted himself off. "It was my fault. I put too much on him. I wasn't being considerate."

"There is no excuse for why he did that though."

"Cut it out. Look at him. Kindness by instinct. That empathy is telling me that nothing has changed. He passed the test." Taeyong turned back to Jungwoo on the floor, whose eyes were begging for mercy. Taeyong smiled lovingly, and opened his arms up. With that, Jungwoo slowly stood up and was wrapped in Taeyong's arms. "I forgive you," Taeyong whispered and caressed his head.

Jungwoo seemed to calm down by laying on his friend's shoulder. Even though he was partially human now, he felt waves of comfort spreading throughout his body. For a moment, he felt real again. Ahead of him, Jaehyun was standing there still, eyeing him skeptically with one hand hidden behind his back. Jungwoo then squinted, trying to process where he had seen this man before. Then, something clicked.

"Jaehyun?"

Taeyong let him go and stared at Jungwoo in shock. "What did you just say?" he beamed.

Jungwoo went past him and made his way to Jaehyun, who completely froze from the sound of his name. "Jaehyun. I remember... you're Jaehyun." Jungwoo reached out to touch him, but Jaehyun turned away. He scanned his card and left the room.

"Why did he leave?" Jungwoo asked.

"Because," Taeyong replied. "It's been a year since he's heard your voice calling his name."