It Ends With a Text (Sequal to It Began With a Text)

Witness

How are we doing after Karma, everyone? I can't say its a top album for me right now but In My Head is lowkey improving the quality of my life.

     Jeongin decided he was never going for a walk again.

     It had unfortunately been by choice. He had evening labs every other week and some nights, the thought of taking the bus back home sounded unbearable. He preferred to trudge his weary legs through the city, breathing in the fresh night air before he could throw himself onto his bed and regret all of his life decisions.

     Do science, everyone had told him. You're smart enough. No the fuck he was not. At least his science courses that didn't have numbers in them were a welcome distraction.

     Tonight was one of silence, but Jeongin soon heard chatter and laughter. Then, a thump to the ground.

     A group of boys, still decked in school uniforms, ran past him, one of them stumbling about and pushing past Jeongin before he was on his way. Jeongin turned his head around, for a resounding hey!, but all he could do was stare back at them longingly.

     It was weird seeing high schoolers. Jeongin still felt like he was one of them. It didn't seem like he had been given a chance to grow out of feeling young. He had blinked and now he was walking home at night from a place where everybody looked towards the future.

     A nearby cry snapped Jeongin out of his depressing thoughts. He walked a little faster towards the sound, hearing sniffles and pained grunts.

     There was another boy, wearing the same school uniform, on the ground. Jeongin ran towards him. "Are you okay!?"

     The boy couldn't manage any words, only a shake of his head. Jeongin looked down and flinched. The boy's right leg was twisted the other direction. "It's okay, I'll call for help!"

     After Jeongin dialled the number, he knelt down next to the boy. He needed to get him talking, distract him from the pain. "How old are you?"

     "... 16."

     "Okay, can you tell me how this happened?"

     The boy lifted his head up, gritting his teeth. "Late-night study... I was running home and... fell."

     Jeongin nodded before fishing a water bottle out of his bag. "Here, drink this, help should be here soon." He coaxed the water into the boy's mouth, and that was when he noticed the back of his neck.

     There was a small indent, not fatal, that was bruising pink. Jeongin stared at it, puzzled. "Did someone throw a rock at you?"

     "Huh... oh!" The boy's hand flew to the back of his neck. "It's okay!"

     A thump to the ground. Laughing boys. Jeongin took a shaky breath. "Were you pushed?"

     The boy had no more words once again, only frantic shakes of his head, before hissing in pain. Then, Jeongin heard sirens.

     His blood went cold. He had expected this, of course. But he knew he couldn't stay. No assistance he could possibly give to this boy upon arrival of the ambulance was worth confrontation with these important people, with the power to change lives. Nothing would go wrong anymore, Jeongin had known that for a long time. But he didn't want it. He knew his boundaries. He controlled his life now.

     "I have to go, I'm really late. Will you be okay?"

     The boy was still pressing his hand to his neck. He gave a slow nod. "Yes... thank you."

     "What's your name?" Jeongin asked, as much as he wanted to forget today.

     "Sun Jihoo. Look, I fell, okay? That's all that happened, please believe me!"

     The sirens were getting louder. Jeongin wanted to plug his ears. Instead, he said "okay." Then, he ran away.

     He watched from a distance as Jihoo was lifted into the ambulance. He didn't move an inch until the noise had all but faded away. Then, something else replaced the blaring sound.

     Laughter. Cruel laughter? Unsympathetic laughter. Jeongin remembered their faces.

     He felt his blood boil.