I

“Donghae-ssi?” A lady’s voice echoed from the room. Said man opened his eyes and turned his head toward the caller. His eyes were still droopy considering he just woke up. “How are you feeling today?” She asked with a small smile.

The man did not reply and just looked lazily at the woman. It might seem cocky but the people who knew him are used to his acts. Whenever he was asked he just stares. From an outsider it looks as if this man is nothing but a living dead but the truth is he feels nothing more than being alive.

Lee Donghae was once a bright, smart kid. Of course that was fifteen years ago. The Lee Donghae today is stone-cold, sarcastic, and insane. Insane. What a nice word to compliment a man who survived life’s most threatening storms. What a nice word for a man who stood strong amidst every downfall he went through.

But he can’t do anything about it. People knew him more than he knew himself, right? That’s why they called him crazy. That’s why they call him names. That’s why he is in this place.

‘This place’. This place which is made up of walls and walls and walls and ceilings and ceilings and screwed up people. This place which is supposed to be a haven but felt more like a prison. This place where the sun doesn’t shine. This place where Donghae would meet his end physically, emotionally, socially (even though it ended since he was a child), mentally.

“Are you feeling any pain?” The lady asked again. He’s heard these questions since the day he was put in here. He even memorized them. He hates talking to these people. They obviously knew the answers but they still ask stupid questions. That’s one reason why Donghae doesn’t talk back.

Pain? He’s endured a lot of pain that that thing is nothing but a tickle anymore. Plus he’s not ticklish.