I reach out my right hand. Shaking.

Dongwoo was breathing.

I gently touch his scarred face.

Dark purple bruises.

It hurted me deeply to see him like this.

I spoke gently enough for only him to hear me.

“D-dongwoo… please w-wake up..”

I notice slight movement in his face.

He painfully opened one eye and then the other.

“Hmm..?”

“D-dongwoo.. I need to get you to the hospital.”

I replied while I swallowed a lump in my throat.

“It is fine, I am all right.”

“Just take me to your place.”

I nodded my head.

“Dongwoo. Can you walk?”

“Of course, I can.”

He reached out his left arm and gripped gently around my shoulder.

I was supporting him.

He was limping.

I inhaled the air as we walk side-by-side.

I mustered up the courage to question him.

“Dongwoo… how did you end up there?”

“I don’t remember. Anything.”

He gently rubbed his head.

“How come you never contacted me or Infinite? It’s been what? Three years?”

“I’m sorry.”

“So, that is all you have to say ‘I’m sorry?’”

“Pretty much.”

He turned his head and sheepishly smiled at me.

I thought to myself.

I know he is hiding something from me.

But what was it?

We finally reached at my place.

Pretty much dead, since I don’t go back to my own house often.

I reached into my purse and took out the keys.

“Dongwoo, you go in first and make yourself comfortable. I’ll go get the first-aid kit from my room.”

“Can’t I follow you to your room?”

“No, Dongwoo you can’t. Your legs. Remember?”

“Oh.”

I grabbed the first-aid kit from my room which was sitting on my dresser right beside a photo of Dongwoo and I.

Happy and smiling.

The frame started to crack.

By itself.

Through the middle.

I blinked and quickly left my room.

My house is haunted. I swear.

Dongwoo twiddled his thumbs and he noticed my presence.

“Are you okay? It looks like you saw a ghost or something.”

“Oh. I am fine. It’s just the dust in my room. Haven’t cleaned it for a while. So.”

I sat down and opened the first-aid kit.

I gently dabbed his wounds.

He slightly flinched.

“Dongwoo, your eyes are bloodshot. I told you not to leave your contacts in for so long. You can use my eyedrop solution to make your eyes better.”

He nodded and limped quickly to the downstairs washroom and locked it.

~~**~~

I flicked on the light switch.

Inhale.

Exhale.

I lifted my head slowly and stared at the mirror leaning close.

I widen my eyes.

No. My eyes are not bloodshot.

I waited.

Ah! There it is.

My eyes glowed for a few seconds.

A crimson red.