Beautifully Untamed

Chapter Ten

The young girl remained silent throughout the day, and simply followed Ji Yong and Gaho around. Ji Yong found it easy to ignore her as he found a meal, and went throughout the day just exploring the city of Seoul. There were things he found confusing, and things he just plainly didn’t like, but what could he do about them, time had changed things completely. Yet as time passed, and night fell, the girl had yet to say anything informative to him.

“Is she going to say something?” Gaho wondered, already irritated with the silent girl.

“Leave her alone, she’s not bothering anyone,”

“Because no one can see her!”

“Yeah, no one...” Ji Yong scoffed, but halted in his speech when his eyes caught something familiar. He blinked, and moved his head around the parked car on the other side—Choi Seung Hyun being dragged forward by some girl. He narrowed his eyes, before stuffing his hands into his pockets and decided to follow them.

“Ji Yong…where are we going?” Gaho asked when he noted the sudden change of route. Jo Yong didn’t speak as he rushed across the street, keeping an eye out for any moving cars. Being as it was already night, there wasn’t much traffic, and soon he was tailing right behind Seung Hyun and the female whom he didn’t know.

By the looks of it, they were heading to the nearby theatre. A small place that Ji Yong had passed around the last couple of hours, but he wasn’t sure what it was for. “What is this place?” Ji Yong asked, pausing just outside of the building. Gaho looked at the place, but he couldn’t figure the place out either. The small girl smiled though, and for the first time in the whole day, talked.

“It’s a theatre for watching films.” She said her tone happy, but the expression on her face was sad. Ji Yong simply stared as she kept talking, and tears started to silently run down her cheeks. “Also known as movies, some of the things that are massively produced throughout the year, for entertainment purposes. Some of the best actors of these times are in these films, and they hold so much, because films go back a long time…”

“Movies,” Gaho sighed, “Ji, it will take money if you want to go in and watch one,”

“You have to pay to watch something here?”

“You have to pay pretty much for everything in this life,” The small ghost girl looked forlorn towards the building in front of her. Ji Yong stayed silent, no matter the age or time, humans, were forever despicable creatures. Their world was nothing more than just a complicated place- a hurting world compared to what he remembered in the past. Maybe he was being biased to the past, because it felt like he missed it, but he didn’t care.

“So, why are we here, let’s get going, we need to catch up on some sleep because tomorrow you have a full day,” Gaho yawned.  Ji Yong hesitated, and the girl beside him flickered in and out of existence. He took a step back to follow Gaho, when suddenly he gasped. Images started to fly past his eyes…

He was unhappily standing next to a girl with pretty eyes, and long deep black hair. She was saying something in an excited tone, but he was hardly paying attention to her. His eyes kept flicking off to the side—trying to catch sight of something. But he didn’t know what that something was at the moment; his mind seemed to block it off.

“Ji Yong, are you listening to me?” The girl asked, her eyes looking at him with such warmth.

“Why don’t we go in and watch the show?” He suggested, smiling at her and offering his hand. She nodded, taking his offered hand and both of them headed inside. They sat together, isolated from everyone else around them. He could see the fancy building, the extravagance that surrounded him—the comfort of such a place.

In front of them were performers, all of them playing out a scene of something, his mind was simply not focused. His mind was racing as he looked around him. His eyes flickered to the girl beside him again, but she was looking calm and happy, enjoying the show that was playing right in front of her.

A hand suddenly landed on his shoulder, and he turned his head sharply. His eyes widening at the sight before him—a man dressed in black, pale skin, and owned the same dark hair that contemplated it. His heart faltered as he got to his feet, a glare set on his face, “You,” he hissed, and glowered. He wasn’t about to let this man out of his sight.

“I’m not looking for you, prince,” the man stressed his title, his eyes darting towards the female he had been sitting with. She was enthralled in what was going on in front of her that she wasn’t paying them any mind. “What a waste of time, I’m going,” he said when his eyes couldn’t seem to find what he was looking for.

“Get out,” he hissed. “you are not welcomed here,”

“It’s open night, prince,” The man laughed as he walked away, “Everyone is welcomed here, rich or poor,” The man was soon lost in a crowd of common folk, vanishing as if he had never been there to begin with. But he was a threat! And he being here had him feeling threatened. 

He started to look frantically around, excusing himself to leave from the female that had been his companion for the evening. She had let him go easy enough, still enthralled in the show in front of her. He headed into the crowd—searching- always searching.

Ji Yong gasped, pressing a hand to his head. The ghost girl flickered one last time before she completely disappeared and Gaho couldn’t help but stare helplessly, as Ji Yong slowly lost consciousness and tumbled onto the floor. He rushed forward, barking frantically, for any kind of help. Trying to get anyone’s attention, but all he got what useless people crowding around asking Ji Yong if he was alright.

NO! he is not alright, DAMMIT! 

His bark caught the attention from the people inside, including Seung Hyun and Chaerin whom had been debating on what film to watch. Seung Hyun was quick to recognize Ji Yong and immediately told Chaerin to call for help. She pulled out a silver cell phone with a skull charm on it. No, they couldn’t call for help! They just needed to get Ji Yong to a safe place for now. Gaho started to bark at Chaerin’s heels, making her jump and drop her phone, cracking the screen.

Seung Hyun wasn’t paying much attention as he was gently moving Ji Yong to a sitting position. An employee from inside came, asking if they needed some sort of assistance. But in the end, they didn’t as Ji Yong started to come to. “Too much noise,” he mumbled, but besides opening his eyes once, he kept them close and his breath even.

“No, we’re good, I’ll just take my friend out to get some fresh air,” he commented, easily lifting Ji Yong’s body in his arms. Chaerin and Gaho moved to follow them as Seung Hyun took Ji Yong across the street, to the small art walk way that the store had. It was like a long hall of red bricked beams, with leafy plants growing, and wrapping around it. At each site there was an artwork done by a some child, and in the center there was a bench enough to sit five people. Seung Hyun gently settled Ji Yong down on the cool black metal of the bench and allowed him to rest there while Chaerin was loudly complaining.

Seung Hyun that dog is really starting to get on my nerves! I didn’t even do anything to it,” She huffed, and then her eyes turned to Ji Yong. She got an odd sense of Déjà vu as she stared at him, and narrowed her eyes. “So, who’s this guy?” she asked, trying to figure out where she knew him from, but nothing was ringing a bell in her head.

“He’s one of the actors for the play that I’m doing with Hyori,” Seung Hyun told her, a smile on his face as he watched the disdain in Chaerin’s eyes. “His name is –“--BARK! Seung Hyun stopped talking and turned his head to Gaho, surprised to see the small pup looking so angry. “Is something wrong?” he asked him.

The pup shook back and forth, barking his heart out until he seemed exhausted from it. Chaerin turned to him and frowned, “He’s been acting all panicked, poor little guy. Maybe its cause his owner collapsed,” she whispered. Seung Hyun slowly crouched down and coaxed the pup towards him. Once he was in his arms, Gaho started to calm down. “You’re really good at that,” Chaerin praised, with a twinkle in her eye.

Seung Hyun smiled proudly, “Not really, it just seems like the natural thing to do,”

“Then your instincts are great,” Chaerin winked.

Seung Hyun chuckled. “Alright, so what were you doing at my house?” he asked again for the tenth time that night.

“I…” she looked down, her hair covering most of her face now as she lightly kicked a rock she found in the ground. “I’m starting to…” she bit her lip, and then took a deep breath. Might as well just say it, she thought to herself. “I’m starting to feel ignored by you! Like you don’t care, so I came over to see if you’d want to hang out or something,” she finally admitted.

Seung Hyun gave her a soft look and Gaho watched, for one reason or the other feeling like Chaerin was being manipulative. “You know I have a lot going on right now, with my job and the play, right?” he asked.

“I understand, but,” Chaerin looked up now with a tearful eyes, “But all I’m asking is for an hour of something, or even a bit of time so we can go out,” She shrugged her shoulders. Seung Hyun was feeling a bit awkward at that, they weren’t even a couple. “I miss hanging out with you Seung Hyun,”

Gaho was about to growl at her but the shift in Seung Hyun’s hold made him stop, “Alright, I’ll set time at least once a week for us to hang out, like old times,” he said. Gaho blinked up towards Seung Hyun- confused.

“Really?” Chaerin asked, tilting her head cutely. “You’re not lying at me are you?” she gave him a suspicious look.

“I’m telling you the truth!” Seung Hyun defended. “I promise you,”

“Seal it with a kiss,” Chaerin grinned, moving in close to Seung Hyun. Gaho was slightly squeezed between their bodies, and was amazed at how Chaerin had no regards for personal space. Seung Hyun moved in, planting a kiss on the curve of her cheek. It seemed friendly enough, but the light blush on Chaerin’s cheek told Gaho that to her it meant a lot more.

Ji Yong suddenly sat up, his eyes fixed on both of them. Seung Hyun stepped away from Chaerin and walked over to Ji Yong, his voice gentle as he handed Gaho over, “How are you feeling? It doesn’t seem like you bumped your head.”

“I’m okay,” Ji Yong huffed, turning his head snottily away. Gaho prayed that his charge would ever make real friends with his attitude.

“That’s good to know,” Seung Hyun smiled, undeterred by Ji Yong’s attitude. “Do you know why you collapsed all of a sudden?” he asked and Ji Yong just shook his head. His eyes seemed to be glaring, but there wasn’t any real heat behind them when they locked with Seung Hyun’s. Chaerin watched from the side, narrowing her eyes again as she really did feel now like she had seen this person before. Those eyes, she thought to herself.

“I’m fine,” Ji Yong assured once more when Seung Hyun asked him how he was feeling.

“Do you want to come and see a movie with us?” Seung Hyun asked, not fully believing that Ji Yong was fine. If he could, he’d keep him around and even walk him home, but there was no way that he was letting him on his own right now. He couldn’t risk the man passing out again, where someone could hurt him.

“I don’t have any money, and it’s too damn expensive,” Ji Yong snidely said.

“Tonight is my treat, I’m paying for everything,” Seung Hyun gently smiled, and offered his hand to Ji Yong. Gaho turned to look at Ji Yong to send him a warning glare about being rude, but was surprised to find his charge looking on with curiosity. The slight blush on Ji Yong’s cheeks was helping to give him away from how he was acting.

What surprised him even more was when Ji Yong took Seung Hyun’s hand.

The jolt of a spark seemed to fly between them when their hands made contact. Ji Yong immediately dropped Seung Hyun’s hand and looked down at Gaho, as if making sure that the pup was secure in his hold. Seung Hyun stared for a fraction of a second longer, before he turned to Chaerin with a slight smile. She returned it. “Oh, this is Chaerin,” he introduced her.

Chaerin waved shyly, “Hi there,”

Ji Yong didn’t reply back to her. In fact, he didn’t spare her a glace. Yet his gaze was locked on Seung Hyun’s face, a blank look otherwise keeping residence on Ji Yong’s own visage. “Let’s get going, we have to choose a movie and several are starting now,” Seung Hyun said to cut the sudden awkwardness that had taken place. Chaerin quickly agreed, moving to wrap her arm around Seung Hyun’s. Ji Yong felt something strange somewhere within him at the sight.

“They’re going to leave you behind, get going!” Gaho growled as low as he could, and even nipped Ji Yong’s arm to get him out of his stupor.

“Gaho,” Ji Yong whispered as he began to walk, “I think that there is something wrong with me,”

Gaho frowned as they entered the theatre. Seung Hyun and Chaerin were talking to each other again. Even though they turned to him and asked him what his interests were, Ji Yong kept tight lipped and let them decide on the film that they were going to watch. An odd named movie was soon chosen and Ji Yong stuffed Gaho into the hood of his sweater and they made it inside. The popcorn and sweets were shared between them, but what had Ji Yong’s rapt attention was the size of the screen and the sound.

Half way through the movie, he couldn’t help but stand up and leave. Seung Hyun noticed, and turned to Chaerin to tell her he needed to go to the bathroom and followed after him. Chaerin didn’t even take her eyes of the screen, so wrapped up in the movie.

“Hey,” Seung Hyun called when he walked outside and caught up to Ji Yong. The blond froze, turning his head to look at him. Ji Yong had a very sharp gaze that made Seung Hyun feel nervous about what he could say. He wasn’t sure what he wanted to say. Instead he walked closer, and said what first came to mind, “How are you feeling now?”

Ji Yong silently shrugged, stuffing his hands into his pockets. “’m fine,” he mumbled, looking down at his feet. 

Seung Hyun nodded, feeling even more awkward. “Uh…why did you…”

“Huh.” Ji Yong raised an eyebrow, fighting off a smile.

“Why did you faint?” Seung Hyun just finally asked.

Ji Yong’s eyes widened. “I…” He trailed off as he looked away. “I don’t know.”

“Would it be wise for you to go see a doctor?” Seung Hyun asked. Ji Yong shrugged his shoulders once more, but he didn’t say anything. After a while, both of them were just standing in silence. Neither of them broke it.

They had nothing to say to each other.

They couldn’t think of anything to ask.

But Ji Yong’s mind was racing. Wondering why he had decided to follow Seung Hyun. Why all of a sudden the Ghost girl decided to talk and give him that memory. What did it all mean? Why was he feeling more confused than when he had first woken up? It was really starting to frustrate him. This wasn’t like him at all- he knew that because he felt so lost.

Who was he?

“Every day, I go on and on wondering why things to make sense to me and it feels like I’m cursed into an endless search of something that just keeps escaping me…” Ji Yong suddenly said, making Seung Hyun look towards him. “Maybe if I find it, the world would make sense and finally I could just relax because then I will know everything and I wouldn’t feel this confused and so out of place,”

Seung Hyun was a bit stunned, but couldn’t help but smile. “I think that’s why we are all here. We are all searching for something and trying to accomplish something before life ends.” He responded.

Ji Yong blinked, and turned to look at Seung Hyun. “Are…are you looking for something?”

“…No.” 

“But…”

Seung Hyun’s expression was so somber, “I feel like I’ve stopped searching a long time ago.” He responded truthfully. Ji Yong’s eyes were slightly wide, staring back with disbelief.

“Why?”

Seung Hyun thought that he knew the answer and even opened his mouth to say why, but he froze for a beat, “I don’t know,” he finally answered. “I just…stopped.” After that a short silence past between them. Ji Yong wasn’t sure why what Seung Hyun just said bothered him and Seung Hyun couldn’t decide how to feel right now.

Ji Yong opened his mouth, “I…”

“Aah, here you are. You missed the rest of the movie. It was so great!”  Chaerin walked out of the theatre, loudly speaking as she walked closed to Seung Hyun. “You’d never guess what happened,” She mischievously grinned. Seung Hyun turned to her, with a smile of his own.

“Sorry, we had to come and get some fresh air… so what happened? Spill,” Seung Hyun playfully coaxed. 

Chaerin giggled, and quickly started tattling the end of the story. Ji Yong looked at her, taking a step back. Something was weighing heavy on his chest the more that he heard her talk and sway closer and closer to Seung Hyun.

It’s because of her. Something deep inside of him sounded, scaring him a bit. What did that mean….who was this woman. Why did he not care to get to know her?

I have to go.

“We should go get something to eat now,” Chaerin suggested. Seung Hyun nodded in agreement, and turned to ask Ji Yong if he wanted to come along, but when he glanced to where the blond male should have been, he found he was gone.

“Where…”

“He’s gone,” Chaerin whispered, but it didn’t detour her. She smiled widely, now pleased that it was just her and Seung Hyun. “Well, he’s fine now, let’s get going cause I’m starving,” she wrapped her arm around Seung Hyun’s own and coaxed him forward. Seung Hyun nodded, forcing a smile.

Yet he couldn’t help but look over his shoulder a couple of times- wondering where Ji Yong could have gone to. Worried that he might not be alright at all.

“What just happened!” Gaho demanded as he chased after Ji Yong. “Ji Yong!! Speak to me!” His charge had just run out of there, not even staying to tell Seung Hyun that he was leaving. Gaho had jumped out of the hood and decided to follow him, hoping for an answer. Hoping to stop him and turn back around because this was getting weird.

But he didn’t get any replies. Because Ji Yong didn’t want to turn around or even give himself away in any way—he didn’t want Gaho to see him cry.

…Why…why does it hurt?