[CONTENTID2] P R O L O G U E [/CONTENTID2] [CONTENTID1]

Everything in this world is dirty

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“Junmyeon, have you cancelled all of my appointments for the next three days?”
“I have, Director Jung,” I said as I close my notebook and tuck it into my suit pocket.

Director Jung nods in satisfaction before turning his gaze out of the car window. I turn my gaze ahead, my gloved hands resting primly on my lap. Since Director Jung is not going to go to work for the next three days, I will not be having too much work load.

After dropping Director Jung off, we head back to the office where I will finish the rest of my work today. The same routine ensues; after I finish my work, I will immediately head back home with my hands tucked in my coat’s pockets.

I sigh in bliss when my cab reaches in front of my apartment. I pay the fare and get out of the cab, hurrying myself to get into the building. I am not really paying any attention to my surrounding because suddenly I feel a harsh impact on my shoulder, making my arm throb in temporary ache and dropping my suitcase.

I can hear a distant apology as the man who bumped into me walks away. I keep standing on my spot, staring at my suitcase on the floor. My hands are twitching, not wanting to pick it up. I really, really wanted to leave my suitcase there and run upstairs.

In the end, I bite my tongue and slowly bend down to pick up the damned suitcase. Just when I am about to pick it up, I saw another hand picking it up. I look up at the stranger.

“You dropped this,” he said.

I nodded stiffly. Now, I no longer have the desire to retrieve my suitcase from the stranger. I tried to fake a smile as I reached out to the handle of my suitcase. I blink a few times in surprise. I look at his hand that’s holding the handle of my suitcase. He is covering his palm with a tissue before picking up my suitcase. I gulped slowly.

“T-thank you..” I muttered, quickly snatching my briefcase away from him.

The stranger flashes a smile before walking towards the entrance of the building. I was about to head to the elevator when the stranger made a half-spin and called out to me.

“Mister!”

He walks towards me. I take one step backward.

“Do you happen to have a mysophobia?”