"My name is Donghae."

"Donghae?"

"Yes."

"Okay."

He gives the mannequin a chicken sandwich. A glass of lemonade. Observes him. Wonders if he's dreaming. What a crazy dream. If it's not that then... what a crazy hallucination.

The mannequin eats happily. He's sitting at his kitchen table. It its lips after emptying the glass. Then its eyes glitter at Donghae.

Expectant.

It's still hungry?

Donghae looks around. Gives it a banana from a fruit bowl.

Mannequin blinks at it. Then almost bites into it without peeling. Donghae quickly reaches over. Peels it for him.

Mannequin nods seriously. Takes a bite. Nods again. Smiles as he eats.

Donghae sits across.

"So... um... are you going to tell me your name?"

The mannequin lowers the half-eaten banana. It looks sad.

"I'm sorry. I don't know that yet. It hasn't come back to me."

"Come back to you?"

The mannequin nods. Shoves the rest of the banana into its mouth. Blinks at the peel confusedly. Donghae holds out his hand. Takes it. Tosses it into the trash.

The mannequin nods seriously again.

"What do you mean? Sorry... I have a lot of questions and I don't know where to start. Is it... is it okay? Can I ask you?"

"Yes. But I will turn back very soon. So I can tell you what I know first."

"Turn back? I m-mean, okay. Yes. Please, go ahead."

"I get life when I'm given love."

"L-Life -- love?"

"Yes."

"Wait, wait -- so you're... I mean, are you -- you're a mannequin b-but you're...?"

The mannequin stands up. Comes to Donghae.

"Yes, but I'm human now."

Donghae cautiously pokes its arm. Holds it. Takes its hand. It's soft. Smooth. He inspects its fingers. Its nails.

Beautiful.

"Wow," Donghae whispers. He moves his chair back. Stands. "Can I...?"

The mannequin nods. Donghae isn't even sure what he wanted to ask. So he touches its face.

Soft. Real. Warm.

"H-How..." Donghae murmurs in awe.

"I know a lot of things. But right now I don't. Just that... the more love I get, then the more life I get. Maybe I will slowly remember."

Donghae has so many questions. They run through his mind. So many feelings of disbelief too. But he has not managed any words... when the mannequin holds his face.

It pecks his lips.

Then moves away. Donghae blinks in surprise.

Soft. So incredibly soft. Full lips. Perfect lips. Perfect feel.

That's all Donghae can think. When his brain reminds him... they're the same lips. He suspected so! He turns abruptly.

"Hey! Why do you kiss me...?"

The mannequin has returned to its square plate. It's posing with arms at its sides. Its eyes are closed.

Donghae runs to it. Touches it.

Cold. Hard. It's lifeless again.

---

He tries staying up another time. Falls asleep. Wakes up to quiet sounds.

Donghae slowly sits up. Turns. The mannequin is seated near the sofa. It's frowning at a book. A comic volume. Donghae's work.

"Hi..." Donghae says.

The mannequin gasps. Holds the book to its chest. They both stare at each other for a moment.

Then the mannequin speaks in its soft voice.

Please Subscribe to read the full chapter