Chapter Text
The pitter-pattering of rain was what awoke him. As he blearily opened his water-drenched eyes, Jisung came to his senses.
The cold pavement underneath him pressed painfully against his ribs. He tried to sit up with his weak arms, groaning and leaning against the brick wall, head feeling heavy.
He was soaked to the brim with rainwater, the moonlight shining brightly down on him.
What happened? How long was I out for? Where even am I?
As the questions rapidly came through, his head ringed harshly. Jisung clutched his temple, hissing out in pain.
The dizzy ringing continued on for a few seconds before stoping abruptly. He heaved out on the floor, almost wanting to puke out bile for relief, sweat beading on his forehead.
Sluggishly, Jisung patted himself down, checking whether he was injured somewhere. He tried to rack his brain for any idea on what happened, yet nothing came up.
What was even more confusing to his already weakened state was the silence. No one was present as he looked around, no cars or vehicles driving by. Not even any sound of nature. The alleyway was dark and grimy the longer he looked at it. It unnerved him.
He finally stood up after a few attempts, leaning against the wall for support, feeling unsteady like never before.
Then the mountains came into view. Thick luscious greenery was coating the whole horizon.
He had always seen them from afar but this was the closest he had ever been. They weren't looming over the streets but were definitely close enough to feel its presence.
Nothing made sense. He doesn't know why he blacked out. Doesn't even know how he’s in the outskirts of town in the first place.
What happened to him?
____
Jisung finally reached his apartment after a while, with his shaky legs not cooperating with each step he took.
Unfortunately, he couldn't find his phone or wallet with him. Maybe he got robbed and knocked out? It would make sense about the location he woke up to, though something didn't seem to add up.
He shrugs off the thought as he slowly approached the door of his apartment, narrowly switching the light on, and immediately crumbling against the door after closing it.
He's dry-heaving again, nausea building up, but this time he might actually vomit.
He crawls to the bathroom just in time to throw up whatever remains he had. His head rung and Jisung felt like passing out. The cold porcelain of the toilet offered the slightest of reprieve against his high temperature.
Why am I coming down with a fever? he though bitterly. Shit. Did I catch an infection?
That's bad. He barely has enough to pay his rent; he can't afford medication.
All of the pain and confusion was piling up, and before he knew it, tears were streaming down his face as he sobbed silently.
In moments like this did Jisung crave someone near him like no other.
He feels so feverish, grip loosening against the toilet.
His vision turns, turns, and turns. Something trickles down his chin and drops on the marble tiles in blobs.
Jisung sees the faintest of red in his fuzzy vision before he passes out.
____
Warmth engulfs him. He presses his face closer into the sheets, despite his stuffy nose barely allowing him to breathe.
His breathing is laboured once more, though not aggressively this time.
Faintly, Jisung hears banging, though he couldn't make much of it with his muddy hearing.
Warm sunlight splayed across the room beamed harshly against his eyes, his vision blurry in spite of trying to blink it away multiple times.
Albeit reluctantly, Jisung tries to sit up. Only when his heads resting against the headboard- does he still as clarity came through.
There was shuffling outside his bedroom door.
Too distant to make clear of what it was but loud enough to prove it's existence.
Glimpses of the previous day flashed through his eyes as he scrambled to make sense. The pavement. The rain. The vomiting.
Come to think of it, how did he even get in bed?
Jisung's grip on his blanket tightens.
Blanket? He blinks down.
It's summer.
He knows that he put all of his winter stuff away. Way before it even hit April. It's the middle of June, for Gods-sakes.
The ringing was appearing again the more he thought over what was going on. At the same time, a heavy pressure pressed against his temple. His vision was starting to get fuzzy again, white spots appearing in the corners of his sight.
He tried rubbing them away but his arms felt sluggish. Even his body was slumped against the headboard in a way he felt like he had no control over.
He could barely hear the loud thud outside. Somehow, the shuffling had stopped.
He opens his eyes again. When had he closed them?
Moonlight peered through the curtains, painting the room in a sweet blue hue.
He was still lying against the headboard. His neck was stiff and he rubbed the tense muscles gently. Jisung yawned, feeling sleepy out of nowhere.
It didn't feel like much time had passed. Yet, it felt like he was forgetting something important.
He yawned again, eyes watering up.
The bed was so warm underneath him that he couldn't help but fall back asleep.
____
Jisung feels better today. He doesn't know how much time had passed but when he woke up this morning, he was feeling better than before.
Which honestly just meant not being on the verge of puking every ten-seconds.
He took the standard medication he had bought ages ago when he was still living with his ex-boyfriend, praying that it did something.
Was the medicine a tad bit expired? Maybe.
But hey at least he was able to get to the kitchen on both feet.
Feeling rejuvenated, the first thing he did was check where the hell his phone went. Surprisingly, it was simply lying on his bedside table after he had already turned over his whole apartment when searching for it.
He doesn't remember putting it there but he probably did it to charge during the rare moments he was lucid. The screen was surprisingly squeaky clear, not at all like his filthy clothes he changed out of.
A missed call from his colleague was what reminded him that it was still the weekday.
Oh no. Jisung rushed to grab his work-uniform, alongside his phone and wallet, which was shockingly hiding in his washroom cabinet.
That he doesn't know how it got there. Nor does he know how his washroom was also squeaky clean. He doesn't fully remember flushing down his mess.
But he doesn't question it. Well more like he doesn't really have the time to do so. He's already getting pretty late.
Twilight was settling the streets in it's glow when Jisung finally stepped out.
People were coming back from their lives, many retreating back home. Some doing the opposite. Families and office-workers alike. Types of faces Jisung's seen one too many times.
He has a job at the local convenience store around the corner. It pays enough to cover rent, and he somehow got a nice manager who occasionally allowed him the microwaveable-meals for free.
The bell rang above him as he entered the store. Chan was chilling against the counter, though he seemed surprised to see Jisung walk in.
Why was he still here? Was it still his shift or did i come early? Before he could even let a word out-
“Jisung,” Chan perked up, straightening in surprise. “You're... here?”
At his confused tone, Jisung was taken aback. Did he think I quit my job or something?
“Hello to you too?" Jisung responds in confusion. "Sorry for not replying to your call, I came down with something nasty.”
He crossed the counter, clocking in and grabbed his apron. No, it's definitely my shift. He checked the board again. The schedule hasn't changed.
"Hey, did the timing change or something?" He asked, still getting his apron on. For some reason, he always had a problem with tying his apron so it took a few tries before he was finally able to tie a knot properly.
At no response from the other does Jisung look back at Chan. Who was eerily staring at him in a way as if he'd seen a ghost.
A chill ran down his spine. Jisung let out an awkward chuckle at the other, quickly glancing to check if there's something behind him.
Nothing. Just ordinary isles of snacks, refrigerators, and the magazines. Chan still hadn't moved when he moved back.
“Uh- Chan?” Jisung snaps his fingers infront of him, breaking him out of his daze. His eyes were dilated and a thin layer of sweat soaked his neck.
Jisung frowned in worry, “Shit- you okay Hyung?” he asked, concern coating his tone after he noticed him swaying lightly on his feet. As if he were about to faint.
“Here, drink some water.” He grabbed a cup before quickly filling it with water from the staff-only dispenser at the back.
Their manager didn't have a problem with the employees taking free snacks but apparently drew the line at drinking from bottled drinks, and so he didn't really want to take any risks considering he actually liked his job.
Chan had briefly sat down on the stool, clutching his head, before abruptly standing as Jisung approached him, eyes widening.
The cup of water jostled around in his hand. “I- I actu-” he wheezes out a cough, “I actually need to go.”
Without another word, he bolted out the door on unsteady steps and shaky breaths.
To say Jisung was confused was to say the least.
The unnerving feeling he felt in the morning that he desperately tried to ignore, crept back, goosebumps rising on his arms.
He rubbed his neck out of comfort, before shrugging off the weird encounter. Maybe he came down with whatever I have?
He winces. Shit- is it infectious?
Now he just feels awful.
He tried to clear up his head, focusing on the tasks he had to do throughout his shift. Luckily, he only had a few tonight.
1- Restock the shelves and coolers if needed.
2- Dust the windows and tables. Mop the floors.
3- Take out the trash.
Simple enough.
Jisung got to work, grabbing the cleaning supplies first, and putting on his playlist. His earphones were old but they were thankfully still working fine, as long as he didn't tweak with them too much.
He was humming to his favourite song whilst restocking the snacks, when the lights flickered for a few seconds, causing him to drop some sandwiches in surprise.
Strange, he thought. That's never happened before.
Outside, the rain poured down with the occasional thunder.
But unlike yesterday, it was almost pitch black outside, save for the cars driving by. The fluorescent lights were a brazen contrast to it that made the shadows look all the more sharper than they already were.
The rain probably had something to do with the lights.
Jisung moved on to take out the trash, not before noticing that there were still no customers.
Usually, the store was packed the most at night. High school students sneaking out, office-workers taking a beer, tiktokers doing their challenges.
He even got the occasional creep that didn't know how to take the hint that he wasn't interested.
Yet, tonight the store was completely barren.
Despite it being uncanny, Jisung didn't feel deterred by it for some reason. He didn't feel the need to be scared by the silence, as suffocating as it was.
Come to think of it, he's feeling far better than usual. Even his ‘pre-sickness state’ didn't feel as energized as it did right now.
Usually, he would be bombarded with anxious thoughts his sleep-deprived self would create and pester him with.
But somehow, that didn't flare up tonight. Nor after the day he woke up in his bed, drenched in sweat, when the fever finally broke through.
Other than the pressure around his head he was deliberately ignoring, he was feeling perfectly fine. Amazing even.
The jingle of the bell stopped his train of thoughts. He hurriedly put away the remaining snacks into the shelves before heading towards the counter.
The customer, a shaggy looking man drenched in rainwater, waltzed down the isle after ignoring his welcome, leaving a wet trail behind him, that Jisung instantly hated him for.
The guy grabbed his packets of chips seemingly at random, before placing them at the counter.
Jisung noticed that he lightly smelt of alcohol under all the overpowering perfume he was wearing as he leaned carelessly against the counter.
He rushed through the scanning, not offering another glance as his nose itched from the compiled scents invading his senses.
Also, because the man was creepily staring at him in a way that most definitely triggered his fight or flight moment, and so he's clearly not entertaining such thing.
He packed the bags in a speed that seemed appropriate, totaling the amount, when-
“Can I get a pack of cigarettes,” the gruffy voice slurred slightly.
Yeah, he's definitely drunk. Jisung wordlessly checked out the pack in his total with a nod.
“Say, ya always worked here? Firs’ time ‘m seein such a pretty face here.” He let out a chuckle that was probably supposed to be charming but was anything alike.
Of course, because the universe hates him, the ringing was pressing down his temple again. White spots were reappearing in the corner of his eyes as he repeatedly tried blinking them away, focusing on what was currently infront of him.
“Your total is 2200₩, cash or card?” His voice was breathless and shaky, overlooking whatever the creep had said before.
The pain was throbbing repeatedly in his head. He doesn't know what the man was saying as he mindlessly grabbed the bills he offered.
However, it seemed the man didn't have the right intentions.
He tried grazing his fingers on Jisung's hand as he handed the cash. His thick, dirty fingers trying to encircle his wrist the further his hand reached out.It was to sudden for Jisung to make sense of.
As it almost made contact with his skin, a sharp shock crackled between the two, causing the man to yelp in pain.
“What the fu-” The tips of his finger were swelling with blisters, one even adorning a cut where blood seeped through onto the counter.
At the same moment, the lights shut off, drowning the store in darkness. The man screamed.
For a moment, even Jisung was stumped on what had just happened. Only the radiance of the freezers peeked through, illuminating the store as little as possible.
Not one to miss any given opportunity, he takes the opening. “Here's your total. Thank you for shopping.”
He wobbles to the staff-only room in the back, which was more so a storage room with a couch and a dispenser. Paying no mind to whether the guy had actually left or not.
Jisung turned on the flash of his phone to see what direction he was heading in the first place.
Sure, he could remember the layout through muscle memory, but he didn't want to risk stubbing his toes.
The couch was in the upper corner of the room and he immediately collapsed on it.
Not again.
He tried swallowing down the nausea building up, but it only worsened, his throat parched. He was feeling feverish once more, head pounding over and over and over again.
I thought it was over? I took the pill for Godsakes.
His phone clattered weakly on to the ground.
The rumbles grew louder. Abnormally so. The weather was worsening, room growing rapidly colder than when he had entered.
It almost felt like he had been in a situation like this before. But it felt ridiculous, right?
Even with the lowering temperature, Jisung was still burning up.
He only heard light tapping against the door before blacking out.
____