60 Seconds

He has spent the last year in a mental hospital. He doesn’t know how he got there but he was there. And now he’s not. He doesn’t know why and doesn’t question it, but he’s not. He was there because, and he only knows this because the doctors gave him all of his report files, he doesn’t know why, they just did. He talked about a place called Night Vale where there was a radio show with Cecil and he was scared of station management, they never come out of their office, and believes the five headed dragon should be mayor. And he absolutely does not associate with dog parks or hooded figures. And no one should.  

Her eyes watched him closely as she spoke, her mind not quite deciphering the strange exchange they were having. His erratic state was giving quite the first impression but she had no intention in leaving him alone. Not while tears still brimmed in his eyes. “It’s an understandable fear. Human interaction and investing in people is absolutely fucking terrifying.”

This building was his downfall. That's what it was. So many kind people in and out each day, so many people that he'd love to go up to their apartment, 6th floor or not, and have tea, get to know them. Sure. But no, not with how he was, not with the clock ticking. "I've love to..." And yet he found himself agreeing still. 

Her hand withdrew as soon as he stared at it, his gaze lingering a bit too long, which made it clear she’d crossed some sort of boundary. She still felt so strange towards the disdain some natives showed towards skin ship, something she grew up accustomed to in America. It was obvious her small gesture had made him uncomfortable and she wasn’t sure how to apologize. But his sudden question quickly spun her brain and shook it around, dissolving all previous thoughts. What was he afraid of? Such an odd thing to ask.

A dry laugh filtered out of his lips, and a nod followed, sniffling and wiping his cheeks with the back of his hand before answering. "Well, y-yes... that." And finally the tears were beginning to subside, but the stains still remained and red rimmed eyes were obvious. "I'm afraid of... not people, but the bond that people share." He knew it was a riddle answer, but it was clear to him. "I'm afraid of breaking that bond, but when you have no choice, it's the most awful thing." Sunggyu rubbed at his eyes again, sniffling and sniffling before asking, "Do you sometimes wonder what it's be like to die? Like, would it hurt or would it be kinda peaceful?"

"Oh my god. Did I hurt you? I’m not typically this damn clumsy," she replied, looking up at his tear stained cheeks and bloodshot eyes. Sojin couldn’t remember ever coming across a more sad face, apart from her own in the past. Why was this stranger crying? She wanted to ask, but she had never been one to pry into the personal lives of others. Surely she hadn’t kicked him, had she?

"I-I..." Sunggyu frowned, English? He turned to look at the hand on his arm, really look at her hand, tears still coming down in waves and in the middle of the stairwell with this girl that had almost killed him early, he felt like everything had really come undone. "A dan-ncer shouldn't f-fall down the stairs i-in the first p-place." He murmured, hiccups setting in from the soft sobs. Though his reply was in Korean is was clear he understood, but her hand was starting to burn through the material of his jacket and he didn't like it. The touch. 

Sojin fumbled with her wallet, the tiny silver key to her apartment tumbling out of the small inner pocket she’d tucked it in. The same key she absentmindedly continues to not put on a keyring, a thought she’s now cursing at herself for forgetting as she watches it tumble down six flights of steps. Having only been at Cheongguk for a little under a week, she was continuing to explore the building, elated to find a set of stairs that could be potentially used for a good run. 

Sunggyu scrambled to his feet, a frightened yelp leaving his lips and really the sudden appearance, loud appearance he might add, of the girl split open the crack in the dam and as he threw his hands out to catch her tears spilled down his cheeks in shiny trails in the harsh lighting of the stairwell.