Tell Dr. Irving, not tell Dr. Irving, tell Dr. Irving...

Wonho had only barely left the room, and he was already a mess, ready to rip each strand of hair out one by one. If he cared about Hyungwon, then he would protect his health and well-being by sacrificing his trust. Because as long as Hyungwon would be okay...well, that was all Wonho could ask for. And Wonho couldn't just deny the fact that Hyungwon was a patient in a metal institution. It was easily possible that Hyungwon didn't know what was best for him. It wasn't as though he were making healthy decisions in the first place.

Hyungwon should tell Dr. Irving.

He should, but...

He could just imagine the look in Hyungwon's eyes as he would be called into Dr. Irving's office, eyes of a puppy that had repeatedly kicked by the merciless foot of its owner. Wonho had already hurt Hyungwon once by leaving. Did he really want to do it again? Even if it was in Hyungwon's best interests?

"Ah, Hoseok," came a voice from down the hallway, and Wonho tensed, each of his joints tensing in resistance, but it was too late to slip away unnoticed.

Wonho turned and put on a surprised but pleasant smile. "Dr. Irving, how are you doing?"

"I'm doing well," Dr. Irving said, adjusting his glasses before smiling at Wonho and taking him in. "It's good to see you on the other side of all this. But what brings you here?"

"I, uh, just wanted to come back and see how Hyungwon is doing," Wonho said, scratching at his chin as he was still wrestling with the moral dilemma of whether of not to tell Dr. Irving what Hyungwon had told him.

"Ah, Hyungwon," Dr. Irving mused, looking down with troubled eyes. "I'm afraid that he hasn't been too stable lately."

Wonho sighed in relief. "Right, he seemed..." He trailed off, unsure exactly how to put it. It wasn't as though Hyungwon would be able to hear him, but he didn't want to say anything that would offend the taller boy.

"I can't discuss anything specific, but he seems to be receding deeper and deeper into his own unrealistic fantasies," Dr. Irving said, his mouth twisted downward at the edges in disappointment. "I'm afraid that seeing his old wing-mates might disturb him further. Maybe it's best to give him some time."

Wonho swallowed. "Um, yeah, I'll think about it."

Dr. Irving frowned, taking in Wonho's anxious stance. "Are you all right, Wonho? Did something about your visit with Hyungwon concern you?"

Tell Dr. Irving.

Tell him that Hyungwon has officially lost it.

Tell him how Hyungwon is imagining full conspiracies of elaborate lies and murders that never took place.

"He...just looked a little sick," Wonho mumbled out, wincing slightly but trying to sound convincing. He wondered if he'd just damned Hyungwon to a life of insanity when he could have helped him climb out.

But Hyungwon didn't want to climb out. He was content in the darkness he'd grown to know. And was it any business of Wonho's to drag him out?

Dr. Irving nodded, his frown lined with concern. "Yes, we're monitoring how much food he takes in, but he's been a bit stubborn lately. Hopefully he'll start eating more."

"Yeah..." Wonho chuckled lightly, scratching the back of his neck and looking down slightly. "Well, um, it was nice seeing you but, but I have to, you know, get going, so..."

"Of course, of course," Dr. Irving said, nodding. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to keep you, it's just nice seeing patients who can move past their problems. Not many come back, you know." Dr. Irving grimaced toward the floor, his eyes downturned.

Wonho could imagine how difficult it was to never see the finished product of your work, to only be stuck in one phase of the operation, to only deal with the screw-ups and never get to see what they became. In a way, he felt bad for Dr. Irving, but it was his job. "It's okay, I, uh, have a nice day," Wonho stuttered out before giving a slight wave and turning toward the exit.

He couldn't help but feel that in hiding the extent of Hyungwon's insanity, he'd made a huge mistake.