"Please unclasp your hands and hold them out to your sides, parallel with the ground."

Hyungwon felt his heart drop before he moved his arms, forcing them out to the sides, forcing himself to be fully vulnerable in front of a man he'd never met.

The doctor nodded and brought his clipboard with him as he walked around Hyungwon, studying him like a piece of foreign art, looking with great curiosity but not touching. He pushed down on his arm slightly before removing his hand, letting Hyungwon's arm lift back up to its original position, before continuing to circle Hyungwon. "Any abnormal pain? Recent injuries?"

"No," Hyungwon said, staring at the floor. He didn't want to look at the man who was looking at him.

A pause. The doctor stopped circling but instead drew closer. "Hyungwon, I understand that you may be in slight discomfort, but it is absolutely paramount that we maintain honest communication during these evaluations," the doctor said softly before hovering several fingers over Hyungwon's neck.

Hyungwon flinched and took a step back. He didn't want anybody touching his neck. Even as fully exposed as he was, he still felt the most vulnerable there, and it was reflex that had propelled him away from the doctor's gentle touch.

"Please, Hyungwon, relax," the doctor said, frowning. "I'm disappointed in you. You said you had no recent injuries, but there are marks on your neck. They look like scratches, Hyungwon. How did you get them?"

Hyungwon forced himself to stand still. "I had a dream. It was...very real."

"Were you scared, Hyungwon?" the doctor asked, looking thoughtful.

Hyungwon paused, nodded.

"Were you fighting against someone else or against yourself?"

"Someone else."

"Do you know who you were fighting, Hyungwon?"

"No. I...didn't see a face," Hyungwon said. He didn't want to think about it. Thinking about it made it real, and making it real made him crazy.

The doctor seemed to sense Hyungwon pulling back, so he just nodded and made a note to bring it up later. "We'll open that back up in a bit. I have a few more questions for the physical exam. And, please, Hyungwon, it's absolutely imperative that you answer me truthfully, all right?"

Hyungwon nodded, swallowing.

"Have you been sexually active while a member of this institution?"

Hyungwon's eyes widened. "No," he said, face flushed. "I've never- I'm not sexually active."

The doctor stared at him before nodding and writing something down. He asked Hyungwon a number of questions, most of them questions which made him uncomfortable. Some were about his diet, some about his sleep, some even about urination and digestion.

After fifteen minutes of prying reluctant answers out of Hyungwon, the doctor announced that they were done with the physical portion of the exam "for today" and would move on to the psyche portion.

"So, Hyungwon," the doctor began. It was only at this point that Hyungwon was able to make out the tag pinned to his jacket which read Dr. Irving. Dr. Irving's eyes jumped left to right as he skimmed Hyungwon's medical record. "How have you been doing with your narcolepsy?"

"It's fine," Hyungwon said, twitching. He wanted to leave. "I'm fine."

Dr. Irving stared at him before sighing and massaging the bridge of his nose. "Hyungwon, from what footage we have and accounts from your teacher, your symptoms have been overactive. Have you had trouble sleeping? I know that it can be difficult to adjust your sleeping pattern when in a new environment." He paused, looking up from the chart. "But is that all it is, Hyungwon? Or...is this about the dreams you've been having?"

Hyungwon jerked to the right, an involuntary reflex. "I- I didn't say anything about dreams."

Dr. Irving's voice was gentle, patient. "People with narcolepsy often have extremely vivid dreams, dreams so real they can be mistaken for reality. And you're more likely to entertain lucid dreams - that means you can control your actions and choices while dreaming - which makes it seem even more real." He paused before smiling, but Hyungwon knew it was a smile that meant he felt bad for Hyungwon, and Hyungwon didn't like it. "On your file, it has a note about your recent dreams. It looks like your guardian supplied information about your dreams, or at least, what you told her of them."

Of course Mom told them, Hyungwon thought, feeling angry and hurt and betrayed and fairly certain that his feelings were not at all justified. He stayed silent, and Dr. Irving sighed.

"Hyungwon, please understand that it's difficult to help you if you don't want to be helped. Can you discuss your dreams with me so I can try to help you understand them and cope with them?"

Hyungwon looked off to the side. He was cold, he was naked, his neck was pulsing, and he didn't want to talk about the dreams. "Can I put my clothes on now?"

Dr. Irving sighed, realizing that he wouldn't get through to Hyungwon after that point. "You may get dressed. We'll resume our conversation next week, all right, Hyungwon?"

Hyungwon was holding his shirt in his hands, holding it in front of himself.

Dr. Irving sighed, deeper this time. "I hope you're more sincere about helping yourself get better next week, Hyungwon."

Hyungwon stared at him with haunted eyes.

Dr. Irving sighed for the last time before leaving the room, drawing the curtain once more before opening the door and closing it behind himself.

Hyungwon exhaled heavily, dressing himself quickly. He didn't stop to check if the buttons were all properly aligned or if his right sock was on his right or left foot (did they even have designated feet?). He threw on his clothing, putting on his socks then his shoes last, and left the room.

That was how Hyungwon survived his first evaluation, and his first week at the mental institution came to a close.