[Tuesday - 21.26]

Slow, steady, rhythmic beeps filled the silence of the room, accompanied by a faint buzzing from the large ceiling-lights. Outside nurses were walking around, rolling patients around in beds or wheelchairs, talking to family members of the patients. 

Ji drew a calming breath, slowly peeling their eyes open. Everything was white. It was calming, just like it was intended to be. Ji was grateful for that. They felt like their eyes would explode just by the sight of a bright color. 

The dimmed lights weren't too much for their tired eyes to adjust to, actually it was just perfect. Just strong enough for Ji to see everything, but weak enough not to hurt them. 

The door opened softly, a nurse dressed in white peaking inside with a polite smile. 

"Oh, you're awake." The nurse beamed softly, disappearing for a second, then coming back through the door with a cup of water from the hospital dispenser.

Ji sat up slowly, not feeling much pain. The cup was handed over to them, with a soft advice to drink it to help their sore throat.

"We wrapped up your injuries and sedated them, you're on an iv-drip to give your body extra proteins to heal faster. You most likely have a concussion, the doctor will be in to determine that tomorrow, for now just try to relax and don't tire your eyes - keep the light low and don't use any electronics. We legally aren't allowed to perform emergency operations without consent if the patient isn't in a life threatening position, which you aren't - so we didn't do anything other than wrap up your arm yet." The nurse explained slowly and softly, sitting down in the chair next to Ji's bed. 

"My arm?" Ji softly asked, holding their healthy arm to their head.

The nurse sent Ji a soft, apologetic smile, pulling out a file from the holder on the wall behind her.

"You had a foul word carved into your arm when you were brought in. I'm guessing someone else did it to you?" The nurse questioned, pulling a picture out of the file to show Ji.

Ji accepted the picture, looking across it. It was their arm, all cleaned up from the bloody mess it was when they passed out. On their arm, written in capital, large letters stood 'FREAK', messily covering the whole lower part of their inner arm. 

"Oh."

"We can get a skin transplant and cover it up if you'd like. We already treated it to minimize the scarring, but a wound that size and depth will leave a pretty visible scar no matter what." The nurse softly said, taking the picture back and putting it in the file. 

Ji nodded, sighing to themselves. 

"Are you feeling well enough to fill out your information? That way we can contact your emergency contact or legal guardian about your stay here."

Ji nodded softly, accepting the paper and pen offered to them. The latter carefully filled out their information, crossing out the 'male/female' option to write 'gender neutral' instead. Ji handed the lady back the paper, relieved that she didn't comment on the listed gender preference. 

"Ok, Park Ji. I will go get you something to eat, then ill let you rest again." The nurse smiled softly and bowed lightly before leaving the room, and leaving Ji all alone. 

---

[Wednesday - 20.35]

"Ji!"

Ji looked up, smiling softly and apologetically. 

"I'm sorry hyung." The latter apologized.

"Don't worry about it, kid. Now get up, we're leaving." Ji's boss ordered. 

Ji nodded and got up, collecting their belongings and following their emergency contact outside. Ji's boss signed the latter out at the front desk, bringing along a bill for Ji's 2 day say at the hospital.

"I hope you understand you're paying the bill." The buff man said, getting into his car.

Ji nodded, getting in as well.

"Good. The police are going to meet you at school tomorrow so you can point out the people who hurt you. You are not gonna say shit, ok? You are gonna say you don't wanna press charges and leave. If you get the police on my ass you're dead, hear me kid, you're dead!" The man strictly told.

"Of course. Can i continue my sales?" Ji softly asked. 

"After the police is off the case. In the meantime there's an opening downstairs if you need extra money." Boss suggested.

Ji gulped, shaking their head. Downstairs wasn't something they wanted to get mixed up in. Downstairs was the prostitution business Boss ran on the side of his drug-sales.

The car pulled  up outside the venue. Boss got out, with Ji following close behind. Boss straightened out his shirt, turning to Ji. 

"I'm gonna let you stay here even though i know you can't pay this month's rent, just because I'm feeling nice. Don't make me regret it." Boss said, slapping Ji's cheek softly twice as a sign of affection and pity, before turning around and entering the venue.

Ji nodded even though Boss couldn't see, quietly walking into the venue as well. The latter walked past the drunk men and their coworkers, heading for the stairs. Ji followed them all the way up, pushing open the trapdoor to the loft. Once inside Ji closed it softly, plopping down on the run-down couch.

They glanced around their living area. It wasn't bad but it wasn't exactly a 5 star hotel either. They had a dresser against one of the walls containing all their clothes and belongings, which wasn't much.

The latter didn't have a bathroom or a kitchen, they would use the employees bathroom downstairs when they needed to freshen up or shower. As for a kitchen, Ji simply didn't have access to one. They usually lived off of cheap gas station sandwiches.

The latter sighed and got comfortable, grabbing their blanket and covering themselves with it, going to sleep. They dreaded going to school tomorrow.