Page 14 of Paradox
“Jintae, you little fuck!”
Jintae? That’s my name.
I smile again, then—
“Ow! What the hell?” I reach for where my scalp is being pulled and feel a hand in my hair. My eyes shoot open to Eden's face only inches away from mine.
“Why the fuck are you asleep?” he yells—his shoulder length, almost black hair hanging down and covering most of his face.
My eyes dart around the cabin.
“Answer me, goddamnit.”
Clenching onto his wrist with both hands, I try to pull him away, but quickly give up and stand so he doesn’t tear out half my hair.
“One more chance, Jin.”
“I finished the bathroom and the kitchen,” I blurt out, and shield my face with my forearm.
“So what you’re telling me is that you’re not even halfway through?”
“No. I…” The speed at which I stood has caught up to me, and my eyes gape, then blink, then gape again as I try to steady my balance. “I… I was feeling lightheaded.”
Stepping back, Eden straightens his arms but doesn’t let go of my hair. “You look like you’re about to pass out.”
I think I might.
My head has been spinning for longer than it should, and my stomach is rising to my throat.
My body convulses, and Eden drops me.
I fall back onto the sofa and wretch, but nothing comes out.
I cover my mouth and try to stand, but I fall to my knees.
“You better not throw up in here.”
I frantically shake my head. That’s the last thing I want.
“How long ago did you finish this?” Eden asks, shaking the empty half gallon bottle in my face.
“I… I can’t remember.”
“You’re a fucking child,” he mutters under his breath en route to the kitchen.
With a hand on my chest, I lean back on my haunches, and watch him take another bottle from under the sink. Opening the bottom drawer, he pulls out a green vial and takes out a tablet.Tossing it in the water, he kicks the drawer shut and slams the bottle down on the rug in front of me. "Get your shit together," he tells me before storming back out of the cabin.
Water drips down my chin and neck as I gulp it down.
Pausing to catch my breath, I look inside the bottle and watch the tablet continue to dissolve. It tastes bitter and sweet but also like sour orange all at the same time.
Stretching out my legs I rest my head on the sofa cushion. I look up at the rafters and notice they're a much deeper brown than the rest of the wood.
I wonder why?
I bet Eden would know.
I bet he knows about a lot of pointless mannish shit.
