Golden ◂ NCT Jaemin

6 ◂ Sleepless

◂ 6 ▸

"Kids! Breakfast!" Kun shouted, voice bouncing through the kitchen and out into the rest of the apartment. 

Quickly, all the boys made their way to the breakfast table. A few of them had been awake for some time already and were ready to start their day. The others had only just gotten up and tottered into the room drowsily. 

It was an average morning that didn't deserve much attention. Kun smiled as the boys arrived and placed the last plate on the table. However, just as he was about to sit down, he stopped.

Letting his gaze run over the kids briefly, he saw the empty spot next to Hendery who seemed to notice it himself. 

"Is Jie still sleeping?" Hendery asked. Before anyone could reply, Xiaojun already got up. 

"I'll get her," he informed them ere he hurried to their room. 

At the end of the short corridor stood a door to the right. Xiaojun hesitated before pushing it open. He peaked into the room where soft sobs crept through the stale air. 

Jie sat on the bed, hands pressed onto both ears, eyes closed shut tightly yet somehow tears still managed to push through. They got stuck in her eyelashes where they glimmered prettily.

She looked taunted. 

He rushed to the bed, sat down on its edge and softly squeezed the girl's shoulders at which she held her breath for a second. Just a second before another sob slipped past her lips. 

"Jie," he said rather loudly unsure if his voice would manage to push through her hands. 

He swallowed hard before reaching forward and putting his hands on hers. Carefully, he slipped his fingers around hers and guided her hands away. 

"You are home, you're alright," he reminded her as if she didn't know.

Maybe she didn't know. 

"Look at me, please," he asked sweetly but Jie didn't react. She kept her eyes closed, grabbed Xioajun's hands more tightly. "You won't, hm?"

He really hated this. 

So instead, he grabbed both her hands with one of his and put his free arm around her and pulled her in, hugging her gently. 

The two went silent. They didn't move. Still. Quiet. It felt like every other day, the situation was familiar enough to be comfortable despite the circumstances. 

A minute. 

Two. 

Time passed. 

Xiaojun took a deep breath, pushed himself away from her and waited a moment for her to look at him. Pearly white with blood-red strokes surrounded her deep brown eyes. The way she looked at him made Xiaojun chuckle. 

"What?" she asked with her slightly hoarse voice. 

"Nothing," he replied. 

Actually, it was the way she looked up at him. Adorable with that innocent expression and big eyes gazing at the older one. But he didn't say that. He knew she wouldn't have wanted to hear it. 

"Food's getting cold, let's go." 

He got up from the bed and turned around quickly, swiftly making his way back to the kitchen with Jie closely following him. 

None of the others lost a word about how tired she looked and how red her eyes were. No one asked how she was doing - it was obvious anyway and overbearing sympathy could quickly get bothersome.