too scared to be afraid

chapter three: forest

"Can't you see? The world is a scary and dangerous place. If you stay here, you'll be safe. In my arms."

003: forest

xxxx

"Welcome to Wonderland!"

"Jimin, we're in a forest," Taehyung groaned.

So Jimin had rushed Taehyung and Hoseok out of Persona to drive straight into the nearby forest? But Hoseok had to admit, he loved nature. It was one of the most beautiful things in life.

The way the light breeze made the leaves rustle and grass sway, the sounds of the creatures that called this surreal place their home--Hoseok loved it all.

There was even a mini waterfall!

Jimin seemed pretty unnerved for some reason, he kept glancing behind him. Taehyung, on the other hand, looked bored. He was someone who seemed to be hyper and friendly just like Jimin but the forest must not be his type of scene.

"Wanna roll down that hill with me?" Hoseok asked the two. Taehyung's face lightened up at that, the discovery of something fun. Jimin nodded without much of a reaction.

Hoseok used to love rolling down hills. His parents used to take him to the park and he'd roll down hills for ages until he was covered in dirt and grass.

Upon climbing the hill, Taehyung and Jimin looked blankly to Hoseok for directions.

"Do you guys..not know how to roll down hills?"

Taehyung shrugged, "I grew up in a wealthy family, hyung. They didn't let me have fun."

Hoseok new Jimin also had a wealthy family. He didn't care too much about capatalism though.

"Oh, alright then! Just follow my lead, I guess?" Then, Hoseok dropped his backpack that he had been carrying with him, and threw himself down the hill.

Jimin cried out, he probably didn't expect that. Hoseok just jumped and on his side, he rolled down the hill. He stopped at the bottom of the hill after hitting a tree with an audible thunk.

Sitting up, giggling, he said, "Well, you shouldn't do it exactly like that. First, don't jump and second, don't hit a tree." Hoseok turned to stare at the tree, "Sorry, I didn't mean to bother you."

"Quit apologizing to trees, Hobi hyung," Jimin called, he slapped Taehyung's back. "You try it first."

xxxx

Two hours later, Taehyung and Jimin were dead.

Well, not completely.

Hoseok laughed at them, sitting up on the tallest tree. After rolling down the hill for a bit, they placed two games. Tag and an intense game of hide and seek in which Hoseok came victorious.

"Guess I won," Hoseok yelled with a giggle. The two boys were laying at the base of the tree. They hadn't seen him until he called out to them after they admitted defeat.

"Cheater! I didn't think we could climb trees," Taehyung whined. Jimin wasn't nervous anymore, now, just as pouty as Taehyung was.