|JAKEHOON| Unique in All the World

20

*slight mentions of homophobia and abuse

"...b-because my d-dad h-hit me."

As soon as the words left Jake's mouth, his head flashed with pain that he had suppressed for so long. 

He remembered the stinging sensation on his cheeks that was initially masked by shock. But after the next couple of blows, he couldn't wipe the tears from his face because of the burning pain. For a few moments, he just stood there as he heard his father yelling at him. He desperately wanted to run away but his legs felt as if they were made of lead, dragging him down against his will. So he just stood there as he felt another blow land on his face, worsening the pain tenfold.

However, that pain was nothing compared to the aching he felt later after he managed to run and lock himself in his room. As he hugged his legs on his bed, the magnitude of what had just happened crashed onto him like a tsunami. Jaeyoon was suffocating as he drowned himself in confusion, pain, guilt, but most of all fear. It was more than a fear of pain. It was a fear of the unknown. A million questions banged around in his head. Why had his dad done this? Did he not love him. Did he never love him? What had he done? Could he ever trust anyone again?

Memories of that day crashed onto Jake and the boy began to feel panic swelling in his chest as he began to hyperventilate. He felt helpless and part of him felt frustration as his own body failed to listen to him. It felt like the air was thinning around him as his breathing worsened. He shut his eyes in desperation and tried to focus on calming himself down.

Big mistake. 

As soon as he closed his eyes, he saw another pair of eyes. Eyes filled with disbelief, sorrow, and disgust. And then, of anger. 

The scene became clearer and clearer in his head until it was as vivid as real life which only made his breathing become even heavier than it already was. Jake couldn't think clearly - he couldn't stop thinking about those eyes, he couldn't stop his lungs from taking in all that air, he couldn't even get his eyes to open.

Then he felt a warm sensation on his hands which caused his eyes to jerk open. When they did, he saw a boy with black hair and black eyes staring at him with genuine concern and Jake immediately felt safer. 

"Jake," he heard the boy say in a firm and grounding way as he felt the grip on his hand tighten. "Jaeyoon, it's okay. You're safe."