too scared to be afraid

chapter thirty-four: descending into madness

"I love you so much and now, it's finally driving me crazy."

034: decending into madness

xxxx

"Are you sure you want to go out like that?"

Hoseok stopped mid-step, eyebrows raising in shock at his friend's words. He wasn't wearing anything different. Usually, he could go out in anything.

He looked over to where Jimin was and caught the glint of both irritation and another emotion he couldn't read on his face. Catching his gaze, Jimin's expression softened and he sighed.

"I just think you'll be cold, hyung. Maybe instead of wearing those shorts, you should wear sweatpants," Jimin said. Hoseok looked down at his shorts that ended mid-thigh and looked back at Jimin, shaking his head. He couldn't understand where that came from. Like, his friends were strange but that was definitely one of the weirdest things he's heard in the past few days.

"It's spring, Jiminie. I think I'll be fine. Besides, I'll be back in around an hour anyways. I'll survive," he said back. He was heading out for his Thursday therapy appointment. On Monday, he'd begin attending classes again. Same with his friends who had all decided to take time off with him. Only Jungkook didn't get the choice since he was still in high school and was required to go to school for the required amount of days unless he wanted to repeat the grade. Jin went to classes as well, only because his were in the night though.

"O-oh, okay, hyung. I hope your session goes well. Namjoon hyung will pick you up when it's over."

Hoseok nodded, "Alright, thanks."

He left the mansion, beginning his walk. He could drive but he couldn't afford a car and that was the one thing he wouldn't allow to be bought for him. Actually, he never asked for anything now. His friends had done enough for him. There were three cars that everyone was supposed to share but one of them was with Jungkook since he had to drive himself to school, another was with Yoongi who had to run an errand, and the last car was with Taehyung and Seokjin who were out shopping for groceries. Namjoon was currently in his room, reading one of the new books he had bought the previous day and Jimin had been eating a late lunch with Hoseok before Hoseok had to leave.

Jimin was surprised at his own words. He really didn't even hesitate to say that aloud. Was he going crazy?

Just the thought of anyone else getting to see Hoseok in such short shorts made his blood boil and his jaw clench. Lately, he had been feeling more and more possessive of the boy in everything he did. His love for the boy wasn't normal before but he worried it was only getting worse. Actually, it wasn't just him. He saw it in the way everyone began to grow closer and closer to Hoseok.

The first hint was in the way how uneasy everyone was when Hoseok wasn't home. If they were all together and Hoseok was out a therapy session, no one could sit still. Seokjin, who had a bit of seperation anxiety even before Hoseok lived with him, was the worst out of the six. He paced around the house, eyes locked onto his phone on the app that tracked where Hoseok's phone was located. Many of the boys had to try to distract themselves now, but they still had the thought of Hoseok unsafe in their mind.

It was now a rule for Hoseok to always text them where he was throughout the day. Additionally, when he wasn't with them, all of the boys texted him a bunch checking up on Hoseok.