SLEEPING AT LAST | bajifuyu

eight

Baji was sitting down beside the sleeping Chifuyu, trying to understand the context written in his textbook. He was relieved that after Chifuyu drank the tea he prepared, his tired body decided to rest.

It's been weeks since they tried testing different solutions that could help Chifuyu's problem. Baji suggested solutions like using a white noise before going to sleep or drinking lettuce water, and he even tried singing the teenager a lullaby which annoyed Chifuyu.

Unfortunately, none of them worked to favor Chifuyu. Now, the blonde is sleeping peacefully beside him without a care for the world or anyone. However, Baji's mind kept pondering about the reason for Chifuyu's problem. His friend seems to have a healthy relationship with his family, he has a good reputation in and out of school, and he even had a cat (which he adored).

Chifuyu seems to balance it all out, and he knows the fuck he's doing. That is why Baji couldn't believe that he's been dealing with a sleeping crisis. Frustrated, Baji took his hair out of the ponytail and decided to comb it. A way of destressing for the teenager whenever he felt overwhelmed.

We really can't judge people based on what they display, he thought,

Lost in his thoughts, he didn't notice Chifuyu woke up, facing his deep dark hair that resembles the teenager's biggest fear.

And it happened in a blink of an eye.

The lad frantically moves away, throwing his hands in defense. Panic evident on his pale features while he tried getting away from what could be the potential danger.

Chifuyu's actions caught Baji off guard, and he tried reaching out for the blonde kid. He tried coaxing him with words, and questions hoping it will ground Chifuyu. His helpless shouts, along with a couple of scratches he earned, echo inside Baji's worried mind.

"Hey, Chifuyu. Man, it's me, Baji." He softly said, repeating his name towards the panicking man. He tried closing their distance, but Chifuyu kept throwing punches. He winced when the younger one hit him on his side and kept swinging in full force.

"Fucking go! Why are you even here?!" Chifuyu shouts, mind still in dazed of what is happening. He tried standing up, failing to do so given his current state. He did this multiple times, shouting at his legs whenever he falls.

Baji didn't know what to do, and for the first time, his mind is blank. His feet froze on the concrete floor while his eyes stared at his friend having a panic attack about God knows what. He tried pushing himself forward, trying to overcome the panic.

Don't be fucking pathetic now, Baji, he thought to himself.

The older guy desperately clenched his fist until they turned white, a silent prayer to Gods, before stepping forward.

"Your friend needs you, and it's now or never," Baji assured himself.

While everything is happening, Chifuyu's ears rang while his thoughts remained silent. His dazed state can only sense his tired and aching muscles, wondering if he'll get the rest he had the first time he met Baji.

Where am I? he questioned, eyes still closed. His senses were on mute, and he can only focus on the muffled but rapid thumping of drums around him.

What am I doing? he still questioned, thinking that he was about wake up and see Baji beside him. His confused mind tried remembering what happened between his sleep and by the time he was about to wake up.

The rapid thumping gets louder and louder, distracting Chifuyu from his thoughts.

Such a nuisance, he thought, still trying to remember the current of events. The thumping continues on, and on, and on until an image struck his mind.

The gruesome image of the night that he geared since he was a child.

"Hey, man. It's me, Baji." a gentle voice slowly wraps his senses, overlapping with the rapid thumping in his ears. Light starts collecting in one focus, and a blurred image of a person came into view.

"Baji-san," he mumbled, body adjusting after the shock of a panic attack he had. Slowly, Chifuyu saw Baji's obsidian hues stared into him. Relief washes them with a crystal finish.

"Finally, you're back," he said, relief evident in his voice, "I thought I lost you for a minute there," Baji laughed as if he wasn't panicking about his friend earlier. Chifuyu tried fixing his posture, taking notes of sore places appearing on his body.

"What happened?" Chifuyu aksed in his voice, throat scratchy from minutes of shouting.

"You had a panic attack," Baji answered,

He helps Chifuyu sit up straight. The aquamarine kid mumbled thanks and proceed to observe the guy. His eyes widen when he saw Baji's distressed clothes with few scratches on his arms and face.

Deep and shallow cuts, littering Baji's skin, had blood clots accumulated in them. His uniform had few missing buttons, definitely torn by hand. His hair is not in its neat manner but flowing beautifully against the mercy of the sun. His face also had some bruises and cuts.

If Chifuyu's feelings of resentment can go any further, he would gladly take and claim it.

"I did that, didn't I?"