𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐒 ˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳ 𝐧𝐜𝐭 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦 - 𝐡𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐮

⇛ 𝐂𝐇. 𝟐𝟖

during the speech, jihyun felt like the district eight boys family were screaming at her, calling her names, cursing her for what she had done. the minute it was over, she rushed down the steps and backstage. she bent forwards, her hands on her knees and emptied her breakfast from the morning onto the floor. 

a hand made its way to her back, rubbing circles and another pulled her hair out of her face. tears filled her eyes as she hated the feeling of vomiting. the burn it left in her throat and the putrid smell that came with it.

"it's alright. it's alright." jeno whispered.

"i hate this so much." she said.

"jihyun, dear." hana's voice greeted her ears and she took over jeno, wrapping an arm around the sick girl's shoulder. she handed her a handkerchief to wipe her mouth. "let's get you back to the train, yeah?"

the two returned to the train and jihyun was cleaned up then sent to rest in her bed. a few hours later of lying, bored, there was a knock on the door.

"jihyun?" chenle's voice could be heard from the other side of the door.

"come in." she said and the boy stepped inside, but stayed by the door instead of joining her on the bed like he usually would.

"how are you feeling?" he asked, taking in how she was wrapped in a bunch of blankets and surrounded by loads of pillows. "and why are you in a fortress?"

"jaemin did this thinking it would help and i guess it did because i do feel better." she laughed. "wanna join?"

he cheered then climbed onto the bed, wrapping himself in the blankets. he turned on his side and pulled away the pillow in between their faces, startling jihyun.

"hi." he grinned.

"hi." she replied.

"you're really cool by the way." he said and she smiled, moving to rest her chin on her palm.

"why's that?"

"because no matter what, you always find a solution to a situation and deal with it professionally. i know you struggle a lot, but i admire how well you handle everything." he replied.

"thank you, chenle..."

"don't mention it. now go to sleep, okay?"

"okay." she replied despite knowing he was the first one to fall asleep every time and she'd stay up, staring at the tv displaying stars. "sleep well."

♆

district sevens speech went by fast. it was jaemin's district and he spoke first and then the victors and his family were invited for a big feast. everyone was sitting around a large wooden table, chatting excitedly or enjoying their meals in silence.

jaemin was speaking happily with mark and renjun with a toothy smile, but he couldn't help but feel the missing presence of his father. everyone in his family were there except him. finally, he turned to his mother to ask.

"where's dad?"

"out in the forests doing his job." she replied, placing a chicken leg on his plate.

"and he couldn't step away for even a moment to come to see me?" he asked and his mother hesitated in replying.

"you know what his job is like, jaemin."

"yeah, i worked there for a bit and i know enough that he can take a day off, especially because i'm a victor which gives us many more privileges. he doesn't even need to be working."

"jaemin, please don't do this right now." she whispered. "don't do this in front of all your friends."

"mum, does he hate me that much? does he hate me that much for not wanting to obey the rules and join the lumberjacks and for being involuntarily picked for the hunger games and then coming home alive with fame?"