sunsets and roses | t.k.

chapter seven

"Love your curves and all your edges

All your perfect imperfections"

𐇵 ~ 🌣 ~ 𐇵

(A/N: trigger warnings - violence, blood

italicized parts are memories! this chapter is a bit long, buckle up!)

𐇵 ~ 🌣 ~ 𐇵

The nightmares were back again.

Taehyung would wake up from his originally peaceful slumber drenched in sweat or panting like he had run for hours. He'd push himself out of bed and run a cold shower, whether it was just at ten or three in the morning. It didn't matter the time. They came whenever they wanted to. Sometimes it took an hour standing under the running water, when his teardrops would mix with the droplets from above his head.

This wasn't the ideal way to spend his nights, but he couldn't help it. Just when he thought he'd be okay, he would end up back at square one.

The routine was followed for three days straight including today. Taehyung was already awake by six, the time he usually got up when it was a work day.

He was in the living room, lounging on the couch with what seemed like his thousandth cup of tea in his weak hand. He sipped on autopilot, listening to the rattle of his lungs. It could have been because of all the cigarettes he smoked hours prior, but it wasn't. Not to him anyway.

Pulling on a random shirt lying on his floor, the redhead ambled down the steps. The back room was completely dark. He opened the blinds covering a little window. Sunlight poured out onto the flower bushes. He didn't notice how pretty it looked. His mind was elsewhere.

The entire work day was like that. Physically, he was sitting behind the front counter ringing up orders for parties and businesses. Mentally, well, even he couldn't say where he was.

The timer on his phone rang five. The day was over. Taehyung got up from his spot, shook his hair out of his eyes, and ambled over to the door to flip the sign. He did just that yet didn't go back into the shop. He pushed the door open, not surprised at how weak he felt while doing it.

Down the sidewalk he went, hastily stepping out of peoples' ways. He must've looked awful to them. Someone was even yelling at him. No, someone was calling for him.

"Tae! Behind you!"

Taehyung knew it was Jungkook before he turned around. And he was right. The boy was jogging over to him, waving when he saw him look over his shoulder. What a sweet smile, the redhead thought, mustering up enough energy to return the gesture.

"Fancy meeting you here." he drawled.

"I could say the same," Jungkook responded when he was next to him, "What on earth are you doing out here? Your shop only closed five minutes ago. You walked this far already?"

Taehyung could have laughed at the fact. It sure didn't feel like he walked that far. The sidewalk seemed to mock him as it stretched out before him. The shrug of his shoulders was unbothered. "I was going to see you at your house, but I apparently forgot you worked today."

"It's fine. We can walk together."

Taehyung should have enjoyed the time they spent side by side. Jungkook had the ability to make things better. Another thing he liked about him. The redhead's body, though, was still moving sluggishly. He caught the boy glancing over at him. He was frowning.