Harmless || Stray Kids ✔️

19

"Jeongin, what happened?"

Seungmin comes from behind me. I recognize his voice instantly, but it sends little relief through me. The fear is set inside. It's not going away like that. It's too real. It's all too real.

I cry loudly into his chest. The others are by my side soon enough. They all try consoling me. It doesn't help at all. I knew they weren't dead, but it's just a matter of time.

Felix pulls my face up, holding it at tears fill in his palms. "Innie, what happened?" His eyebrows are pinched together.

I cry louder, my eyes closing unconsciously. Someone pulls me to their chest tightly, letting me cry it out. It was desolated, my heart. And it pained me terribly.

-

Arms are around my waist when I stir. I feel their chest move along my back. Breathing. It settled my bones, relaxing me further. I sigh, sinking into the pillow.

"You awake?"

I hum. Seungmin was with me.

"Are you hungry? I can have one of the hyungs order something. Or I can order something. My phone is on the stand."

"No, just- just stay here." I scoot around, facing him. My neck stretches up, letting me take a look at his face.

A soft smile rests on his face. He kisses my forehead; my eyes close on impact. "I'll stay here forever if you need me to."

My heart skips a beat when he says that. Memories flash behind my eyes.

"It was scary, hyung. I don't think I've ever... god, it's all burned into my head."

"You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to, In." He brushes some hair out of my face. The warmth is nice.

"No, I-I need to. Someone should know how... how extreme this can get. So, um, when- when I woke up, everything was fine." I sit up, wiping my forehead. It was starting to collect sweat. "I went out, Jisung and Hyunjin were sitting on the couch. You were sleeping. I grabbed some breakfast. I was gonna get dressed, but I couldn't find my belt. I-I thought you had taken it, so I went i-in a-and..." I pull my arms close to my chest, closing my eyes.

Focus on breathing. It's okay. They're all okay. It wasn't real. It's not real now.

"Jeongin-"

"Y-you were dead," my voice trembles. I cover my face, hearing my own breathing. "A-and so I," I wipe my nose, forcing out the rest of the story, "I ran out to tell the others, but they a-all were motionless. Everyone was there. On the couch, on the floor, at the table. Cold statues. No pulse. I checked. A-and at first, I-I was screaming at it and crying, but then I remember how Minho said you should go to sleep and it would be over. So I did. I did. And I woke up, and nothing changed. N-nothing. You all were dead. Pale skin and everything. That's when I went ballistic. I knew it wasn't real, but seeing it... it's always going to be in my head. It's always going to be a fear of mine to lose you guys."

"Oh, Innie..." He replies, holding me tightly. I breathe heavily, trying to calm my racing heart. How could I get worked up just from this?