Legions of unspoken affliction

Chapter 25 : A Dream

Riki woke up from the sounds of the brids chirping. The sun was shining right at his eyes making it difficult for him to open them wide. Squinting, he notice he Jungwon staring down at him, and that he was hugging Jungwon's arm as a bolster. He felt some tears in his eyes and quickly wiped it off. Tears from his bad dream but also tears of happiness, relieved that it was all not reality, and that Jungwon was still right by his side.

"Riki? Is everything okay? Why are you crying?" Asked Jungwon, full of concern. Staring down at Riki with his eyes full of worry.

"It's nothing, I just woke up so my eyes are a little teary." Riki said as he faked a yawn, but Jungwon believed him.

Riki wanted to get up but Jungwon's lap was way too comfy for him to. It was as though there was a magnet keeping him from getting up. Instead, he hugged Jungwon's waist and snuggle against it.

"Jungwon hyung, be my boyfriend, please?" Riki asked, wanting to make Jungwon his as soon as he could, afraid to lose Jungwon after that dream. If he was going to lose his hyung ever, he wanted to spend the best and happiest times with him.

"W-what?"

"Hyung, do you not want to be with me?" Riki asked, a little saddened.

"Well erm, I mean I do, but it's all too sudden..."

"Don't worry hyung, take your time!"

"Nono it's okay, i'll be your boyfriend, i was just a little taken aback thats all." Jungwon said, with a big smile on his face.

Riki, forcing himself up from Jungwon's lap, he pulled Jungwon into his embrace, hugging him tight. Jungwon returns the hug but was mainly blushing hard as his face as buried in the younger's chest.

Riki pulls away from Jungwon and asks him out on a date.

"Today?"

"Yea, like right now." Riki suggested.

"Oh yea sure, but i have a curfew. I have to be he by 6"

"I have to be by 5.. but it's okay! We have an hour and a half!" Riki said, pulling Jungwon up from the seat and excitedly takes him to the nearby arcade. However, they weren't allowed to enter as they were in school uniforms.

"Urgh why can't students in uniform enter it's so unfair!" Riki growled.

"It's okay, we can find something else to do," Jungwon attempted to calm him down.

"No! I know theres a plushie in there that you'd like! I saw it when i came with my hyung! I want to get it for you!" Riki spouted out, staring into the arcade through the glass panel with a pouty face.

Jungwon smiled a little, knowing that Riki was only mad because he wanted to get something for him. For the whole while he thought they were here because he wanted to play after a day at school.

Jungwon held Riki's hand, gently tugging on him and taking him away from the panel.

"We can come back another time. You can get me that plushie whenever you like, don't worry about it. But i'll be looking forward to it, i'm sure i'll love it." Jungwon told Riki in a calm and soothing tone, making the younger feel less triggered.

"How about we go to your home and cuddle!" Jungwon suggested.

"NO!" Riki exclaimed. "You can't come!"

"Why not?"

"I- erm well... you just can't!" Riki couldn't explain but he was traumatised by the dream and was afraid that it might become reality.

"Okay then.. how about we get ice cream?" Jungwon asked but got no response from Riki, who was too distracted by his thoughts.

Jungwon waved his hand infront of his eyes to get his attention. "Riki?"

"Huh oh erm.."

"I asked if we should get ice cream."

"Ice cream! Sure! Let's go!" Riki said excitedly, afterall who could say no to ice cream.

They went to the Baskin Robbins that was two blocks down, hand in hand. Jungwon knew something was bothing his new boyfriend, but he didn't want to pry. He wanted to wait for Riki to tell him when he's ready to, he doesn't want to make him uncomfortable just few minutes into their relationship. "If Riki doesn't want to tell me then so be it." Jungwon told himself, trying to fight his curiosity and worry.

Sitting across each other, savouring the ice cream, Jungwon couldn't help but stare into the younger's eyes, then his nose, lips and well him. He was so handsome that Jungwon could scream right there on the spot. Riki on the other hand, was still worried that he might do something to his hyung that will cause him to lose Jungwon.

He was scared but he decided to tell Jungwon, so that if something of the sort is about to happen, he could run and protect himself.

"Okay. But i know, you won't do it. I trust you, even if you do it's just an accident, i won't blame you." Jungwon said.

"Hyung, in my dreams you died..."

"And in reality, i know it won't happen just like that. You've gone through a lot, it's that memory that's keeping you afraid, and it's going to take awhile to move on, but i'll be there for you."

"I'm just so scared hyung... I don't want to lose you like i lost..him," Riki said, in a shaky tone.

"You won't. I trust you, it's going to be okay. I, along with your family, will get through it with you. We love you."

"I love you all too..." Riki said. Trying to divert the topic "Wish i could have gotten that plushie for you, it was so adorable..."

"It's okay, you can get it for me another day, i'll love it no matter when you give it to me, since it is from you." Jungwon responded, trying to flirt a little by winking at him, but he couldn't and he looked slightly silly to Riki but mostly, he found him cute.

Leaning forward and holding Jungwon's cheek, he gently caressed it with his thumb, making Jungwon freeze and his face burn up, bright red.

"W-wha"

"I love you hyung, so so much." Riki said, giving Jungwon a peck on the cheek before releasing him from his palm.

"I love you too." Jungwon responded, hiding his face in his hands.

Hearing that response, Riki felt warm inside. It's feels different. Different from the love he receives from Jay, Mr and Mrs Park. It was the type of love he couldn't understand, but now, he does.

-END-