Flowers on the Moon ; jinyoung-centric

Chapter 6: warm hug

[ TW / descriptions of violence (physical & verbal bullying) ]

"Did you seriously think we'd be friends with you?"

Loud, cruel laughter boomed across the whole cafeteria just in time to a strong kick landing on his leg. Jinyoung whimpered and curled in on himself further, trying to make himself as small as possible amidst the four people hovering over him.

"Who'd want to be friends with you, Jinyoung?"

A cry of pain fell from his lips as something hard came into contact with the side of his head, and he winced at the feeling of something warm dripping down to his face. Someone laughed again as another object was thrown towards him, hitting his arm.

"You're so annoying."

"Stop, please..." Jinyoung cried, sobbing quietly. None of them listened to him. He winced as someone kicked him again.

"Just fucking die."

It seemed endless. Jinyoung didn't know how much time had passed. He just wanted them to stop.

By the time they finally did stop and left the room, all Jinyoung could feel were the countless bruises littered across his weak body. He laid there for a while on the cold, dirty floor, the whole cafeteria dissolving into silence as everyone watched him quietly. None of them bothered to help him, and even though Jinyoung understood that they were just scared of Youngho and his friends bullying them as well, it didn't make it hurt any less.

He left the room without a word, limping as he wiped his tears with shaky hands.

Maybe Youngho was right. Maybe he should just die.

.

.

.

Jinyoung woke up to the sounds of muffled chatter around him and the faint clinking of metal in his ears. The remnants of the memory continued to float through his hazy mind as he struggled to sit up, wincing at the dull ache in his head. Scanning his surroundings, he gasped when he realized where he was.

Shit.

Did I pass out in their dorm?

Biting his lip anxiously, Jinyoung ran a hand through his hair, thinking of what he should do. Should he apologize and just leave? How does he even explain this entire situation?

His thoughts were put to a halt when the door suddenly creaked open. Yugyeom came inside with a tray of food in his hands. He smiled when he saw Jinyoung, and immediately rushed to place the tray onto the bedside table.

"How are you feeling?" He asked, sitting down on the edge of the bed beside Jinyoung.

Jinyoung's eyebrows furrowed slightly. He didn't feel as nauseous as he did earlier, but there was still that lingering lightheadedness and faint ache on his head weighing him down. "Tired," he answers quietly, staring at his hands.

"Are you sure you're just tired? You had quite a high fever earlier."

His cheeks flushed at the recollection of the events this morning - at how stupid he must've looked in front of all six of them at the dining table, and straight up passing out not just on their living room, but in Yugyeom's arms, of all things. "R-really? I'm sorry."

The younger's head tilts slightly in confusion. "What are you sorry for?"

Jinyoung curses himself mentally. Why did I say that?