Smoke Me.

Chapter 65: Punishment (Special)

AN: Hi. Thanks for waiting. I'll post the next chapter in....I don't know. But hopefully, not more than two weeks. Maximum of three. Until then, enjoy this one:

Jungkook's perspective:

Long ago, when I had to stand on my tiptoes to reach the higher shelves of the stores, my older brother fell to the ground like a sack of potatoes. It was in the frozen food section. Hence, I was not only confused and worried, but also shivering.

Jung wasn't sick, nor did he show any signs of feeling ill at the time.

Perhaps if it had any logical explanation, I wouldn't have started getting anxious about the possibility of another dizzy spell when we'd go to the store. Which used to happen a lot. Especially if it wasn't cold outside.

If he had as much as a headache that day, and we were in the supermarket, I'd get palpitations.

And one day, after months of his head staying parallel to the ground, I've fainted instead.

I still believe it was due to the anxiety I'd get from being in the store with him. Or around people in general.

Either way, my brain made me believe that someone might faint if they're in a store.

Cause it wasn't them. It was the store's fault.

I was very young and yet, when I've fainted, I was surprised about how uneventful it was. Like I went to sleep for a moment and awoke to worried faces.

Now, we no longer go to the store together. But I've fainted in stores multiple times. And I didn't see the connection until today. A day in which the sky was showering the earth with big, fast drops. And I went inside one of the many first floor's stores because it had a roof, more than anything else.

Walked around for a while. Pretending to be looking at stuff while pulling the sleeves of the hoodie down to keep the bandaged wrists hidden.

I wasn't supposed to be here.

The other patient wasn't either.

Yet, he kept following me around, looking tall. Analyzing the food with a critical eye and a raised chin. And a part of me was suddenly afraid he might lose consciousness at any minute.

That was until it dawned on him: "Aren't you broke?"
"Why? Do you have any money?"
"I was rich." He admitted proudly only to quietly continue with: "until they've confiscated my cards."
"Same." I mumbled and opened one of the fridges. And regretted it as soon as the cold air hit the damp clothes that wrapped around me like a straight jacket.
"We should be heading back."
"What was next?"
"Painting our feelings or talking about our feelings. One of the other," He reminded me, shrugging. Clearly unexcited about both options.

"I wish I had the guts to steal some beer." I thought out loud, since Rhys was comfortable with addict talk.

Which is why, his response was: "You've got a point."
"But I always get sick after drinking anyways..." I argued against it and yet, continued peek at the cold beers.
"Let's go back."
"You're the one who wanted to leave."

"Yea, but we've been walking around for a long time now."
"Have you spotted any clocks?" I joked, wanting to know too.

"Come on."
We walked out into the pouring rain. Sprinting on the pavement only to end up running on grass. Then stone. Expensive, imperfectly cut on purpose, stone.

Although we were hurrying, struggling to keep the hoods over our heads, we probably were already late.

Old trees were dancing fervently above our bodies while our shoes got dirty. By the time we've made it to the two large, imposing wooden doors, I was out of breath. But that wasn't the reason why I didn't step in first.