<mentions of alcohol>
incoming call from pretty boy ...
[accept] [decline]
-
"hey!" hyunjin waved at his computer screen as jeongins face popped up. his smile faded slowly as he saw the state jeongin was in: his eyes were puffy and he was sniffling. the room was dark, seeing how he called a little late at night.
"what happened? are you okay?" hyunjin asked in a panic. his eyes danced around the screen, with desperate eyes trying to find an answer.
jeongin stayed quiet for a few minutes trying to get a hold of his breathing. he honestly didn't know why he decided to call hyunjin— sort of like a quick thought in his brain; he expected him not to answer but now that he did, he didn't have a plan on what he wanted after.
"c—can i just talk? i'm sorry— i just— i don't know." jeongin hiccuped between his words, tears suddenly falling at a rapid pace once again.
"of course, i'm here to listen." hyunjin frowned slightly.
jeongin sniffed again before speaking, "my brother and i got into a fight. he came home and smelled like alcohol. i—i don't know, i was just angry a—and worried. he started cursing at me," jeongin started to sob again, replaying the event that happened not too long ago.
"hey, it's okay jeongin. take your time, you can stop if you need to." hyunjin reassured him. his hands were in the air, empty. his first instinct was to pat jeongins head, his idea shortly being shut down. he felt guilty he couldn't do anything but talk to the boy. the words from his computer would be the most he could do to comfort him.
"he's back in his room, probably passed out. i didn't think he would drink again, hyunjin. he told me he wouldn't." jeongin continued. his face was pointed to his lap, letting his tears fall; being tired of wiping it with his soaked sleeves.
his mind replayed his brothers voice along with his regretful thoughts of calling hyunjin. he didn't see a point— jeongin usually handled heavy stuff on his own. he craved hyunjins voice in his ears knowing it would calm him down, it always did one way or another. his head was spiraling and calling his number was impulsive but set thing he wanted.
hyunjin had broke his independence and he didn't know how to feel about it.
hyunjin frowned again, feeling like he could cry at any moment just by seeing jeongin so vulnerable. he was unsure of what to do; he was scared he was gonna do the wrong thing. hyunjin didn't know exactly what jeongin was feeling and never comforted someone like this.
"sometimes people have bad days, jeongin. it hurts to see people cope in ways that aren't the healthiest but, you just need to understand it's hard to get out of those habits. you're not hurt, are you?" jeongin shook his head no.
"the worse he could do is yell at me. it's just.. i wish he would get help. my dad didn't and t—that's what drove us apart. i—i'm sorry, hyunjin, i don't mean to put this on you."
hyunjin got hit with a jolt of energy once he heard jeongin apologize, "don't say sorry; there's nothing to say sorry for! i'm glad you feel comfortable enough with me to talk like this— i'm always here for you."
jeongin looked up slowly, smiling weakly, "i didn't want to tell you about my family in such a sad manner," a few tears still fell from his eyes.
"well, let's not make it sad, hm? tell me how you wanted to tell me about them— pretend this didn't happen for a moment." hyunjin spoke softly, in a comforting way. there was a calmness and nurture in his voice.
"a—ah well, my mom was a fashion designer. i remember she would make my brother and i matching outfits. h—he would hate them but it made us grow close even if we're years apart," jeongin had stopped crying with only sniffles coming from his as he speaks.
"that's really cute. i remember i wanting a sibling growing up! my parents gave me a dog instead." hyunjin chuckled.
"lucky! we only had pet fishes." jeongins voice still low, growing a little excited.
he continued, "my dad and i were closed too, until high school when he started to drink. he said it was a problem he struggled with before having us. y—you can figure out what happened after."
"is this why you live with your brother?"
jeongin let out a deep sigh and nodded, "he always made sure i wasn't the one dealing with dad when he was in that state. he talked to him when it was hard and tried to not make me get associated with him that kinda stuff."
jeongin moved to lay on his side, feeling exhausted from his breakdown. he closed his eyes for a few seconds and opened them back up as if it were a quick nap for energy. he had nothing else to share with hyunjin, basically telling him the background of his own life.
hyunjin laid down as well, his laptop pointing down to keep him in frame, "everything will work out in the end. if your brother did all that, i'm sure he'll know he needs help as well." he said softly.
hyunjin spoke with hesitance which he hid well enough for jeongin to not catch onto. he didn't want to share his own experiences, afraid it would make jeongin feel worse but he also didn't want to give jeongin advice he never asked for. he stayed there in silence, hoping it would convey a sense of comfort.
jeongin smiled a closed smile, "i really hope so. thank you for letting me vent out in a way, hyunie. i'm sorry it was so sudden."
"it's really okay. don't worry about it." hyunjin reached over to his mouse pad as he saw jeongin close his eyes once more. he was just about to hang up the call to let the boy sleep until he spoke again.
"please don't hang up. can we.. can we sleep like this? i don't want you to leave."
