Rapunzel (Seventeen JeongCheol story)

Chapter 8 - Dream

'Jeonghan... Jeonghan!'

Jeonghan sat up in his bed and rubbed his eyes. Looking around he realized it was still night, maybe around midnight. The room was in the same condition as Gothel transformed it the day before. It was in a tall tower, had no doors - meaning no way for him to leave. The only difference was that Jeonghan managed to clean up the pieces of his canvases and paints (as he obviously had all the time in the world now that he was locked up), so the room was somewhat tidy.

But wait... if he is locked up all alone, then who's calling his name?

He turned towards the source of the sound which was the window and widened his eyes. Suddenly a hand and another one appeared on the windowsill, then a shadow pulled himself up. Jeonghan was about to scream but he realized no one would hear or care. Curiosity got the best of him and he slowly slid out of the bed, his bare feet touching the cold floor which made him hiss. He took a few steps towards the window unsure and gasped when he realized who was climbing up his window. It was the man from the day before.

His heart started beating faster at the sight of the other boy and he rushed to the window, helping him inside. As the other successfully arrived, Jeonghan lost his balance and wrapped his arms around the boy's neck trying not to fall backwards.

'Hi' smiled at him the boy as if it was completely natural for him to climb through a window that's in several meters height just to see someone. Jeonghan giggled and looked at his face from up close. He looked mesmerizing in the moonlight. His eyes were staring back at Jeonghan and dimples appeared on his face as he smiled.

'How did you... climb through my window?' Jeonghan said the first question that came to his mind. Then he realized the position they were in. He was still hugging the other. He blushed and was about to let go, but the boy held his waist tightly and buried his nose in the crook of his neck, hugging him tighter.

'I was looking for you everywhere' he muttered, his voice sending shivers down Jeonghan's spine. The long haired boy's breath hitched at the feeling.

'I can't leave the tower anymore' mumbled Jeonghan, relaxing in the mystery boy's embrace.

'I'll help you escape. We can do this' said the other, his doe eyes looking into Jeonghan's.

'You can't' chuckled Jeonghan with a bitter taste in his mouth. 'Gothel will kill both of us. It's for your own good to stay away from me.'

'But what if I don't want to?' asked the boy. 'I couldn't get you out of my head since we met. I want to be with you' he whispered. When he was only met with Jeonghan's sad gaze on him, he simply leaned in, his lips hovering over Jeonghan's.

He's going to kiss me, flashed through Jeonghan's mind. But as their lips were about to contact, suddenly the whole thing felt so unreal. Suddenly everything felt unreal. Questions were spinning through his head.

Something was wrong. Everything was wrong.

The boy shouldn't be here.

He can't possibly cross the magic wall.

He can't climb up a tower so tall.

Heck... he doesn't even know Jeonghan's name.

He desperately closed his eyes to be able to hold onto the boy's image for a bit more, but he slowly felt himself wake up.

Jeonghan once again sat up in his bed. He sighed bitterly realizing that this time he was awake for real. No mysterious boy climbing through his window, no hugs, no kisses, no sweet words whispered to him. He frowned and got out of the bed, his feet once again touching the cold floor, as he walked to the window and looked out.

Looking down he only saw the empty garden which was several meters under him. He pouted his lips and rested his head on his arms on the windowsill, closing his eyes and enjoying the cold night breeze on his skin.

He opened his eyes when he heard wings' shushing. He knew what it means. It was Hugo patrolling around his tower all night. That was the sound that lulled him to sleep in the evening too.

He was right. A few seconds later the dragon's head appeared in his field of vision. Hugo stared at him, floating in the air in front of his window for a few seconds. He was probably wondering whether the boy is planning to escape at night or something. Jeonghan stared back, still resting his head on his crossed arms. He wondered what is Hugo's story. How did he end up with Gothel and how did he become so cruel? He knew that despite Gothel's natural evilness, her dragon has a good heart.

Jeonghan unexpectedly smiled at Hugo. The dragon's eyes showed surprise, but then he just let out a small growl before continuing guarding Jeonghan's tower.

Jeonghan sighed and stepped away from the window, going to his closet. He opened it and took out the pretty silver hairbrush he found between Gothel's stuff. He decided to keep it. It was his property anyways and Gothel never really went to the basement anymore so she won't realize it's gone.

He caressed the hairbrush carefully as he walked back towards the window. He read the words carved on the brush.

'Constant as the stars above' he muttered. 'Love you forever, Mom and Dad.'

He looked up at the night sky and placed the brush on the windowsill.

'I'll be free' he stated to no one in particular and smiled subconsciously before going back to his bed.

No one really knows what happened that night, but the next day in the place of the hairbrush only a beautiful carved silver paintbrush was found.

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A/N: I kinda like the way this chapter ended up, even though it's rather a filler :)

I hope you still like this book! ^^