𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚓𝚘𝚌𝚔'𝚜 𝚝𝚞𝚝𝚘𝚛 𝟶𝟶 𝚕.𝚖𝚑 𝚡 𝚑.𝚓𝚜

15

minho didn't speak about the nightmare at all. it definitely worried jisung, since, to his knowledge, that hasn't happened before.

"minho, please, can we talk about it? i can tell you're obviously upset about it."

the older gulped, hand freezing in place from where it was previously writing in the notebook.

"we need to study, jisung. don't be stupid."

jisung scoffed, taking the notebook from him. "stupid? you're upset, min. let me help you."
minho grabbed the textbook, blinking away the tears that started in his eyes.

he wrote in the textbook on the sticky notes and jisung grabbed the pen and textbook, tossing them to the side.

"it was just a nightmare, okay? its over."

"that wasn't just a nightmare, baby. we both know it."

minho's lip wobbled, inhaling sharply. the younger sat next to him against the headboard from his previous position in front of him.

holding his hand tightly, jisung moved minho's head so it laid on his shoulder. "talk to me, min. i'm here to help you through these things."

minho sighed, squeezing jisung's hand. "i don't want you treating me differently." the latter nodded, giving a squeeze back.

"of course not."

minho kept his gaze on the wall across from him, zoning out. "you know how i'm anemic, right?" a nod from jisung.

"it's mostly because i wasn't ever fed as a child. my parents, um, didn't mean to have a kid. it just was an a-accident."

his voice slightly broke at 'accident' and his vision blurred with tears. "they, uh, they didn't have the money to take care of a kid so they kind of just made me fend for myself once i was old enough to."

jisung nodded, kissing his forehead. minho bit his lip. "but one day, my mom caught me sneaking more water. she lectured me about how i should be grateful for the water they give me. and then, she-"

minho squeezed his eyes shut, shaking his head. "um, she-" tears slipped down his cheeks and jisung moved to sit in front of him, rubbing them away with his thumbs.

"she waterboarded me." jisung's hands stilled on minho's cheeks. "she- she said that this should be enough water for me, and if i tried it again, she would drown me. so i ran away, and i never w-went b-back-"

he broke into sobs and jisung hugged him tight, repeatedly kissing his head. "my baby, i'm so sorry. is this why you don't like me touching your head much?"

minho nodded, crying into jisung's neck. "s-she gripped my h-hair so h-hard, ji- a-and the water was so h-hot sometimes-"

"okay, okay, shh." the last thing he needed was for minho to fall into a panic attack. minho clutched jisung's shirt, deeply inhaling the cologne.

——

minho and jisung sat in front of the bathtub. the elder shook as he stared at it, and jisung rubbed his back.

"let's take our time, okay? nothing to be scared of."

minho nodded, slowly kneeling in front of the bathtub. jisung turned on the shower head, keeping his hand under it until it was suitable for minho.

he leaned over the folded towel, freezing as a hand came up to touch his nape. jisung quickly moved his hand to minho's back.

"okay, sorry, no touching."

minho nodded again, deciding to keep quiet. he didn't trust his voice. as the shower head hit his hair, he breathed slowly.

a gentle hand ran through his hand and he gasped. oh no.

'fuck, stop fighting it!'

she pushed minho's head farther under the water, hand harshly gripping the hair on the back of his head.

it was such a tight grip, minho thought she would pull his hair out.

'this could be over so much faster if you would just fucking cooperate!'

his head slammed against the side of the bathtub, knocking him unconscious. blood trickled down from his forehead and his mother huffed.

jisung turned off the water, pulling minho back so he leant against the wall, crouching in front of him and cupping his cheeks.

"hey, baby. come back to me, yeah?" jisung shook him lightly, seeing him blink quickly.

"you with me, min?"

minho nodded, instantly breaking down into sobs. " 'm sorry, i'm sorry-" jisung shook his head, trying his best to comfort the older.

"hey, hey, it's okay. it's okay to not be ready, darling. we can try another time."

jisung kissed his forehead, bringing him into a hug. "you did so well, my love. so, so well. you're so strong, and i'm so fucking proud of you for doing the best you could."

minho cried into jisung's neck, holding him as tight as he could. jisung sighed, before kissing his head multiple times.

"it's not always going to go well, hm? we'll take it one step at a time."