[Book I] Winter Falls [ENG]

Chapter 57: Happy Birthday

Hey~ Little chapter again today. Are you looking forward to it? :D Me too!

I increased the number of chapters to 60, as I decided to write an additional bonus chapter before the epilogue. It lacked a bit of fluff uu

TW: mention of attempted suicide (slightly graphic), mention of hospitals (light)

Timeline: Saturday to Tuesday (January) / one week jump/ Monday (February)

Enjoy!

_________________

To say that Jeongin was nervous was an understatement.

A big, very big, understatement.

He had very little sleep that night. Partly because he was too nervous to even try to sleep. And also because the only hours of sleep he had managed to catch had been ruined by untimely nightmares.

In short... he looked like a zombie.

Despite his tired reflection, he hurried through his morning routine. He spread every soap and cream on his skin, as he had always done. The routine kept him in place. It reminded him that everything was fine. That it was a day like any other.

The purplish dark circles under his eyes contrasted even more with his skin, under the cold light of his bathroom. For a moment he hesitated to cover them with make-up. He didn't put make up often. Like even, only very rarely time. The most he did was to put corrector on his buttons too present, or a little eyeshadow, when he was in the mood to make himself a little more beautiful than normal.

But hiding his dark circles... It made him uncomfortable.

Especially since he knew it would still show, despite the makeup. And Seungmin might think that he tried to hide things from him.

Jeongin sighed. After his toilet, he went to his room to get dressed.

Seungmin offered to pick him up, so they could go to therapy together. He had offered to hold his hand all along in support. Jeongin didn't know what he had done to deserve such a friend.

Boyfriend, he corrected.

It was so new. Amazing. Scary.

He could never have believed it possible. Him? Being in a new relationship? He thought that part of his heart had been broken. Crushed by Matheo. But he was wrong.

Seungmin had been able to pick up his bruised heart, treat it with kindness, and put all the bandages he could put on it.

Jeongin smiled gently at the boy's thought.

He was so sweet.

Shaking his head quickly, Jeongin came to his senses. This wasn't the time to let his thoughts wander about his new boyfriend, as much as it is enjoyable. At least thinking about him, saved him from thinking about therapy, and then panic.

But he would not advance in these conditions. And he had to find him in front of his building in barely thirty minutes. So it wasn't time to joke around and dream about Seungmin.

Jeongin started to finish his usual routine, forcing himself to avoid panic over what was to follow.

The minutes flew by, and soon he found himself locking the door to his apartment. Nervousness ran through him like a million little ants rushing under his skin. Jeongin was trying hard not to think about therapy. Instead, he focused on what would come next.

Seungmin had offered to have lunch in the city center, and then to go for a walk in the park, if Jeongin felt up to it. The youngest of course had agreed. It was a date. Their first real date. And although he didn't know what to expect after therapy, he hoped to be in a mood to enjoy it.