Arrange Marriage | JC

Chapter 46. Melancholy

Sweat beads form on Jeonghan's forehead, a cold sheen glistening under the dim light. His fists clench tightly, nails digging into his palms, leaving crescent-shaped indentations.

His breathing quickens, shallow and uneven, chest rising and falling in rapid succession.

"Monster. You killed her!"

The voice reverberates through his mind, each word a sharp stab. Jeonghan's body jerks violently, legs tangled in the sheets as he thrashes against the invisible tormentor.

"I don't want you..."

His heart pounds erratically, each beat echoing like a drum in his ears. His mouth opens in a silent scream, throat constricting as if an iron grip is closing around it.

"Not looking to settle down. Never you."

His entire body trembles, muscles taut with fear. Sweat trickles down his temples, mixing with the tears that slip from the corners of his eyes.

He gasps, struggling for breath, the air around him feeling thick and suffocating.

"End me, Jeonghan..."

With a start, Jeonghan's eyes snap open, wild and unfocused. His chest heaves as he fights to pull in air, the remnants of the nightmare still gripping his mind.

He stares at the ceiling, heart racing, trying to ground himself in the reality that seems just out of reach.

Jeonghan's pulse pounds in his ears, each heartbeat a frantic reminder of the terror he just escaped. He forces himself to take deep breaths, but they come out ragged, each inhalation a struggle.

His body feels heavy, weighed down by the lingering dread. He sits up abruptly, throwing off the damp sheets that cling to his legs.

His hands shake as he runs them through his sweat-soaked hair, trying to dispel the residual fear. The room is dark, shadows playing tricks on his already frazzled mind.

Another nightmare. Jeonghan sucked in a breath, feeling his stomach churn as he hastily wipes the sweat from his forehead, but finds no calm.

This is the second time this week that he's had that dream—or more like a nightmare that crawls under his skin, leaving scars that aren't visible but are poisonous within.

He gulps, looking around his bedroom, the darkness mirroring his chaotic thoughts as he tries to calm his raging nerves.

Until he hears a shuffling sound and jolts his neck to see Seungcheol waking up. Right, they share the same bed now. It’s been a month since they’ve gotten close, yet Jeonghan’s nightmares have only become more frequent.

These episodes take his breath away, leaving him bare and vulnerable.

"Again?" Seungcheol's raspy voice cuts through the silence, and Jeonghan feels embarrassment creeping in. He doesn't want to admit to Seungcheol how messed up he is in his head, how broken he feels in reality.

"I-I'm fine," Jeonghan says instead, his voice is shaky, as he watches Seungcheol sit up straight in bed.

"Here." Seungcheol holds out a glass of water, his eyes filled with concern. Jeonghan bites his lip before taking the glass, the coolness of it grounding him slightly.

He drinks, the water soothing his parched throat but doing little to calm his turbulent mind.

Seungcheol's presence is a steady anchor, yet Jeonghan can't shake off the shame of his vulnerability. He hates that Seungcheol sees him like this, hates that he needs someone to comfort him through the terror.