strawberry shortcake

25. circles

lemme know if you find any mistakes :)
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There was a soft knock on the door that caused Chan to silently let go of the peacefully sleeping boy in his arms and make his way towards them. Tiredly rubbing at his eyes, he was quite surprised to see Jisung standing there, looking up at him with glossy eyes.

"You okay? What happened?" Concerned, he stepped to the hallway, closing the door behind him to not wake up Jeongin and took in Jisung's looks once again. He didn't look physically hurt, so what made him cry?

"Is this a bad time? I'm sorry if I interrupted anything, I'll come later." His trembling hands were still wiping away the silent tears that rolled down his cheeks and Chan felt a pain in his heart. It was hardly ever Jisung came for help in tears.

"No, it's alright. Jeongin's asleep." Jisung nodded, his bottom lip trembling from how much he tried to suppress his cries. "Jisung what happened?" He asked softly. It broke his heart to see his friend this devastated without any idea what was behind it or how he could be of any help.

Jisung crumbled at the words, covering his face with his hands as he sobbed into them. "Can't f-fall asleep, he's everyw-where."

"What? Sungie who are you talking about?" He tried to be as soft as possible, to take it easy on the younger. "Un-cle- Haneul."

"Did the nightmares come back?" Jisung only nodded, still crying and Chan gently pulled him into a hug. "A while ago."

Chan's heart broke at the news. He felt useless for not noticing something was wrong earlier. Jisung meant so much to him, he should have noticed.

The truth was, since him and Jeongin got more serious and since Minho's arrival, Chan and Jisung didn't spend as much time together as they used to. They worked. By each others sides, but there was barely time left for hang outs or pillow talks.

Chan felt guilty for not being there for his friend sooner.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner? I'm here for you, you know that." His hand still brushed over Jisung's back in soothing motions. Jisung sobbed into his shoulder, shaking like a leaf. His whole body hurt from exhaustion. He was tired after whole day of stress and worries.

Everything had just been piling up for the last couple of days, if not weeks, and he didn't know how long would he be able to bear it anymore.

"Minho held me through the nights, b-but now he's hurt because of me a-and-" a sob ripped through his chest and his legs gave up on him. Wasn't it for Chan's reflexes, they would end up on the ground.

"Jisung it wasn't your fault. None of it was." Jisung only shook his head, holding tight on Chan who gently supported him while he still bawled his eyes out.

He didn't believe it. How could he? Everything was his fault, he knew it was, and anyone would agree.

"It's all my fault. I caused all of this. 'm a horrible person.." Chan hated the way Jisung said those words. It was evident he meant them and really thought those things.

Of course, he shared his fair part in what had happened, but that didn't mean he was a horrible person and a cause behind all their sufferings.

"Yah, don't talk like that.." Chan scolded him gently and pulled away only so he could wipe away the tears that didn't stop rolling down his face if only for a second. "How about you sleep over in my room, hm?"

"No. Jeongin's sleeping there. I don't want to ruin your relationship too." He immediately refused with a panicked shake of a head and Chan sighed. "You won't Jisung-ah. You're a mess. I won't let you sleep alone." He indeed was a mess, but still felt bad about sleeping over at Chan's while his boyfriend was there.