RUINATION (Solo Leveling Fanfic)

Chapter 3

3

Wrapped in a thick, comforting blanket like a newborn, warmth immediately seeped through his body. The relentless fluctuations of his high temperature made every breath seemed like a laborious task, his chest was heaving with the effort.

Every time he attempted to open his eyes, a sharp sting forced them shut, as if his body was rejecting the very idea of seeing the world before him.

Noticing the pained expression etched across his face, someone reached out with a gentle hand, tenderly caressing his hair. The soft touch was a silent attempt to soothe the torment he was experiencing.

"Jinwoo?" He called out, his voice tinged with a lingering note of panic.

Rui was enveloped in darkness, unable to see anything around him. Fear gripped him, a cold, familiar dread that threatened to bring back what he hated the most.

Memories he had tried so hard to forget but could never fully escape. The shadows seemed to sweet whisper reminders of those haunting experiences, pulling him back into the very moments he wished to bury in his head.

"Don't be afraid, just rest for a while," a familiar voice reached his ears, gentle and reassuring. It was low and soothing, gradually dissolving his fear.

It had always been this way since they were kids. Despite his small stature back then, Jinwoo had this remarkable capability in handling this kind of situation of his. He was such a cute kid, yet he grew up quickly, learning to conceal certain important things from him.

Rui quickly forgot the darkness that surrounded him as memories of the past with Jinwoo flooded his mind. He recalled those carefree moments from their past, when they were just two kids lost in innocent amusement, oblivious to the world around them.

It was a time untouched by the complexities of adulthood, where the only worries were whose turn it was next in their playful escapades.

In the depths of his despair, Jinwoo shone like a beacon of light, a presence that appeared when all seemed lost.

He couldn't bear the thought of losing him, a relentless dread that tightened its grip on his heart. Just the thought of Jinwoo's smile disappearing in an instant filled him with an overwhelming sense of sadness.

Given the choice, he would always opt to stay by Jinwoo's side, inseparable just like a glue.

When Rui felt weak and unable to lift a finger, his tendency to overthink always intensified. His mind would cloud over, rendering him unable to process thoughts and plunging him into despair.

He held onto the hope that this warmth, would stay beside him for all the chapters yet to unfold in his story.

A desire for a constant midst of life's unpredictable narrative.

Time had drifted by, and he finally managed to open his eyes. Blinking a couple of times and tears are welling at the corners.

"Awake?" A hoarse voice caught his attention.

Rui gradually became aware of his surroundings, the haze of unconsciousness lifting like a thin curtain. As he blinked his eyes open, he realized his arms were instinctively wrapped tight around Jinwoo, his dearest friend.

"Ah, yes," Rui replied softly, slowly withdrawing his body, the lingering weakness evident in his movements.

Jinwoo didn't notice his friend's changed demeanor and gently placed his palm on Rui's forehead, checking to see if his temperature had stabilized.