NOSEBLEED; heejake

01.

Drink, smoke, party, get into trouble.

It was a never-ending circle with no apparent way out. Sure, a little drink wouldn't hurt anyone. It's possible if your friends pressure you into it, gradually turning you into a clone of them until you're willing to give up your life for a couple of cigarettes and booze.

"Someone call 911!" The voice shrieked out. "Stay with us, Heeseung. You're alright."

"...Heeseung? Heeseung!"

As his senses returned, we he shot up straight in his seat, his heart racing and his eyes wide. Another nightmare.

He adjusts his glasses and glances around the lecture auditorium, the familiarity of the real world easing his nerves ever so slightly. Heeseung was certain he had slept through most of class, and the way his professor stood over him confirmed this.

"I'm sorry I fell asleep... I just had a rough night." Heeseung explained quietly.

"Rough nights are seeming to become a habit for you, Heeseung," the professor remarked with a stern expression, his arms crossed over his chest. The rest of the lingering students filed out of the lecture hall, casting curious glances back at him.

Heeseung felt the weight of their judgment and the professor's disappointment burn into him.

"Get it together." Were his last words before turning and walking away, leaving Heeseung alone in the empty room. Heeseung exhaled a long breath he'd been holding in, his shoulders sagging with fatigue.

This was getting out of hand.

The medication was supposed to help with the endless nights and constant anxiety. Instead, it only seemed to amplify his problems, driving him to the brink more frequently than he cared to admit.

Heeseung gathered his books with shaky hands and left the lecture hall, trying to shake off the remnants of the terrible memory.

"Hey, wait up!"

The voice startled Heeseung, pulling him from his whirlwind of thoughts. He turned to see his friend Jia jogging toward him. Her face dropped once she caught a glimpse of Heeseung's appearance-his disheveled hair, the dark circles under his eyes, and the forlorn look that seemed permanently etched onto his face.

"What's wrong...?" Her usually bright voice came out with a seriousness that was rarely heard. Heeseung tried to force a smile, but it only made him look more desolate.

"Nothing. Had a hard time sleeping, is all." He says softly, turning away to avoid Jia's scrutinizing gaze. Jia frowns and steps in beside him as they walked down the hallway.

"You've been having nightmares haven't you?" Jia asks the question Heeseung was hoping to avoid answering; his prolonged silence only serving to confirm her suspicions.

"They're just dreams, Jia."

Jia sighed, her eyes filled with concern. "Dreams don't leave you looking like you just survived a war, Heeseung. You need to talk to someone about this."

Heeseung felt the pressure of her words, but he brushed it off with a half-hearted chuckle. "I'm fine, really. Just need some sleep."

Jia wasn't convinced, but she knew pushing him too hard wouldn't help. "Alright," she said softly, "but promise me you'll consider getting help, okay?"

Heeseung nodded absentmindedly, his mind already drifting back to the shadows of his nightmares. They walked in silence for a while, the noise of the bustling hall surrounding them, but it felt distant, almost unreal to Heeseung.

As they approached the library, Heeseung's phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out and saw a message from an unknown number:

Unknown:
Hey man, long time no see! Wanna meet up?

His face morphed with confusion. Who was this? He hoped it was a random that had gotten the wrong number and not someone that knows him.

Heeseung glanced at Jia, who was watching him with equal confusion. He decided to ignore the message for now, slipping his phone back into his pocket. "I need to get some studying done," he muttered, gesturing toward the library.

Jia nodded, concern reappearing in her eyes as she observed her friend's unkept appearance. Normally, he didn't aim to attract attention, but he also didn't usually look like he had just rolled out of bed.

"I'll see you later. Take care, okay?" she said softly before heading off in the opposite direction.

Heeseung watched her go, feeling a pang of guilt. He knew Jia was right-he needed help. But the thought of facing his demons head-on was terrifying. He walked into the library, the quiet, studious atmosphere offering a temporary reprieve from his troubled thoughts.

He settled into a corner, trying to focus on his notes. The words blurred together, his mind constantly drifting back to the nightmare, the judgmental looks, the message. He pulled out his phone again, staring at the unknown number.

'Who are you?', he typed before hesitating. Did he really want to open that door?

No. He didn't.

But, his curiosity got the best of him and with a deep breath, he pressed send. There was no turning back now.

Minutes felt like hours as he waited for a response. He tried to study, but his eyes kept darting back to his phone. Finally, it buzzed again.

Unknown:
It's Jaemin. Im sure u remember me.

Heeseung's heart sank. Jaemin. One of his old drinking buddies, the kind of friend who wasn't really a friend at all, just someone who encouraged his worst impulses. Heeseung's hands shook as he typed out a reply.

Me:
What do you want?

The response was almost immediate.

Unknown:
Just wanted to catch up, see how you're doing. We should meet up, have a drink.

Heeseung felt his stomach turn. His fingers moved on their own against his will as he typed out a response.

Me:
Where at?

Unknown:
The old spot. See u @7.

_
And that wraps up chapter one!
starting off strong 😀 but
I hope u enjoyed it so far