-nightmare on epex street-

chapter 16.

flashback

Mu pov

What time is it?
I felt something pushing down on my chest, making it a bit difficult to breathe. My eyes fluttered, and I had to let them readjust to the light in the room before I could properly see. I looked down to my body, and saw an arm wrapped around it. Confused, I turned to my right, and saw that Yewang had stayed with me all night. Instinctively, I put my hand on his head and brushed my fingertips through his hair, smiling to myself as I watched him snuggle his head between the pillows and my arm. I glanced to the clock, 9:22 a.m. ... It's Sunday isn't it? Yeah... I felt Yewang stur next to me, and he slowly woke up. I kept stroking his hair, hoping he wouldn't mind it. Out of nowhere, he did something I wasn't expecting, and pecked at my neck. It was only for a second, but still, it made my heart race like crazy. He sat up, and turned to face me. He smiled lightly, then laid right back down next to me. Is this really happening? No.... I must be dreaming! Which means... no consequences! Feeling unreasonably brave, I rolled on top of him, and stared into his eyes. He didn't do anything to stop me, he just laid there, still. Suddenly I recalled the events from yesterday. "I'm starting to think I'm the problem." I said to him out loud. "You know? I didn't even stop to think about it. Just saw you two, and got really upset without a second thought." I slap my own forehead, and remain straddled on him as I continued. "I used to have so many bad dreams, so awful that I wanted to- Nevermind.. I just feel so confused.." I look up to the ceiling, and let my hands fall to my sides. "I've been denying it for a while, but since nothing matters, I might as well tell you. I don't know.. I think I'm still out of it, Yewang, I'm the problem. I like you-no, I love you.... I want you but I can't have you." I lay back down, and turn away to close my eyes as they start leaking. Getting too caught up in my thoughts, everything outside of my own body disappeared. After several minutes of laying here, I finally decided it was time to get up for the day. Just as I thought, I was alone. I sniffled, and wiped my tears away, and got dressed fairly quickly.

I walked to the living room where I found Yewang seemingly lost in his own head. "Yewang, can we talk?" He looked up, and nodded. "Is everything alright, Mu?" Having him look at me, made me shrink. I felt so small I didn't wanna say anything anymore. If I tell him how I feel, it could ruin everything! I avoided saying what I initially wanted to, and completely changed the subject. "Do you have any other friends? I mean, aside from Donghyun and Dawit?" I tried my best to make it seem like that was what I intended to say from the start. "Yeah!" I jumped slightly as he bounced up. "We should visit the art school! The other one, the college campus.. I went there for a little while, and made two really good friends. It's not far from here!" I couldn't help but laugh a little, he's so cute when he's excited about something! I instantly shoved that thought to the back of my head and said "That sounds good." "I'll take you to my work place first though, since it's  closer, Donghyun works there too!" I nodded in agreement, and not too long after that we headed outside to the car.

~

We pulled into a parking spot at the town's movie theatre, and got out. It had started raining just after we left the house, so Yewang grabbed the umbrella from the backseat. "Mu, come here." I looked over to him, and grabbed the hand he was reaching at me. He pulled me right next to his body, and the heat coming off of him warmed me up from the cold air. We entered the building carefully, as the streets were soaked. Once we got inside, Yewang put the umbrella down, and into the holder by the door. "C'mon." He guided me over the the booth, where Donghyun was standing. We could hear him mumbling about something while staring into the clear container full of popcorn. Getting a bit closer, I could hear him better. "Pop pop pop pop pop pop pop pop POP!" I felt very confused hearing him whisper it over and over, but I looked at Yewang who seemed to find it amusing. I looked at him smiling at this, when we heard Donghyun whisper "Yes, pop for me NOW!" "I think he's in love with that machine." With Yewang's statement, Donghyun spun around, Andrew us down. He had really dark bags under his eyes, which led Yewang to ask him "Sleep well?" I swear I saw his eye twitch "Not only did I not sleep well, I don't think I'll ever sleep again. By the way, you left your you-know-what at my house, and Dawit saw it. So if you wouldn't mind, is really appreciate it if you took that back. Please!" He stared at Yewang for another minute or so, before going right back to eyeing the machine, and mimicking it's popping sounds. I looked up at Yewang, who looked quite embarrassed, "I uhm.. I guess we're gonna have to make a little stop... let's get going!" He rushed us out of there, and we were at Donghyun's place in no time. "I, uh you should stay in the car. I won't be long, promise!" "I can come in and help you wi"- "NO!" He shouted when I offered help, and it mind of shocked me. I watched him rush into the house, and leave the front door cracked. I undid my seatbelt, and went to open my door, but just like Yewang said he wasn't long. Before I could even step out of the car, he came right back out, throwing a box of something into the trunk. He got back in the driver seat, "See! Not long at all! Now, let's head to our final stop!" He looked very flustered, and pink. "You didn't have to tell at me, and what did you even grab?" He blushed heavily and turned away. "Just some.... equipment! Yeah." He nodded to himself, as if confirming that he was right. I figured since we live together, I could find the box later and open it. "Okay, Yewang." I'll just look through it later..

~

Once we arrived, and entered the building, Yewang led me to the back, where he said his friends were. We walked out the back door after a little your of the place, and we made our way to the campus. "Mi- no, Amin is staying on campus.. My other friend lives near by!" I look at him with anticipation, starting to feel a bit nervous as we walked alone. "Which friend?" I asked "Oh, I don't think you've met him. His name is Yejun. There's a neighborhood right around the corner, we would walk from dorm to house everyday when i went here!" "Yewang? Do you miss it?" He paused. "Somewhat, yeah. Hey, when night falls, we should play a game!" My nervousness faded away, and I felt myself light up at the sound of that. "What kind of game?" Yewang put his fingers to his chin, rubbing it as he pretended to think.

--------- pov

"How good of a runner are you, Mu?" "Runner? I don't really know.. I guess I haven't tried running in a while." Yewang put his hands on his hips and said "I guess that takes out a few games then. Hmm.." I watched the two from my window, wondering What Mu could be doing here of all places.

"You don't think he'll make us all play that game again, do you? I hate that!" I faced the wall, putting my hands on the windowsill. I might be tall, but I suck at running! "AMIN!!" And they always make our place base one! "I don't know baby.. what do you think?" I stare into my cat's eyes, hoping one day he would respond. I put my hand on his chin, and moved it up and down"Not talking, not today.." click "What is it, Baekseung?" I looked up at Amin, who had just walked in as I was playing ventriloquist with Rooney. "They're here." "Who? Who's here?" I pointed to the window, and watched him walk over to look out. But instead. "Hey guys!! Whatcha doin here?"
"Of course." I muttered to myself.

~

I can't say I was happy to see Yewang, but at least Mu was here. It's not like I could kick him out, it technically isn't my place. "Is it just you two?" Yewang asked me. "Well, no, now it's us four.." He nodded, and walked off. Amin sar us all down, "we should get everyone together! You know? The eight of us!" "To do what?" Mu asked "Dunno.. But it's be fun! Plus, Yewang?" Amin turned to Yewang to ask him something. "Yeah?" He said. "Did you hear?" "Hear what?" Amin stood up, and went straight to Yewang's side to whisper in his ear. "He.... like-like...... yeah..." "Really?" Amin nodded at that. Yewang said one last thing, "Interesting."

Mu pov

I looked at Yewang confused, then looked to Baekseung who looked annoyed. Yewang spoke up finally. "We should all get together and play our game! We have Mu now, so the number's even again!" I wondered what he was taking about since he never got to explaining anything earlier. "I would totally do that!" Amin said. "Mu, you can run, right?" Run? They surely can't be talking about tag... Could they? "Seriously? I'm not playing that again. Not after what happened last time!" With that, Baekseung joined the conversation. I got curious, so I asked them "What happened last time?" They all looked at me, and Baekseung said "Someone got himself arrested." He said that as he turned to face Amin. I was shocked. There's no way.. WHAT kind of a game is this? "How- What? Wha- How did that.. What were you doing?" I was genuinely concerned, but all the three of them did was laugh. "We were pla-playing our game, lights out, and some-someone thought we were in danger or something! And they called the police, and I got arrested cause I ran away from the officer, thinking it was someone in the group!" Amin spoke as best as he could between laughter, and once they settled down, Amin said "We probably shouldn't play that ever again." "Agreed." They all said in unison. "I'll uhm.. I'll call the rest of us, you uhm.. wait for me!" Baekseung said, darting into the next room over. I lean into Yewang after Amin left too, "What do you think we'll do now? Since we can't play that game?" I asked. He put his hand to his chin just like he did earlier, and rubbed it with his fingers. "That's not the only game we can all play together. Tonight. It has to be dark, so, we'll play tonight!" I glanced at the clock on the wall
12:15 p.m.
"Okay!" I stayed there with my head on his shoulder, and looked out at the cloudy sky, watching it slowly get brighter as the rain faded out.

To be continued
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