Intertwined: Two fates | Book:-1 | Jikook | ✔

63 - Lullaby

"Ugh..."

Jimin was startled awake from his sleep as soon as he heard a grunt of pain coming from above his head. His eyes snapped open and any traces of drowsiness instantly drained away like hazy mist blown by a violent typhoon. The first thing he saw was a column of neck that was slick with perspiration. Then he heard a harsh breathing echoed loudly around his ears and perceived the tightening of the arm slung over his waist. On a closer look, they were also trembling faintly.

Alert, he immediately propped himself up to check on the man who was sleeping beside him. "Jungkook?"

He saw that Jungkook's eyes were still tightly shut and the creases of his brows were deep enough to create a canyon. His hair was damp with sweat, strands of it sticking to his face. He looked like he was in a whole lot of pain.

Jimin's heart seized sharply. Realizing that Jungkook was having a nightmare and it was getting more severe with each passing second to the point where the heartbeat monitor was issuing an alarm, he held the man's shoulders and shook him, calling out anxiously. "Hyung...? Hyung, wake up!"

It took him a few attempts to bring Jungkook out of his nightmare. Even when the Alpha finally opened his eyes, Jimin still could not be rest assured. On the contrary, the anxiety in his heart surged to a new peak, causing him to break out in cold sweat.

It was all because the Alpha's eyes were rimmed red and there were traces of violent destruction and agony that he had not managed to conceal.

It was familiar... so achingly familiar. It brought him to the time when Jungkook was still under the effect of AX-03. Jimin felt his blood run cold when he recalled Jungkook's deranged state.

No, no... he couldn't let it happen. Not anymore!

"Hyung...?" His voice shook slightly when he whispered. He reached out to cup Jungkook's face and looked deeply into his eyes. "Hyung, can you hear me? It's me, Jimin..."

A few seconds passed before Jungkook's pupils gradually regained their focus. As soon as he registered that the one in front of him was indeed Jimin- alive, breathing and... his gaze traveled down to the bandage around the omega's neck and he instantly sucked in a shaky breath. So not everything was a dream. Toward Jimin, he had really-

His eyes were bloodshot as he clung to Jimin's waist and buried his face to his side. "Jimin... Jimin-ah..." he uttered nothing but Jimin's name, again and again, just like a child awoken from a nightmare and sought the comfort of his parents.

His broad figure that always exuded a sense of solid security was currently trembling. He looked so wretched, so fragile as if the slightest touch would be able to shatter him to pieces.

When had Jungkook ever shown such a vulnerable and miserable state to others?

Jimin could not imagine how Jungkook was as a child because when they first met, Jungkook was already a poised, composed and steadfast man despite only being in his twenties. It was as if this person was born with an innate calmness and maturity that gave off the impression as if he could hold up the sky even if it collapsed one day.

But now...

Jimin's throat tightened in pain. Looking at Jungkook like this, his chest was suddenly seized with a fierce protectiveness that came out of nowhere. Oh how he wished he could hide him from the world's cruelty...

But at least, he was relieved that Jungkook seemed to remember him just fine and did not go berserk anymore.

Jimin did not try to move him. Instead he leaned against the headboard and gingerly placed his hand on top of Jungkook's head. Just the notion that he would one day be able to comfort and soothe Jungkook like a child- had his heart racing with an indescribable thrill. Just as he was thinking of what to say, he inadvertently caught sight of a silhouette outside the door that was opened by a crack.