s o m n i p h o b i a

chapter 7

And you not knowing, if you could love him forever.

Jungkook was absolutely heartbroken. He wanted Taehyung to love him back, and he wanted Taehyung to believe him. But he didn't, and now Jungkook was regretting everything he said, and staring up at the dark ceiling in fear.

But Jungkook couldn't blame him. If he was in Taehyung's position, he would find it very difficult to love someone who made little effort in caring.

And now Taehyung was slowly deteriorating, and so was Jungkook.

I swear this has gotta be the hundredth time I've thought of you, tonight.

Jungkook's parents didn't exactly know about his fear of sleeping. His mother & his father both believed that Jungkook was the perfect child who respected them, and got straight A's. He was basically the poster child for the term "perfect son".

So Jungkook kept it a secret from them, and his household life was alright.

Maybe keeping it a secret from them wasn't the best idea. He could've gotten help, or more support from the people he loved, but fear controlled his decision, per usual.

But tonight he let it go too far.

You weren't the only ones who thought of us that way. I spend most nights awake, wide awake.

This time, as tears continued streaming down Jungkook's face as his eyes darted from one dark corner to another, trying to ward off the shadows, his mother threw open the door.

"Jungkook-ah! Why are you crying?"

Jungkook couldn't take it. He wondered if he should just play it off as a nightmare, but he was too scared, and at this point he was practically sobbing. His mother only had the door opened a bit, so the light streaming in illuminated the shadow's faces, and he saw Taehyung.

Jungkook let out a blood curdling scream, pointing towards the closet where Taehyung stood. But his mother saw nothing.

I never thought that I would see the day, where I just let you go, let you walk away. Go ahead and walk away.

Jungkook's mother wrapped her arms around his trembling frame, as he continued to point at the closed closet door, Taehyung inching closer to the bed.

"Taehyung could never love you, fucking shit." It snarled, lunging forward and grabbing at Jungkook.

Then, Jungkook let the grace of sleep take him, and all images of his concerned mother and Taehyung were gone.

Remember all those nights, where I told you I loved you, and you would never forget it, oh just forget it.

∆∆∆

The next day, Taehyung was surprised to find that Jungkook wasn't at school. It seemed kind of odd, seeing as Jungkook was one of the best students in the class, and was never missing from school.

Maybe he was just sick.

So Taehyung carried on throughout the day, just as he would if Jungkook was there, and eventually the school day ended.

On his way home, Taehyung decided to stop by the park. Jungkook wasn't there, of course, but Taehyung wanted to spend some time by himself, alone with his thoughts.

But then yet again, he wasn't exactly alone.

"Hey mister! Kookie was looking for you." A young girl was on one of the swings next to Taehyung. Her pony tails were flapping in the wind, and when Taehyung turned towards her, she flashed him a bright smile.

"Is that so?"

"Yep." She replied, nodding her head enthusiastically. "He used to come here everyday, and he always looked real sad. But he wasn't here today."

Taehyung was a bit surprised. Jungkook always came here, and waited for him?

"How do you know he was waiting for me?" Taehyung asked.

"Because I asked. I asked him why he looked so sad, and he said because he was waiting for someone he loved very much, but he didn't think they were ever gonna find him there."

The little girl paused, using her feet to push off on the swing.

"He would talk about you, and how much he adores you. He told me your name, and told me that you had brown hair and green streaks in it, so I knew it was you." She turned her head to grin again.

Taehyung looked at his hair as she spoke, realizing that the green streaks were beginning to fade back to blonde. He never realized that Jungkook liked them.

"Why are your arms wrapped up, mister?"

"I got in an accident. A very bad accident." Taehyung replied, speaking softly.

She nodded. "Thought so. Kookie said that it was his fault that you got hurt. Is it his fault? If he loved you, why would he hurt you?"

Taehyung was a bit taken back by the young girl's words, but it would make sense, the way Jungkook explained it to her.

"I hurt him. I loved him, and yet I still hurt him. I think that's why he won't ever find me waiting here for him."

"What did I tell you about talking to strangers, Torie?" A woman's voice shouted.

"Oops. That's my mommy. I better go."

The little girl hopped off the swings, grinning and waving at Taehyung.

"Good luck on finding Kookie!"

∆∆∆

(Song - Your Graduation by Modern Baseball)