Dream Lie |Vkook|

3. Stone cold

Hwan's P.O.V.

"Tae! I finished my homework!" I shouted so he could hear me.

"You're such a good boy." He ruffled my hair.

"Can we play hide and seek?"

"Sure. But mom is cooking desserts for us in the kitchen. So don't hide there."

I nodded. But I was curious. What if I did hide in the kitchen? Would I win or would mom find me?

"You start to hide!" I said.

"Count till 30!" He ran downwards the stairs.

I covered my eyes and started to count.

"29... 30!" Where can Tae be?

He wasn't in our bedroom. Neither in the bathroom. He can't hide in the basement, he knows I'm scared going down to there.

After the 10 min I started to get tired. He really had a good place.

"TaeTae! Wherever you are. Come out now. I give up!"

"Finally..." A door behind me opened.

"What? How could you hide under the stairs?"

"It was tight but if I fit, I sit."

We continued playing. To be honest, I sucked finding hiding spots. Tae always finds me. But it takes me infinity to find him.

"Okey, since you are pretty bad at hiding. Let's go limitless! Now you can hide in the basement and in the attic."

"The most scary places.."

"Use creativity. Hide under blankets on your bed or something. I'll start counting now. 1... 2..."

Where can I hide expect the kitchen? I don't dare to go to the basement.

"23... 24..."

What?
When did he? He's fast counting or maybe it was me hiding way too slow.

In panic I ran to the kitchen. I opened the pantry, it seemed like I could hide behind the potato sacks. He said use creativity.

"Here I come!"
"Okey, now he must have used a really good spot..." Tae immediately checked the wardrobe where I used to hide.

I heard his footsteps going up the stairs. Here I was, in a forbidden place. If he finds me, will he get angry? But if I change spot, that's cheating so I can't do that either.

What if mom finds me here?

"Mom have you seen Hwan?" I heard Tae's voice outside the door.

"No I don't think so."

That's what I call cheating!

"You should check if he's in the basement." She suggested.

"I don't think so. He's scared of the dark."

Yes I am. I'm challenging myself right now.

"Maybe he's under the bed or something." Tae said under his breath.

Yay, so now I have to stay in the dark a little longer.
As I thought I was safe from Tae, mom opened the pantry door.

"Hwan! What are you doing here?" She yelled.

"I'm hiding from Tae." I almost whispered.

"I don't care! You can't sit there! Get out!"

I stood up with shaky legs and got out from the pantry.

"You're worthless. You can't do anything right. You're just a magnet to trouble. That's what you are, nothing but a troublemaker."

"I didn't mean to-"

"Just...! I don't wanna see you right now!"

"I'm sorry mom..."

"I've heard that way too many times." She lowered her voice.

I ran upstairs towards my room. I closed the door slowly. I laid down on my bed. Staring into the wall. New hiding spot. I really wonder if she really do love me.

"Okey, Hwan... Wherever you are, come out now! I give up."

I didn't answer. I just played with my fingers. Waiting to fall asleep. Why does she have to talk to me like that? Does she even talk? More like screaming.

"Hwan?" Tae opened the door to our room.

"I think she hates me." I whispered. Hopefully he didn't hear me.

"No. She's just having her mood swings." He heard me.

Then why is she screaming at me like that almost everyday?

"Do you want anything?" He asked.

"It would be great if you could get me some ice cream."

"Okey. I'm pretty sure we have in the freezer..."

"Knock knock. Tae." Mom was outside our room. She totally ignored me like I wasn't in the room. She was just looking for Tae.

"Yes?"

"I need you to follow me to the store. The shopping list is long and your father has the car."

"Sure I'll help."

"Can I come?" I asked with a happy tone.

Mom looked at me with a stone cold look. She looked at Tae and then at me.

"Sorry Hwan. I think it'll be fine if just Tae comes with me. Besides, don't you have homework to do?"

"I just finished them."

"Then do a double check." She smiled and grabbed Tae's wrist and dragged him out of our room.

They left me in the room alone. Why does she has to be so cold? Like winter. Those cold eyes, the glances. Tae is like summer. Warm as the sun, wonderful as a butterfly.

Instead of crying inside I started to colour my book Tae gave me. I loved to draw, especially nature. I found it relaxing colouring butterflies. It made me safe and happy.

---------------------
I hope you like it so far. I'm sorry it was just filling :(
Do you like Hwan? Yes, he's a trouble magnet but yeah. What can you do? (Let Tae save him.)

I'll see you in the next chapter!

- Ari 12.04.16