𝐓𝐁𝐙 𝐈𝐌𝐀𝐆𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐒

8 - NEW (Part 3)

12.28.17
genre: fluff, comedy, romantic
NEW - ☆〜（ゝ。∂ )
length: 4 part
P.O.V: 1st & reader insert
~~~~

Chanhee's eyes fluttered open right after I pulled away from the accidental kiss. I could spot the tips of his ears turning a bright red hue. His eyes were rounded in bewilderment and surprise. Yet he didn't struggle to escape the awkward and terribly uncomfortable situation.

I crawled off of him in panic. Yikes! I touched my lips and I could feel my face heating up. I mentally slapped myself for being such a clumsy person. Did Chanhee see? I hoped he didn't know I kissed him. My stomach was tied in a knot and butterflies were erupting from within me, making me feel jittery.

I stood up and retreated to the kitchen, where I nabbed a glass of water to cool me down. Why was I feeling so jumpy? It was a brief, 1 second kiss that wasn't even intentional, and it made me feel so... Warm. I couldn't find a reasonable explanation.

I heard rustling and movement as Chanhee propped himself upright. "Y-Y/N," I heard him stutter. "Yeah?" I whipped around. I had to pretend nothing happened and act nonchalantly. "Did you...?" He began hesitantly and I started to wince. "Nevermind." He let out an exhale heavily, drooping his shoulders. I released a relieved breath I didn't know I had been holding in.

"Y/N, you helped me, right?" He inquired. I minced forward with choppy steps and sat down next to him. "I guess you can call that helping. You were unconscious and hurt. I did something anyone else would've done. Anyway, no one wants to see someone like you hurt," I shrugged coolly. I watched him out of the corner of my eye. He had reached up with his hand to softly feel the bandage I had placed to obscure his purple bruise.

"You saved me. I didn't really think you were that type of person," Chanhee giggled quietly. I didn't say anything. I studied his face, taking in his well-defined facial features. I had to snap out of it. What was wrong with me? "Ah, you should go home," I bolted up and offered him a hand. He gratefully took it and I hauled him up to his feet, where he teetered a bit to the side. "Wow, I guess I've been hit pretty roughly. I can't even stand up properly," Chanhee sighed.

I felt bad for him. "I can walk you home," I suggested. Giving him company was probably a good thing to do for now. "Thanks," he displayed a look of happiness. It glittered in his dark eyes, and I softened at his expression. We exited my house, and I had my arm wrapped around his shoulders to balance and support him.

He seemed slightly shaken. Maybe he'd never been hit before. I was used to physical pain, so getting wounds like this doesn't bother me at all. "Y/N..." He breathed out as he tilted his head back, examining the stars that littered the blackening sky. It was a beautiful sight, I had to admit. No clouds could be detected, and the chilly air made everything perfect.

"Yeah?" I quietly answered. "You should've told me.. Told me before that you were being bullied like this. Then I could've helped you earlier," Chanhee clenched his fists. "I'll be there for you, Y/N. Even though I'm not as strong as you, I can stand up for you." I shook my head. "Don't get involved. You'll only get hurt." "It's okay, if it's for you," He showed a sad smile.

There was a long-lasting silence as we slowly walked down the street and to his house. I took my arm off his shoulders and rested them behind my head. Soon Chanhee broke the silence that enveloped us. "Can I hold your hand?" he asked suddenly. I was taken aback. "Huh?" "Can I hold your hand?" He repeated. He sounded shy. "It may seem weird, but for me, holding someone's hand or hugging them makes me feel better."

I laughed calmly. "Ok, ok, sure." We were friends. We could hold hands without any problems, couldn't we? It wasn't a romantic gesture... I don't think so. Chanhee took one of my hands from behind my head and intertwined his fingers with mine. His hand was soft and cold. We were quiet the entire time. I didn't exactly mind this silence, since we needed the peace once in our life.

We arrived at his house, but he refused to let go. "Chanhee, your hand," I murmured into his ear. He glimpsed at be but didn't oblige. "Can't we stay like this, under the stars, forever? I don't want to sleep and wake up knowing that you're going to be in pain all over again at school," he said in a voice that delivered shivers down my spine. "I wish so too," I nodded in agreement, giving his hand a squeezing before breaking our link.

I stepped back. "Good night, Chanhee," I waved. He gazed at me solemnly. His looks of sadness always sent a pang to my heart. I didn't want him to be sad. I stood there, my eyes following his disappearing back as he stepped inside his house without another glance back.

~

The days after that night I longed to have again, I never saw him. Yeah, he would be in school, but he never talked to me. He was never AROUND me. I couldn't find him in school, and it devastated me.

I figured that he didn't want to be friends anymore. I didn't mind about a lot of stuff, like my friends getting upset that I was hanging out with Chanhee more than them, but I did mind that he vanished from my sight just like a snap of a finger.

Then I found out that he was being bullied. Why? By who?

He was doing it for my sake. And that didn't make me happy at all. He tried standing up to the bullies and making a deal with them. It worked. If they stopped hurting me, in exchange, they would be able to order him around and do whatever they wanted. Chanhee always had a soft heart. That was his weakness as well as his strength. It pained me.

Then at lunch today, I noticed him sitting alone. I beckoned him over with a hopeful smile, but he just turned away from me.

At the end of the day, I hurried to catch up with Chanhee. He had his hood over his head and was hanging his head, dragging his feet behind him. Soon rain began pouring down, the clouds gathering overhead. Thankfully I had an umbrella stuffed deep in my backpack for emergencies. I opened up my umbrella and held it over the both of us.

"Chanhee, stop ignoring me," I pleaded in a quiet voice. I've never been this desperate in my life. "Don't do this." My voice cracked. The rain made the atmosphere more gloomy than it should've had been, and the way he walked faster to avoid the protection of the umbrella made me feel hurt.

I jogged to him and perched the umbrella over us again. I forced down his hood and grabbed his shoulder, twisting him around. I dropped my umbrella beside me out of horror. The rain streamed down my face and hair at lightning speed. My vision blurred from the water.

"Chanhee," I choked out his name. He finally lifted up his head and smiled weakly. He looked so frail... He had wounds and cuts that were sloppily covered with wrinkled bandages and patches. "What happened to you?" I touched his scarred face. I knew the answer, but I couldn't help but ask. Why was he doing this to himself, just for me?

"Chanhee, Chanhee, Chanhee," I repeated your name over and over again. Maybe I felt uncertain whether or not I could see you again. The bullies might keep you away from me. "Forget about me," Chanhee muttered, dropping his head once again so he was staring at his feet and at the puddle forming around us.

"What? Forget you? Why?" I cried out. He turned away from me and trekked slowly to his house, soon vanishing from my sight.