Stigma | KTH ✔

21 | Talk

That's right. I'm back.

♣   ♣   ♣

Taehyung had been clinging to me all night. His arms had practically been locked around my torso while he was sleeping soundly with his head resting on my chest, leaving me more or less immobilized.

I on the other hand, hadn't been able to sleep at all.

All that went through my head during those extremely slow hours was a mental replay of him screaming and begging me not to leave him. My heart hurt so much for him because of this. When I had made sure that he was asleep, I had finally allowed myself to silently cry while holding his body close to mine.

This was my breaking point. I had to know the cause of these nightmares, because screaming like that while sleeping is never a good sign. If this was indeed linked to his mother like I suspect, then I have to know what happened to her in order to put his broken pieces together again.

The only way for me to know is to ask him about it, however if I knew him right he'd refuse to tell me.

Taehyung is currently sitting in front of me, refusing to look into my eyes as he pokes his fried eggs with his chopstick in silence. And that's how he's been ever since we woke up; silent like a peaceful, deserted meadow at midnight.

"Taehyung, talk to me," I finally beg him after not being able to endure his absentmindness anymore.

Silence.

"I know you can hear me."

Yet again silence.

I smash my chopsticks flat onto the table, making him flinch upon my sudden, slightly violent action.

"For fucks sake, can you please tell me why in hell you were screaming in your sleep!"

"It's none of your concerns."

"Can you stop being stubborn for one goddamn minute?"

He sighs heavily, finally looking up to meet my eyes. "You don't have to worry about it. It's nothing, I swear."

"Bullshit. And no, I can't just not worry about it. Do you have any idea how afraid I was for you?"

"I'm so sorry that I made you worried, but I promise that I'm fine."

I stare at him in disbelief. I knew he'd refuse to tell me, and it was making me incredibly frustrated. How does he expect to solve his problems if he doesn't even admit that he has them?

Silence engulfs us again, his eyes avert to his half-finished breakfast. A minute manage to pass before I finally speak up again.

"Is it because of your mother?"

His entire body stiffens when the words leave my lips. That small action was everything I needed to confirm my theory. I notice him inhaling deeply, closing his fists as if he was in pain. I almost regret asking, but this was the only way to make sure I was correct, even if it hurt him to think about her. However, it was only going to hurt him more if he kept it inside him.

"Please, can you never mention her again?" he says so quietly, but with so much desperation in his voice that I was taken aback. Therefore I stay mute, because this was all the confirmation I needed.