Restart Our Lives

Chapter 7

The next morning, Taemin started crying in his sleep. "No....don't hurt him....please don't hurt hyung!"

"Tae, you're okay." Key said, pulling him into his arms.

Taemin woke up and freaked out. "Don't hurt him!" He screamed.

Key held him, worried. "Tae?"

Taemin looked at him and clung to him. "I'm sorry...I let him hurt you so much..."

Key held him close. "No, it's not your fault...."

Minho ran in. "Are you okay?" He had woken up from Taemin's screams.

Taemin shook his head. "No, I should have become stronger and stopped him. I should have fought him for you. I'm sorry!" He cried.

Key held him close. "I was fighting him for you. I did everything I could to keep you safe. I wish I could have done more...."

Taemin shook his head. "You did your best. He was harder on you than me. He was horrible to you compared to me."

Key kissed his forehead. "It's not your fault."

Taemin clung to him. He wouldn't look at Minho.
Minho sat on the edge of the bed. Taemin curled up, his body shaking. Minho frowned.

Key curled up as well.

Jonghyun came in. "What's wrong? Is everything okay? I heard screaming?"

Taemin uncurled and held his arms out to Minho.
Minho pulled Taemin into his arms. Key looked at his hands. Taemin clung to Minho.

Jonghyun frowned and went over to Key. "What's wrong?" He stroked Key's cheek.

Key curled up in his arms.

"Let's make some breakfast." Jonghyun said.

Taemin clung to Minho as they all went downstairs.

Mrs. Choi had left to run some errands, so the boys were home alone. Jonghyun started cooking, watching Key closely. Key watched Taemin as Minho held him.
Jonghyun made everyone's plates and sat down next to Key.

Taemin hid his face in Minho's chest, not wanting to eat. Minho held the food to his mouth, but Taemin kept his mouth shut.

"Come on, Taemin." Minho said.

Taemin shook his head and hid his face in Minho's chest.

Jonghyun frowned. "Taemin, come on. You were doing so good. Don't let a nightmare ruin your progress."

Minho held him close, rubbing his back. "Today's our day off from school."

Jonghyun sighed. "What do you want to do today?"

Key just looked at his food.

Jonghyun frowned and held some food to his lips. "Eat, please."

Key slowly ate.

Jonghyun smiled. He looked at the other boy. "You need to eat, Taemin, it's important. If you want to go to school, you need to eat and be strong."

Taemin looked at the food on his plate. He then looked at Key and started to eat, taking little bites.

Minho smiled.

Taemin ate half of his plate, then sat up. He knew that Jonghyun was right. Key was weaker than him and he needed to be strong so that his older brother could heal and become strong again.

Key looked at his hands.

Jonghyun rubbed his back. "It's okay, Key."

Key clung to him. Jonghyun held him and continued to feed him. Key was quiet.