|| ENGRAVED RINGS || Kim Taehyung

Chapter 29

You helped Taehyung into his room. Afraid that he would get sick in the soaked clothes you got him to change into something else. There was still a line of privacy that you didn't want to cross, so you waited outside his room while he changed. Standing outside you would come up with this and that to ask, just to check on him. He seemed pretty pale before, which made you quite anxious.

"Are you still changing?" You said, hands locked on the door knob.

"Mmm..." he hummed in reply.

"What happened?" Afraid of the silence you wanted to keep the conversation going, though you could tell from his tone that he was pretty tired.

"Doze off while filling the bathtub." Taehyung said short.

"Why would you doze away on the floor?" You said blaming, then remembered the idiot who had locked him up you suddenly felt guilty.

"Don't know. It looked quite inviting." He said, easing the guilt a tad.

"Inviting?"

Taehyung didn't answer. Even he felt it quite weird for him to lay there on the floor. He wasn't really the one to care for his image, but for some reason didn't want to look strange in your eyes. What would you think if he said he just felt like laying there? In the deep corner of his conscious he had this thought that the floor would be comfortable, but when he tried it out, something felt like it was missing, though it was comfortable enough to make him doze away, it was just different.

"Are you done changing?" Your voice pulled him from his train of thoughts, his finger frozen on the button of the shirt. He hurriedly buttoned it up then went to open the door. You were standing there, with messed hair, some part of your shirt was wet due to the contact with the soaked him.

"What are you doing standing in front of my door?" He said, the sudden grumpiness returned. He didn't understand why he was angry, why he poured his anger at you though not really meaning it.

"I..." You said slight intimidated.

"Your wet clothes, let me put it in the wash machine." You ran to his room grabbing the set of clothes on the floor and went out. Taehyung closed the door behind but before it was shut you squeezed you body in between. Finding you head pop out behind the door, made him quite flustered, he looked at you, eyes widened with a hint of discomfort.

"What now?" His voice tired and low.

"Can't you not lock the door?" You said pleading. You were still afraid that things would go wrong, after this incident you weren't sure how you would have it with locked doors.

"Fine." Taehyung said then weakly pushed you out and closed the door. Your face fell a shade, it felt quite strange suddenly. Developing the guilt towards Taehyung was quite awkward, you felt as if you couldn't even talk back anymore. What would had happened if you slept a little longer? How long would he sitting there in the steaming room without realising that he was slowly drifting away. For good... just the mere thought made you shiver.

You couldn't brush the thoughts away. Putting his clothes into the wash machine you then went back to check on him.

There he laid on the bed quietly. Already soundly asleep. You approached him with careful steps. Standing next to his bed you squatted down beside him. His bang slight wet. Unknowingly you felt like brushing away the bang that was sticking to his pan.

Sorry, I'll never lock you up again.

His pan carved with lines of discomfort. Your finger brushed the lines, stretching away the wrinkled pan so it turned smooth as before. You wondered what he was dreaming to have such an expression.

"It's okay," you chanted quite, though knowing he wouldn't be able to hear.

"It's just a dream."

"Everything will be alright."

It wasn't any ordinary dream he was having. It was one of those again. Those that didn't felt like dreaming nor awake. One that he wouldn't wake up to feel refreshed to. It was a dreamy hell, where he could hear things and see things, knowing his body wasn't resting in sleep but still couldn't make himself wake up. There was screams inside his head, his own voice asking for someone to wake him up. Then suddenly a voice called as a helping hand pulling him away from the torment.

It's okay. The voice said.

It's just a dream.

Everything would be alright.

It's okay Taehyung.

He wanted to believe the voice, believe that everything would be okay. He mentally begged for the voice to help him escape this trance, away from this nightmare.

Then as if his prays was heard he heard the voice again.

Taehyung what's wrong?

Hey are you okay? The voice increased with worry.

Taehyung wake up! Wake up!!

Finally his eyes shoot wide awake. Taehyung shoot up from the bed and gasped for air. His view was welcomed with a pair of concerned eyes staring at him. A pairs of arms then pulled him into a tight hug. Letting out uneven breath Taehyung shut his eyes, in relief that the nightmare was finally over.

"It's okay, it's just a nightmare." His back was patted gently, as she hugged him tight. His breath slowly pacing down and heartbeat calming too. Breaking free from the hug Taehyung put on a weak smile.

"Was it you who called me?" Taehyung asked with delight. He couldn't be more thankful that someone could pull him away from those nightmare.

"Who else would be calling you if not me?" The voice cheeky and teasing replied as she pinched his cheeks. Spreading his wings Taehyung pulled the girl into a tight hug as he kissed her forehead in gratitude.

"Thanks for waking me up." Taehyung said placing his chin on top of her shoulder.

"You're welcome." Hani replied hugging him back.

Hiding in the wardrobe you had your eyes closed but still used a hand to cover your eyes and mouth. Your eyes were only open before, cause you were afraid something was wrong with Taehyung, he made really uncomfortable expression while sleeping that made you worried. As you tried to wake him up by shaking him and calling his name, Hani called Taehyung as she invited herself in and went to his room.

Her voice was too close, you only managed to hid in the wardrobe the moment before she opened the door to Taehyung's room. Hani sat on his bed just the moment Taehyung shoot awake. Seeing him paling Hani couldn't help but pull him into a hug. Then he smiled with the softest smile ever. You wondered if he still would have this expression if he knew it was you.

No. He'll probably be disappointed, he will like it more thinking it was Hani, you wouldn't crush his fantasy. It was his birthday after all, you wouldn't ruin his mood.