Night Shift // nomin

7:15pm

this story is gonna be updated everyday now bc its ending soon
this is the third to last chapter

—

"Are you going home for the summer?" I asked, softly carding my fingers through his hair while we laid in my bed.

"No." he bit his lip, his fingers playing with the hem of my shirt.

"Why not?"

He inhaled. "I don't have a home."

Those words seemed to stab me in the chest. I furrowed my eyebrows with concern.

"You don't?" I softly asked.

He nodded against my chest. "My parents are emotionally abusive, there's no way I'm going back there." pain was laced into his tone.

He took a deep breath. "That's why when I left for college, I was kinda relieved. I could finally get away from them." his voice became quieter as he said the last part.

I was speechless, to say the least. Of course, my heart sunk even more, but this was just painful to hear.

"I'm so sorry." I muttered, tightening my grip around his shoulders, holding him closer to me.

He sniffled, I could tell he was trying to hold back his tears.

"Jaemin, it's okay to cry." I moved his hair from his eyes.

"Their insults still get to me to this very day, I can always hear their yelling..." he gripped onto my shirt.

I sat up against the wall, taking him up with me, wrapping my arms around him. I patted his back as he cried into my chest, his tears soaking into the fabric.

"Jaemin,"

My hands came up to cup his tear stained cheeks.

"Is that why you hurt yourself?" I quietly inquired.

He nodded, more sniffles wavering through the air. I gently took his arms, sliding up his sleeves. The lines were faded now, the cuts almost completely healed.

I brought one of his forearms to my lips, placing soft kisses onto the scarred skin, starting from his wrist all the way to his inner elbow.

His shaky breathes slowly became steady again, a blush painted on his cheeks when I glanced up momentarily.

I finished on his other arm, kissing the last part of the skin, before lifting my head to press a kiss onto his lips.

"Do you wanna stay with me for the summer?" I offered.

"Am I allowed to?" he softly asked back, eyes drawing to his lap.

"Of course." I giggled a little, my hands finding their way to his face again.

"Okay." he leaned in, our foreheads pressing together.

"I'm here, they can't hurt you anymore." I assured him, his eyes falling closed as he draped his arms around my neck.

I closed my eyes as well, listening to his soft, now peaceful breathing.