𝔩𝔦𝔪𝔦𝔱𝔩𝔢𝔰𝔰 (𝔠𝔥𝔢𝔫𝔰𝔲𝔫𝔤) ✓

八

"our own dreams are right in front of us"

jisung pulls the hood of his sunflower (hi hyuck) yellow hoodie over his head, drawing the strings tight and slumping down in his chair. all the dreamies are sitting in study hall, the only period they share due to their age differences. gathered around a large table, they were currently trying to cram for their final exams next week.

jisung looks like he's been to hell, wrestled some demons and then came crashing back into university. he barely managed to drag himself out of bed this morning, and really doesn't even have the energy to talk. the other boys around the table chatter happily, passing note pages back and forth while jisung pulls his knees into his chest, hugging them tightly. everything just seems like too much effort right now, even the sound of pen on paper making him cringe.

sensory overload.

jisung knows what it is, of course he does. a common symptom of anxiety, it makes every sound seem louder, every light piercingly bright, and makes all your senses go into overdrive. jisung buries his face in his hands, trying to block out the noise, desperately trying to keep a grip on his sanity. he knows why his anxiety is getting worse.

zhong chenle.

ever since he realized how he felt for his best friend, jisung's practically been a train wreck. slowly losing his grip on his mental health, he started eating less, talking less, and sleeping less. a blade found it's way back into his hands, the cuts becoming his escape once again. all of his friends noticed him slipping, especially chenle, but he pushed them away whenever they tried to help.

that led to where he is today, teetering on the edge of a panic attack while the cause of his stress sits 3 feet away. groaning as he pushes his chair back with a screech, he ignores the worried looks of his friends and practically sprints out of study hall. he just needs to get out of there, needs to get away from the noise and the stimulation. he needs fresh air.

"jisung!"

jisung immediately recognizes the voice behind him as chenle's, footsteps chasing after him. he knows he's just worried for him, wants to help, but he doesn't know if he can deal with having a conversation right now without bursting into tears. especially not with chenle.

so jisung runs faster towards the washroom at the end of the hall. he just needs a second to calm down, then he would explain everything.

maybe.

a/n
ahhhhh there's only one chapter left! *gasp*