My Sleeping Partner | P. JM

Not Really Fine

"I'll be fine."

Well, turns out that's not really true at all.

Everything had been completely normal, even when I'd convinced Jungkook to go to sleep. And now I was lying in my bed, eyes wide open.

I smack my face with my hand, and sigh as loudly as I can.

Doing another 360, I bury my face in the cool blankets. I shut my eyes, trying to force sleep to take me away.

It's like being back to square one.

I lay there like that— for a straight thirty minutes before I finally kick off the blankets and sit up. My head still feels clear, and I turn to look at the clock.

I had exactly seven hours to fall asleep.

Clutching the big pile of blankets to my chest, I blink at the ceiling. Maybe I should do something— read a book or whatever.

But I knew that wouldn't work.

I'd tried it many times before Jimin— reading, playing on my phone until my eyes burned, drinking thirteen mugs of sleeping tea.

I'd always grow sleepy, but as soon as I laid down to actually fall asleep—

Gone.

And then I'd be wide awake again.

_______________________

The sunlight shines on my dark circles.

Sliding off from my bed, I glance at myself in the mirror and nearly faint. Messy hair from tossing and turning all night— hollow, exhausted eyes.

And my new part time job began today.

Splashing some water on my face, I tug a brush through my hair and pull it up into a ponytail. Nearly half-dead, I drag myself to the kitchen.

For Jungkook, I make a breakfast omelet and set it up with hot rice and a bottle of ketchup on the table.

And then like it was planned from the start, I hear the door creak open. Jungkook walks out into the living room rubbing at his eyes, his feet dragging on the floor.

"Good morning!" I really try. Widening my eyes, I try to make myself seem like I'd just slept the most wonderful sleep. "Breakfast is right here, okay? And if you're still feeling sick, medicine's on the counter. I have to go to work."

"Work?"

"Can't live off on Taehyung's money forever." I laugh under my breath, and his confused eyes flicker over to me. "I'll be back in like five hours."

"Five hours....." He repeats after me, clearly still not awake. "Where?"

"Just the cafe down the street."

I'm reaching for my shoes when my legs suddenly just give out under me. Sleep pours through my eyelids, and I fall asleep— just like that.

Until Jungkook's panicked voice wakes me up.

"Noona!"

My head flips up, and I dazedly smile as I slur out words. "Oh— I'm fine. Just sleepy. Don't worry about it."

"Jimin hyung told me about this." He says, and I look up in surprise at his stern face. "That you have insomnia— something like that. That you can't sleep during the night."