HIRAETH // Vminkook

•11• Weirder and Weirder

That night Jimin couldn't sleep again. He secretly got rid of the flowers when no one was there after he read the note. Those three words kept repeating inside his head like a mantra and it kept him wide awake. He kept the note though, originally wanted to dispose it too but acted against it.

If he's in another situation he would only laugh at it because he knows people likes to play sick jokes. But now that he's with Taehyung, he is terrified. They were being extra careful. His friends that live with them doesn't even know yet. And he intends it to stay like that for quite some time.

It's not like they're lying to them, technically they're just keeping a little secret. Tomorrow is only their third day and someone already knew? No, it could be anything other than Taehyung, he's just being paranoid again like he always does. He thought hard about the things he did these last few weeks and honestly he's not very good with remembering things. Maybe he offended someone.

He kept changing positions and wouldn't stay still in his bed. One moment he feels hot and get the covers off him then the next second he feels cold and pull the covers above his head.

"Love, why aren't you asleep yet?" He can see Taehyung's eyes squinting in the dark and Jimin can hear his sleepy voice. Hearing him and feeling his warmth beside him calmed him down.

"It's because your back is facing me. I'm not pampered enough. I need cuddles and you're not giving them." Jimin whined to make the lie more convincing.

And although it's a bit dark, he can see Taehyung smile at his words that were only half true. "I'm sorry my love. My Minnie misses me that much, huh?" He grabbed his lover's waist to pull their bodies closer and kissed his forehead. "I'll make sure you get enough rest and love every night."

"Ugh, you're being too extra." But he melted at Taehyung's actions and moved even closer to his chest where he can hear the steady heartbeat. He loved listening to it and it helps in making him sleep.

"I'm gonna love you for infinity." All his worries and doubts magically disappeared when Taehyung said that. "I'm gonna make sure you're always happy. I'm gonna protect you from anything and anyone."

That's what he wanted to hear more than I love yous. Protect. He immediately felt sleepiness drown him. He's fine, Taehyung is fine, they're both fine. Taehyung's going to protect him. He felt a large hand rubbing his back and heard a "I love you, love." before sleep consumed him.

It was raining and Jimin was holding a black umbrella. The skies were grey and  people hurriedly ran inside buildings and stores to avoid getting wet. Jimin sighed with a heavy heart as he saw a boy who looks around the age of twelve. He always hesitates, he always does.

The boy didn't have an umbrella and his clothes were soaking wet. There was also a sad frown plastered on his face and Jimin can't help but think about what he, himself looked like at the moment that they-- that they-- . . . when they . . .

"Do it, Jimin." A man said beside him also holding an umbrella. "He'll be mad if you're late again." There was a sigh which encouraged Jimin in a comforting way.

"I know it needs to be done." His voice was sad. It was unhappy and sorrowful. "He's just too young, he have a lot more to live to."

"He doesn't have a written future. It all ends in four minutes." The man glanced at his golden wrist watch. "You know we cannot do anything against it."

"But you did something for me." Jimin pushed.

"That something I did for you gave me consequences. I'm not going to let you do the same mistake that I did." The man knew where this was leading to and he must put a stop to whatever the younger is planning.

Jimin only nodded and took a step. The street was now quiet, only a few people present and didn't linger for long. It's raining in summer and Jimin can smell the rain and the earthy wet soil. He felt nostalgic and he wants to go home. 

But where was Home?

He wonders if it still exist.

There's nothing that he wants to do more than kneeling in the middle of the wet road and scream and cry and wail and just . . . go home.

But he felt the man put a hand on his shoulder. "You know how much I care for you, Jimin. Please don't doubt that. I know it feels like hell but at least we still have each other."

When Jimin woke up, he felt colder. He realized he woke up without Taehyung in his bed. Instantly, there's a bad feeling eating him alive and his heart felt like breaking in half. He can feel it physically. He can't explain to himself why there's a painful lump in his throat, why fat tears were streaming down his cheeks, why he ran outside barefoot in the hallways and kept calling Taehyung's name.

He's shaking, crying, and having hiccups at the same time. He felt scared, though he did not know why. He's crying too much to the point he felt like he's choking.

He found Taehyung about to take a sip of his coffee at the dining room and everyone was there, even Jungkook.

He concluded that it's probably early in the morning because none of them looked dress for work.

He didn't care. Didn't care that his hair was a complete mess, that his eyes were bloodshot that his body was trembling. Didn't care that he's still in his sleepwear.

He didn't stop crying loudly even until he threw himself at Taehyung resulting to his cup of coffee being shattered when it hit the ground.

And there goes the awkward silence, all of them frozen and the boy's cries were the only thing that could be heard.

Jimin finally felt arms wrapping around his waist. He's on Taehyung's lap as the latter tried to calm him down with rubbing his back.

After two minutes or so, he's cries died down and only his sniffles are audible. He heard someone clearing his throat, must be Hoseok.

"Aww, did our little Jiminie had a bad dream again? Want me to kill the monsters under the bed?" Hoseok cooed at seeing him look so red.

"F-fuck off." Jimin managed to say while still having hiccups on Taehyung's lap.

"But it really helps you sleep when I do that." Hoseok remembered when Jimin used to complain about having bad dreams when they were young.

Seeing Hoseok scream a handful of curses with his head under Jimin's bed made his own little head rest from all negative thoughts.

The problem is not the imaginary demons under his bed and he's not eleven years old anymore.

Now, he's twenty-two and the problem are real people.