Dares and Heartbreaks: TaeJoo & KangGook

Chapter 14

Kang Gook was hysterical. He couldn't find Tae Joo the whole day on Monday. He had bunked all his classes to look for Tae Joo but he was nowhere to be found. He called home abut they hadn't seen him. He got Dae Kyung's number, but he too was curious to where Tae Joo was. After class hours, he was losing it. He went to his friend's hostels but all of them were not in their rooms. He went to Pil Hyun's room knowing they would be hanging out there.

He went in and saw them scattered in the room.

"has anyone seen Tae Joo today?" He asked stressed.

"No" they all replied in a chorus. They continued suggesting their next bet.

Pil Hyun looked at Lee Jun purposely and looked at a stressed Kang Gook. He smirked.

"who dares to become Tae Joo's boyfriend?"

"what's the meaning of that?" Kang Gook asked as all other boys looked at him with a 'do you want to die' look.

"I mean you've been with him after that incident but are you boyfriends?"

"yes we are. We are exclusive"

"excusive to who?" Pil Hyun was starting a fight. "I mean I saw Tae Joo hugging someone in an empty classroom during lunch time I just thought maybe you're just friends with benefits since you know boyfriends don't do that right?"

"are you out of bets and dares to make? Is that it?"

"you look scared" Pil Hyun provoked

"scared of what? I already told you we're dating"

"does he also thin so?"

"Hyung" Kwang Soo called out to Pil Hyun in a scolding voice. They all felt like Pil Hyun was taking things far.

"I'm not scared of anything but don't bring Tae Joo into this." Kang Gook was seething with anger. He was already stressed as it was.

Pil Hyun snickered, "who knows? Maybe he has already changed his mind with the way you're looking for him"

"what's wrong with you?" Seung Ho was shocked by Pil Hyun's behaviour.

Pil Hyun did not stop. He raised his hand.

"I am confident I can make him my boyfriend before the end of the week. Anyone who can bet on that too?" he looked around and saw no one. "not even you Jun?"

Lee Jun looked away annoyed.

"I mean if the boy can hug people in enclosed places, I'm sure he can accept my proposal."

"Challenge accepted. What you want is confirmation. I'll give you that"

Pil Hyun smiled pleased that Kang Gook had curved in.

"by Friday" He said, "let's see who wins the title."

"Bring it on douche" Kang Gook said as he left the room more stressed.

To tell the truth he was not confident at this point. Was he even a boyfriend? If yes, then why did Tae Joo disappear on him and who was he with? Was it the person Pil Hyun said he saw hugging him during lunch? He rubbed his face as if it could rub away his confusion. He went to the hostel.

He sighed in relief when he saw Tae Joo laying in bed. He looked like he was asleep, so he thought of not waking him up. He was getting ready for bed when he went to sit on Tae Joo's bed. He covered his shoulders with blankets and patted him staring at the back of his head.

Things had changed. Tae Joo didn't keep secrets from him before but now he didn't know anything. He pressed his hand on Tae Joo deep in thought and Tae Joo stirred from sleep with a whimper. He patted him to lure him back to sleep, but it got worse. He started shaking his head.

"please stop" He begged his eyes closed.

Kang Gook looked at him unsure what to do. Tae Joo was having a nightmare.

"Tae Joo" he shook his shoulders and that seemed to have made the situation even worse.

Tae Joo started crying asking for him to stop. That he was in pain. He didn't want it anymore. Screaming.

Kang Gook got scared and hugged Tae Joo who was now fighting him. He didn't want Kang Gook to hug him. He didn't want to be touched.

"its me TAE JOO" Kang Gook screamed.

"Its Kang Gook please wake up" But Tae Joo was becoming more hysterical in his sleep.

Kang Gook kissed him to shut his screaming. It was not instant, it was while later that he felt Tae Joo move his lips. That was how he woke up and sobbed in Kang Gook's arms. Kang Gook ended up sleeping in Tae Joo's bed holding him wondering what exactly happened to him.

Morning came and Kang Gook woke up first. He was staring at Tae Joo. Even though he was still sleeping, his face looked troubled. He was guarded even in his sleep.

A few minutes later Tae Joo woke up feeling tired. He looked around and saw he was in Kang Gook's arms. He sighed in relief. But it was too soon to feel that way.

"where did you go and what happened to you?" Kang Gook asked Tae Joo whose eyes were still swollen and face still puffy from crying.

He opened his mouth and closed failing to find words to reply.

"can we not talk about it?" Tae Joo asked voice scratchy.

"are we keeping secrets now?" Kang Gook asked not pleased at all. He had been worried sick.

"I'm just tired. Besides nothing happened to me." Tae Joo said as he rubbed his face.

"you went away for almost twenty-four hours and you came back having nightmares and you say nothing happened?"

"Even if I tell you what will you do? Its not like you are going to change anything that has happened. "

Kang Gook was disappointed by Tae Joo's response. He was trying to be caring and he did not appreciate Tae Joo being rude. He got up and got dressed without saying anything. He grabbed his bag and was about to step outside the room when Tae Joo grabbed him back. Kang Gook stumbled and went back into the room.

He heard sniffles and felt his t shirt getting wet.

"I'm really trying not to snap at you so please let me go"

Tae Joo hugged him from behind crying. Kang Gook closed the door not wanting people to see their drama. Tae Joo sobbed and Kang Gook turned around and embraced him in a protective hug.

"you have to tell me what happened to you so we can find a solution together JooJoo"

Tae Joo shook his head no and muttered a painful please.

"I don't want to talk about it. Just this once please let this go Gookkah . I don't want to remember it. I know I'm being selfish but please." He finished with a sob. 

Kang Gook felt bad for him . He felt his pain through his cries. It was heart breaking. They went back to Tae Joo's bed and sat down. Kang Gook comforted him until Tae Joo fell asleep again. He slowly slid out of bed and wrote a note telling him he has gone for classes. That he will be back to check up on him during lunch.

He was at the door and looked at the Tae Joo sleeping soundlessly in his bed. His heart constricted as he thought of what Pil Hyun had said.

Maybe he was right.