Dreaming Alone | taekook ✔️

o n e

Dreams are separated into two categories.

The manifested content— the parts that you remember. The parts that are fresh in your waking mind and becomes a story to tell on your tongue.

Then there's the latent content— the parts that were lost from your senses. The mystery cold sweats you wake up in. The carousel of untidy thoughts and muddled visions. Where do those dreams go?

Mostly they just dissolve into nothing, slipping away into the cold night and blending into the essence of our universe. When your consciousness ebbed, you free fall and hit the ground so hard that it jolts you awake. Your memory escapes right that split second.

When we're in pain, our mind seeks relief through dreams. In simpler terms, dreams allow certain needs to be fulfilled without the conscious mind needing to be aware of such fulfillment.

What if I told you... those lost dreams become somebody else's? And those dreams that never made sense to you? They don't make sense because they're not yours.

A certain someone was stuck in a day dream, back against the ground and the freshly cut grass tickling his nape. It took one slight nudge from his imagination and suddenly he was soaring through the clouds, off into his world of fantasy.

The boy found comfort in his familiar surroundings, having visited here every summer with his family. He liked to think it was the most peaceful place in the world, located just a one hour drive south from his home in Palm Springs (the heat there was brutal during the summer).

Suddenly he felt a sharp kick to the shin and he opened his eyes.

"Wakey, Tae."

Taehyung pushed himself up, dusting himself off and reaching for his older brother's outstretched hand. "They already started the fire?"

"Well," Seokjin chuckled, yanking him up, "They attempted to. But little Marcus wanted me to fetch you— he built a sandcastle he was quite proud of." He began leading the way down the dirt path, the shadows casted through leaves formed patterns on his face. "Spoiler alert. It doesn't even look like a sandcastle."

"Don't be mean." Taehyung told him, biting back a smile as he watched Seokjin stick his hands back into his pockets- a habit of his.

One of Taehyung's favorite locations within camp grounds was the beach that trailed along the shoreline. On Fridays almost everyone would gather, huddled together in various circles, telling stories and naming riddles. The little ones would run all over, kicking up sand and crying to their parents when it got into their eyes.

"There you are." Ahnjong called to her two approaching sons. "Can one of you help me with the marshmallows?"

Seokjin volunteered, but not before gesturing to Taehyung where Marcus was having his fun.

"Hi there, little guy." Taehyung crouched down. His deep voice tends to go an octave higher when he spoke to kids.

"Tete!" Marcus stretched his grabby hands towards him. "Look." He demanded, standing proudly in front of the pile of sand he shoveled up, topped off with a random branch stabbed in the middle.

Taehyung clapped for him, smiling wide. "It's fabulous."

Marcus frowned. "That's what you said last time."

The brunette reached out and tugged the boy into his lap. "What do you want me to call it?" He asked, playing with his dainty little fingers. "Hm?"

Marcus didn't seem to have an answer to that either, so he sulked and leaned back against Taehyung's chest. Taehyung was popular with the kids here— well, at least the ones who came every summer. He witnessed some of them grow from brats to bigger brats. But he loved them all the same.

Taehyung had an extra soft spot for children.

"There's a lot of cars." Marcus mumbled out of no where, picking at the strap of Taehyung's sandal, "They parked outside our cabin and made too much noise. I didn't like it."

Taehyung dug his fingers into his sides, eliciting giggles from the toddler, who immediately tried (and failed) to escape his grasp. "That's because it's Friday, little one." He explained, "Did you forget what happens on Fridays?"

"The new people come."

"That's right. New people come and we invite them to the fire."

"To roast them?"

Taehyung choked on his spit. "To what?"

"Jinnie said he likes his human meat medium cooked."

Taehyung snorted, all the while shaking his head in disappointment. "Please don't listen to him." He said, ruffling Marcus' hair, "No we absolutely do not roast them. We gather around the barbecue and play games and have a good time. Repeat after me— Humans aren't for eating."

"Humans aren't for eating."

"Okay good." Taehyung nodded exaggeratedly, "Now go find Jinnie, tell him that, cover your ears and run away before he responds with something dirty."

Marcus tilted his head to the side. "Something dirty?"

Taehyung hummed a yes before continuing. "Would you do it for Tete?"

"Of course. I do prefer you over him."

The brunette laughed, holding his palm out for a high five. "Tell Jin that too."

He couldn't help the smile that lingered on his face as he watched the boy scramble obediently onto his two feet and ran towards the group clustered together by the barbecue site. Taehyung leaned back, propping himself up by his arms as he enjoyed the breeze that whipped through his brown locks and the sand between his toes.

The fiery yellow orb of a sun was taking a dip in the ocean, seemingly setting beneath the waters. Oh how he adored that sky— chalky orange and mauve hues mingled with the stygian gloom that was slowly taking over, decorated with rolling clouds. The soft rays of sunlight kissed his forehead, bidding him farewell until tomorrow.

"Tae~" Someone called his name in a singsong matter.

__________

3am thoughts yall
i made this up based on the Psychoanalytic Dream Theory by Sigmund Freud
i tried making it less technical im sorry if i failed lmao first chapter intros make me nervous

please know that my updating schedule might be all over the place. it could range from daily to twice a week depending on how much school hates me

i love you, truly <3  i hope you stick around for the rest of the book

- hay