Color of My Pain

30| Lavender

Hoseok's parents thought his hair was great, ruffling it whenever they passed him throughout the house. He got lots of compliments at school and some calculating glares from teachers, but he didn't let that bother him. He was the same student he'd always been and he hadn't broken any rules.

PE was outside this morning and the early fall air was brisk and sharp in his throat. He was tying his shoes when his phone buzzed on his gym bag. He looked at it without really intending to pick it up, but the number made him pause.

"Coach?"

"Yeah?"

"I have a phone call it's really important." He whispered.

The coach stared at him for a few moments before waving him away. "If you take too long you're doing extra laps."

Hoseok nodded and pressed accept, jogging a bit away from the noise of the other students. "Hello?"

"Hoseok, it's HyeJin."

"Is everything okay?" Was she gonna yell at him about the hair dye?

"I hope so. Have you heard from Yoongi today? We just got a call from his school that he wasn't there."

Hoseok's stomach flip flopped, "He texted me good morning. But that's all we had time for this morning."

"If you get a hold of him call me please," HyeJin's voice was pleading, the worry tangible through the connection.

"Of course, I promise."

Hoseok couldn't feel anything through the connection. It felt blank, it was right there and yet it was veiled somehow from his senses, like whispers or light touches.

His coach was calling for him to run with the others. And he started moving, but his feet took him away. He was grabbing his jacket, keys somehow already in hand, and running for his car, bags and classes forgotten. Someone was yelling for him, but he was starting the car, driving to the city limits. He was breathing hard, hands gripping the wheel tightly. He pulled over onto the shoulder, unclipping his seatbelt and stepping out.

He pulled out his phone and dialed Yoongi. No answer. He spammed him with texts of are you okay, where are you, and whats going on? He couldn't breathe.

He found himself lying on the grass, the heels of his hands pressing into his eyes as he reached out to feel Yoongi, dying to know he was alright. His head started to ache and his eyes hurt under the pressure. The grass itched at his neck and gravel poked through his clothes. His throat was tight. And then he could see.

There was a busy street, an office building looming overhead. A tall man in a suit put a hand on his shoulder. The noise was so loud. A hand was on his shoulder, "Yoongi? Are you alright?"

"Y-Yoongi,"

Hoseok choked, bolting upright where he was still by the side of the highway. There was no way. He got up on shaky legs, drenched in sweat. There was too much quiet now as he got back in his car and laid his head back against the seat.

His phone was ringing and he picked it up, not checking the id, just hoping it would be Yoongi.

"Hey,"

"I got a call from school, what happened?" As always her voice was firm but gentle, ready to scold, but first and foremost wanting to understand. She sounded just a little bit worried.

"Yoongi didn't show up for school today mom. We've tried calling him but he's not answering and i'm so worried i'm seeing things."

"Seeing things?"

"I think I passed out and I had a dream I was Yoongi."

"Where are you? We're coming to pick you up?"

"I drove here, i'm on the highway."

"I know. Do. Not. Drive. Wait for us, send me the mile marker and we'll be there as soon as we can."

He opened his mouth to protest, but his voice wouldn't work, he couldn't push the words out.

"Stay there, wait for us Hoseok."