friends.

23

trigger warning; mention of abuse

i woke up one night to

whimpering.

i looked over at our newly bought alarm clock on the side of the mattress,

2:49am

i groaned,

but when i turned to you, you were shaking

you were still asleep

you looked so helpless and vulnerable,

it reminded me of when you came over telling me your parents kicked you out

i softly gripped your shoulder and shook you awake

"taehyung.. you're having nightmares again."

you sniffled and immediately snuggled into my open arms. you seemed so fragile, like a porcelain on the verge of being broken

"was it about your parents?"

"y-yeah."

"do you want to tell me?"

you started sobbing, your tears staining my shirt. it's okay, i still love you regardless if all my shirts are stained

"it was t-the day that," you paused for a while, sniffling uncontrollably. "the day t-that my dad kicked me out. h-he hit me and kicked m-me and told me i was a disgrace t-t-t-to the family. m-my mom just.. she... just watched."

i rubbed your back softly as you continued sobbing, pulling you closer,

if that was even possible.

"you don't have to worry about them anymore," i said, trying my best to calm you down. "i'm your new family. i'll be there for you until the day you die. no one will ever hurt you again."

you looked up at me, blood-shot eyes visible through the dim moonlight.

"jungkook... i love you."

"what?"

"not in the brotherly love type of way. i-i've loved you since like, 11th grade. if i didn't have you, i would probably be homeless, because.. i trust no one else. laying here every night and cuddling into you and you hugging back is so painful because we're just friends, b-but i want to be so much more."

you paused and wiped away the tears on your cheeks.

"jungkook, w-will you go out with me? i know we live in korea, but we can be lowkey about it. i-it would mean so much t-"

"oh my god yes taehyung," i said, hugging you and kissing your head. "i've loved you for the longest time. i was so afraid of rejection, i never made a move because i treasure our friendship more than anything."

you smiled.

"c-can i have a kiss?"

we both leaned in. the butterflies in my stomach went haywire when our lips connected. it was short, sweet, but full of all the love i've been containing for years.

i love you, kim taehyung.