INTO YOUR ARMS. NORENMIN

chapter two

"shit." renjun whispered harshly when he woke up. he sat upright immediately and looked around. "where the hell am i?"

"good morning sleeping beauty." jaemin said while walking into the bedroom and sitting next to the small boy on the bed.

"no no no! how long was i asleep for?" renjun exclaimed.

"about seven hours."

"seven hours? what is wrong with me?" he whispered softly while pulling his knees to his chest.

"what's your problem with sleep anyway?" the pink-haired boy chuckled. renjun didn't respond and that's when jaemin realised he was crying.

"woah, hey. there's no need to cry," he assured, absolutely melting at the sight of the poor boy.

"i'm sorry i'm such a mess. i should leave now." he said starting to get up. jaemin quickly grabbed his wrist and pulled him back down to a sitting position. without even hesitating he wrapped his arms around the small boy in a hug.

"you can't escape that easily. you are clearly dealing with some stuff and i want to help you out."

"why?" renjun asked, looking up at jaemin.

"because i like helping people." he explained while smiling the most bright smile renjun has seen in his life. "and also you're really cute."

jaemin let go of him completely and left the room without another word. renjun was surprised, to say the least.

jaemin came back with two warm cups of coffee only a few short moments later.

"could you tell me a bit more about you?" the taller boy asked.

"do you mind if you tell me a bit more about yourself first? i trust you because of how sweet you have been last night and this morning but i've never told anyone else my problems before. it's a huge step for me." renjun answered shyly.

"my name is na jaemin and i'm sixteen years old. i may not be the smartest, most talented or most funny person in the world but i'm charming. i am very social and i love talking to people and learning more about them. i have a naturally flirty personality so that's something you should get used to. i guess that's really all." renjun nodded as he listened.

"my name is huang renjun and i'm also sixteen years old. i am the least interesting person in the world, i really only enjoy art. painting, drawing, music... anything to do with creating." he took a deep breath and jaemin grabbed both of his hands, coaxing him on. "about last night, when you found me i was obviously drunk. i freaked out when you told me to sleep because i don't need it. i don't need sleep, it only makes me feel weak. i can't stand the way it takes over me and i can't control it so i avoid it as much as i can. last night i couldn't sleep so like i often do, i found some alcohol to keep me awake and i went on a walk. i guess i walked further than i initially planned to and got lost."

"when was the last time you slept before today?" jaemin asked biting his lip.

"about four days ago."

"oh my god. renjun you need to sleep! it's a basic human need and you can't live without it."

"watch me." renjun mumbled. before jaemin could say anything renjun was speaking again. "my parents are probably worried about me so i should get home. thank you for everything you've done."

"darling, i told you it's not that easy to get rid of me. i'm driving you home, lets go."

and so renjun let the boy drive him home and jaemin let him go with an exchange of numbers and a hug.

renjun secretly hoped that jaemin would keep his word and that it wouldn't be the last time he saw the beautiful boy.

;

it had been a wonderful day, both boys thought about each other every spare second. of course, all good things have to end.

renjun tried to sleep, he really did. he wanted to make jaemin happy. he drank sleepy tea instead of the closest alcohol bottle, he snuggled up under a blanket on his bed and he rested his head on his pillow.

but he couldn't relax. he wasn't relaxing the way he was when he was in jaemin's bed, or in his arms more specifically.

he tried to breathe and stay calm but his eyes always seemed to open up again and his hands were starting to shake gently. his body should be demanding sleep but instead, it was demanding alcohol. he tried fighting it but he wasn't strong enough.

the next thing he knew he had abandoned his half drunk cup of tea on his bedside table and he was in the kitchen opening his parent's alcohol cupboard. they hadn't refilled in ages and the strongest thing left that he could get away stealing was a small bottle of baileys. it would work for the time being but he needed more. renjun threw on the same pastel blue hoodie he wore last night and grabbed his bottle of baileys before walking out of the house in search of the nearest alcohol store.