I'm Not Cold; Just Scared

^ω^ Chapter twelve ^ω^

Jinyoung looked into Daehwi's tear filled eyes before connecting their foreheads together, making Daehwi freak out inwardly because they had certainly never been this close before. 

"I want you to smile"

With these words, Jinyoung let go of his hold on Daehwi' shoulder and Daehwi almost sighed with relief for a second until he realized that Jinyoung was still holding his wrist and was now dragging him out of the washrooms, along corridors. He was walking fast, and Daehwi was struggling to keep up with him.

Jinyoung dragged Daehwi all the way up to the rooftop before letting go of his wrist and staring at him.  Under the blue sky, it was just the two of them, staring back at each other.

"Do you still want to cry?" Jinyoung asked. Daehwi realized that he shouldn't be lying to the older anymore and nodded silently, looking down. 

"Come here" Jinyoung said before putting his arms around Daehwi, pulling him into a tight hug. Daehwi broke down in Jinyoung's arms for the first time. Jinyoung had broken down in Daehwi's embrace many times, but Daehwi had always seemed to be the strong one. But in reality, Daehwi was just as scared as Jinyoung was.

Jinyoung's heart wrenched as he heard Daehwi sobbing against his chest, soaking his shirt, but at that moment he didn't care. He forgot about his anxiety, his mother, his sexuality, his crush, he just focused on the small boy who was shaking and sobbing in his embrace.

Daehwi's hands gripped Jinyoung's shirt as he finally let out everything in front of someone else. Of course, Jisung and the others knew about his story, but he assured everyone that he was fine and he didn't want to talk about his parents. So they agreed to respect his opinions and never mentioned Daehwi's parents.

But maybe, Daehwi wanted to talk about them to someone so he didn't have to bottle those emotions.

Jinyoung rubbed circles on Daehwi's back, whispering softly "Hey, it's okay....it's okay....let it all out...." He ran his fingers through Daehwi's soft dark blonde hair. Then suddenly on impulse, he left a soft kiss on Daehwi's forehead.

"J-Jinyoung hyung, I-I'm sorry..." Daehwi said, choking on his tears, apologizing even though he hadn't done anything wrong.

"Shh..." Jinyoung whispered. "Why are you apologizing? You're not in the wrong here. I'm not being burdened. I'm doing it because I know you would've done the same for me."

As Daehwi fell silent, tears still rolling down his cheeks, Jinyoung rubbed Daehwi's back, his other hand holding Daehwi's nape. "Hwi, I'm gonna be honest with you. I don't know why you're crying, and if you're uncomfortable with it then I don't want you to tell me anything. But I know this much; you don't have to be the light of someone else's life. If you're sad, let that sadness show, If you're angry, let that anger show. Don't hide your tears anymore."

"All I can say is this, if you ever feel the urge to cry again, come to me and I'll always be there to wipe your tears...okay?" he asked the younger, cupping his cheeks with both his hands and using his thumbs to wipe the tears away.

He went back to hugging the younger and Daehwi spoke up. "Hyung?"

"Hmm?" Jinyoung hummed in response, ready to give his shoulder for Daehwi to cry on.

"Can we stay like this for a while?" the younger asked.

So Jinyoung placed his hands around Daehwi's waist tighter, pulling the seventeen year old towards his chest. Daehwi wrapped his arms around Jinyoung's neck, bringing the two even closer. They stayed like that for a while, peacefully, listening to the sound of each others' breathing.