I'm Not Cold; Just Scared

^오^ Chapter 26 ^오^

You are not alone, I'll always be there for you

I want you, I love you

As if someone was pulling him out, Jinyoung felt as if someone just pulled him out of his black spiral. He could see where he was, the couch he was on, they boy holding his hand. He looked up to see Daehwi looking at him with concern evident on his face.

"Jinyoung hyung? Are you okay?"

"Y-yeah, I'm fine" Jinyoung mumbled, a little embarrassed at himself as he wiped the sweat off his face.

"What happened back there? Don't be scared, you know you can tell me" Daehwi asked.

Jinyoung decided to be truthful. "I...fell back into a thought spiral. I was just thinking about my decision to leave and..and if any of you genuinely liked me..."

He thought Daehwi would be mad at him for doubting them, but he didn't expect Daehwi to kiss his cheek. "I like...no...I love you, hyung" Daehwi whispered, not being embarrassed to use the L word anymore. 

"Really?" Jinyoung asked, looking at Daehwi like a troubled child.

Daehwi nodded. "Really" he said, taking Jinyoung's phone away from him. For a while, he needed to stay away from the toxicity it was giving out. 

Right now, Jinyoung was free but Daehwi knew that he was probably feeling down after his mom's toxic messages. How to make him feel cheered up again? Daehwi pondered over this question throughout breakfast where the other guys who had just woken up were asking Jinyoung questions about his Great Escape.

Daehwi looked at Jinyoung who was smiling and talking with everyone else. He seemed to be happy but Daehwi knew he was still thinking about his mothers messages. Not everyone who looks happy is happy. Most could have the happiest smile on their faces while inside, something negative could be eating them up. Daehwi out of all people should know that.

Hyungseob, who hadn't left yet, poked Daehwi's upper arm. "Yo, is Jinyoung okay?" He asked. Daehwi shrugged. "He's fine now, but he still seems sad"

"What happened to him earlier? He was completely normal until he saw those messages" Hyungseob questioned. "It was all because of his mother's texts. She wrote them in a way that would make him more tortured than he already is." Daehwi replied.

Hyungseob's eyes widened. "Really?"

"Unfortunately, yes" Daehwi sighed. He had to do something to cheer Jinyoung up. But what? He thought about it for a while longer before something came to his mind and he immediately brightened up.

He pulled his phone out, running out of the room. "Somi...where are you" He murmured, scrolling through the list of contacts on his phone. Finally he found her and called her number.

"Hello? Somi ya, it's me"

"I have your contact, I know it's you, idiot"

"Wow, thanks for those lovely words...anyways I wanted to ask for a favor"

Just a few minutes later, Somi turned up. Breakfast was over and everyone had gone upstairs, expect for Jinyoung who was by himself.

Jinyoung wasn't really pondering over his mother's messages anymore. He was just feeling a little down that he had to get a panic attack just after coming to his new house.

He didn't see that Somi had arrived at first, until he heard her talking to Daehwi. He came up to them. "Somi, when did you get here?" he asked.

"I just got here a few minutes ago, oppa" she replied.

Daehwi looked at Jinyoung. "Hyung, what do you think about finally dyeing your hair" He asked.

"Mwo?" Jinyoung questioned, a little confused.

He knew that practically everyone else in this house kept dyeing their hairs. He liked the idea of it, but his mother never allowed it. But now that she was gone...

"C'mon, it'll be fun! I have to go too" Daehwi whined.

"Uh...okay" Jinyoung trailed off.

"Okie, then let's go!" Somi squealed, pulling her phone out. 

Fast forward a few hours and Jinyoung's hair was now a very light shade of brown. Daehwi just hoped that he was in a better mood, and he genuinely seemed to be. That night Jinyoung got into bed and he pulled out his phone again. It wasn't to read his mother's texts or anything, he wanted to text his dad.

"Um..." He trailed off, looking at his phone. To be honest, even though Jinyoung really wanted to say a lot more than just 'thanks' he just didn't know what to say. Daehwi entered the room then. "Hyung, are you still reading your mom's messages?" he asked.

"No" Jinyoung muttered. "I'm trying to text my dad"

"What do you mean by 'trying'?" Daehwi questioned, sitting on the edge of Jinyoung's bed.

Jinyoung sighed. "I don't know, I really want to tell him how grateful I am and all but I don't know how to. I've never spoken with him much"

"Just...be really honest. That's it" The younger advised him.

"Okay..." Jinyoung trailed off, biting his lip. Here we go then.

You: Hi dad. 

You: I really hope you didn't get in trouble with mom for helping me.

You: Yes, we may not have spoken that much, but I just wanted to say thank you

You: You actually understood me and didn't reprimand me for wanting to leave you and mom behind. 

You: I really, really appreciate you help.

You: Thank you sooo much

You: Love you~

Jinyoung finished sending the messages and looked up at Daehwi, smiling. "I'm so glad we're finally living together" Jinyoung said.

Daehwi nodded "Yeah, me too"

"It's almost as if we were married, except Sungwoon hyung is sleeping above us"

"Marriage? Bae Jinyoung, you really-"

"I'm just kidding, Bae Daehwi"

"Yah" Daehwi laughed, hitting Jinyoung with a pillow. "I'm only seventeen!" 

"Sheesh I know how old you are! I was just kidding!" Jinyoung said, grabbing the pillow back. In the process of grabbing the pillow, Jinyoung also happened to drag Daehwi closer to him. Daehwi's eyes widened while Jinyoung smirked. "I guess even the pillow wants us to be together, Dae"

Daehwi rolled his eyes. "I don't even know you anymore" He said, but still leaning against Jinyoung's chest.

"Oh don't lie to me telling me you don't know me, I am your boyfriend" Jinyoung replied, cuddling the younger.

They didn't move, staying in that position until Sungwoon came into the room.

"Y'all can hug and all that but if I hear ANY weird noises during the night I am telling Jisung hyung!!!!"