- Mentions of blood -
Beomgyu's POV
I was trying to get comfortable on the couch but it's just not the same as my bed. I'm happy that Taehyun was finally comfortable on the bed instead of the creaky one at the orphanage, but I kind of wish that I would be laying there with him and embracing him.
I know that he stays at the orphanage after talking with my dad yesterday, he helps with the orphanage there and sometimes goes to visit. He hasn't gone in a while since he is busy but he heard about a new boy joining.
I want to make him feel safe in my arms, I have absolutely no reason to but something is just drawing me near him like magnets. I finally found a sort of comfortable spot to try and sleep, but the sleep was just not evident.
The scene in the rain was just replaying in my head non-stop, and I didn't want it to stop. Taehyun just looked so ethereal under the rain. His skin was perfect, like usual, even with the cuts and bruises.
He looked pale but the pinkish-purple lighting somehow made it work. When I went to comfort him, his hair felt so soft under my hands despite it being wet from the rain. I didn't want to let go but I could feel that I was mostly supporting the weight in my arms signing me that he was tired.
I pulled away but I could feel the hands on my shirt gripping harder not wanting to let go. I looked at Taehyun and I could see his glossy eyes letting out small crystal-like tears.
My heart ached just looking at him, I wanted him to feel comforted with me. I wanted to erase the traces of the tears, so that's what I did.
I traced my thumb against the tear streaks until it reached the droplet and let it spread onto my finger instead. I wanted to absorb all the distress from the vulnerable boy. I traced one more tear when I heard a wince and realized I touched a scratch.
I stopped immediately not wanting to hurt the smaller boy any further. He doesn't deserve this, he deserves to be happy. Every time I look at him I feel my heart clench but also thump harder, I felt so many different emotions at the same time, it was making me crazy. What is this boy doing to me?
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BOOM
A flash of lightning followed by thunder woke me up from my previous thoughts. I heard some shuffling from behind me on the bed. I thought it was nothing but then I heard whimpers.
I began to worry not knowing what to do so I slowly got up from the couch and my neck was already feeling sore from the not-so-comfortable position. I tried not to make any sounds because Taehyun could just be having a bad dream.
Slowly tip-toeing to the bed I saw Taehyun scratching his ears manically that blood was about to spill, his eyes were tightly shut with tears in the corners of his eyes. The frail boy was whispering something
"Stop, don't do it, please, I'll be better, just please stop!", I couldn't help it anymore. My instincts dawned over my pinning him down with his wrists in each of my hands, face inches apart.
"Hey, hey, hey, Taehyun, it's just a dream, it's ok I'm here, don't worry I won't do anything.", I tried calming him down concern washing over me.
His eyes shot open. His breathing staggered trying to find the right pace, sweat beads forming over his forehead, tears swelling in the corner of his eyes. I slowly let go of his wrists seeing if he would start scratching his ears again, his ears were already really red.
After a few seconds, the rest of his face caught up with his ears gradually turning into a pinkish-red. I realized the position we were in and the blush spread like an infectious disease to me. I tried hiding my embarrassment and sat on the side of the bed looking away for a second to then reconnect my gaze back onto the blonde.
"Are you ok?", I tried asking him without stuttering, thanking myself for being successful. "Do you want to talk about it? We don't have to if you're not comfortable enough." The shivering boy in front of me didn't say anything looking at his hands fiddling with each other.
"Umm, it's nothing, just a bad dream, you don't have to worry about it.", He kept his gaze on his fingers avoiding me from his sight. "I don't want to be a burden to you...", It was a hushed whisper but I heard it.
"Hey!", I yelled but not too loud that others outside the room could hear, I saw Taehyun flinch and protectively cover his face as if I was going to hit him. I toned it down a little not to scare the already fragile boy.
"You are not a burden to me or anyone else, we are doing this by choice so instead of thinking like you are making our life worse, you should thank us." I didn't want to sound harsh but I couldn't stand it anymore.
"Anyone who has ever said that you are a burden or something like that doesn't deserve you." I took a deep breath trying to calm myself down so I don't say anything too harsh. "What I'm trying to say is that you don't have to feel that way with me, ok?", He nodded shyly, still looking down. The awkward silence was suffocating.
As if on cue another flash of lightning accompanied by a boom of thunder struck. Taehyun yelped and hid under the blankets like a scared squirrel.
I shouldn't be finding this cute, but it was adorable. I tried pushing the thought to the back of my mind and carefully pulled the blankets away to see a scrunched-up blonde still shivering. I called his name a few more times but there was no luck.
I went to the other side of the bed and laid there while taking the blanket so it was covering the both of us. I took him in my arms once more. I could smell the lavender soap coming from the blonde.
His hair was even softer than it was in the rain and his build molded perfectly with mine. It was like a missing puzzle piece that couldn't fit anywhere else. Taehyun's body relaxed at the simple touch and snuggled in a little closer. His head was under my chin and my hand was caressing his soft locks.
I could feel the once harsh, warm breaths against my neck. I felt his head shift to see me but soon going back to its original position. Other than the constant thunder ringing in the background, the only sound was the steady breathing coming from both of us. I softly smiled at the sight of a peaceful sleeping boy.
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The Next Morning (Beomgyu's POV)
I woke up with sunshine blinding me and a smile came upon my face from the memories from yesterday. But something felt missing, the warmth. Taehyun wasn't in my embrace anymore.
A flood of distress came splashing down on me. I threw the blanket away pacing around to see if he left anything. None of his belonging was anywhere to be seen. I saw my clothes that Taehyun borrowed neatly folded on the couch with a small piece of paper on top. I picked it up still troubled about his well-being.
Dear Choi Beomgyu,
Sorry to leave you without any warnings but I didn't want to burden you anymore. I know you told me not to say stuff like that anymore but that's just how I've felt and been told my whole life. I put your clothes on the couch and I made some scrambled eggs and a sandwich, it's probably not as good as you've had before but I just wanted to give you something in return. Thank you for letting me stay here for tonight and thank you for comforting me. I would rather be left alone at school though, I don't want to cause any more trouble, sorry.
-Sincerely, Kang Taehyun
I raced downstairs hoping that Taehyun would still be there making eggs or something but no one other than the maids were insight.
"Did you see a skinny blonde boy that's about this tall,", using my hand that was just about an inch down from my height to show Taehyun's, "and was wearing their uniform, pass through here?", I questioned one of the maids almost rapping out the words.
The maid simply just shook her head no. I sighed but the aroma of eggs went directly from my nose to my stomach causing a grumble. I chuckled weakly at the lady in front of me. "I'll just eat before I leave, thank you.", I bowed to her, feeling sorry for disturbing her work.
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At School (Taehyun's POV)
I was already in my first class waiting for it to start but the coldness was distracting from everything else going on around me. I felt bad for leaving Beomgyu with nothing but a note and a small breakfast.
Considering how big his house was that was probably just half of what he usually eats. I didn't take any food with me because I felt bad enough already but on top of that I wasn't feeling hungry as well.
When I was with Beomgyu I could feel everything. His touch was so warm and comfortable, but not only that, I could feel, feel pain from the cuts and bruises that were plastered all over my body, I could feel the anger that was pent up for so long, I could feel the happiness from the small moments we had together.
But as soon as I left it all disappeared like snow on a warm day. But it was more like the opposite, when I was with Beomgyu the ice surrounding my heart started to melt but when he wasn't there anymore it started to freeze again, building up the cracked walls.
Class started but I didn't realize it until a guy next to me, Hueningkai, tapped me and asked if I was okay. I just nodded not really knowing the answer but I didn't want the extra attention.
The class soon ended which meant that it was lunch next. I was happy and sad because the class was too easy for me which meant it was boring, but also I didn't want to see Taehyung and Beomgyu for that matter. I got up a little too fast and I felt my head spinning, I've never felt anything like it.
The room was going around me in circles and some colors were starting to fade. I felt a thick liquid dripping down my nose, I started wiping it and saw my sleeve stained a dark grey but I saw the color flickering a crimson red.
I started panicking rushing to the bathroom, I bumped into someone almost knocking me to the ground but I couldn't stay there. I quickly regained my balance and rushed to the bathroom.
I washed my face with, what I thought was, warm water but that didn't seem to work. My breathing not stable and the same as my body. I was tipping dangerously back and forth the air escaping from my lungs.
All color has now disappeared and the metallic taste of blood dripping into my mouth. Not being able to have the correct footing almost falling over. Keyword: almost. The last thing I felt before completely blacking out was a hand behind my head and waist.
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If you've made it this far, thank you so much for reading this book. It gives me so much motivation just from the views going up even if it's only by 1. Thank you so much for 150+ reads. I really, really appreciate it. Again I hope you have had a good day so far and just know that someone, even if you can't see it or know it, loves you! I hope you stay excited for the next chapter!