𑁍𑁍𑁍
A week passed after their conversation. Now the boys were at exercises. Jungwon sighed as he looked at another blank paper in front of him.
They had to write down what they wanted to achieve. The boy was spinning the pen in his hand while he watched Yeonjun walk around and read what others wrote.
The man then walked to him; it didn't even surprised him that the paper was blank. Yeonjun then slightly smiled as he bent down to whisper something to him.
"Jungwon, I was thinking, do You maybe want to talk?"
The boy was silent for a while then nodded his head.
"Alright, then come to my room at 5.40p.m?"
"Mhm.."
He then gave him a small smile before walking to others. Jungwon didn't know why he agreed, but he let it be. Maybe then he would feel a little better. The boy sighed and started to scribble on the paper until the exercises ended.
He had 15 more minutes, he went to the room to see Ni-ki folding his clothes. The younger one turned and smiled at him.
"I folded yours too, they're on the bed."
"Oh, thank you." Jungwon took them and put them in the closet and then sat at his bed. When Ni-ki finished, he sat down next to him.
"I'm going to Yeonjun in a while, when I get back and if you want, we can do something." he saw Ni-ki's face lit up. Then it got to him that he never really asked if he was okay, it was always Ni-ki asking how he was, it was always Ni-ki making sure he was alright.
He swallowed, Ni-ki had helped him many times but had he ever done anything for him? He was brought out of his thoughts by a light tap on his shoulder.
"Hmm?"
"I asked at what time you need to go." Jungwon looked at the clock and then at the boy next to him.
"In 10 minutes." Ni-ki nodded his head.
"Hyung, are you okay?" The younger asked after a while of silence.
"I wanted to ask you the same thing.." Ni-ki got startled.
"Me? I-I mean I'm in the rehab so-"
"Oh my God.. Ni-ki.." Jungwon laughed, followed by the younger.
When the boy calmed down, he looked at Jungwon.
"But yeah, I'm fine. Why are you asking?"
"Just because." Jungwon replied.
"Mhmm.."
Ni-ki looked at the clock and then at Jungwon.
"You have 5 minutes." He said to him.
"I'm going to Hyung's, I'll be back soon." He assured him. Ni-ki nodded and the older boy went out of the room
☾︎❤︎☽︎
Jungwon sighed as he closed the door and started walking to Yeonjun's room. After a while he stood in front of his door; He knocked and went in.
Yeonjun smiled to him. Every time he somehow managed to convince him to talk, he was proud of himself; he promised himself that he would help him.
Jungwon sat down in the chair across from him. Yeonjun took out some papers and wrote something before talking.
"Last time you were there 7 months ago, I'm sure some things changed." Yeonjun said and the boy rolled his eyes.
"Go straight to the point."
"Alright, so at exercises, the thing with what do you want to achieve, I just started thinking. What do you want to achieve?"
Jungwon stayed silent.
"I.. I want to get out of here." He replied after few minutes of thinking.
Yeonjun nodded.
"Good goal. But I feel like there will be a 'but'" Jungwon chuckled lightly before nodding.
"I have nowhere to go. Even if I manage to get out of here, I'll be back like before. But I'll try to find a way. "
There was silence again and the man wrote it on the papers. At one point they heard thunder, which made Jungwon flinch.
"Oh wait, I'll close the windows." Yeonjun got up and walked towards the windows and closed them.
As he got back, he opened one shelf and took out another papers.
"Honestly, I'm proud of you. There is a very big difference between past you and present you. Because I know, that right know you would fight for yourself and Even if you would came back i know that you will not give up."
Yeonjun smiled to him and handed him the papers he was holding.
"This was the day after you came back. You said that there is no hope for you. Today I wouldn't say it."
Jungwon was still quiet. He knew that he changed but never actually gave it more attention, but as he was listening to what his Hyung was saying, maybe there was a small hope for him.
"Hyung, I know I've never actually said that.. but thank you, you helped me so much when i wasn't even believing in myself. I know that it's not yet the time i will be ready to left this place, but i feel that this time will come." He said and looked at Yeonjun.
He looked like he was about to cry.
"This- This is the nicest thing you've ever said to me.. Go before i will really cry." Yeonjun shook his head and started writing everything.Jungwon just chuckled as he left, and went to his room.
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When he opened the door to the room, he was shocked. Ni-ki stood leaning on the desk and was liting a cigarette. He panicked when he heard the door open and only hid the lighter. Jungwon quickly closed the door and walked over to him.
He took his cigarette and put it out with his own hand, it hurt so much but he just didn't think of it.
"Are you crazy?! If they find out, they'll send you to another rehab!" Jungwon yelled to him.
"I-I know.. I just couldn't stop myself.." He mumbled.
The older boy sighed. He really didn't want Ni-ki to leave.
"It's okay, they won't know. Just, you can't do this again. Promise me." he said, stretching his pinky finger out in front of him. Ni-ki nodded and intertwined them.
Jungwon smiled slightly. After a while he wondered what to do with the cigarette. They can't throw it out in the trash becaus they'll see it. They can't also throw it out of the window because they can't even open it. He thought for a little more until he went to bathroom.
Jungwon took the paper and wrapped it around it then he threw it into the toilet and rinsed it with water. Maybe it wasn't the best idea, but he remembered that it had worked a few times.
When he was about to leave the bathroom, the light suddenly went off.
"Hyung, Where are you?" He heard Ni-ki's voice.
"Here." He said as he closed the door of bathroom. Not long after he felt a hand on his arm.
☾︎❤︎☽︎
The room was all dark, most likely the entire district didn't have electricity. They sat at the bed. Their eyes slowly getting used to dark.
"Don't you have a flashlight?" Ni-ki asked.
"No, I would just use my phone, but like, i don't have it." Jungwon replied.
They were sitting like this for few more minutes. The only light coming from thunders. At one moment they heard a knock and Minho went in with flashlights.
"Take it, when the electricity returns, we'll collect it." He handed them items.
The boys thanked and Minho went on handing out the flashlights. Ni-ki then took Jungwon's hand and directed the light at the wound from cigarette.
"It doesn't look good. Wait." Ni-ki said And quickly went to bathroom. After few seconds he came back with a first aid kit.
He gently took Jungwon's hand and started to treat the wound.
"I can do this myself."
"No, it's my fault, let me help you." He spoke and then took out hydrogen peroxide, ointment and plasters.
"It may sting a little." he said before placing a cotton pad soaked in hydrogen peroxide on his skin.
Jungwon gritted his teeth but it didn't help as he hissed.
"I'm sorry Hyung." Ni-ki apologized feeling guilty.
"No don't be, i had it worse." Jungwon assured.
"What?" The younger asked looking at him.
"Haven't I told you?"
The younger shook his head. Jungwon waited as he finished putting an ointment and a plaster and he partially removed his shirt, showing his back covered with scars from burns.
Ni-ki widened his eyes in shock, It was terrible. He slowly brought his hand closer and gently ran over it. Jungwon shivered at the touch but it was somehow soothing.
Jungwon put on his shirt again and turned to the younger.
"I'm sorry Hyung.." Ni-ki mumbled as he lowered his head.
"It's okay, really, I'm not mad. Maybe just a little, but it's not your fault."
"No, you don't understand, I- I never wanted to become the person that would cause you any scar, really, this is the last thing I've ever wanted. It's like I'm just like them." He explained, still not looking at him. Jungwon sighed and gently grabbed his arm and pulled him so that they lay next to each other.
"Ki, listen to me, this is not your fault, yeah?" The older softly said.
Ni-ki still wasn't looking at him, he sighed and bit his lips.
"Can we cuddle?" He asked quietly after a while.
"Come here." Jungwon whispered and not long after he felt the younger boy hugging him and then snuggling up to his chest.
He smiled slightly, wrapped his arm around his waist and pulled him closer. He wasn't a fan of skinship but if Ni-ki asked, he would hug him. It was the least he could do for him for all the time Riki had been helping him.
The room was still dark and the flashlights did not provide much light. It was almost 7 p.m. but the storm made the sky darker than usual.
"
When it stops raining, can we go to the store?" Ni-ki asked and looked at the older boy; Jungwon nodded.
He looked at his hand where the band-aid was and chuckled.
"Really? Paw patrol?" Ni-ki glared at him.
"They were on sale!" He slightly laughed but right away the smile disappeared.
"Don't even apologize to me, it's okay." Jungwon said it before the younger could even open his mouth.
Ni-ki smiled slightly and intertwined their hands, gently stroking the band-aid with his thumb.
"I haven't heard anyone call me 'Ki' for a long time. It felt nice when you said that." Jungwon just listened. At that time he didn't thought about what he will say, it just happened.
He then felt Riki placing his head on his chest.
"I'm going to sleep, will you wake me up when the power comes back on?"
"Mhm."
𑁍𑁍𑁍
𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 13 ✓
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