Chapter Text
When Hyunjin nudged him out of his slumber, Seungmin first saw their intertwined fingers, and the librarian was looking at them weirdly from across the room. Startled, Seungmin harshly released his hold--and he might have imagined it, but Hyunjin looks a little bit disappointed; a small frown making its way to his sleep-laced face. They hastily gathered their scattered belongings and stiffly bid the librarian goodbye, not wanting to stretch the poor guy's shift even longer.
The cold night air welcomed them as they hit the sidewalk. Shivering, Seungmin pulled his scarf closer, trying to maintain the little warmth left in his body. They walked the empty road side by side, the silence settling around them comfortably. It was just a little past nine but their small neighborhood was already pretty much deserted.
Seungmin was well aware of the stolen glances directed at him, which certainly didn't help the warm blush painting his face; courtesy of the images of sunny afternoon and string bound books involuntarily flooding his thought. He futilely tried hiding the rosiness behind his scarf, though he was sure his ears betrayed his effort. "Aren't you going to the other direction?" He shyly returned Hyunjin's stare, belatedly realizing he doesn't even know where Hyunjin lives.
"I'll walk you home."
"You don't need to."
"Well, I want to."
It's kind of frustrating how Hyunjin is always calm while he was constantly internally struggling to not combust on the spot, Seungmin pondered. He doesn't even know why Hyunjin affected him so significantly; he was never the kind to get easily wooed by good-looking people, especially not when they just barely know each other. He suspected it has something to do with all the too pleasant dreams he keeps on having.
Dream. He has to keep on reminding himself, it was all just a dream.
The Hyunjin that is now in front of him, and the Hyunjin that his dream conjure is a different people. It was all just a dream, for the better or worse... It was all just a dream.
"Seungmin, we are here."
Seungmin stared at the lanky boy quizzically, before realizing that they had actually arrived in front of his gate. Seungmin mentally facepalmed, it would be nice if the ground would just swallow him whole right now. "Urgh, sorry, I was... preoccupied."
As per usual, Hyunjin simply flashed him an amused grin. "Okay, I'm taking my leave here. Make sure you don't hit any wall on your way and... have a good night sleep?"
A good night sleep, huh? Would that even be possible at this point? Seungmin watched Hyunjin's retreating figure, the other's shoulder is hunched forward, steps small and slow.
And it was Hyunjin's exhausted stance that prompted him to quickly made up his mind.
"Do... do you want to sleep together?!"
Hyunjin unceremoniously stumbled on his step and turned his body embarrassingly fast to look at Seungmin. The other was furiously blushing, seeming to belatedly recognize the double entendre behind his words. "I mean, spend the night with me! Damn, that still sounds wrong... like, you know, sleep in my room. ANYWAY you know what I meant by it!"
Hyunjin chuckled at a flustered Seungmin; his cheeks, and ears rosy from embarrassment. It was an amusing sight to behold, and Hyunjin decided he wants more of that.
"What, you can't sleep without me now?" Hyunjin jokingly responded, but was already retracing his steps towards the other. He was not the suavest out there, but Seungmin's antics always evoke his teasing side.
The other returned with a huff, shoulders visibly more relaxed that Hyunjin had acknowledged his ridiculous suggestion with an ease. Deep inside Seungmin was glad that Hyunjin always has this carefree demeanor around him, taking everything in a smooth stride. God knows they need it to navigate the ludicrous circumstances they are in; Hyunjin makes everything between them far simpler, something that Seungmin and his awkward hesitance will not allow to happen. "Unfortunately, from experience, I have to admit to it."
Both their expression turned serious at the suggestion lurking under Seungmin's nonchalant answer. It was now the time, Hyunjin thought, that they both come clean with each other.
"Seungmin," Hyunjin hold his gaze, piercing the other's brown orbs in an attempt to convey his sincerity. "We need to be open with each other, I think that is the only way we could figure this thing out." They have been, through unspoken understanding that transpired between them, avoiding the nature of their nightmares and dreams by only vaguely referring to it in their conversations. If they want to find the roots to their shared agony, however, they need to willingly lay everything on the table for the other to see.
"Yeah, I agree," Seungmin answered with a weak nod. "If you don't mind spending the night, we could talk about it. And honestly, I... really need that sleep. It looks like you are my best shot at it. Please?"
Looking at Seungmin's pleading eyes, and the tinge of hope in his soft voice, there was no way that Hyunjin could say no.
"Okay, Hyunjin. If you need anything I will be in my room at the end of the corridor. You two have fun!"
Hyunjin gave Seungmin's mom a ninety-degree bow, watching her and Seungmin's dad retreated to their own bedroom with wide smiles. Despite his unannounced visit, Seungmin's whole family had welcomed him genially, almost too much even; constantly fussing over if he had enough meat on his plate and engaging him in conversations during dinner. Quoting Seungmin's mom, she was glad that 'Seungmin finally brings a friend home that is not Felix for once.'
Seungmin's house is warm; that is the first impression that Hyunjin got when he steps inside. Unlike the more minimalistic interior of Hyunjin's own, the house is decorated with warmer touches; family portraits, flowers, knick-knacks from overseas trips. Seungmin's parents are laid-back characters, all smiles, and affectionate hugs; and he thought perhaps this is why Seungmin also exudes so much warmth.
"Here, I think it will fit you." Seungmin handed him a change of clothes and a spare towel. Hyunjin retrieved a toothbrush from his backpack before heading to the bathroom, stepping under the shower to let the hot water washed the exhaustion away.
Today sure had been another long one.
"I have some hypotheses."
Seungmin announced as soon as Hyunjin stepped out from the bathroom, expression eager and waiting. Hyunjin immediately took his place across from where Seungmin is sitting on his bed, back leaning against the headboard. Hyunjin's eyes flitted briefly to the dog plushie near his pillow, a soft smile gracing his lips.
"Okay, shoot me."
Seungmin rolled his eyes at Hyunjin's joke. The moment the older boy walked through the door, it's apparent that the room owner is obsessed with DAY6, the band; if the posters decorating the wall and the albums lining up on the shelves is a good indication. Seungmin spent five minutes of being shy before practically bombarding Hyunjin with everything DAY6. It's endearing; the way Seungmin's eyes sparkle in delight at the mention of his favorite thing.
"In more than a week, the only time I could get some decent sleep is twice, yesterday at the infirmary and today in the library. Two things are similar here: it's at noon, and you are there. Now, if it's because of the time, I had tried taking a nap before, but never quite succeeded."
Hyunjin nodded thoughtfully. "Yeah, me too."
"In fact, yesterday I had a nightmare for a while before it suddenly switched into... euhmm.... another dream." Again, the rosiness is back on Seungmin's cheeks. Hyunjin decided not to comment on that, aware of the heat creeping up on his own. "So, the logical conclusion would be that we have to sleep in the same room. I don't know why either, but that seems to work?"
"Are you sure you're not simply trying to seduce me here?"
A pillow to his face was the response to his remark. "Hyunjin, stop!"
"What? You're so easy to tease!"
"Anyway!" Seungmin half-shouted to hide his embarrassment. "If we had no trouble sleeping tonight, then it must be true. It still doesn't answer our question on why is this happening to us, but not being sleep deprived could definitely help the thinking process."
Hyunjin found it fascinating that the other's savage, sarcastic side, is slowly surfacing the more time he spends with him. Seungmin initially came off to him as a quiet, gentle boy, and he does retain those qualities, but there is also a rougher side to him that Hyunjin secretly relishes.
It's alarming how much he takes note of the small things.
"It sounds good to me." He lazily plopped down on the soft mattress, intently staring at the ceiling like it would hold some answer to their situation. "It'll be suspicious if we do sleepover every day, but once or twice a week should help I guess... yeah...."
"It's definitely better than a week of no sleep..."
Again, it was the silence that returns to their side.
"Seungmin-ah."
"Hhmmm..."
"What did you see? In your nightmare?"
Seungmin took one shaky breath, and Hyunjin extended his hand which the other gratefully latch on to.
This is finally the time to pour everything.
"The nightmare... it's all the same image. It's night, dark, and I am in some kind of a clearing..." Seungmin frowned, trying to recall the details. "It's also cold. Very very cold, the rain is pouring down on me. It's hard to breathe. Then... I see it." Hyunjin tightened his grip on the other's hand. Seungmin is slightly shivering, drawing his knees close to his chest. Hyunjin shuffled to a sitting position, fighting back the urge to hold him near.
"Someone is laying on the ground, on his stomach, but his face is turned to the side so I could still see it. His eyes are open but unseeing, and he is very very pale.... his outstretched hands are ghostly white..." Seungmin exhaled another heavy sigh. "... and it smells of blood. So much blood. I know he is dead."
Hyunjin gulped. The silence around them sharp and deafening.
"I don't know what's happening, but it hurts. I remember clutching on my chest, I can register nothing but the pain, Hyunjin... and then I walk away, away from him, and suddenly it was freezing and I feel suffocated... and I always wake up at that point."
"And that body... was it..."
Seungmin finally raised his eyes from their intertwined fingers to stare at Hyunjin's uncertain gaze. "It's you."
The pain in his left chest returned in a dull throb, and Hyunjin would collapse if it's not for Seungmin rubbing soothing circles on his knuckle.
The stillness stretched between them.
"What about yours?" Seungmin softly whispered. Hyunjin was debating if he should lie, but they had decided they will lay everything bare, and he would do so for both their sake.
"In my dream, I'm always running." He began. "I'm running away from someone..."
"Me." Seungmin interjected weakly.
"Yes, I'm running away from you. Then, I stumble and we... fight. Then you unarmed me and...."
"I killed you." The croaks in Seungmin's voice stunned him, and he peered up to see tears already forming in his eyes, threatening to spill any minute. "I killed you. I killed you. I---"
Seungmin broke into a painful sob and Hyunjin gathered the broken boy into his embrace, trying to hold himself together through their entangled bodies. It hurts. The pain surged back, invading each vein in his body in a stream of inexplicable emotion.
Everything suddenly hurts.
"No, it's... I never get to that point. I never know what happened! We don't know it yet, Seungmin." He cupped the other's face, forcing their eyes to meet; both glistening with unshed tears. "We don't even know if it's real. It's okay. You and I, we are both okay." His plea was met with a paltry nod, but Seungmin was not done crying. Was it from guilt? Was it grief? Hyunjin was not sure, nor did the boy engulfed in his embrace is. They stayed like that, Seungmin's broken laments the only thing filling the empty spaces between their twined bodies.
That night, they fell asleep in each other's hold, the nightmare distant and forgotten.
The squirrel boy came back to the cafe the next day, this time alone and troubled. After stumbling over his order--one caramel macchiato to go, eyes refusing to meet Minho all the while, he punched his phone angrily, fingers tapping the counter feverishly. Minho could not help the furtive glances he throws at the boy; he could not stop thinking about the white thread he witnessed yesterday, and if there's anything that could help to satisfy his curiosity, it would definitely be the best friend.
"Yah! Hwang Hyunjin!" He was shouting angrily at someone on the other side of the line, and even if Minho was not planning to eavesdrop--which he is--he would still be able to listen to everything by how loud the squirrel boy is talking. "Where are you? Your mom said you slept over at my place, which you obviously didn't. Do you know how awkward it was to string up lies right in front of your door? You're lucky I'm a genius at improv!" The replies came out muffled, and Minho was not able to make sense of anything no matter how much he tried. "You're close to District Nine? Then fucking come here you doofus or I'll eat all of your gummy bears I am not kidding."
Minho stifled an amused laugh, eating all of your gummy bears? What kind of threat was that?
"Ah, I'm sorry for being noisy..." The squirrel boy sheepishly apologized after hanging up, chubby cheeks dawn-tinted.
"It's okay!" Minho flashed him a 24k customer service smile. "No one's here anyway... your friend sounds like a handful. Is that the tall guy that usually come with you?"
"Oh, you remember..."
Oh, shit. "Well, both of you are loyal customers so..." Thankfully the squirrel boy appeared to be satisfied with his flimsy excuse, his grin stretching impossibly wide. Before the boy could respond, however, the doorbell jiggled loudly. Both of them whipped their head to look at the entrance, and that's when Minho caught them.
It happened in a flash: Two boys. A white, gleaming string.
A million images struck Minho in a speed of light.
Hyunjin barely stepped into the shop, with Seungmin trailing behind, when the barista suddenly screamed in pain. They both watched in horror as the barista doubled over, clutching his head in agony. Jisung was quick to jump over the counter to hold the man close, yelling for Hyunjin to call an ambulance.
"Hyung! Hyung!"
He fumbled with his phone in a frenzy, seeing the two figures huddled on the floor in front of him. The man was still writhing in pain, seemingly wanting to say something to Jisung with difficulty. Seungmin was standing beside him, pale with panic.
He was about to connect to the emergency service when Jisung suddenly yelled at him to get out.
"What?" Hyunjin stood still, obviously bewildered.
"Get out! He asked you to get out of here."
"But---the ambulance?"
"Hyunjin, go!"
Seungmin was the first to react, reaching for his hand to bring him towards the door. And before he even realized it, he was already out of the door, head buzzing with concern.
What the hell had just happened?