Chapter Text
It was the eyes that Hyunjin vividly remembered. Among the blurred images that he painstakingly recalled to mind, it was only the sight of those eyes that appeared crystal clear. The brownish orbs staring at him coldly, as if accusing him of a thousand and one too many sins he never knew he committed. The eyes were passing judgment; yet it was the most mesmerizing gaze the boy ever witnessed.
The eyes that haunted his dream was the reason for his sleepless nights.
"For how long did you say again?" Jisung asked him from across the room, feet propped comfortably on Hyunjin's study desk despite the other's dismal; Jisung did not have the cleanest pair of socks.
"About a week." Hyunjin looked at the time on his phone and let out a long, heavy sigh. It had been almost 48 hours since the last time he actually slept for more than an hour.
"Every single day or the week?"
Hyunjin produced a noncommittal yes. His head was pounding from the lack of sleep, and he felt like it would split any moment. His eyes were heavy, but he knew that shortly after he drifts off to the dreamland the eyes would find him once more. He would then soon wake up in cold sweats, terrified of the unknown lurking behind the curtain of dream.
"You should seek some help, dude. That's bad for your health, and full offense, you look like shit right now."
Hyunjin groaned into his pillow. "I also feel like shit."
"Okay, just try to sleep and I'll.... observe?"
That sounded dumb, which in Hyunjin opinion was how Jisung usually sounded anyway, but maybe, just maybe, knowing that he was not alone and was under protection (which was arguably not much coming from Jisung) was better than nothing. With that thought in mind, Hyunjin shut his eyes and left it up to whatever deities up there.
-----------------
It's the dream again.
Hyunjin knew. He recognized it instantly even if, strangely enough, it became impossible to recall any details during his waking hours. The grass pricking at his feet; the wet and heavy rain around him; the rustling of his hanbok against his running feet; his lungs trying to take in as much air. It all felt almost too familiar.
He was frantic.
The trees appeared as a blur as he picked on his pace, maneuvering sloppily between the looming darkness around him. Hyunjin did not understand why he was running, but someone was close on his heels and his body was desperate to get away. He could not pause even if he wanted to: he tried it the first time around.
He let his dream-body did what it wanted.
So he ran and ran into the night.
A misstep sent him rolling on the muddy ground; but his hand was quick to unleash the sword as he shielded the upcoming attack with practiced hand. Dream-him handled his weapon rather well, Hyunjin mused. It was still a bizarre experience, no matter how many times he had replayed this exact sequence in the past week; to feel both the rush of adrenaline and fear in his system, and yet feeling calm enough--detached enough, to know that this is not real.
His pursuer lunged forward once more, sword clashing with Hyunjin’s just as he regained his stance. Their heavy breaths mingled with the cold clangs of iron against iron as they struggled to overpower one another. At that point though, Hyunjin was beyond exhausted. He felt a sharp pain in his arm, before his sword flew and fell to the wet ground. Hyunjin fell backwards with a loud thud, the tip of his enemy’s sword was now very close to his throat.
Heavily panting, Hyunjin looked up to meet those mesmerizing eyes.
After that, it was all pain and the dark.
-----------------
“Hyunjin! Hey! Wake up!”
Hyunjin was aroused from his sleep by a frantic-looking Jisung by his bedside, and he could feel the pain searing in his chest as he attempted to sit straight. “What happened?”
“You started thrashing around and screaming. Are you okay?” Jisung brought his hand to Hyunjin’s forehead, checking the other’s temperature. The orange-haired boy was just minding his business, completing another level on his mobile game when his friend began to hyperventilate in his sleep. Hyunjin’s uniform was now drenched in cold sweat like he just ran a marathon. Jisung glanced at the clock on the wall, it was barely an hour since the other started sleeping.
Hyunjin plopped back down on his mattress, looking even worse by the minute. A frown made its way to Jisung’s face.
“Dude, seriously, are you okay?”
“No. I’m not.”
By now, Jisung was already occupying half of Hyunjin’s bed, pulling the other into a loose embrace. They have been the best of friends since both could remember; affection was not new nor unwelcomed despite the growing up they did. They made fun of each other plenty of time, but a desperate time called for a warm cuddle under the blanket.
“I did not know it’s this bad.” Jisung cradled the other on his chest, hand trying to calm Hyunjin down by rubbing soothing circles on his back. “We should talk to your Mom when she gets back. Now, try to get some more sleep.”
Hyunjin was too tired to protest, so he fluttered his eyes shut; already bracing himself for the upcoming terror.
-----------------
Needless to say, the school was torture when one is sleep-deprived, too sleep-deprived to even properly stare at the board without having the urge to vomit all his breakfast. Hyunjin gave up on the second period and excused himself to the infirmary. He was grateful to his past self for being the good student he was, or the teacher would not have easily let him go. Jisung gave him a sympathetic look from his seat at the back, and shot him a thumb up that translates into ‘ I will see you at lunch .’
Hyunjin’s mom had brought him to a therapist the moment he broke down in front of her. She was even kind enough to ask him to stay from school but Hyunjin felt like it would drive him even crazier. Being unable to sleep was one thing, but being cooped up at home alone while the nightmare constantly visits him was not something that he would prefer.
As he knocked on the infirmary door, the school nurse greeted him with a bright smile. “Hyunjin! I kind of expected you. Are you good?”
Apparently, his mom had called in to let the school know of his problem. He was thankful for that, but it did not stop the blush to travel to his face. He certainly did not need the whole school to know.
“Ah, ssaem . I only need some sleep, but thank you.”
“Do you want some decaf tea? It helps.”
Hyunjin politely accepted the offer and took his place in one of the comfortable couch. He would prefer to go to sleep, but still made an effort to engage in small talks with Bambam, the young school nurse. The tea was warm and the couch comforting, he might get some real sleep this time.
“Was class so stressful? I have two students coming in due to sleep-deprivation and it’s not even noon.” Bambam mused out loud and Hyunjin shrugged as an answer. He belatedly realized that someone was already occupying one of the bed, his white socks the only thing visible from behind the curtain. An insomniac buddy, perfect.
“You look so sleepy. Go sleep when you finish the tea.”
Hyunjin excused himself to lie down and heard the door shut when Bambam went out, probably to visit the gym teacher and his friend, Yugyeom. Their dynamic was a funny one, Hyunjin thought. It was always amusing to see the two young teachers bicker over the stupidest thing.
His musing was interrupted by a sudden noise from the bed next to him, where the other student was sleeping. He heard the trashing of tangled blanket and rushed breath; a nightmare? He was debating whether he should go and see if the other boy was okay when a sudden surge of sleepiness wash over him, drowning him and glued his body to the mattress. As he gave in to slumber, he listened to the other boy’s faint cries.
-----------------
For once, it was a different dream; and in this one, he was not running.
Hyunjin first saw the clear blue sky, and felt the warmth of the grass beneath him. The silence around him was comfortable, and the summer breeze grazed his cheek softly, lulling him back to sleep. He brought his hand to cover his eyes from the glaring sun, and noticed the intricate design on the sleeve of his blue Hanbok. He chuckled at the realization; he was apparently a prince.
“What is so amusing?”
Hyunjin sensed someone shift on his left, and felt a pair of eyes now gazing at him. He wanted to turn and see his company, but his dream-body remained on his position. When long fingers found its way to play with Hyunjin’s outstretched hand, a lazy smile formed on his lips. There was something beautiful blooming inside Hyunjin’s chest, petals falling, fluttering gently and sending numbing shivers through his body. He heard his own voice for the first time, soft and full of something unnamed.
“You.”
An amused laughter rang, and his heart constrict in a mix of pleasure and pain when the other’s fingers hold tightly onto his own. The hand is soft and warm; Hyunjin did not want to let go. They stayed like that for a while, basking under the sun and each other’s company. For the first time in a long while, Hyunjin felt content.
“You should probably go.” The other finally voiced, reluctance clear in his tone.
“I want to stay.” Hyunjin was adamant. He really would rather be here.
“But your highness ,” the other playfully stressed at the epithet, “the palace will riot if you are late for lessons.”
Hyunjin groaned. “Why don’t you have a lesson? Why am I the only one suffering?”
“Well, for one, the Kim household demand their sons to memorize Confucius at the age of ten. So I’ve already passed all that.” The soft fingers were now on his cheek, slowly turning Hyunjin’s face towards the other. Hyunjin still had his eyes shut, faking a pout for an added effect. “And we can meet again before dinner, Father will visit the King and I was asked to come along.”
The gentle reassurance brought the smile back to Hyunjin’s face, and his eyes slowly fluttered open to meet a pair of the most mesmerizing orbs.
The pain surged back.
-----------------
“Oh, you’re finally awake.”
Once again, Jisung was on his bedside, phone in hand. Hyunjin was lying on his back, left hand clutching at his pained chest. However, this time he felt well-rested for once, and his uniform was not soaked through with cold sweats.
“What are you doing here?” Hyunjin groggily sat up. He could hear faint conversations from across the curtain.
“I was about to ask you for lunch but you were sound asleep so I did not want to wake you up.” Lunch? He was asleep for almost four hours? “Now that sleeping beauty is finally up, let’s go I’m starving. Oh, also let me ask Felix to join us he happens to be here.”
Jisung stood up without waiting for him, and Hyunjin took his time to gather his thought as the other went over to the other side of the room, fetching their Australian friend. He had had a decent sleep, and though the dream was there and the pain greeted him as usual, it was still something to be happy about. Maybe, it will really get better.
“Hyunjin! Hurry!”
He shouted back an affirmation and quickly wore his indoor shoes, brimming with energy. He thanked Bambam profusely before exiting the school infirmary to where Jisung was waiting at the other side of the door, spring on his steps.
Hyunjin was one step out of the room when he saw them.
Jisung and Felix with their matching orange hair, greeting him with their signature mischievous grins, and an unknown student standing by them.
A boy with the most mesmerizing pair of eyes.