THE PATH TOWARDS THE EXIT || BTS

ROOM #4: Jung Hoseok (7)

...

Hoseok's face contorted pink as he immediately gather all his will to look away the moment he got a glimpse of something he shouldn't have seen.

There in front of him stand Micasa, embarrassed and feeling ashamed when Hoseok accidentally walked in inside her bedroom while she was changing into her sleepwear making the latter see everything that she's hiding.

"I-I'm done..." She stuttered. She did her best to shoved her body inside the long sleeved shirt as soon as she can.

Hoseok's expression is unreadable as she finally look back at her. His lips shows a warm tepid smile but his eyes have sadness inside them. She knew it. This is the main reason why she never wants anyone to know about those scars. They will all look at her like how Hoseok is looking at her right now.

"I'm pitiful, aren't I?" She mumbled, her eyes afraid to look back at his.

"Don't hide them." Hoseok muttered, contrary to her question. He did not answer her but found the right words to comfort her." They're beautiful, it makes people around you know that you're brave and you went through something difficult on you own and did it. You did great in life."

Micasa smiled at him. No one had ever told him that her scars are beautiful. "Thanks."

Hoseok approached her, shocking her when she felt him embrace her frigid body with warmth and his hands soothing her hair. "Tell me... Tell me the stories behind them, I want to listen."

Micasa slowly pulled away, her eyes seeking for what emotions does his eyes show when he said those beautiful words. Someone is willing to listen. She thought as she make herself lost in Hoseok's starry eyes.

Without realizing it, she was already providing him the history behind the scars all over her body. "The biggest scar is the one on my left thigh. I got it while trying to save my parents from the fire."

"The one on my rib was when I fell off the stairs in school when my classmates bullied me and called me a killer for being the only one in surviving from the fire."

"Those tiny cuts on my wrist were me... For many times I thought about ending my life, but would always fail because I know that that's not what my parents want."

"And the bruises all over my body were marks made by my abusive aunt... Whenever she's in a bad mood she'd always take it out on me. Of course I considered telling the police, but my uncle is the chief, h-how could I?" She murmured everything as she let Hoseok rub comforting caresses on her back.

"Those scars... They're disgusting." She complained.

Hoseok listened to her all night... He was there when she was hesitant to tell him everything, when she started crying and telling him all of her pain, her frustrations, when she felt assured enough to tell him what she was scared of, what made her sad, what made her a bit happy, what she learned, and what she thinks about doing in the future. Hoseok was there listening and waiting for her to let it all out like what all people needs in life when they want to just confide.

Hoseok is there until she started talking about what makes her happy now and what she's thankful about now... What she regret and what she didn't regret.

He's there — right beside her.

...