Our Summer

Chapter 34

Taehyung stays still on the couch, trying his best to reach for the remote control to switch the television off. Seori has fallen asleep so quickly, not even ten minutes into the movie. His slight movement could have shaken her and she grabs his arm in panic, making him freeze.

"Don't leave", she says sleepily.

"No, I am not", he quickly covers her hand that is on his arm, caressing it softly while pressing soft kisses in her hair. "I am staying here"

He waits for a moment, not daring to even move the slightest. Seori shifts in his arm, sinking deeper into his hug and she mumbles something about his scent that pulls a small smile on his face, making him sigh softly to himself. He reaches for a small pillow, gently putting it behind her waist, making sure it supports her back so that she gets to sleep comfortably.

He contemplates carrying her to her bed but he remembers how hard it is for her to fall asleep and stay asleep at night, thus he decides against it. He sits still on the couch, breathing in and out softly, basking in the faded smell of her strawberry-scented hair mist and the musky smell of her perfume that has been lingering around him.

Her scent has been engraved in his head since the first time he smelled it at the stairs of the school - the day she lashed on him. Only if she knew the number of times he has replayed their little bickering in his head, remembering the tone of her voice and the expression on her face, she would have called him crazy.

He looks around her house, killing time as he tries to stay awake. He wants to stay awake until he is sure Seori is deep into her sleep and will not wake up in the middle of the night. He wants to be there if she happens to wake up that night.

Whenever he remembers how she had been when she woke up from her nightmare, a part of his heart breaks. It pains him to not know why she has been having these recurring nightmares but despite him wanting to ask her about it, he would rather let her tell him herself if she wants.

There is so much about her that he has yet to know. He wants to know. He wants to know every single thing about her - things that make her, her. But he does not want to rush her into these things.

Taehyung lets himself dive deep into his thoughts, staring into the dimness of the living room, and slowly drifts into sleep. But after a few minutes, he feels Seori jerking in his arm, waking in a jump, gasping as she grips the front of his shirt in slow motion like she is terrified of making a sound.

He quickly reaches for her hand, holding it in his, and pulls her closer.

"I am here. You are safe with me", he says while kissing her hair, wrapping his arm around her, and letting her bury her face into his chest.

She stays quiet for a long beat, her ragged breathing slowly becomes softer as she relaxes in his arm and after a while, she relaxes.

"Seori?"

"I-I had a nightmare", she says weakly, the pounding of her heart making her entire body so aware of everything.

His hand gently goes to her back, rubbing it gently to offer comfort. He can feel the heavy thumping of her heart under his fingers and he frowns at that, pushing her even closer to him.

"I am sorry"

"I-I need some time", she hides her face in his chest. "I want these images out of my head"

His hand slides up to cup the back of her head, caressing with utmost tenderness as he feels bitterness coating his tongue and his heart sinking at the sound of her weak voice. He realizes how much he dislikes when she is like this - so perplexed and disturbed by the nightmares she has no control of.