Everlast | yang jungwon 정원

[0.43]

I stir in my sleep uncomfortably, groaning every time a sharp pain shoots through my head. I feel dizzy and my head pounds, but I try to ignore it. There's a muffled voice which lets out a soft sound, almost as if they're shushing me as a gentle hand runs across my forehead.

I stay still for a moment, definitely not asleep but not fully awake either. Remembering what had occurred before I got knocked out and taken to the Sorian kingdom. They must have me in some sort of a prison cell.

With a plan in mind I immediately flutter my eyes open and sit up to attack the person who holds my head in their lap, but I stop immediately before throwing a punch as shock takes over me instead.

"Heeseung?" I question in surprise as he stares back at me with wide eyes. "Holy shit.." I exclaim in shock before wrapping my arms around his neck, pulling my brother into a much needed hug which he reciprocates quickly. "Holy shit, am I still dreaming?" I breathe out into the crook of his neck, to which his body wracks with a chuckle in response.

"Not dreaming, bug." he responds before squeezing onto me tighter. "Not dreaming."

I can't help it, but a tear escapes my eye at the mention of my old nickname. Especially coming from the person I wanted to hear say it the most.

With a shaky sigh I pull back from his embrace, meeting his eyes which glisten slightly. His hair has gotten longer. The strands almost reach his shoulders, resting just slightly above them. And he looks older. I almost might not have recognized him if it weren't for his big doe eyes.

"You've got some fire in you, huh? That was quite a wake up call, you could've given me a heart attack you know," he exclaims while giving a teasing smile, making a small smile break out onto my face.

"Your hairs gotten longer," I note while reaching my hand up to comb through his slightly knotted hair, earning a wince from him as I accidentally pulled on a knotted strand.

"Is that a good thing or bad thing?" he questions while raising an eyebrow in amusement.

"You look like mom." I simply respond, earning a chuckle from him.

"How is mom and dad by the way? Are they doing well?" he asks more sincerely than before, shifting in his spot as I lean back on the stone wall beside him.

"They're both fine. Doing great actually," I respond with a small smile, earning a nod in response.

"And how are you doing?" he asks, making my smile slightly falter, but I try to hide the reaction by looking down with a false smile. "Are you doing fine?"

"I've been better," I finally admit after a few long seconds of silence with a tight lipped smile, earning a sad smile from the other.

Suddenly he pulls me into his embrace once again, wrapping his arms tightly around my shoulders as he sighs into my hair. "I'm so sorry," he breathes out. I only allow myself to nod in response, not trusting my voice that would most definitely crack if I tried to speak. "I'm really sorry, bug." he says again, his voice slightly wavering this time. "I knew that you wouldn't understand where I had gone, so I thought it was best if you thought i was really gone instead. I'm so sorry, I really am." he rambles while squeezing onto me tighter, almost as if he's scared I would disappear if he lets go.

"I know," I end up muttering quietly into his shoulder blade. "You don't need to apologize for anything. I know that your intentions were good."

"That still doesn't make what I did okay.." he trails off with a frown, making me let out a deep sigh.

"Look, I forgive you okay? I'm way past it now so don't hold yourself against it, okay?" I try while grabbing onto his shoulders, shaking them slightly. "Okay?" I urge again while leaning down to stare into his eyes, giving his head a stern poke with my pointer finger.