Exchange student - one year ᵗᵃᵉᵏᵒᵒᵏ

45

⊱ ────── {⋅. ✯ .⋅} ────── ⊰

Jungkook didn't quite understand what Taehyung meant, but it scared him deeply. It felt like he was drowning in a sea of pain and fear. The desperate, empty look in Taehyung's eyes was almost unbearable - a reflection of his own helplessness that tore at his heart. Every breath was agony, as if he was carrying this burden himself. His heart raced like a wild animal, his hands trembled and his throat was parched with worry.

The blond shook his head desperately, as if he could shake off the oppressive reality. Without hesitation, he pulled the older man tightly to him, pressed him against his chest and held him close, as if he could protect him from the pain that threatened to engulf him. The tears streamed unstoppably down his cheeks as if they would never stop.

He simply didn't know what to do and this helplessness was choking him. But the solution was actually simple and yet so unattainable: There was nothing he could do but be there, hold him and show him that he wasn't alone. Jungkook lifted a hand and gently stroked Taehyung's hair, trying to give him at least a little comfort. The warmth of the touch was the only thing he could offer right now.

Taehyung's head sank heavily onto the younger man's shoulder again, while he still seemed completely absent, as if he had escaped into another world where he could hide from the pain. Jungkook remembered that the lecturer had said: In such states, you could ask those affected about their trauma and sometimes you would get answers, even if they could be confusing and difficult to understand.
So should Jungkook really take advantage of this state to find out more about Taehyung? Or should he just leave him alone so he could recover? The uncertainty gnawed at him - but if he knew more, he might be able to help better, right? He could feel Taehyung's warm tears on his skin and the trembling that ran through his body, making his decision to do the right thing even harder.

Jungkook gritted his teeth as tears flowed unstoppably from his eyes. He felt so lost. After a moment of silence, he finally decided to ask. "Taehyung?" he whispered softly, perhaps to attract the older man's attention. "What were you dreaming about that it scared you so much?" he asked carefully, his voice little more than a whiny breath that almost disappeared into the silence.

But instead of receiving an answer, the younger man felt Taehyung's body tense up. He hugged him even tighter, desperately hoping that he could somehow calm him down. When no answer came, Jungkook swallowed hard, but he couldn't stop asking. "Do you know what caused your nightmare?" he continued to ask, his voice trembling with worry and uncertainty. Jungkook's heart was beating so loudly that he thought Taehyung must hear it.

The blond felt Taehyung's fingers digging desperately into his waist as his breathing became more and more frantic, his chest rising and falling jerkily. "I have rules I must follow," the older man murmured softly, his voice trembling. "His words are my law."

Jungkook swallowed hard, a lump forming in his throat. He stroked Taehyung's dark hair reassuringly, even though he was shaking inside with worry and pain. He tried to be strong for him and suppress his own despair. "Sleep with as many women as possible to gain experience and maybe find the woman for my side... Love the ones he loves and hate the ones he hates," Taehyung explained as tears ran down Jungkook's cheeks incessantly. He listened patiently, even though his heart broke a little more with every word.

"I speak, sleep and eat when he allows me to. I have to look the way he wants me to... Never cry, laugh or show emotion," Taehyung added absently. His voice was nothing more than a hint of resignation and despair. "Always being perfect to be the poster child of the family." His voice broke as he uttered the last words, as if he was collapsing under an unbearable weight.