Affliction ❄️ Jisung

❄️ 24

It had been a few weeks into January and Jisung genuinely felt happier.

He didn't think about his aunt or uncle and despite living in a gang house, he felt at home- both physically and within himself.

But he couldn't help but feel bored when the others would go out after school to do their gang related duties.

So, as Jisung hesitantly made his way up the stairs to Areums room, he mustered you the courage to ask her if he could work at the cafe again.

His bosses kept messaging him and he had to keep lying.

Standing in-front of her door, he hesitantly held his fist up- ready to knock.

His nerves automatically disappearing when he heard soft muffled cries from behind the door making his heart drop.

"Areum are you okay?" He asked concerned as he heard her sniffle and try to be quiet.

Reaching down he tries to open her bedroom door, ultimately finding it locked as he wriggles the door handle.

"Areum, please let me in" he said calmly.

"Go away" was all he heard as he leant his forehead on the door.

"Please."

There was a silent pause before small shuffled footsteps were heard followed by the click of the door unlocking- making Jisung look up slowly as Areum opens the door.

Her hair messy, eyes red and puffy, lips swollen as she bit down on them.

His eyes wide in shock as he watches a tear fall from her eye.

"Ar-"

"How do you do it?" She asked as she sniffles and rubbing her nose with her hoodie sleeve.

"How do I do what?" He asked confused as she turned around, walking deeper into the confinement's of her dark room.

When she didn't answer him he started to become worried, pushing open the door to her bedroom. It was definitely big- bigger than the other rooms- but she seemed so small as her feet dangled off the side of her large bed.

"Areum, I'm confused what do you mea-"

"How are you so nice!" She yelps out, voice cracking as another tear fell from her eye.

Her sudden outburst made Jisung speechless, standing frozen as he tries to figure out what to say.

"How can you be so nice despite what has happened to you?"

He finally snaps out of his frozen state and makes his way to her bed, slowly sitting down at the foot of it, being careful not to intrude in her personal space.

"I-it frustrates, no, infuriates me that someone who has been through what you have been through has come out a pot full of fucking rainbows and happiness.

How, please tell me how." She almost begs out as her hands reach for the rim of his hoodie, grabbing hold of it tightly as she wept.

"It hurts, so much. How can you give so much love to someone who has never felt it?"

Jisung sighs, looking down at the girls balled up fists, knuckles white as tear stains glistened on her honey skin.

Taking her hands in his, he hesitantly intertwines their fingers together, making her heart beat rapidly at this new sensation- one that's coming from such a simple act of kindness.

"To be honest, I don't know. I've never really felt love either, I don't know what it feels like.

But I remember one thing my mum said to me when I was a child, she would always place my head on her lap" he said as he turned Areum around and softly placing her head in his lap.

"She would play with my hair" his actions followed his words- his long fingers brushed through her soft hair as she sniffles once again.

"And she would tell me, to have courage and be kind" his words made her look up to him.

Eyelashes wet with the residue of her tear as she blinked, eyes locked with his.

"I don't remember what it's liked to be loved, never having that feeling, all I remember is these actions and words. So I guess that's what pushed me through.

But I haven't always been happy." Jisung admits.

"I always felt so self conscious and lonely. I felt like no one liked me, but recently I've started feeling better. Being in this house, with the guys- with you- I've felt a lot happier." He continues as he adverts his eyes from hers, feeling tears well up in his eyes at his confession.

Her soft fingers reached up to cup his jaw, squishing his cheeks lightly as she moved his head to look at her.

"I don't know what it is about you Park Jisung, but recently, I've been feeling something. Something I have never felt before. But I like it, and the only reason I'm feeling it, is because of you."

Their eyes longed into each other's, Areum slowly sitting up so she was on her knees staring at him.

"Let's just forget the fact that we have had shit lives for one second, and let's just lay here- together" Jisung said as they laid down on the bed.

Jisung laid flat on his back as Areum cuddled into his side, hand laid on his chest as her head rested just above his heart.

The soft beats soothing Areum as she comes down from her rampaging emotions that just went off.

Areum lifts her head to look up at him, "I know this is a bit random, but I don't feel like putting up a tough side toda-"

"Shhh. Let's just stay like this, at least for a little while." He said calmly as his hand lightly pushed her head back to his chest.

Hands raking through her hair smoothly before resting it on her waist.

The two soundlessly falling into a peaceful sleep, one that the two of them hadn't experienced in a very long time.

—————

So how are we feeling about the progress of their relationship?

Do you want it to be slower?

Faster?

Any suggestions?