Those dreams

The next day, the hospital -Excuse me! I'm a friend of him! Please, let me pass!

Changbin sneaked past the cameras and ran through the halls of the hospital to Seungmin's room.

-Hey! he almost slipped on his way to the door and reached for the door to open it.

He found Seungmin looking at him in shock. He had his arm broken and a cut above his left eyebrow.

-I came as fast as I could, Changbin panted. What- What happened? he stopped mid-sentence to take a deep breath.

-I turned left to avoid an accident and found myself hanging on the edge of the bridge. The other driver was drunk. The firemen took me out in time, but the car is on the bottom of the Han river. My phone was crushed, so I called the only number I had. Jeongin have me your number and I forgot it in my pocket, he showed Changbin the note. Besides... he gulped in fear. I needed a hyung, he broke out.

Changbin's heart broke in pieces. He wrapped his arms around the younger and caressed his back.

-I was so scared. I was... I thought I was going to die, Seungmin cried his heart out.

-It's alright, I'm here with you, Changbin cradled his head with one arm.

-Thank you for coming, hyung...

-You're part of the family now, buddie, Changbin whispered. Besides, I like you more than I like Jeongin, he joked, making Seungmin chuckle. Let's call Felix and Jeongin, yeah? Changbin ruffled his hair. I bet they are worried sick.

20 minutes later-Minnie! Felix jumped in the bed, crying in Seungmin's chest.

-Lix, my arm... Seungmin winced in pain.

-Sorry, Felix mumbled with a trembling lip. I thought I lost you... I was so worried, he rested his chin on Seungmin's shoulder.

The moment Changbin told him Seungmin was in the hospital, Felix came in a rush with Minho and Jisung after him.

-I'm going to find the bathroom, Jisung whispered in Minho's ear.

The older nodded, not giving it too much thought.

Jisung walked the hall and sliding down a wall.

He looked at his wrist and froze in shock. "68" He got reckless. He hadn't seen such a low number since he was 13 years old.

His body was trembling, as he struggled to get up and failed.

-Shit! he bumped his head to the wall in frustration.

He looked to the right and spotted Jeongin staring at him. The boy definitely heard them at the library. He knew.

-Seungmin is right there, he pointed towards the door.

-You don't look good, Jeongin said coldly.

-Low sugar, Jisung faked a smile. Give me a sec and I'll be alright.

Jeongin threw a chocolate bar in Jisung's lap and walked to see his boyfriend. Jisung had to be careful around that boy.

Lee brothers' apartment Chan was left to take care of Minho's apartment. He was too ashamed to leave the house, afraid to bump into Hyunjin. It was done.

He wasn't mad at Minho or anything.

He was embarrassed and afraid of Hyunjin's inevitable rejection. He didn't want to back off now that he felt him getting closer. He didn't want to go back to being just a friend. But he knew very well that was his fate.

He sighed and flopped on the bed before receiving a text on his phone.

FROM HYUNJIN???

His eye widened as he stared at the screen.

"Hyung, can you come over?"

Yes, he could. He wanted to. He needed to. He took a few deep breaths, replied to the text with a chill "Sure". Not too desperate.

Then he paced around the room to make it less obvious that he was right next door.

Dori made circles with him on the carpet before the boxer decided to face the reality like a grown-up and knock on Hyunjin's door.

The said door slammed open immediately as if Hyunjin was already there peeking through the key hole.

-Hi... I'm here, Chan smiled awkwardly and facepalmed himself in his mind.

-I can see that, Hyunjin made way for Chan to get inside, keeping his eyes glued to the floor.Chan looked around at the mess inside the house, the chairs thrown on the floor, the papers and the paint spilled everywhere.

Had he done that? Was Hyunjin that affected by Chan's stupid feelings?

-Sorry for the mess! Hyunjin bowed in shame. I... I tried to paint last night after I came home and I couldn't. It was so frustrating. My hand wouldn't move.

-Maybe you have an artist block, Chan shrugged.

-I tried everything. Then I realized. I needed my muse. I needed to paint something I liked.

Hyunjin was really anxious, walking back and forth in a continuous panic.

-So... You want to paint me? Is that why you invited me over?

-Yes! Chan felt a bit disappointed by the fast response, but it's not like he expected something else.

-Alright. How should I sit? Chan asked, feeling stiff as a wall.

Hyunjin avoided eye contact, but arranged Chan's collar a million times, until he got mad and unbuttoned the shirt a bit.

-Easy, Chan grabbed his wrist.

-Sorry... Hyunjin looked literally anywhere but at Chan. Maybe another one, he said while proceeding to unbutton Chan's shirt.

-Why not take it off and toss it around? Chan joked.

Hyunjin traced Chan's collarbone with his finger as if he was in a trance.

He snapped out of it and went to his chair to paint. Or to try. It didn't work. His mind was somewhere else. He knew where. He just couldn't accept it.

-Maybe I'll return another day. You need some sleep, Chan said.

Hyunjin got up and threw the brush across the room.

-I'm so sorry, he sighed. I'm not... I don't know what's going on with me.

-Maybe some sleep will...

-I can't sleep... I can't do anything.

-Hey, it's alright, Chan placed his hand on Hyunjin's shoulder, making the younger flinch.

-Did you mean it?

-Huh?

Chan finally met with Hyunjin's eyes. A red spiderweb. He indeed couldn't sleep and it was showing.

-Did you mean it about me? What Minho hyung said. Do you like me?

-I... I do, Chan closed his eyes and waited for the rejection.

He was ready to crash. He was just hoping Hyunjin would be quick.

-Good.

-Good? Chan widened. That's it? Good?

-I'm not feeling guilty anymore, Hyunjin added with a blank face.

-Guilty for what? Chan asked confused as hell.

-For those dreams I had.

Chan's mouth parted in awe.

Oh...

OH??????!!!!!!!

THOSE DREAMS!

HYUNJIN HAD DREAMS ABOUT THEM.

NASTY DREAMS.

Chan's face caught on fire immediately. Hyunjin had liked him for a while and he was so dumb that he didn't see it coming.

-For how long? Chan asked, feeling his heart explode.

-From the moment we met. You drove me mad so many times. I couldn't sleep or eat. I felt so guilty for having those dreams knowing we were just friends.

Chan's lips curled into a smile as he placed his fingers under Hyunjin's chin.

-I bet reality is better, he said.

Hyunjin's cheeks flushed a red colour before he closed the distance with a sloppy kiss.

He grabbed Chan's hair and pushed him into the wall to feel their bodies rubbing against each other.

-Who knew you're so harsh? Chan broke the kiss to comment.

-Minho hyung did mention I was a loner, right?

-Yeah, Chan raised his eyebrow.

-Keep coming here and I'll tell you the full story, he said before pressing his lips against Chan's again.

_______________________Another ship done

Changlix takes a bit of time, but we like a slow burn story🤭

Did Jeongin really hear Jisung talking about the curse? If yes, what will he do about it?

Is Jisung slowly dying? Will he tell Minho?

Thank you for reading!