Let Go

Chapter 3- Sciophilia

Mom carried me on his shoulder, but I didn't flinch. I'm too engrossed with my tiny sobs and perhaps, too tired to protest against this unwilling feeling of leaving the woods. I lifted my head a little, trying to catch something in sight. A figure maybe? I wanted to make sure the person who helped me is safe from the cold. But noone was there. I drift back and fell asleep. I woke up as soon as we got home. Mom tossed me at the couch. It felt like my heart stopped. "What happened to dad?" I was barely able to speak, my throat felt hoarse. "He hurt himself out in the woods, and you dare slip out and went there? Right where your dad nearly killed himself? What is wrong with you two?" he shouted angrily. "Is it fun to make me worry this much?"

I didn't pay attention to him. "Who are you?" I asked the man beside dad non-chalantly. "My name is Hoseok. I found your dad in the woods. You are Jungkook, I assume?" I just shrugged my shoulders. "Mom, why is a stranger here?" I looked at Seokjin, his brows furrowed as he rubbed his temples with his index finger. He released a deep sigh in exasperation "For God's sake! Am I just a figure here? I'd die first from all the emotional and psychological abuse you are both causing me!"

I swear mom turns into a rapper in double-time when he's angry. He could speak in 600 words per minute. "Mom, dad's wound is infected." I interrupted his harangue. "There are Wild Comfrey and Limestone powder inside the cupboard. Let me clean his wound. Bring them here. Hoseok can you bring me a basin with hot water, please and thank you." he quickly commanded. We followed hastily.

Hoseok and I watched as mom cleaned Dad's wounds there are no gauze pad available so he used his shirt for compress. "How do you know which plants are safe to use and which ones are not?" Hoseok seemed really interested.

"I've always wanted to become a doctor but my family urged me to study Hotel and Resaurant management because of our family business. Every summer, I do visit my uncle's farm. He grows potatoes and strawberries while my aunt grows medicinal herbs. I've learnt about which herbs can be used for open wound healing and which ones can be used as analgesic and antiseptic. Who knew it would come in handy someday?"

Seokjin is really smart although he can be weird sometimes. He learns fast and he can apply the knowledge he got on a daily basis as if all the things he learned are stored carefully somewhere in his head. I think he has a huge storage in his brain. Sometimes, I envy him. I was too entertained with him that I forgot what happened earlier. But as soon as he was done with dad's wounds, he looked at me and continued where he left earlier. "So... why did you go out earlier, huh, Jungkook?"

"I told you... I want to play with Taehyung."

"Shut up with the lies! Who else could be living in this place? We all know that there are no other people in this place!"

"Then what am I? An apparition?" Hoseok jumped in. We both looked at him. "Sorry, just saying. Don't mind me."

"He's right. If he's here, why would it be impossible for someone else to be here as well? When would you ever believe me?"

"I could have believed if it is the truth. But we all know you are very bad at lying, my dear. You can't even look at me in the eyes when you lie."

"But it's true! I was with Taehyung. I was with V! I call him V-hyung. He saved me earlier before you came!"

Mom was taken aback. This time, he knew I wasn't lying. He saw it in my eyes. "V-hyung?" He echoed. "Yes." I answered firmly. "Go back to your room." He spoke in a low voice. "What? Why?" I'm confused. "Just, go back, I said." I slowly went up to my room.

"What's wrong?" even Hoseok noticed how my mom suddenly started to act strange. "Nothing" he flatly responded.

I entered my room and turned the lights on. I saw my window nailed shut with planks of wood. "He has no plan of letting me out, huh?" I threw myself on the bed.

"It's your fault. He told you, you can't go." a familiar voice spoke. I jumped out of the bed as my eyes instictively rummage upon the room. "Yo." he greeted.

I was startled that my feet got tangled and i fell down on my butt. "What are you-- how... did?" I begun to stutter. Emerging from the shadows at the corner of my room was this guy in feathery robe. "T-Taehyung?" I gulped. "Why do you look like you've seen a ghost?" he laughed. "How did you get here so fast? What are you doing in my room?" I hovered back until my back hit the wall, I couldn't even stand up. My knees gave out in fear. He knelt down and gently pushed me down into a lying position, my right hand pinned down to the floor with his left hand. His right hand caressed my face softly and then cupped my chin; he leaned closer to my face; his eyes stared at me as if they were looking through my soul. And then, he smirked "You see... I'm a sciophilic person..."

"A scio... what?"

"Sciophilic. I am highly attracted to shadows. I love them. Your eyes are dark, gloomy and full of shadow. Your eyes attract me, and I can't help but to follow you." He pulled me closer and whispered in my ear. "I am attracted to you, Jungkook." he breathed. I could feel his warm breath on my neck as his lips softly touched my skin. He smelled like roses and citrus and kiss lured me. I slowly closed my eyes. I heard running footsteps from outside my door. But I paid no attention.

Suddenly, mom barged into my room and my door slammed open. "Jungkook!" he yelled, I opened my eyes and saw myself lying on the floor. The lights in my room are still off and my bed is full of black feathers. "Please do not turn your lights off from now on." he cried.

There was a warm, rusty taste in my mouth. I touched my lips with my finger...

"I-is this... Blood??"