Chapter 1: "That Same Dream..."
It was a warm morning.
The golden light filtered through the sheer curtains, brushing gently over the boy curled beneath soft sheets. His hair was messy, his cheeks still tinted pink from sleep.
Taehyung snuggled deeper into his pillow, a quiet hum escaping his lips.
A soft, shy smile played on his face as he whispered to himself
âMmm~ that sweet dream againâŚâ
He turned his face away from the sun, squeezing his eyes shut, hoping to chase back the dream that was already slipping away like sand through his fingers.
"Why do I keep dreaming about him�"
A figure cloaked in shadow. A warm hand brushing his cheek. A voice that called his name like it was something precious.
He never saw the face clearly⌠but every time, his heart would ache.
âI wish it was real...â
he mumbled with a pout, burying his face into the pillow
His room was quiet. Peaceful. But something in his chest felt hollow like he was waiting for someone who never existed.
He didnât know yetâŚ
That his wish might just come true.
He slowly got up from the bed with a soft sigh. His movements were unhurried, still caught in the warmth of his fading dream. Gently, he undressed and walked toward the bathroom.
Stepping into the bathtub, he let out a small breath as the warm water wrapped around him, instantly soothing his body and lifting the weight of the morning.
A small smile tugged at his lips
This was the kind of peace he wished could last forever.
Sigh âI know itâs just a dream⌠but the feelings feel so real.â
His voice was barely a whisper as he stared at the ceiling, cheeks tinted pink.
âHis touch⌠his smile⌠and those beautiful doe eyesâŚâ
âAishhh~ if he were real, I swear Iâd bite his cheek!â
A shy giggle escaped his lips.
âMy bunny demon... you drive me crazy, even in dreams.â đłđđ
He slowly washed his body, warm water trailing down his skin, but his mindâŚ
it was still tangled in that dream.
His cheeks puffed in a pout as he muttered to himself,
âIâm totally dumb⌠how could I fall in love with a demon?â
A soft pause.
ââŚA demon who only comes to me in dreams?â
His heart thumped quietly in his chest,
as if answering him with a teasing rhythm.
He lowered his head, letting the water hide his flustered expression.
âAish... I must be losing it... or maybe I'm just cursed by a cute face.â đłđŤ§
After finishing his bath, he rose from the tub, droplets of water sliding down his skin.
He dried himself in silence, got dressed for school, and fixed his hair with tired eyes.
Once ready, he made his way downstairs.
The sound of laughter filled the dining room.
His family was gathered around the table, eating happilyâŚ
without him.
He paused for a moment, standing in the doorway.
No one looked up.
No one even noticed he was there.
A small, sad smile curled at his lips.
ââŚAs always,â he whispered under his breath.
He turned away quietly and stepped outside, the soft morning air brushing against his cheeks like a quiet comfort.
Another day, another ache in his chest
[Time skip âł]
Taehyung sat in his classroom, his chin resting in his palm, eyes staring blankly at the board.
But his mind... was a mess.
The laughter at home, the silence toward him, the ache that followedâit all clung to him like a shadow.
From beside him, Jimin watched quietly.
He didnât need to ask.
He already knew.
Heâd seen too many mornings like this⌠when Taehyung would show up wearing a smile that didnât reach his eyes.
With a soft sigh, Jimin reached into his bag and pulled out a small box.
He slid it onto Taehyungâs desk without a word.
Taehyung blinked, then looked down.
Strawberries.
His favorite.
His eyes lit up instantly, sparkling like sunlight on water.
He turned to Jimin with a pouty smile.
âYaa~ Jimishii... You really know how to fix my mood with strawberries,â he mumbled softly, cheeks beginning to lift with real warmth.
Jimin chuckled and gently patted his head.
âEat up, Tae.â
Taehyung wasted no time. He popped one into his mouth and let out a happy hum.
âNum~ Num~ Num~ đâ
The taste of sweetness on his tongue⌠and the quiet kindness in Jiminâs gesture
For a moment,
it made everything feel okay.
Taehyung munched on his strawberries happily, cheeks puffed like a chipmunk.
Between bites, he leaned closer to Jimin and whispered,
âJimina~ you know⌠the demon came into my dream again last night.â
He said it casually, like he was talking about the weather,
but his eyes
they held something else. Something distant⌠and warm.
Jimin blinked, pausing mid-sip from his juice box.
ââŚAgain?â he asked, raising a brow. âThe same one?â
Taehyung nodded, popping another strawberry into his mouth.
âMhm~ the same one. With those beautiful doe eyes and cheeky little smirkâŚâ
He trailed off, cheeks slowly turning red.
âHe hugged me⌠again. I think I⌠I think I like him, Jimina.â đłđ
Jimin tilted his head slightly, expression softening.
ââŚYou really are falling for him, huh?â
But insideâŚ
he wondered
what if that demon wasnât just a dream?
Taehyungâs voice lowered, his eyes still fixed on the little red fruit between his fingers.
âI donât know, JiminaaâŚâ he whispered, âHe feels like⌠home.â
His lips curved into a sad smile, one that didnât quite reach his eyes.
âI know it sounds foolishâŚâ
He looked down, letting out a breath, the strawberry forgotten in his hand.
âBut no one would understand.â
His voice trembled just slightly.
âAt home⌠Iâm alone. Invisible. Unwanted.â
He swallowed hard, blinking away the sting in his eyes.
âBut he⌠even if itâs just a dream⌠he comes to me.
He listens. He smiles. He holds me like I matter.â
He glanced at Jimin, trying to play it off with a laugh that came out too quiet.
âCrazy, right? Falling in love with someone who doesnât even exist.â
Jimin didnât say anything right away.
He just reached out, placing a gentle hand on Taehyungâs.
âYouâre not crazy, TaeâŚ
Sometimes the heart finds comfort where the world refuses to give it.â
Taehyung finally looked up, his chest aching.
ââŚBut what if heâs more than just a dream?â
His voice was barely a whisper.