Jin tossed and turned on his couch but couldn't get sleep no matter what. He laid on his back staring at the ceiling.
This is not a big deal really. Stop overthinking…
He placed his hand over his forehead, releasing a tired sigh. From between his fingers, he peeked at Shui. He thought she was soundly sleeping by now, but he noticed so movents from her side. Her legs seed to constantly fidget inside the blanket as if she felt uncomfortable sowhere.
Jin blinked and quietly stood up. He walked towards her slowly and scanned her from top to bottom. Upon closer look, he also heard so soft distressed murmurs and mumbling from her lips. A light layer of sweat had ford on her forehead.
"Shui?" He whispered.
She made a muffled sound and moved restlessly. Jin sat on the edge of the bed near her and gently shook her arm this ti. "Shui."
Seeing her tremble, he quickly placed his hand on her forehead.
She doesn't have a fever. But at this point, she also began to feel breathless.
"Help…please…Jin…"
His eyes slightly widened and he scooted closer. "Shui, I am here. What's wrong?"
"...Go…Don't touch …" a small tear escaped the corner of her eye.
Suddenly, it struck Jin.
She is having a nightmare. The incident at the party…
He gnashed his jaw, his fury for Mui bubbling even deeper. A murderous flash of light passed through his eyes, but he forced himself to calm down.
"Shui, Shui. It's . I am Jin. Wake up."
When he didn't get any response, he shook her shoulder slightly harder which woke her up with a gasp.
Shui stared dazedly ahead, her heart pounding in her chest as if sobody was hamring on it ruthlessly. Feeling moist on her forehead, eyes and near her ears, she heaved breathlessly.
Jin took her hand and pressed it firmly. "I am Jin. You are fine, Shui. You were having a nightmare."
It took a few monts for her to reorient herself as the nightmare still remained fresh in her mind. Before she knew it, she broke down.
Jin paled and quickly brought a glass of water for her. "Drink so."
Her tears continued to fall, her expression turning paler. "It feels w-weird in my chest…I can't feel my arms and legs either."
"It's okay," he whispered softly, trying to soothe her panicked nerves. "It's probably because a part of your mind still thinks you are in your dream. But I am here, Shui. Nobody is going to hurt you, I promise."
Shui felt an ache in her head but with every passing mont, her head felt clearer than before. She finally realized that she was at ho.
"I was…dreaming about the party."
Jin nodded ever so slowly. The trauma was never easy to forget.
"I dreamt…" she was shivering, "that sobody was dragging in my half-conscious state. I was," she felt her mouth going dry, "fighting and struggling, but he kept dragging …I kept shouting too but nobody was listening…"
Tears pooled in her eyes. "It-It was horrible Jin. I was so afraid wh-when I was losing my consciousness. I couldn't see or hear anything clearly. I don't know what was happening to . I didn't know what would happen a-and where I would be once I woke up…B-back in the party, when it was you coming at , I-I thought it was so other stranger trying to-"
"Sshh," he pressed his finger on her lips and stared into her eyes. "Nothing like that would have happened. I wouldn't have let anybody hurt you. I would fucking cut their arms and legs off before sobody even thinks of doing anything ssy with you."
His no-nonsense and cold countenance brought a wave of relief in her heart. She still rembered the feeling of a burden lifting off her shoulders the mont she realized that it was Jin.
Jin pressed into her hand and said, "I know it would be difficult to forget about tonight. I know it was hell scary for you, but I promise I won't ever let you go through sothing like this again. I will always be by your side."
As much as Jin cursed Mui for Shui's state, he blad himself too.
"You…" her eyelashes trembled, "weren't there by my side for six years."
He froze.
"You won't be by my side now or…six more years later either."
A lump ford in his throat that made him struggle to breathe. "I…I an a-as a fr…friend…"
Her lips ford a small smile. "Would a friend go as far as cutting off the bad man's arms and legs?"
"...My brothers would do that for you. You know it."
"Hm, I agree. And you?" She asked, "Would you punish the bad people for only as a friend?"
Jin couldn't imdiately answer the last part of the question. "...Yes."
"What if…I want more than that?"
He stiffened. "That's not possible…"
"Why?"
He pressed his lips inwardly in silence.
"Do you like sobody else?"
"No," that answer was imdiate.
"Then do you like ?"
He bit his lower lip.
She smiled. "I take it as a yes. So you like , but you cannot go further than that for so reason. Yet, you still promise that you will always be by my side. That's a little cruel, don't you think?"
He panicked. "I…! I didn't an it…I an…"
Jin wasn't sure himself what he was trying to explain.
"Don't…" Shui's lips slightly quivered. "Don't make promises that you can't keep, Jin. I was lucky that you were at the party tonight. But rember you weren't supposed to be there, right? Ai forced you to co. If she hadn't, then…"
Jin paled. "Shui…"
"You won't be by my side, Jin. Just like how you weren't there for the last six years. B-but you still act in a way that makes feel you will. It gives hope. It makes happy. I…don't want to live in that hope again, Jin. It's very painful because then I crash land and I realize that ah... it's hurting everywhere."
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