Homesickness and Cuddles
The Chainsmokers - Inside Out
Based on Sukira Kiss The Radio 151123
Word Count: 2173

 

“Because I’m human! Humans have tears.”  Yugyeom defends himself, jutting out his lower lip in the process since the team was ganging up on him, saying that he was a baby and more along those lines.

Jinyoung lightly at the side, glancing at Bambam who was sitting across the table. “So I guess Bambam isn’t human?”

“I guess I’m not.” The latter smiles, releasing a soft chuckle under his breath.

It took them an hour and a few minutes to finish the recording and soon, after a tiring day, they were all set to go back to the dorm. The eager ones rush towards the van while Bambam takes his leisure time making sure that he didn’t leave any belongings in the studio. Jackson and Yugyeom waits for him by the doorway, chatting about the ‘romantic’ games they played with scratchy voices, probably from exhaustion.

“All ready?” Jackson asks in English as Bambam approaches them with a tired smile.

“No doubt, hyung. This day felt really long.” The boy groans, arching his back slightly to stretch out his sore muscles. “Let’s go.”

The two moves back to their conversation after bidding their last farewell to the staffs. Bambam follows behind Jackson and Yugyeom, eyes trained on the older’s sneakers that were squeaking rather loudly in the parking lot. He suddenly felt like spacing out. He doesn’t even remember when or where his mood dropped but it just did. He feels like something was wrong but he just couldn’t point it out although it felt like it was on the tip of his tongue.

“Hey, are you okay?” Jackson pauses in his tracks to check on him, raising an eyebrow at his mood swing. Yugyeom goes ahead, entering their van first after Youngjae.

“Just really tired, hyung.” He gives him a small smile. “Go, go, I just want to lie down and rest.”

“If you say so,” Jackson shrugs, stepping aside to let the younger in first.

Bambam gives him a slight look of confusion first, thinking that the other was going to tie his shoelaces or check if his phone was in his pocket but Jackson gestures for him to step inside the van. The boy gives the latter a sheepish grin before hopping into the vehicle, Jackson going in after.

“Everyone here?” Jaebum checks, looking through the mirror before asking the driver to start.

The ride home was quiet. Most of them were already asleep while some had their earphones plugged in. With Jackson and Youngjae both snoozing on his shoulders, Bambam couldn’t help but worry about what was bothering him. He stared out the window, watching the town at night light up as though it would help him figure out what it is that’s pestering his mind.

He heaves out a deep sigh, proceeding to stare down on his lap instead. These past few days, he’s been feeling really down. He couldn’t tell anyone because he doesn’t want to be treated like a baby anymore. He’s glad about the physical changes that happened to his body but not even puberty can change what the heart feels quickly.

Sure he’s gotten a bit taller—well, he’s practically at Jackson’s height too and compared to before, it was an accomplishment. But he couldn’t change the fact that he was just as homesick as all of them. He was tired, insecure, and stressed, and he actually thought he was handling it pretty well.

Bambam was just as sad as them sometimes but why couldn’t he express those emotions properly?

By the time they arrived at the dorm, Bambam was already dozing off. Jaebum removes his seatbelt as he asks Bambam to wake the others up and the latter obediently obliges to the leader. He pats their shoulders lightly, mumbling a few sets of wake up and we’re here.

They dismount the van one by one, groggily rubbing the sleep out of their systems. They all head towards their own respective rooms with soft goodnights but Mark goes straight to Jinyoung’s despite Jackson’s protests.

“Why?” Bambam asks Jackson half-amused, half-puzzled.

“Mark said he wants to cuddle with Jinyoung so he’s leaving me alone in our room. I feel betrayed.” Jackson pouts dramatically while he crosses his arms over his chest.

Bambam couldn’t help but chuckle and shake his head at his hyung’s childish antics. “You can sleep in our room if you want. There’s still plenty of room on the floor.”

“You won’t mind if I lie beside you, right?” Jackson grins at his own suggestion.

The younger rolls his eyes. “I would.”

“Fine,” Jackson scoffs, heading to his room to grab a pillow and a thick comforter as Bambam goes straight towards his and Yugyeom’s shared room. He takes out a spare blanket from his drawer for Jackson, placing it neatly on the edge of his bed before going to the bathroom for a quick shower.

When Bambam goes back to his room, Jackson and Yugyeom are already sleeping soundly. He turns the thermostat up by one before realizing that Jackson failed