word count: 1,814w

Ever since Kyungsoo was a little boy, he had always been ridiculed by his family and friends for being so deadly afraid of the dark. It was not his fault that the dark was creepy as . Who knew what disastrous things lurked in the dark?

However, over the past years, he had been able to overcome with his severe fear of nyctophobia with the help of his best friend, Kim Jongin.

Kyungsoo never told Jongin exactly why he was afraid of the dark, just the fact that he could not stand to be in the dark alone.

That was enough for Jongin to hear.

Kim Jongin was not afraid of anything. That’s why, he was always there when Kyungsoo came running to him in tears after his father yelled at him for being such an immature child.

“You’re old enough to walk, but you can’t even get your upstairs without pissing your pants because you’re afraid?” Kyungsoo’s father muttered under his breath, cursing at his adolescent son for being so childish.

Jongin never liked Kyungsoo’s father anyways, always lowering his own child’s self-esteem and comparing him to his older cousins who he considers are much more successful in life.

Jongin brought Kyungsoo into his arms, hugged him tightly, and whispered softly into his ears that he would always be there for Kyungsoo, so that the bad memories would wither away, leaving only happy moments for the both of them to enjoy.

Kyungsoo always found comfort in Jongin’s arms.

When there was a bad thunderstorm and Kyungsoo was alone in the house with his parents out of town, all crawled up in his bed with the sheets over his head, he speed-dialed the number one person on his phone, Jongin, who always picked up by the second ring.

“Don’t be afraid, hyung. I will protect you.” Jongin said.

And with that, Kyungsoo fell asleep peacefully to the sound of Jongin humming through the phone.

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Kyungsoo knew it was a bad idea, but he agreed anyways because it was Jongin, his best friend and boyfriend of four years, who asked him to see the new movie.

It was Jongin who came to his psychology class after Kyungsoo finished talking to his professor for what seemed like an eternity, with a bouquet of carnations in one hand, and his favorite type of chocolates in the other.

“Hey hyung.” Jongin said, smiling brightly with a wide smile when he laid eyes on his favorite person in the world.

Kyungsoo looks absolutely adorable in an oversized sweater and tight fitted jeans that make his look so-

He stared at his lover and wondered how he was able to get his hands on such a perfect man.

Jongin pulled Kyungsoo into a tight embrace, nuzzling into his hair and loving how Kyungsoo always smells like cinnamon and a bright new day, the wind planting kisses on his face for being so perfect.

Despite the fact that his short height caused some disadvantages, Kyungsoo loved how he fit perfectly in Jongin’s arms.

“Hey yourself.” Kyungsoo said, looking up to admire his lover’s flawless features.

Jongin kissed Kyungsoo softly on his forehead as he retrieved the gifts from behind his back.

He saw Kyungsoo’s surprised expression and could not help but laugh at how cute his adorable hyung looked.

“Jongin, what’s this? Flowers? Our anniversary was two months ago!” Kyungsoo panicked.

“Is it wrong for me to shower my wonderful boyfriend with love?” Jongin pouted.

Kyungsoo laughed and smiled as his boyfriend continued to act like a child.

“There is a new movie coming out, and I really want to see it with you.” Jongin said and grinned when he saw that he was the reason behind Kyungsoo’s heart-shaped smile.

Oh no. Kyungsoo knew what’s going on now. He should’ve realized it when Jongin gave him the gifts.

“Jongin...” Kyungsoo said, slowly backing away from his lover.

However, Jongin was quick to notice his boyfriend’s uncomfortable state and pulled him back into his arms.

“Hyung, hyung, hyung, please! I will be right there beside you! Please, let’s watch Sixth Sense together, yeah, yeah, yeah?” Jongin continued, rambling on about the new movie as Kyungsoo planned to think of an excuse to escape his way out of this.

His fear of nyctophobia worsened when he watched his first horror movie with Jongin as a child. He had nightmares every single night and constantly checked under his bed every night for any monsters.

“Jongin, love... you know how I feel about horror movies and theaters in general. I won’t be able to sleep for weeks!” Kyungsoo hid his face in Jongin’s chest.

Kyungsoo felt Jongin laughing as he pressed his face closer to his chest. “Do you remember what happened last time? I slept with the lights on for two months!” Kyungoo said, recalling the time Jongin made him watch some horror movie with him.

“Never again, Kyungsoo. We can watch a chick flick next time!” Jongin said.

“Baby, it’s okay. I will fight off the scary monsters for you! Please? Sehun’s too busy with Luhan doing... certain things.” Jongin said as he remembered walking in on them getting it on at three in the morning.

Every time he had an encounter with Luhan, Jongin found it hard to keep eye contact ever since he saw Luhan tied to the bed as Sehun took him from behind.

He put on an his best act and prepared his puppy eyes that he knew Kyungsoo wouldn’t be able to resist.

Kyungsoo should say no. He’s going to say no. That’s what he’s going to say.

“Fine, I’ll go with you to see the movie.” kyungsoo sighed.

Damn.

He’ll learn his lesson someday.

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“I should really leave,” Kyungsoo thought as he waited impatiently in the cold for Jongin to buy the tickets for the horrendous movie that they were about to see.

“Let’s go, hyung!” Jongin said, holding his lover’s cold hands and pulling them closer to his.

Although it had only been twenty minutes into the movie, Kyungsoo couldn’t help but whimper every time the little child saw someone from the dead.

“Jongin, I’m scared.” Kyungsoo said, hiding his face from the screen.

“Baby, look! It’s getting to the best part.” Jongin exclaimed happily.

Kyungsoo should know better than to agree to this, but he just could not bring himself to say no when Jongin begged him to go.

It really didn’t help that the movie theater was dark as hell, with only the screen as the source of light, which Kyungsoo refused to look at because he knew what would happen if he did.

Fortunately, Kyungsoo survived through the movie but he did not know how he was going to survive the night.

As Kyungsoo crawled into bed, he couldn’t help but feel as if there was something in the room with him.

He shrugged it off, thinking it was a shadow casting from the trees and drifted off to sleep.

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“As he was in the car with his mother, he noticed that there was an accident in the front of the street. The little boy slowly turned to look at his mother.”

“Mom, I have to tell you something.”

“What is it, honey?” his mother said, staring at her beautiful child.

“I can see dead people.”

His mother suddenly became silent.

“Do you see the accident that’s holding up the traffic?” the little boy continued.

“A biker was involved in a car crash. do you want to know where the biker is?” he says, still staring at his mother who is looking at her son as if he has two heads.

“She’s. Right. Beside. Me.”

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Kyungsoo was frozen in fear and unable to move. He felt as if thousands of bricks are laid on top of his chest and he could not do anything about it.

Nightmare. A nightmare.

That black shadow in the room appeared closer than usual. Internally, Kyungsoo screamed, but nothing came out of his mouth.

So many things went through Kyungsoo’s mind but he could not process anything because he felt paralyzed.

After what seems to be like decades, but in reality, only a couple of minutes have passed, Kyungsoo was able to move again.

From head to toe, Kyungsoo was shaking and there was only one person who he wanted to be with right at this moment.

Kim Jongin. Jongin.

“JONGIN!” Kyungsoo cried out loud, weeping and scooting to the farthest corner of the room.

Jongin bursted into Kyungsoo’s room, only to find his lover on the ground, crying his eyes out.

“Hyung! What’s wrong?!” Jongin said when he saw the state that kyungsoo is in.

“K-Ky-Kyungsoo, hyung.. I’m here.” Jongin rushed across the room to pull Kyungsoo off the floor.

“I TOLD YOU! I couldn’t watch the movie! You know how I get when I do. I- nightmares- my mind-” Kyungsoo screamed at Jongin for not being able to understand how felt.

“I thought it would be different this time.” Jongin muttered to himself as he pulled Kyungsoo into his arms.

“I thought that if the more horror movies we watched together, the less afraid you would be. I wanted to help you to overcome your fears.” Jongin mumbled into Kyungsoo’s ears as he soothed him into relaxation.

“I couldn’t move. I tried to scream for you, for anything, god anyone, but I couldn’t. I felt so trapped and afraid.” Kyungsoo whispered, barely audible for Jongin to hear.

“I’m sorry. Kyungsoo... I feel horrible for being so inconsiderate about your feelings. I really thought it would help. I guess it was stupid of me to think so.” Jongin pulled away from his lover, mentally beating himself up for being so thoughtless.

He moved to turn on the light for Kyungsoo, but was stopped by a hand reaching out for him. .

Kyungsoo shaked his head and moved to nuzzle himself in Jongin’s chest, pulling him as close as possible.

“I’m thankful for you trying to help me. But, please. No more horror movies.”

Kyungsoo turned to see that the black shadow was a reflection of the poster in his room.

No black shadows. No more nightmares.

“Just stay with me. Please.” Kyungsoo said. “All I want is you. Please, Don’t leave me alone.”

“I wouldn’t even dream of it. Like I said, I will fight off those scary monsters for you.” Jongin muttered, wrapping his arms around his small lover and pressing a soft kiss on his forehead.  

“I will turn your nightmares into dreams, Kyungsoo.” Jongin said as his lover peacefully drifts off to dreamland.

Author's Note! 

Everything that Kyungsoo experienced when dealing with a nightmare was what I experienced. This is sort of based on a true story - from the beginning with his childhood and the aftermath of a nightmare. I hope you liked it. Once again - votes, comments, & subscriptions are greatly appreciated. ♥