After responding to some of his fans' posts on the Weverse app, Jihoon recommended a song that summed up his current emotions tonight.

Dreadful, and gloomy like a gray sky. 

Jihoon takes a big breath and gently exhales it.

When he's on duty or with the members, he's known as a cheerful, but tonight he wasn’t feel like it. He has a lot on his mind that he isn't sure he wants to share it with others. Park Jihoon, who is known for his strength, might not be as strong tonight as he usually is.

Without realising it, a tear spilled from his eyes and slid between his green hair.

Knock knock

"Jihoon hyung." Mashiho's voice muffled behind his closed door. "Are you okay?"

Jihoon closes his eyes and pretends to sleep in case Mashiho comes in. 

"I know you haven't slept yet. I saw your post a while ago. What's wrong? Can I come in?" Mashiho added.

Jihoon sighes as he wakes up, walks to the door, and opens it to see Mashiho standing outside in his white tee, purple pants, and his brown slipper. Why isn't he sleeping yet? 

Mashiho furrows his brows as his gaze falls on Jihoon's tear-stained face. 

"Are you crying, Hyung?" 

Jihoon remained silent, biting his lower lip and looking deeply into Mashiho's eyes, as if they were the ones speaking.

"Do you need a hug?" Mashiho asks, his doe eyes examining the older's face. It seems tired and unhappy. He didn't even have a smile on his face, like he did every time they met. Actually, it's not like this hasn't happened before-- it has, but Mashiho has no idea what's on Jihoon's mind because he rarely speaks about his problems and he usually keeps it within himself. 

Mashiho moves closer and wraps his arms around Jihoon, who is still frozen, and Jihoon just lets it happen. Leaning his head on Mashiho's shoulder, Jihoon let out the first sob, then another, and another, and each time it got louder. He poured everything he had left into his cries, his knees become weak and he fell to the floor.

Mashiho, on the other hand, never let go. He cradled Jihoon in his arms while Jihoon's head resting on his tears-soaked shoulder. His hand was busy caressing Jihoon's back in an attempt to calm him down.

They stay in that position until Jihoon feels more at ease, at which point Mashiho breaks the hug and pulls Jihoon's hand to his bed, and they both sit on it.

"Thank you, Shiho-ah," Jihoon said as he wiped his tears on his cheeks. When he looks at Mashiho, he wonders if he ever feel miserable as he is. Jihoon couldn't deny that sometimes his fears and insecurities grew stronger over time. But he always kept it bottled up, and by the time he realised it, the fear had overtaken him and he was helpless and his heart feels heavy. 

"Do you need me to stay?" Mashiho's face is still concerned.

Jihoon did not answer, but a chuckle escaped his lips. "Shiho-ah... Have you ever wished you could runaway?"

"From what?"

"From... whatever it is that is too heavy for you to carry."

"Hmm, I have," Mashiho replied truthfully. "But I haven't felt like that in a long time. Or, more specifically, these few years."

"Why is that ?"

"Because you're with me," says Mashiho.

For a moment, there was a brief silence. Mashiho's frankly honest words (or so he thought) warmed his heart, and despite the fact that he knew Mashiho was speaking out of his conscious mind, he knew the latter meant well. "How many times do I have to tell you, Hyung, share with me if something bothers you?" Mashiho continued.

"I know and I'm sorry for making you worried," Jihoon says softly as he grabbing Mashiho's fingers. "Can you just stay with me tonight?"

Mashiho hesitated at first but he couldn't help but sighes at the pleading look Jihoon give him as the older's fingers intertwined with his. he pursed his lips in contemplation for a bit before giving into his pleading looks. How can I resist when he gave me these kinds of looks? With a faint smile, he nods his head "....Alright." 

Jihoon's face lit up when he heard that. They then lay side by side on Jihoon's bed, their hands crossed across their chest.

Despite the fact that they had never slept in each other's beds before, it felt like a miracle, but the thought made him feel selfish. 

To be honest, it was unusual for them, especially Jihoon. Perhaps it was his state tonight, or perhaps it was his earlier 2 a.m. post on Weverse that led to him being in Mashiho's embrace tonight.

Jihoon's breath is as soft as Mashiho's in the dark and silence. He shifted his weight to his left, facing Masiho gently, trying not to wake Mashiho, who seemed to to be dozing off.

"Actually, I felt like running away earlier," he says quietly, don't mind if Mashiho hears him or not, while his fingers play with Mashiho's hair strands.

"The schedule is too hectic these days, my mind is foggy, and I'm don't know who to talk to. I once saw Hyunsuk hyung cry, and I didn't want to bother him any further, so I kept it to myself." Jihoon added. 

Mashiho, who was pretending to sleep, opened his eyes and turned his head toward Jihoon, startling the older.

"I thought you were already sleeping?"

"How am I supposed to sleep when you're messing with my hair?" 

"Sorry about that, hehe. You sleep like an innocent child, it's adorable. I kind of miss seeing this sight." Jihoon look at the latter's expression and couldn't help but chuckle. 

"If that's the case, don't you ever feel tempted to runaway if you want to keep seeing this sight."

Jihoon cracks a small smile as he savours the warmth of Mashiho's words. He stretched his hand across Mashiho's body, drawing the latter closer to him. "Don't move Mashi.. and thank you for being here."

Mashiho bits his lips and shifts his gaze away from Jihoon, "I'm not going anywhere. You know how much I care about you, right?"

"What's the deal with you being so cheesy tonight? Do you love me-"

"We should get some rest, Hyung. We have a schedule for tomorrow " Mashiho cut Jihoon off and closes his eyes while his hand pats Jihoon's arm who's on his chest. 

"But I want to keep talking... we haven't had a moment like this in a long time," Jihoon whines as he pouts.

"Good night, Hyung."

Jihoon softly laughs before tightening the hug and kissing Mashiho on the head. This boy is so adorable that just being alive can make his life better.

His expression softened as he observed the latter curling up against his side.

"Sweet dreams, Shiho-ah."

Jihoon waits for the response, but the latter remains silent. He must have fallen asleep at that point. That makes sense given that it is nearly 3 a.m.

It's funny how Mashiho was literally mad at him that evening because he told him to wait until they arrived at the dorm to get to eat the donut they got from their radio schedule earlier. The latter was so irritated with him that Jihoon assumed Mashiho resented him. But now he's soundly sleeping in Jihoon's arms.

Jihoon had no idea how it was possible, despite all of his tease to Mashiho, but the latter area was always with him and the one who reached him first when he was at his lowest point. It warmed his heart a lot. It truly did.

He is grateful for Mashiho, who came into his life like an angel, and for the memories they have shared. He wishes that their hearts never change and that they stay the same forever.

He smiles to himself as he watches his angel sleep, and he, too, drifts off to dreamland.

__ END __