Chapter 02

"The night is the hardest time to be alive and 4am knows all my secrets."

- Poppy Z. Brite

It was already way past midnight when Jungkook was making his way back to his dormitory. His hands were dug deep into the pockets of his black and ripped skinnys, his eyes were fixed on the concrete of the sidewalk he was strolling on. The artificial lights of the streetlamps threw wide shadows, making the street appear dark and lonely, only the immobile ghosts of his surroundings accompanying him.

In his head, he repeated the text message over and over again. The message he received a few hours ago, sending his mind into blankness. I did it again, he thought. I ruined a perfectly fine relationship once again. It was the curse of being a psychology student. Some end up analyzing anything until there's no more left; even when something remains, it is so paper thin that it would fall apart if you'd touch it.

With a heavy sigh he unlocked the door to his single room, the light and shrugged off his thin jacket, tossing it onto his bed.

The room he lived in was furnished simply. A desk stood underneath the window with his MacBook placed on top. A mini fridge was set next to the door, filled with water, coke and beer. He rarely ever had food in his room. His bed wasn't made and clothes – both fresh and worn – were scattered chaotically on it. On the nightstand next to the bed, a stack of psychology literature was set next to his radio alarm. On top of his books was his iPod full of his favorite music. It was almost like a part of him. Whenever his mind went racing or he felt down, he sat on his bed, staring at the plain white wall, and let the minutes pass by in complete lethargy.

His closet stood open, revealing a gaping blackness sprinkled here and there with dots of red. He preferred his clothing dark and simple. On the wall next to his wardrobe, his huge collection of shoes piled up. Mostly sneakers and Timberlands.

Jungkook groggily brushed his hand over his face, deciding that it was finally time to sleep. He had an important test the next morning, so he needed to at least get a good nap. Which was more than he usually got. He dragged himself into the bathroom, turned the faucet on and splashed some water in his face. As he looked at his reflection in the mirror, the dark circles and bags under his eyes stood out even more than usual. His mind went running again.

You don't get enough sleep. It's a symptom of insomnia. Maybe even a little hint of depression. Your skin looks gray. It's not healthy. You need to socialize more. Are