Please Don't Cry

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A full week.

It had been seven days now since Jisung hadn't been able to see Chenle, and apart from the gut wrenching feeling of leaving him all alone for this long eating him up everyday, he also couldn't work out the reason why, which infuriated him.

Day after day, he ignored how worried Jaemin was about him, or all the questions his parents kept throwing his way. People around the boy were well aware of his sudden mood change.....and it was very unlike him.

Jisung eventually stomped up to his room at ten o'clock at night and collapsed down onto his bed. The structure creaked with his sudden presence, making him growl.

"What is going on?!"

There were no answers anywhere to be found. He couldn't see a catalyst, a danger, a sign. Nothing. The dreams were just shut off altogether one night.

Rubbing his eyes to stop the soreness, the pinkette rolled onto his side. He could feel a single tear roll down his cheek, which then encouraged a whole river of them.

He never cried. He never felt weak like this in general, but tears? They were new. He hadn't felt them since he was a baby.

Though the more they cascaded down his face, the harder it was to stay awake. The exhausted feeling crying brought was something to behold, and the teen wasn't at all prepared for it.

He hated this.

Pulling the ring off his finger angrily, he scowled while shoving it in his pocket. Nothing was worth anything if he couldn't see Chenle again.

Even just once more. Just to hear his laugh one more time, and see his smile as Jisung appeared once again. Was it so much to ask?

Obviously not, because as soon as he felt the sleep drag him in, he was immediately woken again by the sound of a bird squawking somewhere in the distance. A bird that didn't live in his area.

Letting his eyes fly open, Jisung threw himself up into kneeling position, not giving himself a chance to think before scanning the area. As suspected, he was back in the Midnight Forest.

But was this a dream about a dream? Was any of this even real? He wanted it to be so desperately.

Jisung started to pinch his arm, still not waking up, so again he kicked his ankle, jogged on the spot, everything.

"Oh dear, not this again," the soft voice of the boy he longed for could be heard. "Am I hallucinating again about him beating himself up?"

Jisung quickly drew his attention over to the older who was leaning in a daze against the doorframe. His eyes were dormant and general attire scruffy.

"Chenle?!" The younger called, immediately running up to the barrier and slamming his hands against it. "Oh my god, Chenle!"

The older frowned, rubbing his own eyes for a moment to try and snap himself out of it. He glanced back at Jisung one last time, and realised he hadn't disappeared yet. "Ji?"

"I'm back! I'm so, so sorry, Chenle. I don't know what happened, since a week ago when-"

"Jisung!" He yelled loudly, racing up to the pinkette and pressing his hands against the younger's on the barrier as well. They were so close to each other, yet so damn far. "Jeez, I missed you so much. Y-you don't know how hard it's been w-waiting f-for you-" he started to break down into waterworks again, "I thought you left me behind....."

"Oh Chenle, no...." the younger promised, bringing his face as close to the clear surface as possible. "I would never leave you. I wanted to see you so bad, but I couldn't. The dreams....they stopped."

Chenle smiled in relief beneath the tears, feeling his nose press against the force field as he continued to let out choked sobs at how unfair this all was. "I want to hug you....I want to feel you...."

Jisung bit into his lower lip, trying to fight his own crying, "I want to wipe those tears. I wish I could comfort you right now, I really do."

They stood there, gazing at the pitiful state of each other behind a barrier that prevented them from ever having what they deserved.

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