Handong

I decided to pay her dream a visit.

      I've done that a lot of times. Empty people's dream is boring, especially the boys. There are times when they were only pitch black, and times when they show colours of various dreams. Some were pleasant, some were disgustingly unpleasant.

I rather not talk about it.

      I wait for her to fall asleep. Her eyes closed as she lay her head against a white pillow at the side of the sofa.

      I stare at the night sky. When the moonlight is covered by the clouds, I know that it's the time to jump into her dreams.

      I walked to her and folded my legs on the floor. I watch her breathing, in and out, soundly in her slumber. I took in a deep breath and stretch my arm to touch two fingers against her temple, careful not to wake her up.

She's so cold.

But she's human.

      I close my eyes, concentrating on the energy as it builds up tremendously.

      I felt my whole body floating as I successfully entered her dreamworld.

***

Fire.

There was fire.

      The fiery flames engulfing the house that traps us for what felt like eternity.

      It was windy, the giant flames leaned as the wind blows. But the wind did no good. The stubborn flame eats the house.

      We escaped the confined space, standing outside in small dried lavender field and watch everything turns into dust, bit by bit.

      I don't know how many have survived.

      A white figure was there, standing in the middle of the fire. It turned around, slowly revealing its face—

***

Hoseok

      "Stop it", I hissed. My hand grab Handong's pale wrist tightly, her fingers lost contact from No Name's temple.

      Handong's drowsy eyes blinked a few times before they met me. Her blurry expression changed into a glare in her eyes, pulling her hand from my grip harshly.

      She stood up from the floor and walked to the dressing table. She fixed her hair as she looked at her reflection in the mirror.

"Handong..." I called her softly.

"I know."

      "....okay", I said in an almost whisper, nodding.

      I look at her for a short moment before I glanced at the girl with no name and no invitation of coming to this house. However, my mind couldn't shake away the sight of Handong.

      I look at her through her reflection in the oval-shaped, dusty mirror. She stared at herself confusingly.

Her dress changed to black.

***

"I'm certain it was her."

"But she's human!"

"I know she is! That's why it's confusing."

"A coincidence. It must be a coincidence."

"I hope so too."

      Silence. I already woke up. But I need to know of what they're talking about. Eavesdropping is bad, but manners aside.

"Hey, you did the dreamwalking on her. You touch her temple—"

"It was cold. She's very cold."

      "What? When I grab her, she was warm. Like, really human."

      I decided to stop their chat and sit up. A blanket covered my body, sliding down to my lower body as I change my posture. I caught both of their attention, Hoseok sit beside me in a rush.

      I was shocked to see Handong's transformation. Her white dress turns black, her expression looks darker.

"Handong...?" I called her.

      She didn't respond but a quick smile before she looked down to the floor.

      Silence were getting louder. I tapped my shoes against the floor, my mind lingered by questions about Handong. But that's not the only thing that I was thinking.

What is dreamwalking?

      "Hey", Hoseok cuts my daze. "What do you dream about?" he asked.

"Hoseok", Handong warned him.

      I shook my head. "Nothing. It was an empty dream. Pitch black", I said honestly.

      Handong was the first to look at me in disbelief. Hoseok shakes his head and asked, "Do you know anything about the book?"

"No", I answered immediately. "Nor do I ever heard about it."

"....okay", was all he said with a tight lipped

      Then he sighed. "I don't want to do this." Hoseok mumbled regretfully before he became serious.

      "Hey, I need you to look me in the eye and try not to think hard. Or better, don't think of anything", he asked.

      I hesitated for a moment. "What are you going to do?" I asked nervously. "Trust me", he said with a reassuring smile.

"Will it hurt?" I asked.

      "It will not", he said. He raised his hands and cupped my head, his fingers touched the crown of my head. His touch was still as cold as before, as icy as ice. I looked into his eyes deeply and steadied my breathing.

Don't think.
Don't think.
Don't think.

      My mind wanders off like a blur. My sight focuses on his brown pupils. His alluring eyes were beautiful. If cute is the right word to describe that one feature of his, then I will say it.

His eyes are cute.

      They were glistened with floating tears, a shimmer of light reflected on his eyes. I felt something flutters in my stomach.

Then everything came into a halt and in focus.

      "My eyes are pretty, right?" Hoseok said in a raspy voice with a tease. I blushed and tried to deny, but I failed miserably. Hoseok laughed heartily.

      "Not many people thought of this about me. I'm happy that you're the first to think of me as that", he said with a sad smile.

      The fluttering feeling that was there in me went dead. At the same time, the empty feeling made its comeback.

      I heard Handong scoffed. Hoseok sprang up from the sofa with a sigh. "She's telling the truth. She know nothing about the book."

      Handong sighed. I was unsure if it was disappointment or relief. "And that is that", she said grimly, folding her arms against her chest.

      Suddenly, there was a quick few knocks on the door. Three of us walked to the door. Handong looked at me before her eyes shifted to Hoseok, signaling him to open the door.

      Hoseok nodded and wrapped his fingers around the brass doorknob. He twisted the knob and the door opened.

      "Hoseok! Where have you been? I've been looking everywhere for you!"

"....Namjoon?"

Chapter 4 updated!

I'm sorry for posting this chapter late! I'm currently on vacation and will come home tomorrow. I squeezed my brain in the car for hours trying to get the flow of ideas for this chapter 😭

Thank you for reading and leave a vote! 🙌

Chapter 5 coming soon!