much to soyou's dismay, hoseok suggested watching a horror movie.

so there they sat — with soyou hugging the box of popcorn so tightly to her chest that hoseok started to wonder if she was unwilling to share it with him. she had to keep her gaze on the screen because who knew ghosts liked to watch horror movies too. they literally swamped the entire theater, some floating a few rows below her, not caring if they blocked her view of the show or not. 

soyou wanted to enjoy the movie, but it didn't help that several figures were already staring at her, as if peering right through her soul. she was told that she shone like a bright torch to them — just like what jeongguk is to her. shivering, she tried to take deep breaths and just ignore them. she shifted a little nearer to hoseok.

but he, himself, was shivering as well. turning slightly, soyou noticed how his hand was covering basically more than half of his face to obscure his view of the screen. jump scares from the movie also caused him to jerk more than soyou. 

so why in the world did you choose a horror movie, soyou thought. 

as soon as she turned back to face the screen, a disfigured guy levitated in the air right in front of her and caused soyou to let out a scream. that caused all hell to break loose and people in the theater screamed with her, with hoseok being the loudest and clutching tight onto soyou's sleeve. 

she couldn't shoo the ghost away with hoseok watching, but he wouldn't go away on his own either. in the end, soyou had to excuse herself for the toilet which gained a don't-leave-me-alone expression from hoseok but he said "sure" anyway. 

the disturbed girl walked as fast as she could, occasionally tripping over people's feet in the dark, but eventually managed to exit the theater without much mishap. she thought that was the end.

but no, they were chasing her. low, guttural growls reached her as their requests piled, each and every one of them almost demanding for her to grant their wishes. there was no way she could go back to the theater. 

soyou ran.

//

soyou: jeongguk

soyou: jeongguk !!!!!!!

typing while running caused her to nearly lose her footing, but she regained her balance and pocketed the phone. pray that he would reply soon. 

it didn't take long, however, for the ghosts to catch up. they drifted alongside her and matched her pace, constantly whispering sweet nothings. even as she lashed out at them, her hands passed through their figures to grab at thin air. 

she was close to crying.

maybe this wouldn't have happened if she hadn't met jeongguk. the old soyou would just resign to her fate and deal with whatever requests that they have, but jeongguk gave her the glimmer of hope. that maybe he would be her hero and she wouldn't have to live in fear anymore. perhaps the world isn't so unfair after all.

but she guessed she was wrong. naively hopeful.

the more she thought about it, the more devastated and confused she became. rapid steps slowed to a slow jog before soyou stopped in her tracks altogether. people on the streets had to detour their route in order to avoid bumping into her. hands clenched into fists at her sides as she tried to keep her legs from losing their strength. 

"just go away!" she shouted, gaining the attention of many. they stared and whispered, "is she okay?" most gave weird stares and stayed as far away from soyou as they could. 

"leave me alone..." so close to bursting into tears. "i want to live a normal life too..." her whispers were barely audible, but she had to get that off her chest.

as if her wishes were granted, the goosebumps on her arms went away and so did the ghosts that surrounded her. with tiny sniffles, she wondered if that was it. did they really listen to her?

a touch at her shoulder caused her to jolt, but she realized it's warm. before she could get an idea of who it was, she was turned around and pulled into an embrace. hoseok??

no, it was jeongguk.

the first thought that came to soyou's mind was that she was causing the front of his shirt to dampen with her tears. but he didn't seem to mind at all as he tightened the hug. she let the tears flow, let the sobs wreck her frame. because it was then that it felt right ; she felt at home. he was her home.

hands balled into fists as she clutched onto the hem of his navy blue sweater tightly. struggled to speak. "please don't leave me."

soyou knew it probably sounded desperate and needy, but she meant it. with all her heart. maybe she said it because only he had the ability to make the ghosts go away, but she liked him. as jeongguk. not as her shield that she used whenever she needed to. the late night chats and the comfortable, homely scent wafting from his clothes were what she loved.

"i won't." his voice was quiet. calming and soothing. held a tinge of guilt and relief. "i'll be your shelter." 

a/n; iM SCREAMING JEONGGUK SUJHDFEOUHUIHQ BE MY shELTER TOo pLS