hush little baby,
this storm was in the weather forecasts a week well before it hit, but it still takes jinho by surprise when the skies suddenly turned gray one afternoon and the downpour of rain that followed was non-stop until the next day. of course, if it had just been rain that came with the dreary, gray fluffs f condensation, jinho would have been okay. but storms usually come with winds and thunder and lightning--
his mother had reassured him just about a million times that he will be fine. that the mansion will be fine. that everyone will be okay. but jinho still thinks that lightning is stronger than his mother’s words, and he’s spent all day hiding behind his mother’s skirt because for some reason that felt safer than being out in the open hallway by himself, a ready target for lightning at any time. (or so his little brain thinks.)
his mother tells him a story about how the thunder sounds he hears are from their ancestors in heaven playing bowling-- they like to visit when it storms, she says-- but the story only makes him feel even more unsettled. because oh no, he thinks, now they’re being haunted by ghosts, too.
he doesn’t even remember how he falls asleep with all the scary thoughts roaming around in his head, but the comfort of sleep doesn’t last for very long before he finds himself alone in the dark-- his mother long gone although she’d told him she’d be there until he fell asleep. he jolts up from his bed in cold sweats, being awoken from a dream of being chased around by the ghost of their ancestors forcing him to play bowling with them.
it only takes a strike of lightning far away and the sound of thunder after it to send the little prince running out of his room, out into the dark, empty hallways with his eyes closed and his hands over his ears. small feet pad quickly against the cold, tile floors, and he knows that his parents’ bedroom is too far away to take solace in-- so he takes a detour to the next best thing.
“Hyung!” blankets are unceremoniously pulled away as he climbs onto the plush bed, stubby hands patting the other male on the shoulder lightly. “Hyung. I can’t seep.”
@ryjaewon
