The Weight of Dreams

Daewon woke up with a sharp gasp, his chest rising and falling with each breath. The morning light slipping through the curtains, like an unwelcomed guest. Sweat clung to his skin, and his hands clenched the bed sheets. The details of the dream were already disappearing, drifting away like smoke in the wind.

But the feeling still remained.

A deep, uneasy pull settled in his chest, heavy and unshakable, like a weight he couldn't ignore.

He then sat up, running a hand through his hair, trying to regain control of his breath. "What was that?" He couldn't remember, but something about it felt important. More than just a nightmare.

A phrase drifted through his mind, it was barely more than a whisper.

"Fear will only hold you back."

Daewon shivered. Those words weren't his, but they felt like they belonged to him somehow.

Trying to shake off the unsettling feeling that refused to fade, he swung his legs over the bed and stretched, rolling his shoulders. Sleeping any longer was definitely out of the question.

With a sigh, he grabbed his uniform and headed to the bathroom.

The cold water splashed over his face, sending an intense shock through his body. He gripped the edges of the sink and stared into the mirror, his reflection staring back at him. He looked tired, unfocused and even lost.

The words still echoed in his head.

"Fear will only hold you back."

Where had they come from? And why did they feel so... familiar?

Daewon closed his eyes for a moment, inhaling deeply before exhaling slowly. "Get a grip, stop being agitated." he muttered to himself.

But even as he tried brushing off the odd feeling, it wouldn't go away.

Downstairs, the scent of pancakes filled the air, and the soft hum of his mother's voice made the kitchen feel warm and comfortable. It felt like nothing was wrong.

Jinwoo sat at the table, his eyes were glued to his phone, lazily chewing on a pancake, like he usually does. He barely looked up as Daewon entered.

"Morning big bro," Jinwoo mumbled. "You're actually awake early. What happened?" he smirked teasingly. "Had a nightmare?"

Daewon rolled his eyes and grabbed a plate. "Something like that."

His mother turned from the stove, glaring slightly as she set a fresh plate of pancakes in front of him. "Well look at you, You look exhausted sweetie. Did you even sleep?"

"I'm fine, mom" Daewon said quickly, taking a sip of water.

"You keep saying that Daewon." she said, crossing her arms. "But you don't look fine at all!"

Daewon stabbed at his pancake with fork. "It's just school stuff. There's nothing to worry about."

His mother didn't seem convinced at all, but she let it go. Jinwoo on the other hand, smirked. "If you're secretly being chased by the government or something, at least let me know. I'll need to change my last name in time."

Daewon then threw him a glare. "Shut up, Jinwoo."

Jinwoo chuckled, clearly entertained by his own joke, but Daewon wasn't in the mood to play along. He ate in silence, the warmth of the pancakes slowly calming the strange weight pressing on his chest.

His mother kept glancing at him, her eyes filled with worry and awareness, but she didn't push further. She simply placed a glass of orange juice in front of him before turning back to the stove.

Meanwhile Jinwoo, wasn't done joking around. "Maybe it's a girl!" he speculated. "You look like you've been hit by some tragic romance plot. Did someone confess to you and then immediately transfer schools?"

Daewon let out a sigh and placed his fork down. "I said it's nothing."

Jinwoo grinned. "Which means it's definitely something."

Before Daewon could argue, their mother interfered. "Jinwoo, stop teasing your brother and eat your breakfast."

Jinwoo shrugged, stuffing the last bite of pancake into his mouth before grabbing his bag. "I'm heading out." He lazily waved before disappearing out the door.

Daewon took his time finishing his meal, his mother occasionally throwing glances at him as she washed the dishes. "I know I keep telling you this all the time, but seriously Daewon. If something's on your mind, you know you can talk to me, right?"

He nodded but didn't say anything back. He wasn't sure how to put his thoughts into words.

Instead, he muttered a quick: "Thanks for the breakfast." grabbed his bag, and stepped outside.

The fresh morning air greeted him as he walked down the usual path to school. The streets were relatively quiet, the usual sounds of the city feeling distant.

Daewon stuffed his hands into his pockets , his thoughts kept pulling him back to his dream.

"Prove your worth."

Why did it feel like a warning? Or maybe... a challenge?

The more he thought about it, the more restless he became.

The walk to school felt longer than usual. His mind kept looping through the fragments of his dream, trying to make sense of it.

The words repeated in his head, over and over.

A sudden burst of wind blew past him, pulling him back to reality. He adjusted his bag and quickened his pace. He needed to focus on the day ahead.

Morning classes dragged on. The words from his dream came back to him, making it hard to concentrate. His notes were half written, his thoughts drifting in and out.

By lunchtime, his head ached from overthinking. He grabbed his food and made his way outside, looking for some fresh air.

Just as he was about to sit on a bench, someone placed an arm over his shoulders.

"Mannn, you look half-dead." Seojun said, grinning as he pulled Daewon down onto the bench beside him.

Daewon sighed. "I'm fine, Seojun."

"Uh-huh. And I'm secretly a billionaire." Seojun shoved him lightly. "Seriously, what's up with you? You were spacing out all morning."

Daewon hesitated for a moment. He didn't know how to explain it. "Just... a weird dream." he finally said.

Seojun raised an eyebrow. "Weird how? Like, running around in your underwear weird, or talking like an animal weird?"

Daewon gave him a look. "Neither. It just... felt real."

Seojun leaned back, thoughtful. "Hmm, maybe your brain's trying to tell you something."

Daewon stayed quiet, poking at his food.

Seojun glanced at him again. "Look, I know you like keeping things to yourself, but you don't always have to."

Daewon looked at him.

Seojun smirked. "I mean, I'm not saying I'll have any great advice, but at least I'll listen."

A small smile appeared on Daewon's face. "That's a first."

"Hey!" Seojun pretended to be offended before laughing. "See? I got you to smile. My job here is done."

Daewon shook his head, some of the heaviness in his chest eased slowly.

After school, Daewon found himself at the park. The sky was painted in soft shades of orange and pink, the sun beginning to set. The air was calm, carrying the distant sounds of the city.

He didn't think, he just moved Push-ups, squats, sprints. His muscles were burned, but he was already used to it. He welcomed it. The ache in his body was easier to deal with than the weight in his chest.

"Fear will only hold you back."

The words fueled him.

By the time he collapsed onto the grass, his breath was heavy, his body was tired and wasted. Above him, the sky had darkened, the first stars twinkling in the distance.

For the first time that day, his mind was quiet.

Later that night, Daewon sat at his desk, his notebook was open in front of him. He tapped his pen against the paper, thinking.

Then, slowly, he wrote down the words:

"Fear is your enemy."

He stared at them, letting them sink in. It wasn't just a phrase. It was a challenge.

And also a promise.

He then closed the notebook and leaned back in his chair, exhaling deeply.

Tomorrow would be a new day, another step forward...