Fallen in Time

EPISODE 3

Kim Taehyung didn't look up to acknowledge General Kim Junmyeon, but he did stop moving his foot that he was dragging back and forth from the boredom and impatience earlier. He knew, based on the sudden heavy silence, that everyone's attention was now on him and the General.

"How have you been Taehyung?" Junmyeon softly asked his dongsaeng.

"That's a rather stupid question," Taehyung mumbled, but it was loud enough for everyone to hear since they were anticipating his reply.

"Taehyung," Kim Namjoon warned while everyone tensed up.

"I'm fine. I've been well enough, alright?" Taehyung answered.

"Until you came back with your obvious failure to fulfill your promise," Taehyung frowned and finally gazed up at Junmyeon.

"Taehyung, that's enough," Jeon Jungkook sternly interrupted as he didn't want the brunette to put himself into deeper trouble by disrespecting his acting guardian. No matter what, Taehyung is speaking with the General, an ultimate superior.

"Look—Taehyung, I really am sorry that I didn't come back with him—again. I didn't get to see him and—"

The General tried to explain whatever the issue was and couldn't care less that the others can see how Taehyung actually talks and looks at him. He just get his thoughts through, but Taehyung was not having it. As usual.

"It's always the same disappointment, hyung," Taehyung's eyes started to tear up but he managed to hold it in for a moment.

"You apologizing to me won't bring back here the person who can truly understand me. That one person who can understand me for what I am, is still not here," Taehyung harshly wiped a tear that escaped his eye when he glared at Junmyeon.

"It wouldn't make him want to be back here even just to help me understand and get through the looks and treatment I receive from the majority here. And that's on you."

Before anyone could comfort the young warrior, Taehyung turned his backs to everyone and rushed off. He didn't want anyone to say anything anymore.

Junmyeon took a deep breath and ran a hand through his hair out of frustration. His blood boiled, not because of the words and the attitude directed at him by his dongsaeng, but because of his past decisions made by his past mindset that caused the most important person in his life to cut off ties with him, and unwillingly cut ties with Taehyung too.

"So, there is still discrimination going on against him?"

Junmyeon asked after a while in which he processed Taehyung's statement.

"There is, hyung," Namjoon grimly answered.

"How bad is it this time?"

Namjoon dreaded Jungkook to hear about this serious matter since he and the rest kept the young Demon in the dark. They all know that Jungkook is possessive and protective over Taehyung, especially when they made their relationship official last Winter.

"It could be worse—I mean I wouldn't know," Namjoon nervously started.

"Ever since the last Annual Royal Army Investiture last season of Spring, when Kim Taehyung was announced as an official member of the Elites—the Second Elites even, just after a quick span of three years since he started to train, trainees, new recruits, and some of the lower to top-tiered warriors started to ignore and exclude him from activities and even missions."

And since your departure last month, rumors and verbal assaults towards Taehyung became a common occurrence, despite the rest of us being with him to intimidate and fend off those who talk shit about Taehyung. I can't imagine how someone has it bad that one gets bullied within these walls with each passing day. All because they doubt his credibility of his—being," Namjoon reported and mumbled the last part for Junmyeon.