The world had always been a distant blur to Taehyung-something he observed from behind a thick glass, never quite stepping in. He existed, but he never truly lived. People admired him from afar, whispered his name like he was some untouchable myster...
"Is this really what you wear to school?" He leaned in closer, his voice dropping even lower, and cutting even sharper than he intended. "Are you here to seek attention or knowledge?"
The harshness of his words cut deep, turning her elation into a painful twist. Why is he being so harsh? She dropped her gaze, fighting back the sting of tears. All she had wanted was to get through the day unnoticed; instead, she was met with his disapproval. She had no words, no defence against the hurt he'd struck in her. Her world tilted, and for a moment, everything felt unreal. The confusion from earlier spiraled into hurt, and the weight of his rejection felt like a punch to the gut.
Taehyung released a heavy breath, his hands still braced on the locker as he looked at Y/n. His anger hadn't faded, but his gaze flickered with something else before it hardened again. Behind the anger, there was a flicker of vulnerability, a glimpse of fear, he could barely admit to himself. What if he hadn't been there? What if...
And Y/N saw it-really saw it-for the first time. He wasn't just cold and distant. He was broken, trying to protect something... or someone. Her.
But when he met her eyes again, the hurt in them stopped him cold. She didn't know his past or the shadows he lived with every day; all she saw was his sharp words and his unkind tone.
By the time Taehyung had finished confronting his demons, he found himself standing in front of Y/N, his own turmoil reflected in his eyes. The weight of his actions hung heavy in the air, and his heartbeat erratic as he waited for her to react. But all he saw in her eyes was confusion, hurt... and something else-something he couldn't bear to face.
He quickly broke the silence, his words cold and detached. "Forget it," he muttered, before turning away. But even as he walked off, his thoughts remained tangled. He had pushed her away... but deep down, he wasn't sure if he could stay away for long.
Regret twisted inside him, but the words he wanted to say wouldn't come. He watched her as he walked away, her shoulders slightly hunched, retreating into herself. The urge to reach out gnawed at him, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. Not yet.
***
"His words were daggers, but behind them lay an unspoken plea-to stay, to understand."
***
Taehyung paced restlessly in his dimly lit room, fingers raking through his hair in frustration. He couldn't escape the nagging thought that had been haunting him for days-why did he care so much? Why did it feel like Y/N had taken residence in his mind, in his chest, forcing him to confront feelings he had spent years locking away?
He wasn't supposed to let anyone in. He wasn't supposed to feel anything beyond momentary amusement or irritation. Yet here he was, fists clenching at the mere thought of someone hurting her, his mind spiraling at the realization that she was affecting him in ways he couldn't explain.
Why her? He had spent his life pushing people away, convincing himself that no one deserved to get close. But Y/N was slipping through his walls too easily, too naturally. He hated the vulnerability it brought, the way she made him question everything he thought he knew about himself.
Every instinct told him to stay away, to bury whatever this was before it consumed him. But another part-a part he wasn't ready to acknowledge-was terrified that it was already too late.
***
"She was his weakness, but he'd rather push her away than let her see the cracks in his armor."
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