As soon as Taehyung walked off the bus, he took the card from his pocket and walked to a silent corner, just in case so no one could bump into him.
Dr. Bae Joohyun - Psychiatrist
Taehyung furrowed his brows and nibbled on his lower lip. "Does she know..", he mumbled to himself. He shrugged, stuffed the card back into his pocket, and walked home with quick steps. Once he arrived, he carefully unlocked the door and tiptoed into his room. The last thing he wanted now was to face his parents. He sighed and tossed his body on his bed. Finally, he thought and closed his eyes to take a nap. A loud thud made him jump up and he ran to the living room.
"Mingyu!" he shouted and ran to the younger one who lay on the ground. "Are you alright?", Taehyung asked as he helped his brother back onto his wheelchair. He bit his tongue when their skins touched but for his brother, Taehyung didn't mind.
"Thank you, Tae. But you... touched me. I am sorry..", Mingyu said and lowered his head. "Are you stupid? I would do anything for you, even if that means that I have to do this..", he said slowly tapping Mingyu's shoulder.
"What's that?", Mingyu said and pointed at the piece of paper on the ground. Taehyung picked it up and sat down on the couch. "A lady in the bus gave it to me..", he mumbled.
"Can I see?"
Taehyung reached him the card and sighed. "I think she noticed my problem.." Mingyu's eyes widened. "How?!", he read the card and then nodded. "Oh, she is a psychiatrist. Are you going to visit her office?"
Taehyung jumped up. "No! No one can know about this. It's embarrassing." Mingyu sighed and rolled his eyes. "Tae, it's embarrassing to be in a wheelchair. Yours is an illness which can be cured."
"It's not embarrassing! It was a fucking accident ok!? Don't think like that!", Taehyung shouted. Mingyu was dumbfounded by Taehyung's sudden mood change. "But why are you shouting..." Taehyung groaned and grabbed his hair. "I am sorry, okay? I just don't want to go there! When Mom and Dad-"
"When we what?"
Mr. and Mrs. Kim just walked inside and took off their jackets. "What's wrong Mingyu? Are you fine? Are you hungry?", Mrs. Kim said and kneeled down next to the latter. Taehyung sighed and slowly shook his head as he walked back to his room.
"Taehyung! Come here.", Mr. Kim shouted. Taehyung turned around and gulped. "Y-Yes, dad.."
"Go and prepare some food for your brother and me. Also, go to the supermarket and grab me some beer, I want to watch football." Taehyung nodded and went to grab his jacket and scarf. Once he walked outside to the street, he took a deep breath. He liked winter the most. It was cold and dark. Somehow he identified himself with this season.
A couple of minutes later he arrived at the supermarket and bought the usual stuff his father always told him to. On his way to pay, he saw a little boy and his father. They were laughing and shopping for candy together. Taehyung smiled bitterly.
After he paid he quickly walked home, he didn't want any trouble if he was late. He walked to the kitchen as soon as he arrived, and started preparing dinner, while his parents were on the couch, watching tv. "Tae...", Mingyu rolled inside the kitchen in his wheelchair and smiled. "Do you need help?"
Taehyung smiled. "Thank you, but no. I am fine.."
"I am sorry..", Mingyu sniffed.
"Oh shush you..", Taehyung started cutting some vegetables.
"If I never had this accident, you would-"
"Fuck!", Taehyung grabbed his finger and ran to the sink to wash his bleeding finger. "Taehyung! Are you okay?!", Mingyu whined and rolled closer to Taehyung.
Mr. and Mrs. Kim who heard Mingyu crying ran to the kitchen and saw Taehyung washing his finger, which was still bleeding, while Mingyu was watching his brother, crying like a little boy. "I'm fine don't worry Mingyu..", Taehyung smiled and wrapped his finger into a kerchief. "Let's-"
"You are so useless!" Mr. Kim slapped Taehyung who fell to the ground. Mingyu started crying louder as Mrs. Kim dragged him away, to his room.
Taehyung who was holding his cheek looked at his father, his eyes filled with anger. "Can't you be more careful?!", Mr. Kim started kicking Taehyung who closed his eyes tight, not only because of the pain but also because he was being touched.
He crawled into a ball and silently cried. After a few more kicks, Mr. Kim got tired and spit to the ground. "Clean this mess up!", he shouted and left to check on Mingyu.
Once again Taehyung was left alone. Broken.
