Jungkook's P.O.V
"Everyone, please open your books on page two hundred fifteen."
I was too distracted to pay attention. Robert pinched my arm, and I turned to him with a mild heart attack. "What are you looking at?"
"Nothing..."
I was staring at the other side of the classroom. My eyes caught a few students listening to the teacher with bored expressions, others were passing notes, and some were bothering the table in front of them while laughing.
I couldn't hold it in any longer, took out my phone, and opened the text messenger underneath the table. "You wouldn't!" Robert gasped, glaring at me through his glasses.
'Taehyung, where are you?'
"You're insane! You're turning into a delinquent!" Robert whisper-shouted.
"It's an emergency," I told him.
I kept watching the empty seat, and every time I glanced at it, a heavy feeling was building up in my stomach. Usually, I was able to see Taehyung attempting his best to concentrate and fight off sleepiness.
Then, he would try his hardest to do the class assignment while biting on his bottom lip in frustration. It always took him time to get the questions in that specific subject. I would notice, stare at him for minutes before we would make eye contact for a split second, and he'd immediately avert his gaze.
He wouldn't miss a school day for no reason, would he? Is he beating up kids again...? Could he be in trouble?
It was only half an hour into the lesson when he'd decided to show up. Taehyung came through the door, panting, walked over to the teacher, and said something into her ear.
"I understand, Mr. Kim, and I hope it's alright now. You may take your seat."
Taehyung put down his bag, sat in his place, and began tapping fingers on the desk, anxiety written all over his face. What's wrong now? I bit my lip, sneaking the phone out again.
'Be there at 19:00.'
"Dude, are you serious?" I heard Robert.
"Keep it down, dumbass!" I muttered.
"Mr. Kim, your phone." The entire class got notified; somebody was contacting Taehyung, who bowed in apology. "It's alright if you make it quick and put the device on silence mode once done," the teacher said.
He grabbed it and looked at me, flushing. Robert raised an eyebrow.
'I need to get home earlier, can you change the time please?'
I glanced his way, Taehyung seemed restless. There was a purpose for the specific hour, Taehyung was working after school, and if he'd get to my place earlier, it would take away from his job. It was easy to figure out he needed the money. I was aware he'd sacrifice a lot to be near me, but that wouldn't do, I was having none of it.
'No, I can't.'
He put his phone down, now appearing even more distressed. A sense of guilt was passing through my body, but I couldn't make him not show up at the restaurant, nor could I let him go. It was my fault. I didn't wish to stop what we had or to go a single day without it.
Hoards of students were fleeing our classroom the instant the bell had rung— one would believe the place was on fire if they didn't know any better. Robert and I maintained our chill, moving towards the exit when I bumped into someone.
"Forgive me! I didn't mean it."
I let Taehyung be as I watched him run to the cafeteria, on the verge of chuckling.
"Why is he so terrified? You didn't threaten to kill him for once," Robert questioned. "Oh no, have you done something?"
I continued walking to our favorite spot, hoping Robert would do the same. "Done something? What do you mean?"
"Have you... hurt him?" he asked.
I sat down, signing him to join me. "Still have no idea what you're getting at."
Since Robert did not receive a satisfying answer, he refused to leave the subject.
"So... I guess you've moved on from Ember?" Although I'd successfully dragged him away from the topic, Robert, without a doubt, was sharp enough to figure out what was going on, sooner or later.
While still chattering, gossiping about life, Kim Taehyung passed by, and we heard him sitting down underneath the opposite side of the tree. I led on the conversation.
Robert sneaked a glance at the boy's side. "He's been here for ten minutes, are you not mad? Irritated? Anything?" he whispered. I shrugged. "He's been following us the entire day too, I'm sure you've noticed, and you still couldn't care less?"
"He's not doing anything to you anymore, is he?" I told him.
"Quiet! He's right there... And yes, you're right, he hasn't made fun of me lately. Why is that?" I didn't reply. "Also, he looks at you with horror, seriously, it's even worse now. You must have done something."
I sighed. "Does it matter? You can let Taehyung sit here in peace. I gave him the permission to—"
"Wow, stop... Permission? What is going on between you two?!"
I sucked in my inner cheek. As much as I didn't want him to hear it, I failed at keeping in the desire to brag. Robert remembered best how nobody dared to mess with Kim Taehyung.
"Fine! I fuck him, and in return," I said, "he's allowed... I don't know, whatever, I guess, to be near me, talk to me..."
*
Robert caught up to me when I exited school gates. "Do you realize how fucked up that is?!"
"Just leave me alone, man, you've tried to lecture me too many times," I said.
"Are you kidding me?! Kim's in love with you! He's an asshole. I get it. Don't date him then," he continued. "What you're doing is so fucking wrong on so many fucking levels!"
"I didn't force him into it."
"So you pressured him instead. Face it, Kook, you think it's revenge for your pathetic ass getting kicked years ago, though I'm willing to bet it's way worse." I turned my back to him. "You're just another bully who gets off on others' pain, fucking literally! You're a horny bastard using him for sex and taking advantage of his feelings 'cuz you find him hot! It's fucking disgusting!"
"It's Kim Taehyung, do I have to remind you how you fucking cut yourself because of what that freak had done to you?!" I shouted. "WHY ARE YOU DEFENDING HIM?!"
"He's scared of you, you're abusing him, and he's still in love with this... monster!" he yelled. "Unbelievable..."
"Just shut up..."
"I won't, Kook, I won't shut up! He's lost everything he had, and he was on a path to becoming a better person. Don't you see how he's been following you like a street dog? He's desperate. You're the guy's hope, the idiot convinced himself you'd be there, and that you'd fall for him... He wanted you to save him, it's so fucking obvious, and now Kim's holding on for dear life and praying sex with you would distract him from how fucking miserable he is!"
He went on and on, barely breathing in between sentences, and I stayed in place, paralyzed. I couldn't speak or think. I was lost.
"Good fucking job, Kook! I hurt myself in middle school, so you become a part of another kid's act of self-harm. Great, morality is definitely on your side. You deserve another golden star, and this one would have the words 'A FUCKING SICKO' written on it!"
"A-and what do you want me to d-do?" I asked. "Do you want me to leave and let him rot?"
Robert's palms were twitching. "I see right through you now. That's what you would do if you gained nothing."
My throat tensed. "Robert, please... Both of us are into it, okay? You admit he needs me... let's not let what Taehyung and I have, ruin our friendship, I never assumed it would mean so much to you, but I don't... I can't stop—"
"Whatever." Robert took a deep breath. "You're crying..." he said while wiping away his own tears, "I can't see that without joining..."
"Let's just get home. C-can I walk you?" I asked.
Robert nodded, yet he did not utter another word. The entire way was silent as well.
Robert was always good at reading people; I meant much more to Taehyung than I wanted to believe. A couple of weeks beforehand, I wouldn't have cared.
At home, I was only capable of staring at the clock. I couldn't get the image of Taehyung wearing an apron while full of tears and anger, trying to get money as he was being yelled at and humiliated out of my head.
'You said something about having to get home earlier. It's alright if we take a one day break, my door is still open for you if anything, but you don't have to come. I trust you to find a way to make it up to me, I guess.'
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