Forever 3 || Namkook

10. Can't just Stand and Watch

"Taehyung, you said you had a brother, right? Does he also go to our school?", Sunmi asks. Taehyung doesn't say anything, nibbling on his hotteok. He remembers Jimin asking him not to tell anyone.

"Um...", he starts, not wanting to lie but also not wanting to disobey his brother. He's thankfully saved by a cheerful voice. "Hey! Ms. Jiyeon will be teaching us how to play basketball today! You're coming?", Sunwoo asks, practically shaking with excitement.

Taehyung and Sunmi's faces light up in delight. "What about lunch?", Taehyung asks as an afterthought, frowning as he looks at the hotteok in his hand. His Appa had packed his lunch with a lot of love. He doesn't want to make him said.

"Silly, you can have your lunch. She'll only teach us if we finish all our food. Besides, it'll be during the last two periods. Don't worry about it", Sunwoo assures him, stealing a piece of his hotteok.

Taehyung smiles. Sunmi seems to have forgotten about her question so that's good. He can avoid telling the truth for a little while. He just hopes he doesn't have to lie. He's not very good with lies.

"Hey, did you hear about that boy, by the way?", Sunwoo suddenly asks. Sunmi's eyes widen. "Yes, I did. I feel bad for him", she says, lips downturned. Taehyung furrows his brows.

"About who?", he asks, curious. "Whom", Sunmi corrects. Taehyung rolls his eyes playfully. She reminds him of his Appa. "About whom?", he repeats. "I don't know. I just know Ravi sunbaenim and his gang is picking on another sunbaenim from their class", Sunwoo answers.

Taehyung frowns. "That's so wrong of them. Doesn't anyone say anything?", he asks, genuinely worried about whoever this senior is. Sunmi sighs. "Not really. Ravi sunbaenim is really good at studies so no one believes that he can be a bully. And no one complains about him either because we're all scared of him", she tells him, looking solemn.

Taehyung's frown deepens. This is messed up. "I can complain about him!", he exclaims, a determined pout on his lips. He isn't going to sit back and watch someone being bullied. His parents have always taught him to stand up against the wrong.

Sunwoo stares at him in fear and disbelief. "Are you insane? He will kill you. Don't do anything stupid, you hear me?", he says. Taehyung makes a face. "You're exaggerating, Sunwoo. Do you expect me to sit back and watch? Don't you feel bad for that sunbae?", he asks.

Sunmi sighs heavily. "We do, Tae. But we can't do anything about it. Isn't it telling enough that the sunbae who's getting bullied isn't saying anything about it? He isn't even fighting back anymore like he did before!", she exclaims, exasparated.

"Because he's the one being bullied! He must think no one will believe him! We have to support him!", he yells. It's a good thing that it's only the three of them in the class as everyone else is having their lunch outside.

"You know what? You're only saying this because you're new and you don't know how bad Ravi and his gang can get. I'm pretty sure some teachers even know about the things he does but they ignore it because he brings good name for the school", Sunwoo explains, looking annoyed.

Taehyung is flabbergasted. "What the f— hell?! And you expect me to still stay silent about it? I don't care about who these teachers are. I'll go to the principal if I have to", he growls. Taehyung doesn't usually get angry so it's really scary when he does. Like right now.

"Do what you want. Just don't drag my name in between all of this. You might be a knight in shining armour but I'm not. I'm not brave enough for this", Sunwoo says and walks out of the classroom despite Sunmi yelling after him to come back.

Taehyung's fists clench by his sides and he sits back down on his bench, taking deep breaths to calm himself down. Sunmi adjusts herself in the seat in front of him and starts speaking.

"Listen, Tae. You're a good person. But you're just twelve—", "Thirteen", he corrects. She huffs. "Alright. You're just thirteen. You can't go against those boys. They're crazy. Trust me", she says.

Taehyung sighs, closing his lunch box, the food doesn't look appetizing anymore. "I'm not going to fight them, Sunmi. I'm just going to file a complaint to the principal because what they're doing is wrong. And I hate people like them", he says, finally calm.

Sunmi looks at him with something akin to sympathy before waving her hand in front of him. "Fine. Do whatever you want. I'm with you. Just— Just don't get in trouble, okay?", she rests her hand on top of his.

Taehyung smiles at her, squeezing her hand gently. "Of course". He's not really looking to get into trouble either. He just wants to do the right thing so that he doesn't have to feel guilty later. Besides, sometimes waiting is not an option. You need to go for it.

💓

When Taehyung is making his way towards the principal's office later that day, he doesn't expect someone to grab him by his arm, forcefully pulling him inside the school's abandoned gym. "What the hell—", he goes to scream but is stopped by a hand on his mouth.

He almost kicks the person holding him "hostage" when he hears that voice. That familiar, sweet voice, which now sounds absolutely mortified.

"Don't be scared, TaeTae. It's me".

💓

God why do i like giving them so much pain. This is gonna hurt like a bitch once the rising action ends and the climax starts. Jimin is going to get himself in sooooooo much trouble.

Ps. Tae won't be able to save him 👀

Until then, Ily and thank you for reading! 💜💜💜