Promise Me ➳ Taebin ✔

9. Open Your Eyes

Date: March 24th

It surprised everyone that Soobin went back to wearing his usual clothes so quickly.

He went bad boy for one day, and was wearing a black turtleneck and suit jacket the next.

But he was still moody as hell, having stayed up all night to watch over Taehyun.

He laid his head in his arms as all his friends talked around him and ate their lunch, but he wasn't really hungry.

"At least eat this muffin," Yeonjun said, placing it in front of him.

Soobin was nearly knocked out at this point, and they all giggled at him.

"Who the hell doesn't eat meat?"

They turned around and saw one of the school's jerks talking to a vegetarian. Taehyun was usually the one to want to stick up for people in this situation, so they all kind of looked away sadly.

"Whatever, pathetic kid. I'm not gonna waist my time on you." He walked over to the table and put his hand on Lia's shoulder. "And what have we got here? A little friend group without their strong protector?"

"Nah. Just a friend group full of actual adults," Yeonjun said, taking a drink out of his "water" bottle.

"Just go away," Beomgyu groaned, gasping when the student pushed him off the bench and onto the ground.

"Shut your mouth faggo-" he was cut off by Soobin standing up and shoving him to the ground.

"Don't you dare fucking put your hands on him."

Everybody stared at them in shock.

It wasn't everyday that you saw the good boy shoving someone.

They all realized how truly broken he was.

"What are you gonna do, prissy rich boy? Cry to your mommy?" He asked, standing up. "You're a bitch just like your friends." Soobin looked all around, confusing the guy and everyone else. "What are you doing?"

"Oh, I was looking for a fuck to give since it seems like you want one so badly."

Everyone started laughing a little bit and Beomgyu smiled, standing up to hide behind Soobin.

"You're really running your mouth for someone who won't do shit."

"You're right. I won't. I won't resort to violence for something so petty."

He turned around to go sit back in his seat, about to eat the muffin Yeonjun gave him when the guy started talking again.

"Come on Soobin. I mean you may act soft, but everyone here knows you're not a coward like your faggot boyfriend."

Soobin immediately stood up, but he gasped when a baseball was thrown at the guy, seeing that it came from the table that Taehyun's team sat at.

"Y'know, you got a lot of nerve talking about our captain like that," the one who threw the ball said, walking over.

"He can talk however he wants," one of the guy's friends said.

And then they started punching. The guy's friend group versus the baseball team, and the adrenaline pumping in Soobin's veins was unbearable.

"You have the power to be able to get yourself out of harsh punishments. Go beat his ass," Kai said, making Soobin join the huge fight that had all the students screaming and cheering.

***

"Mr. Lee assaulted Choi Beomgyu, so Choi Soobin got involved. When Mr. Lee insulted Kang Taehyun, the baseball team stuck up for him, and then the fight started, correct?" The principal asked Yeonjun, Kai, and Lia, who all nodded.

Everyone involved in the fight was in the auditorium being forced to watch a documentary on school violence while witnesses were saying what happened.

Soobin was holding ice against his black eye while Beomgyu rested his head on his shoulder, exhausted after this now long day.

They found out their punishments. Beomgyu was getting nothing as expected, the other guy was getting a two week suspension, his friends and the baseball team were getting a week of suspension, and Soobin was just suspended for the rest of the week.

It was insanely disappointing to him. Well, in the sense that it would put a dent in his record.

But now this meant he could see Taehyun and his parents all week.

They made him leave halfway through the day and he just drove to Taehyun's house, knocking on the door and waiting until his mom opened it.

"Hi Soobin!" She greeted with a big smile. "I just fed him, but- wait, what happened to your eye?! Are you okay?"

He explained what happened with the guy and Beomgyu, and then what happened with Taehyun.

"He called Taehyun a coward and a faggot," he said sadly.

"And you punched him, right?"

"Well the baseball team hit him with a ball and that's where the big fight started, but yeah, I beat his ass."

"Oh, good!" She squealed in excitement. "I made cookies. They're done cooling so you can have one if you want. The nurse from the hospital is in there checking on him and making sure he's okay, but you can see him when she's done. Sorry it's such a mess in here."

She turned back around to see Soobin already straightening up for her.

"Don't ever apologize for that. I know you're busy with taking care of Tae. But like I said, I'm always here to help if you need. And... I'm suspended for the rest of the week for the fight."

As proud as she was of him, she sighed. "You know Taehyun wouldn't want you to be so happy about getting suspended. I think you better go in there and tell him."

He looked at Taehyun's room and saw the nurse walking out, taking a deep breath before going inside.

"Taehyun, you know all those times where I said I would be mad at you if you ever got suspended?" He chuckled nervously, grabbing the boy's hand. "Well, I beat up that homophobic vegetarian hater." He looked down at the boy's soft face, pretty nose, pretty mouth, and closed eyes. "Open your eyes Taehyun."