SWEET AND SOUR || Kim Taehyung

23 - Plastic Family

*Y/N'S POV*

I had just gotten home from Callum's, we ended up staying late to watch some movies so I was worried about my dad and how he would feel, me being out so late without telling him, because sometimes he couldn't care less, although if he was drunk then I wouldn't get away with it so easily.

He was asleep yesterday when I got home, I managed to pay off the wifi, gas and electricity bills after my 8 hour shift last week, waitressing didn't earn me a lot but it was enough as of now, if I lost my job god only knows what would happen.

Alana offered me a lift home so I didn't have to walk, but now being dropped off at my house, standing behind the front door alone, I was wishing for that walking time where I could think over my actions if dad did get angry.

I very slowly pushed on the door handle to see if it was locked, but it was opened.

The door silently creeped open to reveal the scrawny dump of our house, the TV on, blaring out some nonsense reality show, beer and liquor bottles all over the place, the smell of both off pizza and hash reeked everywhere, and there he was, lying on the couch with a cigarette in his mouth.

"Your mother came by today." Dad called, obviously hearing me come inside even though I made no noise at all.. he must have been waiting and listening out for me.

"She wants you to visit her in her new house, she wants to talk to you." He added as I hesitantly walked inside.

"If she wants anything to do with me she's lost her chance." I spoke whilst clearing the empty bottles off of the small coffee table in front of him.

"Y/n, leave it." He spoke deeply.

"It's fine, i'll put them in recycling." I replied, two in one hand and picking up another two in the other.

"Y/n Maria Jackson, I told you to leave it." He repeated sitting up.

"Dad-"

"GET OUT OF MY GOD DAMN SIGHT." He shouted, I dropped the bottles on the floor unintentionally as I stood stunned at the man in front of me, breath spiked with alcohol as he now towered over me with his fists clenched.

I walked away as quickly as I could, running up the stairs to my room, locking myself into me safe place. 

"It's not his fault, it's not his fault." I repeated to myself, opening my window to let me breathe.

I remember having a conversation with mom when I was younger, she was talking about his therapist -when we could afford it-, she told me that 'sometimes dad will get mad at you for little things or that he might be in a little bit of a bad mood. This is because he loves you so much, he didn't like the thought of being a bad dad, and seeing you, sometimes it might make him worried.'

My head became heavy with black clouds, if only younger me knew what was ahead.

'Remember sweetie, mommy and daddy will always love you and be here for you, even if we sometimes fall out or have little rows with each other, everything will be all ok.'

She always had a knack for lying.

Manipulative piece of shit.

But deep down I would always love them both, and when push comes to shove, I will eventually find myself giving into their put on affection and performances of family, no matter how plastic it was.

I sat on my bed, resting my head on my hands as my elbows leaned against the windowsill.

Another crisp night, the air was nippy and bitter but the sky looked so milky and smooth, whilst most of the atmosphere was painted in a deep navy, over the horizon, there was a wispy, light blue stratus cloud, with little glimpses of pink from the sun which was now far past the point of being set.

I took one deep breath in, imagined the little lady with her brush and pan in my head, sweeping away all my troubles and dumping them in the big garbage pile at the back of my head, then exhaled.

Close to no sound, apart from the muffled television down stairs.

I just wonder who else is looking at the stars right now, surely there's someone in the world who's just been shouted at and is doing the exact same thing as me.

I sighed, wishing that I could talk to someone who knew what this was like, knew how to deal with the fake love and could then sweep it all away, clearing it all out for the next day of trauma.

I took some time for myself, focusing on my breathing whilst listening to the odd bird chirp away as it flew over our house, although the silence was broken as a buzzing came from my back pocket.

I pulled out my phone, wandering who it could be, but my eyes automatically did a quick double check as I read the initials, KTH.

I composed myself, fixing my hair even though he wouldn't see it before answering and holding it up to my ear.

"Hello?" I spoke, nervous to hear his voice.

"I helped you with the project, now I need a favour in return." He responded with a sharp tone.

I was taken back at how straight forward he was being.

"..okay." I replied, I remembered him telling me about how he wouldn't do the work for nothing, now the nerves were bubbling, there was an eternal amount of propositions Taehyung could come up with, I just wish he wasn't so unpredictable.

"I need to get catch a flight tomorrow evening and I won't be home so that means Yeontan needs someone to look after him."

I felt a wave of emotion after he spoke, he wanted me out of all people that he knew to look after Yeontan, that either meant his friends were really untrustworthy on their own or... I stopped myself from getting any ideas, but my mind was urging me to think about how he felt about me.

"You're gonna need to stay overnight, I don't want him to be on his own in this house at any point." He added. It made me smile, the way he cared for his dog, to the point where he wouldn't let him feel lonely, even if it was just for one night. That's something I wish I had, that constant reminder that you're somehow still loved.

But I also started to worry, this meant having to see Taehyung after last night, after he kissed me and said right in front of me that he wished he hadn't.

"What if i'm busy." I asked, not because I was, but to see what he would say in return.

"Then tell whoever you have made plans with that you have to cancel." He replied quickly with his overwhelmingly attractive tone.

I felt the hot blush scatter across my cheeks.

"..what time." I uttered, I could hear his quiet laugh through the phone, giving me chills.

"Come at 5, and remember not to be late." 

I wonder what might happen ..;)