The Unknown (Taoris Angst)

Final

Tao lays on the cold and lonely bed, snuggled under the covers that are made to provide warmth. He waits for his lover to return, but they had broken off months ago after a misunderstanding that led to a fight with the latter to never return, leaving Tao to come back to an empty apartment every night.

The panda takes a new razor blade from his razor and drags it across his skin with expertise. He watches as the familiar spill of blood shows on his wrist in repeated lines, not even having the urge to cry at the familiar burn. After several cuts, the panda throws the used razor away into his special trash can under his bed after watching the cuts dry; he would never take the risk of a visitor catching on.

Tears unknowingly stream down his face as he shivers under the thick layers of cotton. Nothing could warm him with the cold truth of being alone. But he wasn't going to show it; he couldn't.

The panda falls asleep without realizing it, waking up to the loud alarm that indicates he needs to get ready for college.

"Dammit," Tao swears at the mirror, applying extra makeup around his eyes and wearing thick bracelets to hide the repeated scars on his wrists -some new, some old.

The panda heads to college with his head down low, black bangs covering his eyes. Block B walks towards him, catching him in the hallway of his class. They push him up against the wall, Tao loosing his grip and dropping his books onto the floor. The boys snicker, Tao getting on his knees to pick up the mess.

"Oh! Look at that! The whore's on his knees for another one!"

Passerby's in the hallway snicker, most eying the panda in disgust.

Kris approaches with his famous, popular group of friends who hear and spot the mess on the floor, Kris glancing at Tao as soon as the younger looks up with tears in his eyes. The panda immediately looks down and gathers his things, running to his required class as fast as he could- away from his past lover.

Tao slumps in his desk at the back corner of the classroom, his best friend Baekhyun appearing shortly after and rubbing his back without a word- having an idea of what happened at the sight of Tao's teary, broken eyes.

"I can't do this anymore. It hurts, Baek."

Said boy frowns, moving the panda over to hug him tightly, shushing the crying boy softly as he rocks him from side to side, rubbing his back as they completely disregard the fact that they're in class -not that anyone cared about the pair anyway.

Tao eventually calms down enough to at least pretend to listen to what the professor was teaching, Baekhyun glancing at him worriedly from time to time. The panda jumps up when the bell rings -indicating that the hour long classes were over for the day. He deserts his friend behind, leaving the older's jaw to drops as he watches the panda's broad back disappear through the door.

Tao nearly runs through the hallway, hoping to go fast enough to avoid the group of bullies that call themselves Block B (something to do with their "turf") or worse -Kris. So much for luck. When he takes a sharp turn around the corner, the panda knocks into someone, causing them both to fall onto the floor.

"Ouch... Are you okay?"

The sudden voice filled with naive care had Tao's eyes fill with tears.
He ignores the other, grabbing his bag and getting up to run the other direction, but the fallen male grabs his wrist before the panda could escape, causing him to fall into his chest with an 'oomph'.

"L-let me go."

The taller's eyes widen, turning him around by placing a hand on the the panda's shoulder. "Tao?"