Abscond || Taegyu

I can't complain anymore even though it hurts

Most people love dinner time. Dinner time means eating with your family and talking about your day while everyone savors the taste of their mother's cooking.

In this case, Taehyun doesn't like it a bit. For him, dinner time means scolding time, especially right now when he knows he did something wrong.

The clanking sound of the utensils hitting the bowls and the plate echoes through their whole dining room yet the tensing silence hurt his ears the most.

He just knew that the news about him being sent to the principal's office spread like a wildfire, and his home is not an exemption.

Taehyun swore that he could feel his dad's piercing gaze so he just kept his head low as he busied himself to munch down his food.

He won't deny it. He is certain that he can feel the tension around the small space and he is not that oblivious to not notice that his mother also feels that way.

As he continues putting food in his mouth, Taehyun's mind constantly thinks of the worst case possible to lessen the impact of the fear in his senses. Creating scenarios in his head and trying to predict the punishment he will get later on.

He should be already used to this yet these familiar emotions swirling inside him had never succeeded in training his poor heart properly, but what he is sure about is the fear is definitely buried deep in his system.

"T-Taehyun!" His mother called him in a stuttering manner, probably choked a bit from her food, that's what he thought.

"You know what you just did, right?" A cold follow up from his mother.

Taehyun nodded without meeting any of their eyes, avoiding more arguments on the dinner table.

"We'll talk after this." She said in a firm tone. His lips twitch to control his tears that's attempting to escape from his eyes. Yet, again, he disappointed them.

"Are you going to cry?" A low and hard tone that they never wanted to anticipate can finally be heard.

Taehyun had no choice but to meet the man eye to eye because he knew he'll anger him more if he appeared weak.

He dropped his utensils on the table and placed his clenching fist on his lap, hiding his mechanism from his father's sight. He grabbed a handful of cloth on both of his grip until he felt a crawling pain in his palm, crumpling his shorts as well.

He internally prayed his tears wouldn't come out at the wrong time and inhaled all the air his lungs could ever take to calm his raging heart and nerves down.

"No." He sparingly said after mustering all his courage to reply, trying too hard to make the tone of his voice firmer.

"Don't cry. A man shouldn't cry." With a strong gaze that intimidates him throughout the years, he gulped down his frightened emotion to try and take his father's words into heart.

Although that didn't work out fine, he still managed to comply and respond.

"I won't." This time, his voice almost broke. The young boy's body was still stiff from the horror and the threatening words and fearful gaze is making it worse.

Good thing his father didn't notice and his mom finally interrupted.

"A-anyway, let's continue eating. The food is getting cold and we still need to talk later after this." Her voice got smaller as she spouted her words.

The three continued eating regardless.

Usually, Taehyun can finally breathe when he enters his room, but this time, he went in with his mother to continue their conversation.