airplane mode; kv ✓

fifteen.

Taehyung took a sip out of the hot cup of milk in his hand, flinching when it burnt his tongue. He placed the mug down onto his desk and let out an exhausted yawn, it had been a long day of work and he finally had the chance to take a warm shower before bed.

However, he didn't go straight to bed but was sat at his desk with his laptop open once again and found himself reading articles all over again. It was hurtful even though they weren't about him, and hurt more knowing that Jeongguk who didn't have a stable life was probably reading these comments too.

"Jeon...jeongguk, orphan," He mumbled as he typed in the search bar. There were mainly recent drama related articles about how the man was exploiting children and it took a while to find articles that stated that he was an orphan.

Is he even okay with this stuff being out there? There's no official interview with him for it. Taehyung furrowed his eyebrows and picked his phone to text the man.

th
So um there's articles I found about u being an orphan and I just wanted to ask if ur okay with that being out there and if you've confirmed it

Boss man
Yes, I'm aware and I am fine with it, I haven't confirmed it yet though, but it is true.
Why? Has it sparked another scandal?

th
NO
But
I think it can really help you so I was wondering if u could maybe do an interview?

Boss man
I suppose so.
With whom?

th
MY BESTIE
jimin works for a very famous and successful news company 🤞 and I can get u booked for one asap

Boss man
How fast? I'd like it sometime this week too because I'm worried my current reputation will affect the client we're meeting with next week. My schedule isn't as busy and I'm sure you're managing well with the list of tasks?

th
YES SIR 🫡
Most are done I'm waiting on the contract and plan 💪
What dates this week r u fit for

Boss man
Tomorrow, Thursday and Friday. I won't be here on Wednesday as I need to meet someone and during the weekends I'd like to train you.

Th
Aw bae loves me that much 🥹
Ok I'll ask my friend rn and fix a date

Boss man
Shouldn't you contact the company?

Th
Contact deez nuts

Boss man
Mature.

Jeongguk placed his phone away and shook his head with a smile that was hard to contain. He hated to admit it, but Taehyung's childish humour made him laugh sometimes. He wiped that smile away and focused on the book he was reading, but it was hard to when the boy kept reappearing on his mind.

All he could think back to was when he first saw the boy, a cute new angel that stepped into the depressive building and made his heart flutter by doing absolutely nothing.

He's cute, but he's not smart. Don't like him too much, he'll probably fail me and then quit his job. Jeongguk sighed and turned over the page, but he couldn't register the words.

He placed the book down and picked his phone to reveal that Taehyung had sent him a message.

Th
Ok so I was hoping tmr wouldn't be the answer
But it is
Cus Jimin's not gonna be available and shit for the other days
We're gonna have to rush this a little so I'll try to make it short

Boss man
Alright.

Jeongguk put his phone away once again. It was now 11 o'clock at night and he was strict on making sure he was ready to sleep. Not because he wanted to live a strict lifestyle, but because if he stayed awake any longer he might spiral into overthinking that'll hurt.

Meanwhile Taehyung opened up a new tab and document, typing away with heavy eyes which he forced to keep open. He glanced at the sleeping pills that sat at his window sill, staring at him and waiting.

"I'll take you tomorrow, this is important," Taehyung picked up the pills and shoved them into his drawer which contained rubbish from snacks as he ate. He continued to type until he suddenly had a change of heart and opened up a new tab, "Some studying on construction won't hurt,"

The dark sky ahead of him began to get lighter slowly, he rubbed his eyes and yawned whilst reviewing everything he had just done. His digital clock read 5 am meaning he had 5 hours until he had to meet Jeongguk at the building.

"Okay so, I always leave at 8 am, I get there at 9 something am, meet with him at 10 am and then leave straight away to the interview," Taehyung spoke to himself and stood up, "An hour of sleep won't hurt,"

He plopped onto the bed and closed his eyes, but as expected he didn't fall asleep right away. A strange feeling took over him and he shuffled uncomfortably a couple of times.

All those hours of work. Am I even doing a good job? Is it even worth it?

Taehyung pulled the covers over him and scrunched his nose up in discomfort.

They all think I'm shit anyway, what's the point? I put all this effort in and I'm still useless to them. I prove my parents right everyday, I'm so fucking useless.

Taehyung sat up and gripped onto his hair tightly. An exhausted and fed up sigh left him, he knew he shouldn't have ignored his sleeping pills.

Shut up, shut up.

He hurriedly stepped out of bed and walked over to his desk, yanking the draw open to stare at the pills in defeat. They weren't antidepressants or anti-anxieties, but they made him feel relaxed enough to feel comfortable with his brain. The relaxation of course was just to make him sleepy and then fall asleep, but if he forced himself awake they usually worked well for his thoughts.

He knew it was wrong and damaging, but he couldn't help it.

Because the other coping mechanism was right beside the pill, twinkling below the packet of whatever and showing off it's sharp edges that never did Taehyung any good.

Taehyung teared his gaze away from it and picked up the bottle of pills, he took out two and placed them in his mouth before swallowing it with the cold milk he had forgotten about.

Once he was done, he crawled back into bed and decided to stay awake on his phone or else he wouldn't wake up at all until it's too late.

Let's hope I don't die at work.

I want angst so bad