The Truth Untold | TaeJin

9. I missed you...

It was a deserted corridor. The brightness from the ceiling lights blinded Seokjin's vision, making it difficult for him to differentiate between day and night. The white marble flooring echoed with his footsteps, and his limbs felt numb from walking for a long time. He looked ahead and frowned, as the distance between him and the door only seemed to increase with every step he took towards it. He was tired and thirsty, drenched in sweat, and quite weak to move, but pushed himself forward with all the energy that was left in his body.

After what felt like an eternity, Seokjin reached the door at the far end of the corridor and pushed it open. He was instantly hit with the strong, pungent smell of toilet cleaner and fresh paint. Seokjin scrunched his nose and stood in front of the huge mirror that occupied the entire wall to his right. He screwed the tap open and gathered water in his palms before splashing his face with the water. He repeated the action two more times and leaned against the counter as he stared at his reflection in the mirror.

Seokjin looked pale, his eye bags were prominent, and his lips were parched, while his bangs fell messily on his forehead. Seokjin raised his arm to his face, pushing his fringes aside, and there it was: the ugly remains of his sins, which he had been hiding for years now.

"It left a scar..."

Seokjin froze, his gaze moving beyond his reflection in the mirror. His eyes locked with a pair of soft brown eyes, which looked back at him with so much contempt and sympathy. With a dull ache in his heart, Seokjin turned around and faced those accusing eyes.

"But you look fine otherwise..."

Seokjin felt his stomach drop at how betrayed the boy sounded. The smile that followed wrenched his heart and broke him into a million pieces.

"I am sorry...", Seokjin's voice came out as a barely audible whisper.

"As you should be...", the sixteen-year-old boy in his school uniform smirked at his teacher.

Tears welled up in Seokjin's eyes, clouding his vision.

"I tried...", Seokjin sniffled softly, "I tried... I did, but I failed"

"That only means that you didn't try hard enough", the boy shrugged before leaning closer to Seokjin, "Try harder, sir...", he whispered, as he looked around the toilet fearfully, "It's scary in here... it's so dark and scary."

"I can't...", Seokjin cried miserably, "I... I can't. Please leave me alone. Please..."

"Not until you help me out of here," the boy shook his head sadly, "I want to leave as well, sir, but I can't until you set me free. Can't you do that for me?"

"No...", Seokjin refused, taking tentative steps towards the toilet door, "you need to leave. Don't come back. I can't help you. I have a life to live, a family to take care of, and friends to protect. You don't belong here anymore. Please leave...."