Tomorrow's Childhood

Cousins and bullies and friends

Taehyun looked around nervously, waiting for Yeonjun. It was about to happen, Taehyun's bullies would be coming around soon and he had been secretly hoping that Yeonjun would show up before that.

Yeonjun didn't show up until it was too late.

"Please leave me alone" Taehyun begged, cowering down in front of the older boys. Someone put a hand on his shoulder and he flinched, looking to see who it was. Yeonjun wasn't looking at him though; his eyes were fixed instead on one particular kid in front of them.

"Choi Soobin, you should be ashamed of yourself" Yeonjun spoke firmly, glaring at the kid before him. Taehyun moved behind Yeonjun, trusting his protection.

"It's just a little fun" Soobin responded, mumbling the words under his breath.

"Well your fun is going to get you in trouble once I tell auntie that your bullying innocent kids: younger, smaller kids" Yeonjun reached out and grabbed Soobim's shirt, yanking him close.

"You can't tell her! Please Junnie-hyung!" Soobim's demeanor changed entirely and he turned into a scared child instead of the tough bully that Taehyun was used to seeing him as.

"The rest of you, scatter. And leave both of these boys alone or you'll deal with me" Yeonjun tightened his hold on Soobin, making the younger boy tear up. He was going to be in so much trouble. Soobin's friends ran off.

"Apologize to Taehyun" Yeonjun ordered. Soobin turned to the younger kid, shamefaced, and lowered his body into a small bow.

"I'm very sorry Taehyun, I think we may have to skip our usual routine. I got to walk him home" Yeonjun glanced at Taehyun apologetically. Taehyun barely even thought but he surprised himself.

"He can...come with us" Taehyun mumbled.

"Are you sure?" Yeonjun was surprised and clearly Soobim was too.

"Yeah, it's okay" Taehyun nodded, not sure if he would regret that decision but it was too late to go back now.

"You see the kind of person you've been terrorizing? I hope your proud of yourself" Yeonjun turned sharply to his younger friend. Taehyun wasn't sure the relationship between them but he could tell they were family, probably cousins.

"I didn't mean to! They forced me into it" Soobin insisted. Yeonjun quietly shushed him.

"We'll talk later. Come on, and whatever you do, don't leave my side or we'll go straight home" Yeonjun held tightly to his cousin's hand as they followed Taehyun home.

"Eomma! I'm home and I brought friends!" Taehyun stopped walking, listening to the silence. His mom wasn't home. Taehyun dropped his backpack and got out a large snack tray, setting it on the counter.

"Do you want some?" Taehyun offered, holding the tray out to Soobin.

"Why are you being nice to me?" Soobin wondered. Taehyun actually wasn't sure but he could tell Soobin wasn't a bad kid. Even when Taehyun encountered his usual bullies, Soobin stood back and never participated. It was possible that he was being honest when Soobin said he was forced into it.

"No one deserves to be bullied or ignored" Taehyun answered. Soobin hung his head in shame but he did grab something off the tray and ate it. Yeonjun smiled at the two boys, ruffling their hair. Then he leaned down to Soobin.

"We'll still talk later" He promised. Soobin didn't argue, he had expected that. Taehyun led the two cousins to his living room and they settled down with the snack tray in front of them. Yeonjun and Taehyun got their homework so Soobin did too, after Yeonjun told him to.

"Do you come here everyday?" Soobin asked his cousin.

"Yep" Yeonjun nodded absently, focused on his work. Soobin went back to his own and it was quiet for a long time. A few minutes later, he received a pillow to the face.

"Huh?" Soobin looked up, meeting Taehyun's mischievous grin.

"Payback" Taehyun stated. Soobin couldn't argue with that so he didn't and threw the pillow back, smiling. Pretty soon, Yeonjun got involved too and the boys' homework lay forgotten around the living room. About an hour later, the room was a mess and the three boys lay on the pillows on the floor, tired out.

"We should probably be going back now. I forgot that auntie doesn't know your here" Yeonjun pointed out. Soobin sat up in panic, realizing his cousin was right. He was going to be in so much trouble, even more if his dad was home.

"That's okay. I'll clean up here" Taehyun got up, picking up the pillows. Yeonjun put his and Soobin's homework away and grabbed their backpacks.

"Soobin, say bye and let's go. You got a lot of explaining to do" Yeonjun slipped his shoes on, taking his cousin's hand and they set off down the street after saying bye. Taehyun never invited Soobin back but he was always there, even the few times that Yeonjun wasn't.

Taehyun's friend group was growing and it wasn't done yet.

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Let me just say I do not think Soobin is a bully. They are young and facing peer pressure and so he was around but he did not take part in any of what his 'friends' were doing. He was also new and trying to fit in

Yeonjun-10. 5th grade
Soobin-9. 4th grade
Beomgyu-8. 3rd grade
Taehyun-7. 2nd grade
Kai-7. 2nd grade