insane because of you

◇chapter nine◇

Third person's POV:

The noise coming from the big stage and the audience is loud, almost unbearable for Taeyong, devouring it alongside anxiety and tiredness as the announcer is about to reveal the winner of the dance competition live in front of three hundred thousand people. Taeyong's performance was impeccable, he had spent a whole month on it with the private teachers and not even going to school, blasting the same song all over again in his headphones to memorize and make sure every movement was perfect. Those were also the judges' words. He was the one proclaimed to be the best. Then why... why are they giving the win to the other dancer? Why didn't he get that prize? What did he do wrong? No, he already knows the answer to that question. He did nothing wrong.
He can almost see his internal anger on his father, dragging him back into the locker room, cursing under his breath quietly, but loud enough for Taeyong to hear. "Fucking scams", "fakers", "idiots", "unbelievable", "embarrassing" are the keywords.
Even the reactions from the other side of the phone are mirrored. "So they let him win because he showed courage and determination even if he was not a good dancer like Taeyong? What a joke". It's fucking bullshit.
As they reach the locker room, Taeyong's father starts packing up their stuff, ending the phone call with his friend before sitting down with his head through his hair.
Taeyong: "Dad, I'm sorry I didn't win... I trie-"
He interrupted himself as his father stood up, and he would lie if he said that he wasn't slightly scared.
Mr Lee: "It's not your fault, dear. You're the true winner, not some fake dude who acts all sweet, pitiful and innocent just to buy a win he doesn't deserve"
He walks closer before hugging him and Taeyong feels himself relax. He's never truly seen his dad angry, but whenever it occurred, he couldn't help but freeze, turning completely powerless.
The long drive back home was silent, the boy was sleeping in the back of the limousine while leaning on his dad's shoulder as he's checking documents for work before he gets interrupted by a call from his assistant.
Lee: "did you find out?"
Kang: "Yes, sir. Taeyong was a birthday party when he fell on glass and the boy who took him to the hospital wasn't Jaehyun, it was someone called Yuta Nakamoto"
The name causing the man to raise an eyebrow
Mr Lee: "a japanese boy?"
Kang: "affirmative. His dad works in an office and his mom owns a photography studio. They're a stable family but I wouldn't say it's within your reach"
Mr. Lee: "Alright thanks, see you at work"
With that, he puts the paper and the phone away, looking down at his sleeping son before his gaze moves on the scarred arm.
Mr Lee: "What are you hiding from me, Taeyong?"

If at Lee's the atmosphere was pretty sad, Yuta's house is lively, balloons flying around the living room, kids running after them, adults joking around and Yuta trying to contain the daughter of his mom's friend from breaking everything: just a typical Sunday.
Yuta: "NO YUKI PUT THE LAMP DOWN"
He snatches the lamp just in time but the kid wastes no time to run off and look for anything destructible in the room to throw on the ground. Yuta still doesn't get why he has to watch over her. It's already a lot that Mark went on a trip because his dad will stay in Thailand for two months so he'll have to be alone for a long time, he also has to take care of kids. Fucking hell. Yuki is the definition of bratty kid: she throws tantrums, screams, does everything she can to create some chaos, and Yuta can't stand it. Suddenly, the doorbell rings and the red-haired boy rushes to the door before the kid could scare away whoever's there.
As he swings it open, his brows furrowed and Yuki stops playing around, an anxious expression on her face before she runs back to her mother, leaving Yuta alone with a well-dressed man, probably in his fifties, black sunglasses and a tablet in his hand. He looks back at his mother who hasn't even realized before turning back to face the man.
Yuta: "Can I help you?"
?: "Are you Nakamoto Yuta?"
Yuta nods hesitantly, startled by the fact that the man knows his name.
Yuta: "who are-"
A muffled scream hits the women's ears and as the little girl comes crying to them, they rush to the direction of said scream, only to find nothing but an opened door and the Yuta's bracelet on the ground. His mother screamed, ran outside, no one in sight, her friend picked up the piece of jewelry and analyzed it before asking the poor little girl who was now trembling what happened.
Yuta's mother sits terrified on the couch, the other woman calling her husband to share the news, then Yuki suddenly remembers the boy had left his phone upstairs before starting to play with her and ran to get it.
Yuki: "maybe we can call his friends" she says, handing the phone to her mother. She may be young but she's not stupid.
The mother unlocks the phone and scrolls through the contacts, trying to call those few friends she knows. Jihyo, no answer. Mark, no answer. Classmates, don't know a thing. The last two contacts are a certain Jaehyun and a Taeyong.
The first one doesn't pick up. The second one on the other hand answers faster than the phone could ring a second time.
Taeyong: "Yuta?" his voice confused and tired
Mrs Nakamoto takes a few deep breaths and explains the situation to the other boy.
Taeyong, who was lying peacefully on his bed watching netflix, jolts up, a sudden wave of worry hitting him hard
Taeyong: "You think he got kidnapped?"

A week passed, nothing new. Yuta's still missing, Taeyong had decided to look for him alongside his friends but nothing. It's as if he just disappeared.
Now Taeyong is at school, his head in the clouds as he leans against his locker when he suddenly snaps back to reality hearing footsteps coming his way.
Mark: "is this your doing?"
He raises his head and his eyes are met with an angry Mark stomping his way towards him.
Taeyong raises an eyebrow and ironically laughs
Taeyong: "wow, you really don't like me at all"
Mark: "what have you done to Yuta?!"
As Mark raises his voice, Taeyong's playful expression drops and he shoots a glare that could pierce anyone, causing the other boy to flinch a little.
Taeyong: "I didn't do anything, I've actually been looking for him since the night he disappeared. Now, if you have nothing more to say then scram"
Taeyong's tone is so calm yet scary and Mark was actually taken aback by the sudden change in his behavior, not really expecting that to come out of his mouth.
Mark: "you've been... looking for him?"
Taeyong rolls his eyes and sighs before turning around and walking away, mentally slapping himself for saying that. He doesn't know why he cares about Yuta so much and he's mad at himself for this doubt, added to that, the fact that now that Mark knows just makes him even more upset.