Harmonic Destinies

Chapter 9 : School Days

The morning started surprisingly peacefully for Taehyung. He woke to the soft rays of sunlight filtering through the thin curtains of his dorm room. Jimin was still fast asleep, sprawled out on his bed with a pillow over his face. For once, the room was quiet, without the usual sarcastic remarks or nagging that had become a part of their daily routine.

Taehyung let himself be in the stillness for a moment, enjoying the calm before the chaos of the school day. He got dressed quickly, slipping into his uniform, and slung his violin case over his shoulder. Before leaving, he scribbled a quick note for Jimin: "Left early. See you in class?" He wasn't sure if Jimin would appreciate it, but the effort felt right.

The school hallways were still quiet when he arrived at the music wing. The early morning practice rooms were mostly empty, allowing him to have one all to himself. He spent the next hour lost in the comfort of his violin, playing without interruptions. For the first time since arriving at SSCA, everything felt simple.

By midday, the school had shifted back into its usual state of bustling chaos. Students filled the hallways, chatting and rushing to their next classes. Taehyung had just finished his last lesson before lunch and was headed toward the cafeteria, his violin case hanging loosely at his side, when he felt someone tap his shoulder.

He turned around, only to come face-to-face with her.

Kang Hana. Taehyung recognized her instantly. She was one of the girls who had given him trouble before always lingering with a smug smile, always watching. Hana wasn't just a student; she was infamous. A member of one of the popular cliques on campus, she had a reputation for stirring up drama. But more importantly, rumors swirled that she had a huge crush on Jungkook.

"Oh, Taehyung," she said, her voice sugar-coated but laced with something sharp. "I was hoping to run into you."Taehyung resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "What do you want, Hana?" Her smile widened, but it didn't reach her eyes. "I just wanted to talk."

"Yeah?" he said, already sensing trouble. "I'm kind of busy."

Before he could step around her, two other girls Hana's friends flanked him on either side, blocking his path. "You're not in a hurry, are you?" Hana asked, tilting her head innocently. Taehyung clenched his jaw. He didn't have time for their games, but it was clear they weren't planning to let him go that easily.

"What do you want?" he repeated, more firmly this time.

Hana's expression shifted just slightly, but enough for him to catch the change. "It's not really about what I want," she said smoothly. "It's about you knowing your place."

Before Taehyung could react, the two girls beside him grabbed his arms. In one swift motion, they pushed him toward a nearby door.

"Hey—what the—!" Taehyung stumbled, struggling against their grip.

"Oops," Hana said with a smirk as she reached for the door handle.

The next thing Taehyung knew, he was being shoved inside a small, dark space. The door slammed shut behind him with a loud clunk.

The broom closet was cramped and smelled like cleaning supplies. Taehyung groaned as he tried to get his bearings, his violin case digging awkwardly into his back. "Great," he muttered under his breath, kicking at the door in frustration. "Really great."He twisted the doorknob, but it wouldn't budge. Locked. Of course, it was.

Taehyung pressed his forehead against the door, exhaling slowly through his nose. He could hear faint laughter from outside Hana and her friends, no doubt enjoying their little prank. "Idiots," he muttered, banging his fist against the door. "Come on, let me out!"But there was no response.

He leaned back against the wall, sighing heavily. Of all the things he had expected today, getting locked in a broom closet by a group of petty girls wasn't one of them. Minutes ticked by, each one stretching longer than the last. He pulled out his phone, hoping to call Jimin or someone else for help but, of course, the signal inside the tiny space was nonexistent.

Fantastic.

Taehyung closed his eyes, taking a deep breath to steady himself. He tried not to think about how much time was passing or how embarrassing it would be if someone found him like this.

As the hours stretched on, Taehyung tried to find a position that didn't involve his neck cramping or his legs going numb. Eventually, exhaustion caught up to him, and his eyelids grew heavy. Despite the uncomfortable setting, sleep pulled at him.

Curled awkwardly on the cold floor of the closet, Taehyung drifted in and out of a restless slumber. His dreams were fragmented a blur of violin strings, distant laughter, and fleeting glimpses of familiar faces. Maybe tomorrow will be a better day. 

To be continued...

Author here! This chapter was a bit short, didn't know what else to have in the chapter. My apologies! Although the next chapter is very interesting. (づ˶•༝•˶)づ♡