Taehyung was once the bright light in every room-the boy who's laughs had the power to light up another's world, who spread positivity and warmth to everyone around him. He was the friend you could count on, the one who never let anything dull his s...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
POV :
Taehyung stepped into the university, his heart pounding so loudly that he could barely hear the chatter of students in the courtyard. As soon as he passed through the gates, it began. The murmurs. The sneers. The cruel laughter.
"Hey, look who decided to show up!" a voice jeered from behind him.
"Didn't think he'd have the guts!" another added, their words laced with mockery.
Taehyung clenched his fists and held his head high, willing himself to ignore them. But the crowd wasn't so forgiving.
"How's it feel being the campus freak, huh, Taehyung?"
"Disgusting."
"Guess he's trying to act brave now!"
A shove came from behind, sending Taehyung stumbling forward. He regained his footing but didn't retaliate, knowing it would only make things worse. Another push came, harder this time, forcing him to fall to his knees. Laughter erupted around him like a storm.
"You like being on your knees, don't you?" one of Jungkook's friends sneered, grabbing Taehyung by the collar to force him upright.
Taehyung's eyes stung, but he refused to let tears fall. Not here. Not in front of them.
But then he saw him.
Standing at the far end of the courtyard, leaning against a wall, was Jungkook. He was barely recognizable, dressed in a leather jacket with his hair disheveled and an indifferent expression plastered on his face. But Taehyung knew him. He would recognize Jungkook anywhere.
Their eyes met for the briefest second, and Taehyung felt something inside him crack. Jungkook saw it all. He saw the shoving, the cruel laughter, the humiliation. And he did nothing.
He just stood there, watching.
Taehyung's lips parted, as if to say something, but the words never came. One of the bullies grabbed him by the shoulder, spinning him around and forcing him to look away.
"Didn't anyone ever tell you it's disgusting to pretend to be something you're not?" the bully spat.
The day dragged on in much the same way. Snide remarks in the halls. Someone "accidentally" spilling water on his notes. A textbook yanked from his arms and thrown down the corridor. All while Jungkook lingered in the background, never intervening, never saying a word.
_____🌷
POV:
By the time the day ended, Taehyung felt like he was barely holding himself together. His body ached from the shoves, his mind was spinning from the endless barrage of insults, and his heart... his heart hurt the most.
He sat on the edge of his bed that night, staring at the floor.
"It's not true," he whispered to himself. "It's not true. I'm not what they say I am. I'm just... me. And that's okay."
But the words felt hollow, like he was trying to convince himself of something he didn't quite believe.
The sound of his phone buzzing broke his thoughts. He picked it up and saw Jimin's name flashing on the screen.
"Jiminie," Taehyung said, his voice trembling slightly as he answered.
"Tae!" Jimin's cheerful voice greeted him, immediately easing some of the tension in his chest. "You sound tired. Are you okay?"
Taehyung hesitated, forcing a smile even though Jimin couldn't see him. "Just a long day, that's all. How's your dad? Is he feeling better?"
Jimin's tone softened. "He's doing better. The doctors say he needs rest, but he's strong. He'll be okay."
"That's a relief," Taehyung replied, his voice quieter now.
They talked for what felt like hours, about everything and nothing. Jimin recounted funny childhood memories, the kind that made Taehyung laugh until his sides hurt. He described how his dad had scolded him for being overprotective, how he had tripped on his way out of the hospital room, and how much he missed Taehyung.
"Tae," Jimin said softly after a moment of silence, "you know you can tell me anything, right?"
Taehyung's throat tightened, and he blinked rapidly to fight the tears threatening to spill. "I know, Jiminie. Thank you. For everything."
"Don't thank me, silly," Jimin teased gently. "You're my best friend. I'd do anything for you. Always."
For the first time that day, Taehyung felt like he could breathe again.
_____🌷
POV:
Jungkook slumped against the wall in the quiet of his room, staring at the ceiling as the events of the day played on a loop in his mind.
He had seen it all. The way they had pushed Taehyung. The way they had laughed at him. The way Taehyung had looked at him-broken, pleading, confused.
And he had done nothing.
"Why didn't I stop them?" Jungkook muttered to himself, running a hand through his hair. He knew the answer. He was a coward.
Part of him wanted to rush over, to tell Taehyung that he didn't deserve this, that Jungkook hadn't meant for things to go this far. But another part of him-the darker, angrier part-felt satisfied.
"This is his fault," Jungkook whispered, trying to convince himself. "If he hadn't..." He trailed off, his own excuses sounding weaker and weaker.
He thought about the look in Taehyung's eyes when their gazes met in the courtyard. Hurt. Betrayal. Disappointment.
Jungkook squeezed his eyes shut, his hands balling into fists. He hated the way it made him feel-like he was the villain in this story.
