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32: endless

[ PAST ]

Ten year old Jungkook walked with a little bounce in his step, the hem of his baby blue sweater swaying as he moved. His hair flopped with each jump, a happy smile lighting up his face. He was on his way to meet his Tae.

It had been a few years since Jungkook and Taehyung first met by the lake, and now they were inseparable. Each other's only friend.

When Jungkook declared that Taehyung was his friend, the neighborhood kids had turned on him, outcasting him just as they did Taehyung. They mocked him, whispered behind his back, and even tried to convince him to ditch Taehyung.

But Jungkook didn't care.

Taehyung was kind, funny, and, most importantly, his. If no one else wanted to play with him, that was fine. Taehyung was enough.

As he neared Taehyung's house, Jungkook slowed, hearing muffled voices.

"J-Jungkook is mean," a familiar voice stammered.

Frowning, Jungkook stopped and peeked around the corner. His heart sank when he saw Taehyung standing in the yard with his mother.

"I-I don't like him," Taehyung's voice wavered. His back was to Jungkook, "I don't want to p-play with him anymore."

The words stabbed through Jungkook like shards of glass.

"What did I do?" he whispered to himself, his doe eyes welling up with tears.

"He's like everyone else. I don't w-want him as my f-friend," Taehyung's small voice broke.

Jungkook's tiny hands clenched into fists, gripping the fabric of his sweater as tears streamed down his face. He turned and ran, his little legs carrying him as far from the scene as possible.

"That's what you get, Taehyung," his mother spat, venom dripping from her voice. "No one likes you. Get that through your tiny head."

Her glare bore into him, harsh and unrelenting. "Don't waste your time outside. Stupid friends. Stupid everything. Do you understand?"

"Yes," Taehyung whispered, his voice so faint it was barely audible. His mother rolled her eyes before leaving, slamming the door behind her.

The silence was deafening.

But Taehyung wouldn't let the words sink in. He wiped at his eyes and whispered to himself, "My Kookie likes me. He's my best friend."

---

At the playground, Jungkook sat on the swings, sniffling and wiping at his red nose.

"What happened to him?" one of the kids whispered.

"Taehyung's not here," another snickered.

"That's what he gets for being friends with Taehyung," the first added. "Didn't we warn him?"

"Yeah. Now even Taehyung made him cry."

Jungkook hiccuped, the words cutting into his already wounded heart.

"He could still play with us, though. But just him."

The offer dangled in front of him like bait, and Jungkook's resolve faltered. The tears in his eyes blurred his vision, and in that moment, their words made sense.

Taehyung was mean.

And he if he didn't want him as his friend, than that's what he will get.

---

"Kookie!"

Jungkook's head snapped up at the sound of the voice that used to make him smile. Not anymore.