Lost Boys

3

   [Unedited: Typos]

Chapter Two: Grit and Fantasies.

      It wasn't that he hated working, it was more along the lines of him hating that he had to work three jobs.

     Taehyung sighed as he dragged the stained cloth against the wooden countertop, forcing himself to keep his fatigued body from toppling over. The boy was exhausted, tired from working all day the previous day, to working all day again from sunrise.

   Because of his poor economic condition and a lack of a stable male figure in his broken household, he had to take on the responsibilities of providing for his family. Taehyung didn't exactly know his father, but since as we're speaking about his broken family. He's only had the fortune of hearing stories about this kind hearted man with a bright and unwavering smile.

    He was frustrated, all these amazing stories about a man who refused to take the responsibility of his poor decisions just... agitated him. His decisions to start a family with a young and impressionable woman who would walk through fire just for his cause, left his young son baffled and mostly angry.

    There were rumors, rumors that Kim Taehyung was more than meets the eye. A handsome young man like him didn't belong in a slump like this. In fact it was almost true, he'd be lying if he didn't suspect that he was extraordinary. What boy with the smile of a million stars was meant to suffer like this? He often wondered, coming up with nothing.

    Sighing, he flung the cloth over his shoulder, rubbing the sweat from his brow as he did. It's hot today, hotter than normal and if he was being honest with himself, he just doesn't want to be here. Cleaning tables and toilets like he was some sort of slave, a lesser being. He didn't like it, he didn't like the feeling of being treated so poorly by something ascribed.

    He didn't asked to be born this way, to be born poor, and indigenous. He wanted to live like a king, even if only for a second. But, the world kept him in this place. Whoever decided that he would be given the life he was, must of had it out for him in his previous life.

    "Kid, ya done with them tables?" Sighing, Taehyung spun on his heels to face the crabby old shop keeper. Beady eyes boring into his reciprocated stare, a stare that seemed to be lacking luster and mirth these days.

"What'd you think?" He bit back. They had a rough relationship, mainly because she was an outright bitch and Taehyung was just plain stubborn. Stuck in his ways. After being fired from this very same job months ago, his mother had to beg on her knees for the woman to take him back, expressing their need for the money. A shitty amount of money but money none the less. "Are you blind?" He asked, leaning against the table to catch his breath.

"Whatever, those toilets won't clean themselves, get on it!" She barked, pulling him from the counter and pushing him towards the bathroom that smelt strongly of piss and other unnameable foul smells.

"I fucking hate this!!" Taehyung gritted, angrily flinging the dirty cloth from his shoulder onto the tiled floor. He truly hated it but he understood his place. He couldn't deviate any longer.

Minutes passed and he soon found himself hand deep into the grim filled toilet, gloved of course. Scrubbing haphazardly and he began his many daydreams once again. His daydreams about that smiling child.

He just remembered, not only was that child smiling brightly down at him, but he also was gripping on tightly to a lollipop. Small arms out stretched as he gifted the child before him the sweet. This child was dirty, without shoes and clean clothes but throughout all that, the smiling prince handed him the lollipop, his smile never faltering.

Taehyung remembered that, praying to himself that it wasn't just a dream that he concocted in one of his many fantasies. But something of truly distant memories. He wanted to meet this child once again, even if for a fleeting moment. Taehyung wanted the boy to smile at him like he smiled that day and instead of a piece of sweet, he'd hand him hope.