UNDERNEATH THE SAME SKY | TAEHYUNG

01

layla sighed, her eyes drifting to the window beside her with her chin on the palm of her hand as she waited along with the other students for their next period. she didn't wanna be here; she'd rather be anywhere than be here. it's not the school that she hates, but the people in them. all she had ever wanted was someone to say hi and befriend her on the first day, but instead, they laughed at layla's now biggest insecurity – her eyes.

layla's eyes were different. they weren't the same color, and before she went to this place, she thought it looked cool. layla would always look at herself in front of the mirror and smile. she was different, and she liked that. she hoped every one else will, too.

she'd jokingly thank her parents for giving her such wonderful eyes.

but now, she regrets it.

but when she first entered this school, all she got were weird stares and whispers. at first, it wasn't that bad, just a few people asking why her eyes were like that. she'd tell them that she truthfully doesn't know, but promised that when she comes up with an explanation – she'd tell them.

they didn't want any explanation. they wanted someone to make fun of. and layla was the perfect target.

she had earned a lot of names. lizard eyes. freak. ugly alien. and layla didn't mind, it was okay. she didn't mind the names as long as they don't go too far. she could handle the stares and the random shoves in the hallway. she could handle the small paper balls thrown at her when the teacher isn't looking. she thought she could handle everything.

but she thought wrong.

it gets worse and worse for layla every day. a rumor after a rumor. wreckless and far too dangerous things were happening every day. layla couldn't do anything; she had tried a lot of times to tell the teachers, but none of them believed her.

was it because of her eyes?

she didn't know. but all she wanted was for them to stop, for her to be at peace. all she wanted was a friend at school. all she wanted was her parents to stop working and going to a lot of far places even just for a day. she wanted...someone. just someone to be there. just someone to ask how her day went.

that's all she had ever wanted.

layla was pulled out of her thoughts when the noise around her died. she figured that the teacher must have arrived, so as soon as she saw every one stand up to bow at mrs. leng, she stood up as well. but when her eyes met the figure in front of her, she was surprised.

"good morning, class!" a chirpy greeting escaped the woman's mouth, followed by a soft laugh as she raised her hand to wave at the students in front of her. "i'm your new math teacher, and my name is mrs. may! you may sit down now. and also, no need for introductions," her eyes wandered to layla's quiet figure, who was back at looking outside of the window, "because i already know all of you."

while every one else was busy whispering about their new teacher, layla didn't care. she was too busy looking outside of the window, watching the leaves sway with the wind. she didn't want to look at her textbook either. layla wished the day to be over. just like how she wished every other day.

kim taehyung sat on the floor, exhausted from today's dance practice. his head was against the wall, his eyes closed. he didn't have the energy to get up anymore. the non stop dance practice from morning to evening drained the poor guy, and even though the other members kept telling him how awesome he danced today, he didn't believe them. he'd just smile and nod, mutter a small "thank you" under his breath, and proceed to dance again. taehyung believed he wasn't good, and every time he'd watch jungkook and jimin dance, he'd feel very small.