Pretty Lies

The Unbearable Truth and the Odd Solution

Kim Seokjin:

We regret to inform you that due to your poor academic standings, we at BIG HIT SCHOLARS have decided to terminate your full ride scholarship. Depending on how you perform in your classes we may re-accept you if you so choose to re-apply for the scholarship. Until then you will be expected to repay a total of $26,000 to the company. You may make separate payments or pay in full. If you so choose to make multiple payments we expect the first payment of $2,000 in the following three months.

Sincerely,

Head of Directory of BIGHIT SCHOLARS

He couldn't believe. No, scratch that. It wasn't that he couldn't believe it- it's that he didn't want to believe. Seokjin let out a shaky breath as his eyes skimmed the typed letter in his hands. How could he have let this happen? Had he let his break-up with Jaehwan get to him this far?

Seokjin felt as if the room had begun to spin. He crossed the room to sit on the couch. He tucked his legs under him, and once he had relaxed, that was it. Hot streams of salt water began to leave him and stain his cheeks. He covered his mouth with his free hand as sobs began to consume him.

He had to try to calm down; he couldn't be selfish. His roommate was working in his room. It didn't matter, the fear of uncertainty was far too much. His sobs grew as he crumpled the letter and threw it towards the garbage; missing the target terribly.

The louder sobs finally caught his roommate's attention, as the opening and closing of a door down the hall was heard. A small, pale, blue-haired man popped his head from the hallway into the dim lit living room. A look of confusion and worry and a black silk robe was all he wore.

"Hyung?" , Yoongi asked, "Is everything alright?". He made his way towards the ratty blue couch Jin was sitting on. More concern plastered on his face as he sat across from Jin.

Seokjin rubbed his eyes fiercely with his sweater. He hated it when Yoongi saw him cry. They had been best friends since high school and Seokjin still sometimes felt like a burden to Yoongi. Yoongi always had this indifferent attitude to most things and a major case of resting bitch face, but he was actually a nice guy. Seokjin would never ask for a better friend, but he couldn't cry any more to him. He had cried enough through this damn break-up with his high school sweetheart, he couldn't put Yoongi through anymore.

" I'm okay, Yoongi-ah..." Seokjin lied through a sniffle. He cringed at the raised eyebrow Yoogi gave him. Why was he such a bad liar? Why couldn't he lie perfectly like his younger brother was? Jungkook could get away with everything Seokjin could never.

"That's bullshit. Hyung, what happened? Is this about Jaehwan?"

Seokjin shook his head. The words in the letter were engraved in his brain. They sent a cold sensation through his back and warmed his cheeks. He felt embarrassed and scared. This was the only thing that paid for his film school. His job at the Starbucks could only cover for his shared rent with Yoongi. How was he going to support himself?

The sound of the clock ringing took Seokjin attention. It was 8:00 P.M.; Yoongi was going to be late. "Yoongi-ah," Jin began with a shaky voice, "you're late. Your viewers are waiting for you."

"They can wait. It'll only make them more riled up when they see me." Yoongi shot back. " Now tell me what's wrong."

The air felt as if it weighed in Seokjin's lungs. When he tried to speak nothing came out. When he tried again, the tears began to fall once more. He held onto the armrest of the couch for support as he was finally able to turn sounds into words. "They-The sponsors- M-my. They took my scholarship away." a choked sob came out of Seokjin's throat.

Yoongi readjusted himself on the couch to hold his hyung. The younger male held his best friend in his arms, combing his fingers through his hair, "Sh-sh, tell me what happened Seokjin-hyung.".

The words came out choked, but somehow Yoongi understood every syllable. "M-my grades slipped ever since he left me. I just couldn't concentrate..." the older male sat up wiping the tears away, looking for some form of composure. "I'm in debt, I have to pay them back."

The blue haired man felt the atmosphere relax and allowed himself to sit back on the couch and prop his feet onto the coffee table. He simply shrugged and replied, "So? You have a job. You'll manage.".

Seokjin stood up pacing the living room and running slender fingers through his black locks resisting the urge to pull them out of his scalp. "A job as a waiter," he began with overexpression, "does NOT cover a film school tuition Yoongi-ah.".

The younger of two scratched his head and rolled his eyes. "So, just get another job. It's not that hard." Yoongi stated looking at his fingernails.

An idea came to Seok Jin's mind.

"That's it!" Seokjin shouted as he quickly sat down on the couch again. He took the younger male's hands in his, "Yoongi, how much do you make per live stream?". Yoongi simply gave him a puzzling look as he answered, " Enough I guess, I've become pretty popular. Maybe $1,000 to $3,000 depending on the days. Why would you-". Yoongi paused seeing the glint in his best friends eyes. He knew that look all too well. Usually, Seokjin wore it when he was about to make a big step. He let go of Seokjin's hands and crossed his arms, "Absolutely not! Seokjin I am not letting you sell your body for some stupid student loan!".

"Yoongi, it's the only way, I'm pretty feminine for a man. I'm sure viewers will go crazy for that!" Seokjin pleaded. He was desperate. He couldn't ask for loans or any help. His pride wouldn't allow it. This seemed like the best option.

"Yeah! Along with all the other internet perverts!" Yoongi turned to see Jin now sporting his famous pout, "You've been my best friend long enough to know that doesn't work for me".

"I'll pay the rent for a month with my first big paycheck."

"I'm sold," Yoongi said getting up swaying his hips, " Now if you'll excuse me I have viewers desperately waiting for me."

Seokjin grabbed his messenger bag and keys, "Don't worry I'm already out the door."