Love, Insecurities: Taehyung x OC!Reader

[01]

The night was cold, but Ara didn't hesitate to open up the window a little more. Her eyes were swollen and her lips quivered. She was sad, and it was obvious. She grabbed a pencil and her blue journal. She began to write, despite the heaviness of her tears and muffling voice. She wrote about the if only's and what she'd be able to do if she were just a size two. In the back of her mind she knew that this method of coping was unhealthy but she couldn't help it. This was her journal and it was her remedy against her own self-hatred.

~*~

Taehyung sat in the front of the auditorium and watched as the school's chamber orchestra rehearsed. The students who made it into the ensemble were usually very good. But he also knew that there were a few students that the conductor had hand selected to join, believing that they had potential. He listened carefully to each individual section. He didn't know much but he had a college roommate who majored in music. Since then Taehyung was able to distinguish the violins from the violas.

"Ara,"

There was silence.

"Where's Ara?" The conductor looked around, "is she sick again?" Taehyung watched as she shook her head in disappointment. Raising her arms once more, she started conducting.

There were about six kids in each section, except for the violas who had three and an empty chair in the back. Oh and of course the only bassist. Despite the lack of students in the viola section, it sounded loud enough and that was better than nothing.

Nearing the last ten minutes of the rehearsal, the curtain moved on stage and out came Ara with her large instrument at hand. She filled the empty chair but instead of accompanying the third violist, she pulled the chair farther back on stage and laid her music on a lonely stand. Even with her participation, the violas sounded the same. Well actually the volume didn't change but the quality worsened.

Ouch, but the truth hurts sometimes.

The students were dismissed and the first one up was Ara. But before she could run away, the conductor stopped her and pulled her aside. Taehyung stood up and followed them into the hallway. He hid behind a pillar and listened.

"Why do you always come late to my class?"

"I had to finish an exam today."

"Do you have an exam everyday because it's always my class that you're never on time to. Is something going on that I should know about? You've been looking down these past few days."

"Miss Lee, I'm alright. I just need to manage my time more carefully." And with that, Taehyung heard hurried footsteps come his way. When she passed by, he grabbed Ara's arm and pulled her closer to him.

He saw her eyes become red. The tip of her nose was pink and her cheeks were warm. He let go of her but asked if she could follow him to his classroom. Ara quietly obliged.

~*~

Constant failure makes one insecure and less confident in what they do.

Taehyung locked his classroom door before shutting it. He sat Ara down and stood across from her. "You aren't so pretty if you look sad." He kindly smiled, his voice comforting and warm. "Are you alright?"

"No," She admitted. "I'm not alright. I'm never alright when I go to Chamber." She looked so dejected and defeated. Her voice laced with frustration. "I'm the worst violist, everyone knows it. And the only reason I got in was because Miss Lee favorited me. I knew it but I thought that maybe it was because I had skill. But no, it was just because I'm a sad kid she's trying to help."