Dear Hush | Taejin

. t w e n t y o n e .

"'He will pay for what he did'", Benji said so himself in a mocking tone, looking through the window belonging to Kim Taehyung's bedroom.

"What a joke."

Everything in the room was dark, seeing as the lights were turned off. It was deep into the night, and just as Benji had told Yoongi, he was spying on Taehyung.

He looked at Taehyung, curled up on his bed, hugging a pink alpaca stuffie.

"The poor kid," Benji said, taking a final scan of the room. He smiled.

"He's got a lot coming for him."

---

Seokjin sat down in his seat next to Jimin. There was five minutes before the bell rang, signifying the start of the first class. He had arrived early.

Jimin tapped Seokjin's hand, and held it in his own, smiling.

"I had a lot of fun yesterday, Jinnie. Thank you!"

Same here, Seokjin thought in his head. It was a lot of fun to be around his friends.

"Hey, you." Bang Songhee smacked her hand on top of Jimin's and Seokjin's.

"No homo here," she said, trying not to look at them as she walked away.

Jimin and Seokjin pulled their hands away slowly.

Jimin looked down. "She knows very well that we're friends," he whispered softly, getting tears in his eyes from the harsh slap.

Seokjin scooted his chair over to him until they were touching, and he gave Jimin a tight hug.

Jimin hugged back tightly, his emotions flooding. Memories of him and Jungkook together entered his mind, along with the thought of Hoseok, Yoongi, Namjoon, and Seokjin, his friends which were all gay.

They all had to keep their sexuality a secret or they would be humiliated and verbally abused.

The thoughts made him cry harder, burying his face into Seokjin's shoulder.

Seokjin did nothing but rub Jimin's back, knowing exactly the other's thoughts.

Acceptance was hard to come by, especially in Korea.

---

Kim Taehyung did not come to school that day. He missed work as well.

Yoongi sighed, placing his head into his hands. When Kim Taehyung was absent on a work day, it only meant one thing.

Seokjin walked into his store, and Yoongi's head lifted.

He watched Seokjin pick out the same jam filled pastry as he did everyday, along with the new pastry of the day.

Seokjin walked up to the front counter, placing the items down and fishing out his money.

"Take it," Yoongi said, half sadness and half a toneless voice.

Seokjin stopped, tilting his head.

"Don't pay for it today, just take it."

Seokjin smiled, and nodded his head in thanks.

He walked right around the counter, pulling up two chairs. One for him, and one for Yoongi.

"Sid downn," he offered, sitting in one of the seats.

Yoongi looked around the bakery, and seeing that there were no customers he sat down in the offered seat.

Seokjin leaned into Yoongi's face, looking directly into his eyes, probably 6 or 7 inches away.

"Now, what did I tell you about getting this close?" Yoongi said, smiling weakly.

Seokjin couldn't read his lips, his eyes were focused on Yoongi's. Seokjin sat back in his seat, looking concerned.

"Whad iz wron, Suga?"

The nickname Suga hit Yoongi like a ton of bricks.

"Where did you hear that name?" He snapped.

Seokjin looked slightly surprised at Yoongi's expression. Yoongi noticed the manner of his question, and he slumped in his seat, unwilling to look Seokjin in the eyes.

"I'm.. I'm sorry," he mumbled. "I haven't had a good day."

"Ho-seok," Seokjin replied simply, sounding out both syllables while giving a small smile.

Yoongi looked up.

"You know Hoseok?"

Seokjin nodded. Yoongi looked down again. "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. I'm sure Jimin would have introduced you to him by now."

"He.." Yoongi started, then stopped. "He's very special. He's very sensitive, and to hear of your situation would make him very mad at Taehyung."

It was Seokjin's turn to look down now. They knew about him and Taehyung.. it humiliated him and he felt bad that others worried about him.

"See, the situation with Taehyung is very different and makes everything unfair for him. I would tell you the details, but sadly that could end my career and several people's lives."

Seokjin looked up, panicked. People's lives? Why is Yoongi saying it so casually?

"Listen, Seokjin," Yoongi said, standing up and looking around hurriedly. "Even saying this puts me at risk, but-"

He leaned down, and grabbed Seokjin's shoulders.

"Everything may seem like it's normal, everyday life for you and everybody else. But it's not. There's a lot more shit going on behind the scenes in this town. And it's all revolved around you. Stay strong. Act normal. Don't mess with things you don't know."

Quickly, Yoongi stood up. The door of the bakery had opened.

And in Benji walked, with his phone in hand and the biggest smirk plastered on his face.

"I've done my job."