The Meaning of Family | BTS

Chapter 15

"What are your thoughts on sex?" Hoseok was at his quarterly appointment with Dr. Pruitt to check up on his medication and coping strategies. As he did at the end of every meeting, the man had asked Hoseok if there was anything else he would like to talk about, and for once, Hoseok actually did have something.

"Well," Dr. Pruitt pushed his glasses further up his face before clasping his hands together. "That is a very broad question, Hoseok. Do you mind elaborating a little?"

"It's just..." Hoseok paused as he figured out how to word his question. "I know that a lot of people are against sex before marriage, or at least sex in high school, but I know a lot of people my age are having sex, and the media shows it as a normal thing for 16-year olds, so I was just wondering...should I be having sex already?"

"I can tell you that a lot of your peers are probably lying about having sex just to seem cool." Dr. Pruitt answered. "But it does seem that you have some reservations about sex, and that is absolutely okay." Hoseok bit his lip nervously, not sure how far the therapist would be attempting to dive into Hoseok's problems. "This could be due to your parents' views on sex, have you talked to them about it?"

Hoseok scoffed lightly. "My dad literally bought my older brother a box of condoms as part of his school supplies, I don't think they're too against sex."

"Okay, so that's not it." Dr. Pruitt closed his notebook, signifying that their meeting was coming to an end. "I think you're having an inner conflict because you have all these signs around you sending mixed signals about whether or not sex is okay at your age, and I believe you might have some repressed feelings towards sex. If you can figure out whatever it is that you are subconsciously feeling, it might be a little easier for you to navigate those mixed signals and figure out what you believe is best."

At the soccer fields, Taehyung was getting in some summer practice before the school year, and the season, started. Taehyung kicked the ball towards the goal, just barely missing it. "If you shift to the right just half an inch, it'll go in."

Taehyung whirled around to see Kortni approaching him, her soccer bag over her shoulder. "What are you doing here, it's off-season."

"Then why are you here?" Kortni shot back as he retrieved his ball. "Mind if I join you?" Taehyung shrugged, and Kortni immediately set her own ball on the field and kicked it towards the goal.

Taehyung was just about to get back to practicing when he saw Hoseok's car pull into the parking lot, meaning his appointment was over and it was time for the two of them to go home. "I gotta go, my brother's here." Kortni nodded and was about to kick again when Taehyung stopped her. "If you twist your core just a little more, your kick will be more powerful."

Kortni turned to see him already halfway to Hoseok's car. "Thanks!" She called after him, and he waved his hand in response as he opened the passenger door.

"Who's that?" Hoseok asked as Taehyung put his seatbelt on.

The 14-year-old shrugged. "Just someone from the girls' league."

When they walked in their front door, they were greeted by a serious conversation between their older brother and their parents. "Yoongi, we told you that you don't have to get a job, we just want you to focus on your schoolwork and preparing for college."

"But I want to work." Yoongi insisted, bending over to pick Holly up when she began pawing at his legs. "I wouldn't have applied to work at the music store if I didn't."

Jin sighed. "And you think you'll be okay? You won't get overly stressed and anxious?"

"I'll be fine, Dad." Yoongi insisted.