jaeyong ✧ skindeep

Three

The repetitive sound of Taeyong's mechanical pencil tapping against his desk seemed to cloud out the nonsensical words from his teacher. His eyes remained focused on the blue lines of the unwritten notebook paper in front of him. Taeyong's abnormal fixation on the paper was broken when he noticed Jaehyun and Doyoung snickering to each other about who-knows-what.

"Taeyong."

His head snapped to the obstructing voice from his male teacher,"Yes?"

"The answer to number seven is?"

His eyes scattered around the work page in front of him, his sight focusing on number seven but his brain unable to solve it on the spot,"I don't know it..."

"I suggest you pay attention then, hm?"

Taeyong silently nodded in response, his eyes drifting back to the blank page once again.

~~~~

The bell rung causing the immediate actions of the dispersing students while the sound of chairs being scooted back and chatter overshadowed the teacher's voice as his told everyone their homework.

Jaehyun's figure approached Taeyong who was busy stuffing those useless papers in his backpack. The younger sat in the seat in front of Taeyong, his body facing him while his arms folded on the backrest and head rested on them. Taeyong raised his head, his brown eyes meeting Jaehyun's own,"Yes?"

Jaehyun picked the single pieces of lint off his sleeve and flicked them behind him,"So, we're friends now, right?"

"Um, I don't know."

Hell, when was the last time Taeyong exactly had a "friend"?

Doyoung swung his backpack over his shoulder while he shortened the distance from him and the pair,"Jaehyun, you're gonna be late for practice."

Jaehyun scooted out of the chair, bringing his hands down to his pockets. Doyoung gazed down at Taeyong who was still shoving those papers in his bag,"Are you coming?"

"I have th-"

"Yes, you are." Doyoung snatched Taeyong's backpack away, forcing the zipper closed and pulled him along down the halls.

After about two minutes of walking, all three of the boys entered the school gym. Jaehyun left momentarily to the locker room while both Doyoung and Taeyong seated themselves on the bleachers. The only sounds present were perhaps the coach's whistle and the skidding sound of the team's sneakers. Jaehyun walked out of the locker room wearing a black sleeveless shirt, basketball shorts and his basketball shoes.

Taeyong set his backpack down beside his feet,"So, do you always attend Jaehyun's practices?"

"I guess. I mean, at first it was just for support but now, it's become a habit I even do unknowingly."

Doyoung fidgeted with his phone before passing it over to Taeyong,"Number."

Taeyong grasped the device with both hands. He debated on whether to give it or not, only before Doyoung's somehow intimidating gaze "made" him. His fingers fumbled around until he gave the phone right back to Doyoung.

Doyoung looked at the screen once, then shutting it off,"Thank you."

Taeyong hummed in response. His eyes traveled towards Jaehyun, observing the way he dribbled the ball then passed it to another member. His mouth was ajar, panting from exhaustion, his cheeks tinted red and sweat rolled down his body with every movement of the sport. Taeyong couldn't help but mentally admit: it was an extremely attractive sight.

His thoughts fixated on Jaehyun only to be interrupted by the annoying buzzing that came from his phone. He released a sigh while simultaneously tugging his phone out his back pocket. Upon realizing they were texts from his father, he hurriedly said goodbye to Doyoung and rushed home.

He was met with the sickening familiar sent of tobacco while entering the house. Taeyong didn't say anything let alone try to make any noise. He made it past the living room where he realized his father had already drunken himself to sleep in the short amount of time it took him to get home. Taeyong remained relieved. As long as his father stayed asleep, he avoided getting hit at all today.

~~~~

Taeyong sat on the floor in his room which temporarily remained locked. He scattered his homework across the floor, then downed a shot of 'milk of magnesia' followed by barley even a sip of water. He shoved the bottle under his bed next to his 'Dulcolax' tablets and began on his homework.

Only an hour had passed by the time Taeyong had finished his work. His eyes began to become pestered at the light to which Taeyong figured he'd rather head to bed.

He didn't bother brushing his teeth out of fear that the running water or bathroom fan might awake his father. Instead, he just changed out of his jeans into sweatpants and sank into the abyss of bed sheets.

His eyes flattened, slowly drifting off to sleep only to be awaken by that silent but deadly annoying alarm clock. Taeyong's eyes shot open realizing it was already daytime. He tiredly rubbed his eyes which were still adjusting to the light. He reached under his pillow for his phone, clicking on the side, turning the screen on. He swiped it open upon it being visible that he had only a few text messages.

Unknown: hi

Unknown: this is doyoung btw @.@

Unknown: also , i gave jaehyun your number so if you get a text from a random stranger , it's most likely him

Taeyong exited out of his newly-found contact and tapped on the other unknown contact.

Unknown: 👋

Unknown: If you didn't already know, this is Jaehyun

Unknown: Yeah, hm, okay

Taeyong unwillingly saved both contacts then set the phone down beside him and scooted himself deeper into his sheets upon remembering it was Saturday. His father wouldn't even attempt to hit him due to the fact that last time he beat Taeyong when he was asleep, he was sent to the emergency room.

It was only because of Taeyong's well orchestrated lies that aligned his father's that no one was taken by a social worker that day. It was an abnormal incident that was in fact painful and terrifying but the consequences of that meant his bed was Taeyong's safe place, strangely enough.

He remained in the comfort of his sheets awhile longer until the sound of the front door closing became audible. Taeyong just a little longer, making sure his father had actually left rather than painting that picture so that Taeyong would come down and be used as a punching bag again. It wasn't like his father hadn't done that in the past.

He went into the bathroom across the hall first, the laxatives doing their only purpose. Afterwards, he walked down the staircase. Cigarette butts and half or completely empty beer and soju bottles gathered on every table. The carpet now had fresh burned blotches, complementing the old ones, from where the cigarettes were fallen. It was practically a miracle that the house hadn't burned down or even a simple fire caught yet.

Taeyong ignored the overbearing scent of alcohol and tobacco and made his way to the kitchen instead. As Taeyong rummaged through the cabinets he wondered: what would kill his dad first? His terrible lungs or damaged liver?

Taeyong lifted the edge of his cotton shirt up. His hands caressed the bruised skin. He straightened his back before ultimately deciding he wouldn't eat today. Though sometimes he achieved that goal, usually he'd just end up eating something then trying to throw it up once again.

~~~~