jaeyong ✧ skindeep

Five

Taeyong sucked on his cheeks, cringing at the unpleasant aftertaste of 'milk of magnesia'. He rinsed the clear cup off, tightened the white cap on the plastic, blue bottle and stuffed it all inside his backpack. After zipping it up, he flung the bag over his shoulders and exited out into the halls.

On his way to chemistry, Taeyong downed half a water bottle. Specifically for the purpose of attempting to get the remaining aftertaste to dissipate. He listlessly walked into the classroom, harshly he set his backpack on his desk and seated himself before burying his head within his sleeved arms. His legs uncomfortably shifted underneath the wood while the classroom's once peaceful silence was broken among the entering students. He awaited the teacher's entrance, just hoping this utterly useless and confusing subject would be over as quickly as possible.

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"I'll be collecting everyone's essays next Wednesday," the teacher's frankly annoying voice stated while everyone scrambled to leave. His stomach began to make growling sounds, causing Taeyong to stroll to the bathrooms. Magnesia always tends to work quickly.

After rinsing his hands, Taeyong pierced through his own's reflections gaze. He slightly lifted up his shirt, his fingers traced along the lines of his ribcage till they got to the base of his stomach. Taeyong turned a side angle, forcing his stomach either out or sucking it in. Those same nimble fingers of his grasped the skin along the bone and clenched whatever it could grasp. Let alone the fact that there was even enough to grasp was a dent to the mentality of his. Taeyong pulled the cotton fabric down, over his torso and with a tigher, agitated grip on his backpack did he then exit the bathroom.

~~~~

The school day seemed to end fairly quickly with the halls now filled with students desperate to leave the building. Taeyong, who had no shift today and certainly didn't feel like returning home this early, headed to the gym where he assumed both Jaehyun and Doyoung would be there.

Upon swinging open the gym doors, perhaps the faint smell of sweat and the everlasting sound of skidding sneakers is what Taeyong was met with. Taeyong silently observed the team till he spotted Jaehyun blocking the ball. Keeping his eyes fixated on the pale figure, Taeyong slowly climbed his way up the bleachers, sitting in the same spot he'd been sitting with Doyoung in the past. His fingers wrapped tightly around his phone, holding onto it as if the world depened on it.

The focus of the action was broken though when the piercing sound of the coach's whistle called for a break and some team members, including Jaehyun, approached the bench whether it was to sit and rest or hydrate. Jaehyun tossed the water bottle between his hands before his eyes became fixated on Taeyong's figure. Holding the water bottle at his side, Jaehyun climbed the steps of the bleachers and smoothly slid over to Taeyong.

"I had nothing todo so I supposed I'd stop by and watch."

Jaehyun softly nodded,"Hmm. I was wondering why you'd exactly be here."

Taeyong nervously dug his nails into his thighs,"Doyoung's not here?"

"Nah, his phone fell into the water fountain so he's getting it fixed."

Jaehyun wiped the sweat off of the edge of his scalp with the bottom seam of his shirt. He unscrewed the bottle cap and downed most of the frigid water, softly exhaling afterwards.

"You should start inviting yourself to hang out with me and Doyoung. Even if it's just when we walk to class. I've grown accustomed to having you around through the few times you do spend with us and, it begins to feel lonelier when you're not present."

Taeyong softly sighed then carded his own hair with his fingers,"You seem to grow attached to people fairly quickly."

"Only with people I'm willing to form some type of friendship with."

Taeyong opened his mouth to direct a reply but was silenced by the deafening sound of the coach's whistle. Jaehyun patted Taeyong on the back once, spewing out a quick,"Talk to you later," and rushing down the bleachers back go the court. Taeyong watched quietly as Jaehyun grasped one of his teammate's, a shorter man, arm and pulled him back onto the court.

Taeyong decided to leave shortly after that, with the influence of the decision being it'd be possible to binge before his father returned home. He unnoticeably left the gym and exited through the now deserted halls.

~~~~

Taeyong scavenged through the cabinets, finding any food he could that wouldn't be a nuisance coming up. He sat there stuffing his face where it felt as if he wouldn't stop. Through the binge, his regular guilt trip arose and everything he ate from then on was labeled "weight", "calories" or a simple "disgusting" in his mind.

Not hesitating for a second, Taeyong chugged a glass of water and head to the bathroom, leaving the door open as he kneeled over the toilet bowl. He thrusted his first finger into the back of his throat, quickly causing his mouth to excessively salivate. He sucked his stomach in, clenching his stomach muscles and used his finger to push further back on his throat. Without much warning besides the physical feeling, Taeyong pulled out his finger and part of the food he previously ingested came out.

Taeyong's father entered through the downstairs door. His eyes panned over the left out bags of food in the kitchen then his hearing fixated on the sound of Taeyong. Taeyong, throughout his father's return, did not notice a thing. The sound of his own gagging deafened the sound of the door being swung ajar.

The father crept upstairs, the carpet made his steps inaudible as he approached the gagging Taeyong. Almost instinctively, Taeyong's father hit him upside his head. Taeyong, now fully aware of the situation, let it happen nor attempt to stop his father's violent actions.

"If you're gonna throw up the damn food I buy, don't bother eating it. Hell, starve for all I care." The older man landed a single kick to Taeyong's side making the boy jolt. He was hit few more times before his father's cravings for cigarettes stopped him and led him downstairs to light one. Taeyong took the opportunity to flush the toilet and wash him hands, then like always, lock himself in his room till the following day.

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