jaeyong ✧ skindeep

Nine

Throughout the span of several school days and late night texting, Taeyong felt relatively closer to both Jaehyun and Doyoung. Without feeling somewhat like a third-wheel to the two, Taeyong maybe felt like he had someone to call a friend or, at least someone to feel comfortable talking to.

Just because it was becoming better at school didn't mean the same at home. In fact, it seemed to get worse, that is if that's possible. The empty bottles seemed to pile up even faster, not to mention Taeyong's father had actually hit him in the back of the head with one then and forced him to clean up all the glass shards despite feeling as if he was going to pass out. Surprisingly enough, Taeyong was able to even walk up the stairs only to spend a little less than an hour carding through the back of his scalp for glass.

~~~~

The three had decided to spend their free time after school at a nearby cafe. Jaehyun sipped on banana milk while Doyoung ordered an iced coffee and Taeyong had simply stuck with coconut water.

He didn't say much rather he watched as the other two discussed plans for summer. That left Taeyong wondering when he'd last been to a pool. Surely, he enjoyed swimming as much as a child would, but skin stained with bruises aren't something many people would want to flaunt.

Taeyong thoughtlessly sipped on the carton of coconut water. He dazed out as when one's mind falls into an abyss of nothingness. Then, he was shot back into reality when Doyoung snapped his fingers over Taeyong's line of sight,"You good?"

"Just dazed," Taeyong looked at the clocked perched up above the cafe's register,"I think I'll head home now. See you tomorrow."

On his way out, Taeyong tossed the carton into the trash and waved once to the two. The only reason being his reason to head home earlier was his father. His absence was only making the times he gotten beat worse that he figured it might be best to lessen the time he was gone. Getting beaten was terrible either way but, one was just less of something.

~~~~

"I'm sorry," his already timid voice began to tremble. His fingers dug into his palms before a single punch was planted on his throat then stomach, the action making him bend over in immense pain, then being followed up with a kick to his quivering figure. Taeyong fell on all fours, crimson began to ooze out if his mouth.

Why was this happening? Besides it being a normal routine, Taeyong had silently muttered a retort directed at his father. It seemed almost impossible for anyone to hear yet, his father managed to hear it.

His father crouched down, grasping his son's hair in his filthy grasp and forced the boy to look up at him,"Do you want to tell me what you muttered to my face now?"

Taeyong tried to reply but it came out as no more than a strained breath.

The drunk man tch'ed, throwing Taeyong's head out of his grasp and leaving him lying on the floor. He walked over to the couch in front of the t.v. and held one of still burning cigarettes out of the ash tray. He brought the poisonous straw up to his lips and inhaled the toxic smoke. Without looking at Taeyong he spoke,"Get up, you'll bleed all over the carpet."

Taeyong weakly pushed himself up till he could decently stand. One hand softly rested over his throat while the other hung down at his side. He slouched while walking up to the bathroom where he spit his own blood into the sink.

~~~~

The following day at school, Taeyong remained quieter throughout the whole day. Usually, no one would notice but, maybe it was due to all the time Taeyong had spent with Jaehyun and Doyoung that allowed them to notice. However, they didn't question him about his quiet persona today and rather let it go.

While they walked through the crowed halls of the school, someone rushed past Taeyong, making him loose his balance and bump into Jaehyun. Jaehyun didn't pay much attention to Taeyong loosing his footing however, he did notice the hiss of pain the escaped Taeyong's lips.

"You okay?"

Taeyong awkwardly rubbed his right arm with the other,"Yeah, it just caught me off guard."

Before Jaehyun could reply to Taeyong, a pair of girls came from behind him and tugged on the edge of his shirt. Jaehyun turned towards them, earning a very cliche compressed squeal out of one of them.

Doyoung went over to Taeyong. He hung his arm over the older's shoulder,"We might as well go without him. This'll take a long time."

~~~~

Taeyong sat outside of his house for a while. Everytime he thought of walking past the living room, his throat throbbed with a reminder of the excruciating pain he experienced yesterday.

He crossed his hands over his throat; how he didn't want to feel that again yet, knew that the possibility was inevitable. 

He roughly ran his fingers through his hair, tugging at it too. He stood up from the doorstep and unlocked the door. His hands began to sweat profusely as his fingers wrapped around the knob.

The door smoothly opened, Taeyong trying to fit in through the limited space and shut the door behind him.

The creaking of the wooden planks of the floor seemed louder then ever. This may have just been the most terrified he's been of getting beaten throughout the eleven year span he's been.

Once again, he was met with the repulsive scent of cigarettes and day old to just finished bottles of beer and soju piled on the floor. It was surprising that no one had accidentally sprained their ankle due to one.

Taeyong's slender fingers tightened around his backpack straps. He silently prayed nothing would cause the slightest bit of noise.

Though, the springs in the couch squeaked as Taeyong's father removed himself from the filthy and tattered seating. All that felt painfully realistic in this exact moment was when Taeyong noticed his father's tight grasp around a half empty soju bottle and the coldness and numbness of the pain and the alcohol running down his head.

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