THE SUN AND HIS STARS ✓

06.

Though yesterday had been awkward, Taehyung still invited Hoseok to hang out with them after school had ended. Seokjin waved at Taehyung when they entered, who waved back.

(When Seokjin picked up Taehyung, he asked why Taehyung had looked so shaken. Taehyung hadn't answered the question. Seokjin didn't ask it again.)

"Taehyung."

Taehyung turned from where he was talking to Hoseok to look at Yoongi. "Yeah?"

"There's a blood stain on the back of your shirt."

Taehyung grimaced. His father, while in a drunk frenzy, had beat him for coming home late. "Leave it," he said, trying to keep from snapping. "It's fine."

Seokjin stood up and walked over to Taehyung. "Let me check."

"Not in front of Hoseok," Taehyung mumbled, casting a glance towards Hoseok.

"I already know," Hoseok said.

Taehyung blinked. "How?"

"Blood stain on your backpack."

Taehyung bit his lip. He'd rather if Hoseok didn't know, but it didn't matter right now. "Fine, Jin hyung, you can check."

Taehyung lifted his shirt over his head and dropped it onto a nearby chair. He heard a collective intake of breath from around the room.

"What? Is it that bad?"

-

It made Hoseok furious. The cuts and bruises on Taehyung's back stood out against his pale skin, and Hoseok had to restrain himself from finding Taehyung's father and making him pay.

"What? Is it that bad?"

The way Taehyung had said it made Hoseok release a low growl in the back of his throat. He sounded like he was used to it. Hoseok hated it.

"Those two years of medical science in college always pay off well," Seokjin mumbled. "Uh, Namjoon, Hoseok, you think you could run to the nurse's office and steal some bandages and antiseptic?"

"They'll heal on their own," Taehyung muttered, reaching for his shirt.

Seokjin stopped him and shook his head. "They can get infected."

"So?"

"Tae, it could lead to a serious problem," Seokjin said sternly.

Taehyung rolled his eyes and sat down on a chair, careful to not let his bare back touch the chair in any way. "Fine."

Namjoon and Hoseok left the room, Hoseok glancing back to see Seokjin crouching down to console Taehyung.

"So," Namjoon said casually as they went down the halls. "Does this make you think of Taehyung differently?"

"He told you," Hoseok said, recognizing what Namjoon had said. Namjoon raised an eyebrow, and Hoseok continued. "About the rain."

"Yeah. He did. You didn't answer my question, though. Do you see him differently?"

"No," Hoseok answered. He paused. "I'm..."

"Worried?"

"Concerned."

Namjoon sighed. "Yeah. Same. Taehyung doesn't really talk about his personal baggage. He just covers it up with a smile all the time. I hate it, whenever he smiles like that."

Hoseok considered this. He wished he could take a page out of Taehyung's book, he wished he could make it seem like he was happy when all hope was lost. Instead, he moped around and barely spoke to his peers.

Taehyung was strong. Hoseok wasn't sure when he had first met the boy, but he knew it for sure now. He'd gotten lucky, having Taehyung in his company.

"We're here," said Namjoon. He peeked inside the open door to the nurses office. "She's not here. Let's grab the stuff and go." 

Hoseok and Namjoon took rolls of bandages and a bottle labeled antiseptic. They also grabbed a few ice packs and clean cloths, and began heading back to the others.

-

"Tae," Seokjin said, crouching down in front of him, pity evident in his eyes, "you know there's nothing to be ashamed of—"

"Don't lie to me like that," Taehyung said, his voice wavering. "Don't."

"Taehyung—"

"It's fine. I'm alive. Drop it."

Seokjin bit his lip and nodded, standing up. "Hoseok and Namjoon'll be back any minute. I'll patch you up and then we're gonna have to talk about it."

Taehyung scoffed, eyeing Jungkook, Jimin, and Yoongi, who were all watching from the other side of the room. Jungkook gave him a sad smile and a shrug, while Jimin and Yoongi nodded encouragingly.

"There's nothing to talk about," Taehyung mumbled. "And you can't force me if I don't want to."

Seokjin was saved from answering when Namjoon and Hoseok returned, bandages and medical supplies in hand.

"This might sting a bit," Seokjin muttered, as he began cleaning the cuts. Taehyung bit his lip to keep from making any sound.

Half an hour later, Taehyung had bandages wrapped around his abdomen. Seokjin finished wrapping them and Taehyung slid back into his shirt.

"These'll need time to heal," Seokjin said. "You can't go back tonight."

"I know," Taehyung said. "I can probably find a motel or something. Eun Ha is sleeping at a friend's so I don't have to worry about her."

Taehyung heard Hoseok mumble, "Eun Ha?"

"My older sister," Taehyung explained, not meeting Hoseok's eyes.

"You're welcome to stay at my apartment," Seokjin offered. When Taehyung shook his head, he added, "It's only me, so there's a lot of room for one other. And it's closer to the school than any motel would be."

"I wouldn't want to bother you..."

Seokjin shook his head. "No, it wouldn't be bothering me at all. In fact, I think I'd be a bit grateful for the company."

Taehyung ran the pros and cons through his head. Pros: both he and Eun Ha would be safe for the night, and he could heal. Cons: it made him feel like a charity case.

Taehyung swallowed. "Alright. Sure. Thanks for the offer, hyung."

He didn't miss how Seokjin cast a glance at Hoseok before saying, "Anytime, Tae."

--

i know nothing about college/university and medical stuff,, so if anything is inaccurate, sorry

seokjin's parents are rich and run a business in america. seokjin was trying to become a doctor and was doing his medical studies before his parents pulled him out to run a branch of their business in korea.