"Do you see each other often outside of therapy?"

Taehyung shakes his head, closing his eyes in frustration as Namjoon questions him about his and Jeongguk's relationship.

    "I'm not in the mood, hyung, I already told you that I don't feel well." He says clutching his blanket closer as he lays in bed. "Can you just lock the door when you leave?"

    "I need an explanation, Taehyung," Namjoon says crossing his arms, leaning against the doorframe as he waits for a response. "You just seem awfully close, that's all~"

    "He's my surrogate partner, that's all, Namjoon." Taehyung says sitting up and looking at him. "You said you didn't care if I tried it out. Now you're jealous or something?"

    "That was, like, two months ago. If it was going to work wouldn't it have worked by now?" Namjoon asks, immediately feeling bad when he sees the hurt spreading across Taehyung's features. "I just don't know how I feel about it anymore."

    "He's helping me more than you ever have," Taehyung says pointedly.

    "Don't do that, Taehyung." Namjoon says looking at him with a sorry expression.

    "Do what?"

    "Say shit to purposefully hurt my feelings."

Taehyung rolls his eyes, laying back down with his back to Namjoon. "You just told me I've made no progress after two months. After I've been trying so hard for you, you don't think that hurts my feelings?"

    "I didn't mean to, Tae, I'm sorry," Namjoon says walking into the room and sitting on the edge of the bed. "I'm being insecure, I'm sorry. I did agree to the surrogacy, so I won't take it back now."

Taehyung doesn't respond, using his blanket to dry his tears. "I shouldn't have made you call Jeongguk last night," he says through his tears. "I panicked and I didn't know what to do. I'm embarrassed about it now."

    "I'm just glad he could calm you down," Namjoon says, ignoring the pang he feels at the thought of Jeongguk being able to comfort Taehyung better than him. "Are you mad at me?"

    "No," Taehyung says. "I just want to be alone right now. I have to mentally prepare for talking to my sister."

    "I understand," Namjoon says. "Call me if you need anything? I'll come right away, no matter what it is."

    "Okay," Taehyung sighs. "I love you."

    "I love you more," Namjoon says before standing, leaning over and kissing Taehyung's cheek before leaving.

Taehyung eventually drags himself out of bed, dressing lethargically. His mother called last night, and after being scolded for the way he treated his sister, she asked him to come over.

He dreaded going to his mother's house. It was the house he grew up in since he could remember. There were too many bad memories attached to that house.

By the time he gets dressed he's already running late. He gets a text from his mom asking if he's bailing on them. The thought is tempting, but he doesn't. He gets there about fifteen minutes late.

"Kim Taehyung-ah," His mom says letting him in. "I was worried you stood us up."

    "I woke up late," He says hugging his mother. "Taeyeon's here?"

"Yes, her and Taerin got here earlier this morning," His mother says looking up at him as she straightens out his collar. "You didn't have to come dressed for work, honey. We don't have to go in for a while."

    "I actually told Seokjin that I'd come help out," Taehyung says. "Since Hangyeol quit it's just been Hobi and him trying to keep the store up when we're not there."

    "But...But today's a special day," His mom says, her smile fading slightly. "I haven't had all three of you under the same roof in years. I was hoping we could have dinner."

    "I'm sorry, mom, they need me." Taehyung says before lowering his voice. "Plus, I don't really want to have dinner with them. I didn't even know Rin was going to be here, you should've told me~"

    "Is everything alright, mom~?" Taeyeon stops short when she sees Taehyung. "Hey, Tae, I thought it was you." She says, a smile lighting up her features as she walks up and hugs her brother.

Taehyung freezes, his eyes widening as she wraps her arms around him. "Noona," He says, making her pull away. She smiles up at him, smoothing his hair down.

"Why don't you two head to the living room," Their mom says. "I'm going to call Seokjin and let him know you can't make it, sweetheart."

"I told him I could," Taehyung says looking at his mother.

"It'll be fine," She says. "Go on, now."

"Come on, Tae," Taeyeon says taking his hand and pulling him along. "Rin's been dying to see you."

"Stop~" Taehyung pulls his hand out of her grip, making her stop and looking at him. "Stop touching me...please."

"Sorry," She says, smiling softly. "I've just missed you, I guess...I'll stop. I'm sorry."

Taehyung walks past her to the living room, he needed to sit down before all his blood rushed from his head.

"Taehyung," His other older sister—Taerin—says when she sees him, a smile lighting up her features. "How are you? You look great."

"Fine," Taehyung says sitting down on the far end of the couch she was sitting on. He swallows hard as he forces himself not to lose his composure, even though he was freaking out on the inside.

"Are you sure? You look pale," Rin says looking at him with concern lacing her features. "Are you sick?"

"Go easy on him, Rin," Taeyeon chuckles from the couch she was sitting on opposite of them. "We haven't seen him in years, don't scare him off just yet."

Taehyung looks down at his hands as they speak, pretending he's anywhere else but here. The last thing he wanted to be doing was talking to his sisters. It was too difficult and awkward now...after everything that happened.

"Come on, Tae," Rin laughs. "You aren't going to treat us like strangers are you?"

"Why'd you come here?" Taehyung asks—since they want him to talk so bad.

Taeyeon and Rin share a look, their smiles fading as they avoid Taehyung's eyes.

"W-We missed you and mom, that's all," Taeyeon says, forcing a comfortable tone.

"Is that the reason?" Taehyung asks looking at her. "Or did you come here to dig up unnecessary things from the past."

"You're still our bother, Taehyung," Rin says, backing Taeyeon up. "We should be able to check on you without it meaning something's wrong."

"I don't need you to check on me," Taehyung says rolling his eyes. "Mom and I are doing fine. We like our life the way it is, without you."

"You can't go on pretending we don't exist, Taehyung," Taeyeon says. "Mom hates that she can't see us regularly because of you."

"Because of me?" Taehyung asks in disbelief. "If she wants to see you it's none of my business. Just don't mix me into this bullshit."

"Can't we just get along?" Rin asks looking between her siblings. "I don't want to fight, I just want us to get along. Like normal siblings, please?"

"Yeah, Tae, come on," Taeyeon says. "Please? At least for mom?"

"What's wrong?"

The three of them look up at the sound of their mother's voice. Watching her walk into the living room with a worried expression.

"Nothing, we were just telling Taehyung why we came to town," Taeyeon says gesturing for her to take a seat beside her. "He thought we were here to talk about dad again."

"Oh, well," Their mom says, her expression shifting at the mention of her husband. "You didn't come all this way for that, did you?"

"Of course not," Rin says shaking her head. "But...we can't just ignore the fact that he's trying to get his case appealed, can we?"

"What?" Taehyung asks looking at his mom.

"Taerin," She says with a stern expression.

"H-His case was appealed?" Taehyung asks, still trying to make eye contact with his mom.

"No, he's trying to get it appealed but it hasn't been granted." His mom says meeting his eyes. "I doubt it the court will grant an appeal for his case."

"What if we have to go on trial again," Rin says. "We have to be ready. And with stronger evidence this time."

"We also have to be on the same page," Taeyeon says looking down at her hands. "I didn't want this trip to go horribly, that's why I wasn't going to bring it up yet."

"I don't want to do this," Taehyung says standing from his seat. "I'm leaving, I have to go."

"You have to be on our side this time, Taehyung," Rin says standing, stopping him before he runs off. "Both of you have to be on our side. It's the only way that we can assure he doesn't get out. And that he doesn't hurt us again~"

"That's enough, Taerin," Their mom says standing as well, her expression angrier than it previously was. "You're going too far."

"It's true, mom," Taeyeon says looking up at her. "If we do go to trial, we'd stand a better chance together rather than divided."

Taehyung shakes his head, pulling his keys out of his pocket as he storms out of the house.

"Taehyung, please~" He hears his mom say, but he's already gone. Rushing to his car before starting it and speeding off. He blinks rapidly as he drives, trying to see through the tears in his eyes.

He didn't want to think about his father, he didn't want to think about there being a retrial. He didn't want to think about the fact that there was a chance that he'd get out of prison.

He didn't want to think about any of that. He just wanted to live his life, he wanted to be normal, and do normal people things.

Normal people didn't have to worry about the things he did. Normal people could sleep through the night without waking up in a cold sweat. Normal people could have sex with their boyfriends without having flashbacks. Normal people could bond with their siblings, and have actual relationships with them.

He hated not having that kind of life.